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leggup's review against another edition
4.0
While I liked some of these stories better than others, all were quintessentially Tolstoy. Family Happiness was probably my favorite with The Death of Ivan Ilych a close second and The Devil a third. The last story was the least satisfactory. I think I liked Family Happiness best because it contained a classic Tolstoy love story that begins with not much more than glances and slight looks.
aliceboule's review against another edition
4.0
I had never read much Tolstoy before taking a course dedicated to him last quarter. I had heard equally great and horrible things about his works, but after taking the course and reading this collection of shorts, I realized that most people read only his novels.
And though his novels are great (I recently finished Anna Karenina ), his shorts deserve to be read and judged separately from his novels.
I greatly recommend this collection of short stories to a person who has not read Tolstoy before, and who is intimidated by the fearsome length of his novels! It is completely possible to understand Tolstoy's philosophy and genius when only reading the shorts!
And though his novels are great (I recently finished Anna Karenina ), his shorts deserve to be read and judged separately from his novels.
I greatly recommend this collection of short stories to a person who has not read Tolstoy before, and who is intimidated by the fearsome length of his novels! It is completely possible to understand Tolstoy's philosophy and genius when only reading the shorts!
tjmassaro's review against another edition
Kreutzer Sonata (4/5)
The Death of Ivan Ilych (5/5)
The Death of Ivan Ilych (5/5)
edward_evjen's review against another edition
2.0
The philosophical rantings he puts in are narrow minded. He is like a newly "red-pilled" men's rights activist on the "true nature of women" (TM) desperately rambling and apologizing for his past behavior. His observations are stale but he is frantically absorbed into them. Little literary merit.
Excerpt from The Kreutzer Sonata: "[Society] can only be changed by a change in men's outlook on women and women's way of regarding themsevles. It will change only when woman regards virginity as the highest state, and does not, as at present, consider the highest state of a human being a shame and a disgrace."
I know a bit of Tolstoy's life. Let me save you reading a biography: Tolstoy used to be a dick, and now he is a self righteous dick.
As such, we can talk about his plots. Does he have a thriller instinct? No, they are all boring.
No wisdom, no sociability, no excitement, all rot.
Excerpt from The Kreutzer Sonata: "[Society] can only be changed by a change in men's outlook on women and women's way of regarding themsevles. It will change only when woman regards virginity as the highest state, and does not, as at present, consider the highest state of a human being a shame and a disgrace."
I know a bit of Tolstoy's life. Let me save you reading a biography: Tolstoy used to be a dick, and now he is a self righteous dick.
As such, we can talk about his plots. Does he have a thriller instinct? No, they are all boring.
No wisdom, no sociability, no excitement, all rot.
engpunk77's review against another edition
4.0
Read in college, I believed that Tolstoy was the world's greatest writer. I've since changed my mind, but I really lost sleep over pondering these stories.
nabilah's review against another edition
5.0
He is an amazing writer. His short works are perfect introduction to his minds and to beginners alike. I definitely recommends Leo Tolstoy beginners to read his short works first before moving on to his major novels like Anna Karenina or War And Peace in order to get used to his style of writing.
I enjoyed this purchase very much.
I enjoyed this purchase very much.
b_caligari's review
adventurous
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
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