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3.95 AVERAGE
3.95 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
man it makes me kinda mad that i couldn't finish this but it was just sitting around in my ebook library making me unable to read Any ebook
Uma obra prima de um autor que leio pela primeira vez. É sobretudo um livro com várias histórias que fazem pensar, que é o que normalmente "peço" de um livro. Aborda temas tais como a inevitabilidade da morte, religião, a consequência das nossas ações e da vida que levamos, assim como relações entre diversos estratos sociais. Agradeço à minha irmã ter emprestado :)
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
N/A
Cuento corto que supone una reflexión sobre la aceptación de la enfermedad y la muerte. Esta bien, al estilo Tolstoy de meternos en la mente del personaje, pero no está en mi top en absoluto.
Using this novel as my introduction to Leo Tolstoy's work. I'll be updating my review as I read through each short story. Out of all the short stories, I really enjoyed [b:The Death of Ivan Ilych|18386|The Death of Ivan Ilych|Leo Tolstoy|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1336967150l/18386._SX50_.jpg|234915] and [b:The Forged Coupon|125390|The Forged Coupon|Leo Tolstoy|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1328848433l/125390._SY75_.jpg|2600514].
3.5/5
[b:The Raid|125838|The Raid|Leo Tolstoy|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348709862l/125838._SX50_.jpg|18532828] ✰✰✰½
The story takes place in the Caucasus region and begins with a conversation between the narrator and a military captain about bravery.
The narrator originally seems intrigued by the idea of participating in battle and questions why people willingly fight. We follow this narrator and meet a couple of key characters. One in particular peaked my interest. He is described as a charismatic man who in reality has a noble heart. He nurses one of his enemies to health after shooting him.
Overall, I'm incredibly impressed by this short story and believe it was a strong start. I might have to get used to the lack of riveting plot I'm used to with fantasy novels and instead focus on the hidden meaning of the narrative.
The Woodfelling ✰✰✰
Through the perspective of a cadet, we meet a cast of characters once again fighting a battle in Caucasus. We learn that some are fighting in battle just to get recognition because returning to Russia without it would be unspeakable. The situation in Russia is regarded as fantastic by one person, but it is contrasted in the following chapter as a soldier's family has not responded to his letters and he assumes they're too poor to reply or want him to come home. The ending is a bit sad and overall I think the story captures the range of people you would meet in battle.
[b:Three Deaths|9505913|Three Deaths|Leo Tolstoy|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1352482336l/9505913._SY75_.jpg|14391591] ✰✰½
Finally encountered the first female characters in this collection of short stories. As expected this story is about three deaths, though the last one is not as obvious as the first two. Incredibly short and quick read that I enjoyed.
[b:Polikushka|2818247|Polikushka|Leo Tolstoy|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348908205l/2818247._SX50_.jpg|3784945] ✰✰✰✰
So far the best short story I have read, however, it was considerably longer than the others. The main character, Polikey, is a man that has been a thief most of his life due to the influence of the man that raised him. Now poor, married, and a father of three children, Polikey is a drunk and continues to steal. After being caught by the mistress and begging for forgiveness, she gives Polikey an opportunity to show he has changed by tasking him with picking up a huge sum of money from a nearby village. Polikey does not know that the mistress has determined that his spot in the army will be taken by the nephew of another poor serf Datlov. An unfortunate circumstance occurs, forever changing the life of Polikey and Datlov. The ending chapter was a bit confusing, however, this short story was still a great read.
[b:The Death of Ivan Ilych|18386|The Death of Ivan Ilych|Leo Tolstoy|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1336967150l/18386._SX50_.jpg|234915] ✰✰✰✰✰
Phenomenal from start to finish. This short story begins when Ivan's colleagues learn of his death. All are selfishly thinking of who will take his job, but are reminded that they must pay respects at his funeral. We meet Ivan's family at this funeral, but are taken back to the beginning of Ivan's life in the third chapter. Following along from his birth up to his death we learn that not all the riches in his life bring the happiness he so desperately desired. Once again, this was an outstanding short story; it is no surprise that this is his one of his most well-known works.
[b:After the Ball|17934775|After the Ball|Leo Tolstoy|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1368976325l/17934775._SX50_.jpg|4939080] ✰✰
Ivan discusses the events that occurred the night of a ball. He begins the tale as a love story, how enamored he was with the colonel’s daughter. Riding on a high back in his home, he decides to return her glove and heads to her place. Here he sees a frightening scene that changes his feelings and demonstrates the unsettling feeling of whether actions can truly be justified.
[b:The Forged Coupon|125390|The Forged Coupon|Leo Tolstoy|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1328848433l/125390._SY75_.jpg|2600514] ✰✰✰✰½
Absolutely loved this one from start to finish. A 15 year old boy forges a coupon to pay back a debt he has with his friends. Initially we follow along with this forged coupon, and eventually we start seeing the drastic outcomes and how people's lives change from this simple illegal act. Although a lot more religious than the previous short stories, this one had my attention from the start.
3.5/5
[b:The Raid|125838|The Raid|Leo Tolstoy|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348709862l/125838._SX50_.jpg|18532828] ✰✰✰½
The story takes place in the Caucasus region and begins with a conversation between the narrator and a military captain about bravery.
‘Yes,’ I said, ‘it seems to me that in every danger there is a choice, and the choice that springs from a sense of duty, for example, is courage, while a choice made under the influence of base feelings is cowardice.
The narrator originally seems intrigued by the idea of participating in battle and questions why people willingly fight. We follow this narrator and meet a couple of key characters. One in particular peaked my interest. He is described as a charismatic man who in reality has a noble heart. He nurses one of his enemies to health after shooting him.
And how that man suffered, just to appear in his own eyes the way he wanted to appear, for his fellow officers and the soldiers could never see him the way he wanted to be seen.
Overall, I'm incredibly impressed by this short story and believe it was a strong start. I might have to get used to the lack of riveting plot I'm used to with fantasy novels and instead focus on the hidden meaning of the narrative.
The Woodfelling ✰✰✰
Through the perspective of a cadet, we meet a cast of characters once again fighting a battle in Caucasus. We learn that some are fighting in battle just to get recognition because returning to Russia without it would be unspeakable. The situation in Russia is regarded as fantastic by one person, but it is contrasted in the following chapter as a soldier's family has not responded to his letters and he assumes they're too poor to reply or want him to come home. The ending is a bit sad and overall I think the story captures the range of people you would meet in battle.
His last moments had been as bright and calm as his whole life. He had lived too honestly, too simply, for his unquestioning faith in the heavenly life to come to falter at the moment of truth.
[b:Three Deaths|9505913|Three Deaths|Leo Tolstoy|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1352482336l/9505913._SY75_.jpg|14391591] ✰✰½
Finally encountered the first female characters in this collection of short stories. As expected this story is about three deaths, though the last one is not as obvious as the first two. Incredibly short and quick read that I enjoyed.
[b:Polikushka|2818247|Polikushka|Leo Tolstoy|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348908205l/2818247._SX50_.jpg|3784945] ✰✰✰✰
So far the best short story I have read, however, it was considerably longer than the others. The main character, Polikey, is a man that has been a thief most of his life due to the influence of the man that raised him. Now poor, married, and a father of three children, Polikey is a drunk and continues to steal. After being caught by the mistress and begging for forgiveness, she gives Polikey an opportunity to show he has changed by tasking him with picking up a huge sum of money from a nearby village. Polikey does not know that the mistress has determined that his spot in the army will be taken by the nephew of another poor serf Datlov. An unfortunate circumstance occurs, forever changing the life of Polikey and Datlov. The ending chapter was a bit confusing, however, this short story was still a great read.
[b:The Death of Ivan Ilych|18386|The Death of Ivan Ilych|Leo Tolstoy|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1336967150l/18386._SX50_.jpg|234915] ✰✰✰✰✰
The past history of Ivan Illyich's life had been straightforward, ordinary and dreadful in the extreme.
Phenomenal from start to finish. This short story begins when Ivan's colleagues learn of his death. All are selfishly thinking of who will take his job, but are reminded that they must pay respects at his funeral. We meet Ivan's family at this funeral, but are taken back to the beginning of Ivan's life in the third chapter. Following along from his birth up to his death we learn that not all the riches in his life bring the happiness he so desperately desired. Once again, this was an outstanding short story; it is no surprise that this is his one of his most well-known works.
[b:After the Ball|17934775|After the Ball|Leo Tolstoy|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1368976325l/17934775._SX50_.jpg|4939080] ✰✰
Ivan discusses the events that occurred the night of a ball. He begins the tale as a love story, how enamored he was with the colonel’s daughter. Riding on a high back in his home, he decides to return her glove and heads to her place. Here he sees a frightening scene that changes his feelings and demonstrates the unsettling feeling of whether actions can truly be justified.
[b:The Forged Coupon|125390|The Forged Coupon|Leo Tolstoy|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1328848433l/125390._SY75_.jpg|2600514] ✰✰✰✰½
Absolutely loved this one from start to finish. A 15 year old boy forges a coupon to pay back a debt he has with his friends. Initially we follow along with this forged coupon, and eventually we start seeing the drastic outcomes and how people's lives change from this simple illegal act. Although a lot more religious than the previous short stories, this one had my attention from the start.
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
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
I read this because I watched Ikiru and they say Kurosawa was inspired because of this short story. I believe Tolstoy didn’t write this book to give people a lesson on how effective they should live their lives. I think it’s just his take on what human life is and will continue to be.
I thought this was incredible. The ending, and what it communicates, is exactly right.