I have long wanted to start reading the writings of Alexandr Solzhenitsyn, the formerly imprisoned Soviet dissident best remembered for saying “Live not by lies.”

His first book turns out to be probably his shortest, covering just one day in the imprisonment in Siberia of a fictional character named Ivan Denisovich Shukhov.

Shukhov works on a work gang outside of the camp, in below zero conditions for over 12 hours, yet concludes he had a pretty good day.

His bunkmate is a Baptist, imprisoned for his faith, so Christianity does make it into this novel!

I am glad I read this short work for a perspective in gratitude.