One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich

[Canerican]

Ok, this is possibly the worst book I have read, did anyone actually like it. It was so dry, so empty. I was disapointed.

[adleberg]

I think you are leaping to assumptions here. The book is not intended to be entertaining. It was secretly written by Solzhenitsyn WHILE he was imprisoned in a special jail for political prisoners and smuggled out.

If you are interested in Dostoevsky at all it should atleast be interesting as an account of the type of jail that Dost himself spent many years in.  

[Canerican]

If you are interested in Dostoevsky at all it should atleast be interesting as an account of the type of jail that Dost himself spent many years in.  

That is pretty much why I read it, I wasn't looking for entertainment in this book, bad I found it to be so bland. Was this perhaps Solzhenitsyn's goal?

[gregcrockett]

Hi my name's Greg; afirst time poster, andDost fan.

Canerican

Apparently Solzhenitsyn hated most translations of this book, though the one he approved of was quite good, and I found it memorable. However his reputation has declined considerably over the years, and sadly like Yevtushenko he was over-rated because of his dissidence.

Good wishes
Greg  

[Worm]

Is Solzhenitsyn actually still alive today?

[Canerican]

Yes he is alive, however his health is failing, he is old, I think near 80.

[adleberg]

I agree the translations play an important role. The first translation I read was by Vintage Classics and I put it down after 2 chapters...try and find one that suits your language preferences

[Canerican]

I already know what my problem was: I am used to reading 1830-1920's era literature, this just doesn't equate to what I enjoy.

[TheFernando]

it's not a terrible book, just not as deep as maybe some of Dostoyevsky's stuff.  I think it records in time a great concept of socialist prison life in the 50s.  peace

[OlegB]

I'm currently studying it at school (it's part of the curriculum), though I've certainly read it before. I don't value Solzhenitsyn as one of the great Russian writers - and he's not the best guy as a person - but in terms of social value "Ivan Denisovich" is a very important book. It was the first book published in the Soviet Union which openly told people about the horrors of Stalin's era. While even in Russian it's often hard to read, its value from this point of view cannot be underestimated.
It's more like a "documentary" than a real literature masterpiece. That's OK, but not everyone likes this kind of books.

[Canerican]

The more I think about, the more the book bothers me, makes me think. I guess Alexandr Solzhenitsyn accomplished his goal... I actually reread and loved it. What is going on?

[lerik]

Ok, this is possibly the worst book I have read, did anyone actually like it. It was so dry, so empty. I was disapointed.

The reason the book was written  so 'dry' was done to represent camp life.The fact that there are no divisions into chapters drags on time and helps to create the feeling of 'one day'.I have written my coursework on it and I have found many interesting things in it.I found the aspect of closed/open spaces very interesting and simbolic and the description of  food helps to reveal alot about characters.But of course,every person has their own opinion about every author.

[tzar]

Ok, this is possibly the worst book I have read, did anyone actually like it. It was so dry, so empty. I was disapointed.

well, once again: that book is "political".
and Solzsh is quite a dodgy person that promoted the disrespect for the law & order as well as disrespect towards Russia and her achievements.
in fact, he doesn't respect anything and anyone - he shamelessly libeled upon a great russian writer/nobel prize winner Sholokhov.
for the western readers there's lots of "exotic" stuff in such slanderous rubbish as 'one day...' or '... gulag', but i personally know: most of russian people loved Stalin and supported his actions.

[lerik]

Ok, this is possibly the worst book I have read, did anyone actually like it. It was so dry, so empty. I was disapointed.

well, once again: that book is "political".
and Solzsh is quite a dodgy person that promoted the disrespect for the law & order as well as disrespect towards Russia and her achievements.
in fact, he doesn't respect anything and anyone - he shamelessly libeled upon a great russian writer/nobel prize winner Sholokhov.
for the western readers there's lots of "exotic" stuff in such slanderous rubbish as 'one day...' or '... gulag', but i personally know: most of russian people loved Stalin and supported his actions.

I am sorry,what do you mean by 'Solzhenitsyn disregarding Russia?' ???In what way?And why is "One day in the life of Ivan Denisovich" or " Gulag archipelago"  'slanderous rubbish'? ???Have you tried reading his other works like "Matryona's house"?

[lerik]

Yes he is alive, however his health is failing, he is old, I think near 80.

Not exactly Canercian.He is 88(he was born in 1918)