I once read that no civilized person can afford not to read at least part of this great work in three volumes (The Gulag Archipelago). It was an enormous achievment, and in fact, was acclaimed and achieved fame in the rest of the free world (and is monumental in its raison d'etre; Solzhenitsyn was kicked out of his country because of it).
It is certainly a look at a stark and bitter existence which was real. The free and easy life we lead is in sharp contrast. We need to read it not for enjoyment but to recognize what could happen elsewhere and to more highly value our freedoms in order to fight to safeguard them even more zealously.
Thank you for making the effort to post this....