A russian woman attending funeral of Alexander Solzhenitsyn made a comment I would like to compare.

Question

The article said, "She said, 'We used to read Solzhenitsyn's books at night, and it was our way of measuring things.'"

My question is 2-part.

1) can someone recommenda Solzhenitsyn book or story (not the largest or most famous) but that would be an eye-opener to Americans wanting to read the about the things Russians struggled with; and

2) what current author might be recommended for americans wanting to "measure things" in our culture.

By measuring things, I think she meant to observe the things we should value and be aware of, overall. I'm looking for practical wisdom here, I guess. Thanks

Answer 1

Cancer Ward, The First Circle, The Gulag Archipelago.For American writers try Kurt Vonnegut but not the last book that was published after his death.

Answer 2

Great question!

Here is a list of books for anyone who doesn't like America, doesn't like to live in America or doesn't like American government.

1. A.Solzhenitsyn - The Gulag Archipelago

2. Roy Medvedev - Let The History Judge

3. Varlam Shalamov - The Kolyma Tales

You read these books and then you will REALLY appreciate USA , its people and its government.

P.S. Sorry , I don't know any quick way of learning history and culture.

Aaaand , by the way , I absolutely did not mean that YOU don't like or don't appreciate America.

Answer 3

http://www.exampleessays.com/essay_searc... "A Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich" is a good introduction to S.- . I'm not familiar with contemporary American literature -try your library for help.