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4.01 AVERAGE


Probably the best to ever do it
dark reflective fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character

This was a fantastic exploration of existential dread, hypocrisy, and the inevitability of death. I think the brilliance of this novella lies in its brutal honesty and depth in just a few pages. It was really a masterful construction and every word was precisely chosen. Ivan Ilyich’s life was this symbol of middle-class conformity, and how his pursuit of status and comfort seem sincere and reasonable, but are ultimately hollow. I think Tolstoy’s critique of these values is sharp but it’s never overcooked. He really allows the reader to draw their own conclusions, and I loved that.

Tolstoy really didn’t give any sentimentality to the process of dying. It’s impossible not to feel Ivan’s helplessness and terror. Despite this, there’s still a hope of redemption. I think the real power of this novella was the bluntness of death and confronting truths that many people try to avoid throughout their lives.

This book was excellent and I can’t recommend it enough.

Bir iki gün içinde oturup bitirebildiğim bir kitaptı. Anlatımı sade, anlaşılır. Kafa karıştırıcı etmenler yok. Fazlalık gelen, alakalı hissedilmeyen bazı noktaların da aslında karakterlerin kişilikleri hakkında ipucu verebileceği kısımlar olduğunu üstünde tartıştıkça gördüm. "Ölmeden önce okunmak zorunda" diyebileceğim bir kitap değil ancak okuduğum için hiç pişman değilim. Yine de, genelde okuduğum türden farklı olduğu için içine çekmesi zaman aldı.

با وجود اجتناب ناپذیری مرگ و پذیرش اون در زندگی، به شخصه هربار که افکارم منو به سمتش سوق می‌دن چیزی که در برابر دیدگانم نقش می‌بنده دو حالت بیشتر نداره. اولی، فرار و دومی قرار. قرار بر تصور ماهیت و چیستی مرگ و اینکه دنیا بدون من یا عزیزانم به چه شکلی درمیاد؟ و خب، اعتراف می‌کنم که حتا فکر کردن بهش دردناکه. حس می‌کنم غریزه‌‌ی بقا در وجود ما، به قدری پررنگه که خواه ناخواه از پذیرش این حقیقت که انسان هم مثل هر موجود زنده‌ی دیگری رو به نیستی و فنا قدم برمی‌داره، سر باز می‌زنیم. داستان زندگی ایوان ایلیچ و طوری که کم کم به ورطه رسید، منو به فکر فرو برد. پرسیدم که من چطور واکنشی نشون خواهم داد؟ آیا پر از زندگی‌ام و یا ملول از رنجم اما همچنان مثل ایوان ایلیچ می‌خوام که زندگی کنم؟ آیا بستر بیماری برقرار می‌شه تا آروم آروم به آگاهی و پذیرش و دل کندن برسم یا مرگ مثل چشم برهم زدنی، به وجود و روحم عارض می‌شه؟
هیچ نمی‌دونم و هیچکس هم نمی‌دونه. با این حال، این داستان کوتاه دریچه و دیدگاه تازه‌ای رو بهم هدیه داد. پنج ستاره‌ی طلایی تقدیم به مرگ ایوان ایلیچ که پرسشگری و پذیرش رو برای من یادآوری کرد.
fast-paced

The most accurate description of what it is like to die written by someone who had himself not yet died, as voted on by people who they themselves also haven’t died.
challenging dark medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
dark reflective fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
slow-paced

“Ivan Ilych’s life had been most simple and most ordinary and therefore most terrible.”