sams84 's review for:

The Death of Ivan Ilyich by Leo Tolstoy

4.0

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I picked this up on a complete whim but I am so glad I did. Tolstoy has packed a lot into this short story and created a character that you start off not really liking but in the end you feel his pain and sense of loss and regret as he is forced to face the reality of his life. This is a story that really makes you think without being preachy, judgemental or condescending. I am also once again amazed as to how readable Tolstoy's work is given his reputation and the subjects he writes about, especially given the subject matter in this story. A superb read.