Somehow this book manages to make the post-WWII Soviet Gulag seem like a fairly happy place.
Ivan Denisovich Shukov was sent to the gulag for having been captured by the German army during the war, hence making him a sympathizer and fit to be sent to the Siberian taiga. Ivan is a man with a plan though, he is going to keep himself fit and get out of the gulag when his time comes.
In the morning, he thinks about getting out of duty by going to the doctor, but decides to go out to work.
In the afternoon, the main concerns are lunch and work.
In the evening, he gets his dinner.
The important things in his life are getting food, whether it be oatmeal laced with fat or bits of meat sent by the families of those in the camp, and not freezing. Other concerns are less, being late for roll call, and freezing while putting together a building in the winter. The temperature is always less than 0 degrees farenheit.
Ten years he passed in this life, with three extra days added on for leap years.
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