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3.95 AVERAGE
3.95 AVERAGE
the first half is set up. sort of boring sort of not. like some good stuff, some cool observations about life and people, but also its russian lit and its just day to day vibes so its like long matryoshka sentences about bureaucracy and you're like ok can he start dying already. and then he does start dying and its amazing. gerasim stan forever
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
had a terrible time
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Infidelity
Minor: Animal death, Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts
Great little introduction to the works of Tolstoy, offering a variety of styles.
Throughout, one questions on morality and agency, the meaning of life and what it means to have lead a good one, the finality of death that awaits all. Either way all stories included were captivating.
In The Death of Ivan Ilyich in particular, one can't fail to notice some recurring themes of social ascension and the associated caveats, hypocrisy of the bourgeoisie, unhappy marital life, and the bureaucratic machine where 'all he needed was a post'.
Particularly touching was the vulnerability of Ivan on his death bed, where he seeked comfort and found it in his 'peasant' servant and his little child alone, where previously such a display was unthinkable to the stern bureaucrat.
'No one pitied him as he would have liked to be pitied [...] He wanted to be caressed, and kissed, and wept over, as children are caressed and comforted. He knew that he was an important judge, with a grey beard, which made all that impossible; but all the same, that was what he wanted.'
Throughout, one questions on morality and agency, the meaning of life and what it means to have lead a good one, the finality of death that awaits all. Either way all stories included were captivating.
In The Death of Ivan Ilyich in particular, one can't fail to notice some recurring themes of social ascension and the associated caveats, hypocrisy of the bourgeoisie, unhappy marital life, and the bureaucratic machine where 'all he needed was a post'.
Particularly touching was the vulnerability of Ivan on his death bed, where he seeked comfort and found it in his 'peasant' servant and his little child alone, where previously such a display was unthinkable to the stern bureaucrat.
'No one pitied him as he would have liked to be pitied [...] He wanted to be caressed, and kissed, and wept over, as children are caressed and comforted. He knew that he was an important judge, with a grey beard, which made all that impossible; but all the same, that was what he wanted.'
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
To be fair, I read the first two stories—“Happily Ever After,” a moving story of love and marriage; “The Death of Ivan Ilyich,” a knockout meditation on death and dying and an antecedent to Philip Roth’s Everyman; didn’t finish “The Cossacks”. So sue me.
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The Woodfelling, Polikushka, and The Forged Coupon were my favorites in this collection (in that order)
I really enjoyed the writing style although the characters and plot were depressing. The end was oddly hopeful.