top of page
Search

The Death of Ivan Ilych

  • Writer: Kathy Miller
    Kathy Miller
  • Sep 13, 2024
  • 1 min read

Leo Tolstoy, 1915 (translation)

Date read: 9/13/24


I am unfortunately well acquainted with death. I worked as a nurse's aide and was present for several passings, in addition to three of my five grandparents. I have watched people melt away into death and Tolstoy clearly has, as well, because his depiction of long suffering into death is 100% on point. Heartbreaking too, when you consider the main character dies of appendicitis, which my son had and is treatable now.


It's Tolstoy, so it is also religious. Which is whatever. Why do we suffer? As someone with fibromyalgia, I'd love an answer to that question.


Definately a classic. Beautiful.

Recent Posts

See All
The Secret Agent

Joseph Conrad, 1907 Date read: 2/28/26 First of all, as a teacher of English as a second language, I am beyond impressed with Conrad. I believe English was his third language, at least his second, and

 
 
 
The Buddenbrooks

Thomas Mann, 1901 Date read: 2/20/26 This novel reminded me strongly of the Forsyte Saga by John Galsworthy. They were written roughly the same time (the first Forsyte novel came out in 1906) and bot

 
 
 
Crossroads

Jonathan Franzen, 2021 Date read: 1/4/26 Wow. I thought my family was fucked. This is a very compelling novel about a really messed up family falling apart. Hypocritical father, somewhat psychotic mot

 
 
 

Comments

Subscribe Form

Thanks for submitting!

©2021 by Lengthy Literary List. Proudly created with Wix.com

  • Instagram
bottom of page