-
" La muerte en su forma mas agoviante y desgarradora, la que minimiza el alma. "
- Sebastian, 2/20/2014
-
" My favorite book of al time "
- sura, 2/15/2014
-
" Characteristically dark in the Russian literary tradition. A lovely meditation on mortality, however, and the way people tend to distance themselves from illness and death. A good read when you are in the mood to ponder the human condition. "
- Maria, 2/9/2014
-
" Wow. For some reason, I was expecting some kind of cynical plot twist. It totally didn't happen. I just sort of figured there must be something else going on, because this couldn't be _it_. What can I say? I was unimpressed. "
- kasia, 2/7/2014
-
" A short and simple story enriched with the essence of life, a true Tolstoy work, written so simply yet sophisticated to the core. Loved it. "
- Vinita, 2/6/2014
-
" Tolstoy, from what I've read, has nothing on Dostoevsky! "
- Hayden, 1/31/2014
-
" my first foray into Tolstoy's works; extremely talented writer telling a simple story of a man who lived for all the wrong reasons, only to realize what was truly important just before dying; somehow hopeful in that he did die in peace. "
- Lisa, 1/28/2014
-
" A beautiful and inspiring work. "
- Kevin, 1/27/2014
-
" So much in so dense a volume. This work will need to cross my cerebral sea more before I can take it all in and then I may still be lacking. Beyond the stages of grief is a man and his rationale, justifications and inquiries, left only to those possessing some of the knowledge that they are mortal and that mortality is cashing in. "
- Craig, 1/21/2014
-
" Tolstoy probes the questions about death all mankind comtemplate (usually in the later years of life or earlier if death approaches). Ivan was a capable, proud man, an attorney then a judge, who enjoyed the life of the middle class in 19th century Russia. During his professional career, he had been able to pretty much control events about him. At age 45 he suffers a malady and is forced to confront questions about his demise. He realizes death is something he cannot control. Tolstoy skillfully leads the reader through the questions Ivan asks himself as he considers his end: "What is it all for?" and "Am I justified by the life I led." Though a sobering read, it well conceived and written by Tolstoy and I highly recommend the book. "
- Craig, 1/19/2014
-
" Excellent, and especially relevant to someone my age. "
- Kathryn, 1/19/2014
-
" Read this for one of my Master in Nursing classes which made it more interesting because of the required analysis. Otherwise, I probably would not have thought about life and death as much. Where is Palliative Care and Hospice? "
- Janet, 1/18/2014
-
" Now I actually want to read War and Peace, but I'm going to start with Anna Karenia. "
- Stephanie, 1/17/2014
-
" A book about how nobody wants to die. "
- Kimberly, 1/15/2014
-
" "It could only be explained if one could say I hadn't lived as I should. But that is quite inadmissable.", he said to himself, remembering his law-abiding, correct, and proper life. "To accept that would be quite impossible," he said to himself... "There is no explanation!" "
- Joe, 1/11/2014
-
" I read this book my Senior year of high school in a theology class and I distinctly remember being in class and having a mini-epiphany, whipping out a pen, and writing "REMEMBER YOUR MORTALITY" on my left hand in giant letters. If I ever got a tattoo that's what it would say. "
- Sonia, 1/11/2014
-
" From the satiric beginning to the heart-wrenching end, an all around great read. "
- Shawna, 12/11/2013
-
" When given historical context this book is interesting. I don't generally like reading literature that needs external context. "
- Daniel, 11/27/2013
-
" A great look at the transformation of a soul. "
- Andrea, 11/20/2013
-
" First work by Tolstoy that I have read and already it has cemented his undeniable genius. The depth of characterization is incredible you'd be humbled and crushed immensely if you have ambitions of being a writer. "
- Kareef, 11/14/2013
-
" Only read Death of Ivan Ilyich "
- Amy, 11/13/2013
-
" I'm pretty ambivalent about this one. It's short and easy to read but I didn't really connect in any significant way. "
- Angie, 11/8/2013
-
" Overall, I could not find anything wrong with the book. I thought the story and characters were very interesting. The story wasn't dragged on and it was short but pretty nice. "
- Jo, 10/29/2013
-
" I'll probably end up re-reading this in the future. "
- Ifedayo, 9/26/2013
-
" "It could only be explained if one could say I hadn't lived as I should. But that is quite inadmissable.", he said to himself, remembering his law-abiding, correct, and proper life. "To accept that would be quite impossible," he said to himself... "There is no explanation!" "
- Joe, 9/21/2013
-
" This story holds a lot of meaning; however, it's a tough read despite a few flashes of brilliance. Tolstoy has a way of drawing me into the darkness (which I like), but this one was a very slow starter. "
- Curtis, 9/11/2013
-
" I'll probably end up re-reading this in the future. "
- Ifedayo, 8/30/2013
-
" Good! An internal account of a dying man, with Tolstoy's usual bull's-eye perception. "
- Natalie, 8/20/2013
-
" 2 short stories of facing death, Ivan Ilyich suffers and seeks solice in first, liked 2nd better-- snowstorm strands rich landowner and peasant "
- Jennyreadsexcessively, 8/13/2013
-
" I'm pretty ambivalent about this one. It's short and easy to read but I didn't really connect in any significant way. "
- Angie, 7/10/2013
-
" A masterful, provocative, a very unusual short story "
- Kimmo, 7/10/2013
-
" Excellent book. Im not very good with words, but this book was an answer to a lot of questions/fears i have had since i was a child. It was somewhat liberating for me. Anyway, i wont sell it, but ill let people borrow it. Holler "
- Hogimacaca, 7/2/2013
-
" Don't die with your music left in you. "
- Jon, 6/25/2013
-
" A moving account of one man's confrontation with death. I think Tolstoy's pace works better in longer works, but he deals with his themes well in this short novella. "
- Jason, 5/25/2013
-
" Master and Man is by far my favorite Tolstoy short story. Death of Ivan Ilyich is right up there as well. "
- MountainPoet, 5/10/2013
-
" Great short story. Amazing how something written over 100 years ago can be so completely contemporary. "
- A.S., 4/30/2013
-
" A great short story and wonderfully written! "
- Alison, 4/17/2013
-
" Good introduction to Leo Tolstoy. Felt almost like a prequel to "Anna Karenina" at times, but that is due to the time period, class and location of the novel. Another good book to get you thinking about how you want to live -- maybe before you are on your deathbed. "
- Denise, 4/17/2013
-
" Good introduction to Leo Tolstoy. Felt almost like a prequel to "Anna Karenina" at times, but that is due to the time period, class and location of the novel. Another good book to get you thinking about how you want to live -- maybe before you are on your deathbed. "
- Denise, 4/15/2013
-
" Great short story. Amazing how something written over 100 years ago can be so completely contemporary. "
- A.S., 3/17/2013
-
" A very poignant and impressive cautionary tale! "
- Kathryn, 3/13/2013
-
" 2 short stories of facing death, Ivan Ilyich suffers and seeks solice in first, liked 2nd better-- snowstorm strands rich landowner and peasant "
- Jennyreadsexcessively, 3/7/2013
-
" Book club selection that I really didn't like. We only read Ivan Ilyich but the depression was overwhelming as I read. "
- Shauna, 2/14/2013
-
" My absolute favourite of his short stories. Beautifully told and a heart-wrenching tale. "
- Sue, 2/11/2013
-
" Might be a little boring and not easy to digest, but this book makes you understand what death is, and how it comes to you before you die, how someone feels it, what agony is. "
- Lorenia, 1/6/2013
-
" Is it strange to say this book made it easy to think of my own passing? Profound is a word used too often, but when it fits it fits. "
- Conan734, 12/20/2012
-
" This novella is one of the most affecting and well-paced works of fiction I've ever read. Written in 1886, it damns the hollowness of modern middle-class existence better than anyone before or since. "
- James, 12/18/2012
-
" i know he is a titan, but not a huge fan. he is far more depressing that dostoevsky. and his theology is whacked "
- Joe, 11/6/2012
-
" A story of the ultimate sacrifice. "
- Daniel, 10/9/2012
-
" I read the story of "Master and Man" within this compilation. It was a powerful and moving story of man's assumptions about power and what really matters in life. "
- Laura, 9/21/2012
-
" Only read Death of Ivan Ilyich "
- Amy, 9/8/2012
-
" thought it would be slow. it was at first, i guess. but it paid off. after spending a few days getting through the first twenty pages or so i read the rest of it in an afternoon. couldn't put it down. "
- Sam, 9/7/2012
-
" i know he is a titan, but not a huge fan. he is far more depressing that dostoevsky. and his theology is whacked "
- Joe, 8/26/2012
-
" Master and Man is by far my favorite Tolstoy short story. Death of Ivan Ilyich is right up there as well. "
- MountainPoet, 7/1/2012
-
" Might have fit me more in high school but is too dark for me right now. "
- Timm, 6/13/2012
-
" I read the story of "Master and Man" within this compilation. It was a powerful and moving story of man's assumptions about power and what really matters in life. "
- Laura, 5/16/2012
-
" Tolstoy lays out our lives. Reading this book made me not want to waste any moment of the rest of my life. "
- T, 3/2/2012
-
" Tolstoy lays out our lives. Reading this book made me not want to waste any moment of the rest of my life. "
- T, 2/26/2012
-
" Book club selection that I really didn't like. We only read Ivan Ilyich but the depression was overwhelming as I read. "
- Shauna, 1/28/2012
-
" Word I wasn't expecting to read in this bleak masterpiece: pasties. (Hugh Alpin translator, UK's Hesperus Press) "
- Steve, 12/25/2011
-
" Might have fit me more in high school but is too dark for me right now. "
- Timm, 12/22/2011
-
" A story of the ultimate sacrifice. "
- Daniel, 11/5/2011
-
" Dying is rough and it always has been. "
- Lesley, 9/28/2011
-
" so moving. no need to say more, just wonderful.
"
- Cassidy, 9/21/2011
-
" This is an excellent piece of literature. It's marvelous and it taught be a great deal about life and death.
"
- Pilar, 9/8/2011
-
" This was a quick read that was still longer than it needed to be.
"
- Mary, 9/7/2011
-
" Since I consider myself a Christian Anarchist, I suppose I should read Tolstoy, since he is labeled one as well. This book was brilliant. He threads so many Christian concepts into a single story made more honest than an autobiography. Fantastic. "
- Brian, 9/6/2011
-
" Wow! I don't know what to say.
"
- Laurele, 9/6/2011
-
" Typical Tolstoy, vast, epic and readable. Makes things simple but never simpler. "
- Roy, 9/3/2011
-
" The dying Ivan Ilych gets angry at everyone else...then begins to ask the big questions. His fear: what if my life is wrong? Not sure he arrives at the answer you're expecting. "
- Tim, 8/21/2011
-
" OH wow...so powerful and sad. I cried at the end. It's just amazing what humans will do out of comradeship. This is the true and original meaning of fraternity, defined by Rousseau. Not the modern beer drinking sex fiends...with too much money and too spoiled. "
- Lola, 6/5/2011
-
" One of Tolstoy's short novels inviting the reader into a reflection on the meaning of life. "
- dthaase, 5/29/2011
-
" Long short story or novella. My freshman lit project. Enjoyed every sentence.
"
- Ctb, 5/17/2011
-
" Very well written short story and pretty sad
"
- John, 4/25/2011
-
" First work by Tolstoy that I have read and already it has cemented his undeniable genius. The depth of characterization is incredible you'd be humbled and crushed immensely if you have ambitions of being a writer.
"
- Kareef, 4/20/2011
-
" I can safely say this book changed my life.
"
- Eric, 4/18/2011
-
" This was an interesting book on the process of one man's death. did make me want to read more of Tolstoy.
"
- Joanne, 3/28/2011
-
" What is death? Why do we live? You can see Tolstoy wrestle with death in this book. A great read!
"
- Trae, 3/25/2011
-
" Spend time with a timeless author and Ivan Ilych, a human being dealing with the discontinuity of life when all he's known is the sameness. If you are able to put aside resistences to the subject of death, you will find much to identify with and think about long after the end.
"
- Cheryl, 3/23/2011
-
" It took a long, long time to die.
"
- Eliana, 3/21/2011
-
" Don't read the introduction before the book; it could ruin it. On the other hand, without a little knowledge of Tolstoy, I'd say all but the last pages are boring (sorry, Beth).
"
- Andrew, 3/18/2011
-
" The paradox in this book is heartwrenching. It's a short story, so it's difficult to review without giving spoilers. My favorite Tolstoy.
"
- Lynette, 3/18/2011
> Hide All