A review by pillswor
The Death of Ivan Ilyich by Leo Tolstoy

challenging dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

A truly beautiful short story on the experience of death from Tolstoy's own reflection upon faith and religion. I could do without the incredibly repetitive and mundane introduction which makes up half the length of the book. Tolstoy's transformative writing really gets dragged down by Blythe's surface level and faux deep analysis of a text which plainly puts everything at your feet already. I appreciate the real historical context as to what Tolstoy's life was when writing the story though. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Terminal illness, and Suicidal thoughts

It is just a story about a man's experience dying. If you're not comfortable with death, topics surrounding it, or the emotions wrapped up in a terminal illness, don't read.