One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich

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Summary: Historical, philospohical and emotional
Review: This may not be a literary masterpiece but it definately heartfelt and rings with truth. It is an accurate and poignant description of lives in the Gulags (as far as I know). It somewhat refuses to get philosophical at some points and at others is almost poetic in it's thoughtfulness and depth. It is both important for it's historical content and it's wonderful ideas and observations on people.

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Summary: A Day Living Under the Oppression of the Evil Empire
Review: Alexander Solzhenitsyn has given the world a glimpse of the evil that is communist oppression and tyranny. While Western Intellectuals (disguised as enlightened progressive liberals) where idolizing the Soviet Union and its collectivist economy, Solzhenitsyn brought the reality of the system to the fore. More than anyone else, he made envy of the Evil Empire less fashionable. This novel is based on Solzhenitsyn own experience with the Soviet work camps that recognize no human rights and starved or worked prisoners to death in the cold arctic Gulags of the Soviet Union. Solzhenitsyn gives the reader intricate details of what a day in the life of a Gulag would be like and is asked to imagine not only thousands of such days - but of not knowing the duration of one's imprisonment. This book, along with Solzhenitsyn's "Gulag Archipelago," is a monument to the evils of hands-on collectivist ideology.

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Summary: I really enjoyed this book:
Review: This book gave an intricate look into an ordinary man's life in a Russian Labor camp. The protagonist, Ivan Denisovich Shukov, is a person anyone can identify with. While the pace was a bit slow, (Though what I expected from a book entitled "One Day...", I'm not sure) I found it a poignant and sad look into the past. Mr. Solzhenitsyn brought across the feeling of extreme desolation and hopelessness, that these prisoners lived with every day. I have never read any of Alexander Solzhenitsyn's books before this one, but I am certainly going to start reading more of them now.

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Summary: A GRAFICAL DEPICTION OF SIBERIAN LABOR CAMPS
Review: SOLZHENITSYN DID AN EXELLENT JOB OF DEPICTING A SINGLE DAY IN THE LIFE OF A MAN WRONGFULLY IMPRISONED IN A SIBERIAN LABOR CAMP. THIS NOVAL ALLOW THE READER PRIVY INTO A WORLD THAT WAS ONCE KEPT A SECRET BY RUSSIA DUE TO THE HARSNESS OF THE TREATMENT TOWARDS THE INMATES. IF YOUR INTERESTED ABOUT HOW RUSSIA USE TO CONDUCT THEIR FORCED LABOR PRISONS, THAN THIS IS DEFINATLY A BOOK FOR YOU. EVEN IF THAT'S NOT WHAT GETS YOUR WHEELS TURNING, IT IS STILL A BENIFICIAL BOOK TO READ. IT OPENS YOUR EYES TO SEE THINGS IN A DIFFERENT ASPECT.

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Summary: The book's compelling honesty came with its share of lows.
Review: Throughout the book, many of the events that occured were elongated and led to complete boredom. However these events were uplifted by sorrowful tragedies that these men faced from dawn until dusk everyday of their lives. The utter honesty shocked me, it was unbiased and compelling. The book was not horrible but it had its share of lows. Read this book if you have patience, or wish to read a historically unbiased novel.

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Summary: My favorite and first book to write
Review: A very true, sad, and yet inspiring fiction that has shed light to the horrid conditions in Russia's prison camps.

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Summary: It shows human life from a different view than usually shown
Review: I thourghly enjoyed this book. I felt it gave a wide eyed view to the Soviet prison camp system. In fact before reading this book I had no idea that the Soviets would keep prisoners in forced labor camps and almost work them to death. While reading this book I found many things that I wouldn't have believed if I knew that the author hadn't endured these hard ships. I also found it disturbing that if you take everything away from someone they will be reduced to animals, doing anything to please their owners, living each day meal to meal, and also coming to the point of betraying their fellow man for a little extra food. I guess you could say that this book shows what really happened in Russia. I think it show's true events even if the events described are not true in themselves. I believe that everyone should read this book so they can see that the world isn't a perfect place, that injustices happen in places that aren't supposed to have them, and even if something seems real it may not be.

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Summary: Profound, vital
Review: This small book is the most important work of fiction of the century. It is an expose of the cruel, inhumane communist concentration camp, written by a man who experienced the Gulag first hand. Solzhenitsyn is not only the century's important writer, he is one of the most important men of the century. He was a giant intellectual force in driving a stake through communism's bloody, cold heart.

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Summary: Makes you want to know more about Soviet past
Review: I can't believe that I was this interested in a book that takes place over a single day. The concept sounds boring, but it makes you realize that there are situations where the small things in life really do matter, and everyplace has its rules. The character is street wise and very likeable. I read this during the Northeast heatwave in the 90 degree range with no air conditioning and fantasized about the sub-zero cold!

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Summary: A powerful balance between hope and despair
Review: I first picked up this book out of curiosity, and wound up completely engrossed. This description of life in a Soviet post-WW2 gulag is incredibly powerful, largely in part because Solzhenitsyn recounts the tale as a simple description of daily life. One might expect the author of such a tale to go out of his way to spout hateful words and particular atrocities, but Solzhenitsyn doesn't seem to need to do that. His account is very matter-of-fact in tone, which makes it all the more chilling. These prisoners are basically without any long-term hope (except for one or two notable comrades, such as Ivan's Baptist "neighbor") They must take a sense of accomplishment in such tasks as building a wall quickly or successfully hiding a tiny chunk of bread. Solzhenitsyn powerfully presents this horrible life in such a way as to ask for simple awareness, instead of the pity it deserves.