One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich
One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich is one of the best books I’ve ever read, many haven’t heard of it, few have picked up its small frame and delved into the life of Ivan Denisovich as you follow him through the course of just one of his days as a prisoner in a Soviet Gulag. It’s not just about the struggles he faces and how he handles his circumstances, but a look at human nature. The harsh reality of a life spent as a prisoner in surroundings such as these makes the reader look at their own life and whether they could possibly endure and overcome a similar fate; you learn to take nothing for granted. A warm bowl of soup that is hard earned is much more deliciously appreciated than the spoils that freedom can sometimes bring. This is not a depressing book, it isn’t one that makes you feel worse for wear when you’ve read it, on the contrary it lifts your spirits when you see the strength of man when put to the utmost test.