A Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich

I read A Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich for my online bookclub. It's just that the chronicle of one day in a Siberian labor camp. You get a no nonsense look and feel for the cold, dull, sometimes brutal routine in these camps. You are plainly told of the strategies for survival, the absurdity of the sentences, and the details of the power camp structure.

Yes, these camps are a thing of the past, in Russia (one hopes). Yet there are political prisoners throughout the world and they're treated cruelly. I couldn't stop asking how it is so easy for some to treat other human beings with such brutality. Yet it does seem to be a way of life for some. It's a quick read, but one that stays with you.