Mr. Alexander Solzhenitsyn

Guatemala October 17 of 2011

Alexander Solzhenitsyn

Moscow, Russia

Mr. Alexander,

Greetings Mr. Alexander, I hope that all your work develops in a right way. A few days ago I finished reading your book “A Day in the Life of Ivan Denisobich”, which I think is my favorite book that I have read this year. I think this is a great history that involves action, anger and how is the life of a prisoner in a jail in Moscow really is. This story combines real places and the personification and the language of the characters introduce you like in the real life and make better the plot. But I have to say that I dislike the final of the book; this is because the way that you finished the book is different from what I expected. I thought that Ivan would escape from jail and return with his family, but then I analyzed that the title of the book and it is “a day” not “the great escape of Ivan” so I think that the story is according to the title, but despite this the book is very a good and emotive.

I need to say that the way that you give the personification of all the characters is excellent also the different treatment of the prisoners and the police officers is very good because this introduces you in the story like in the real life. Also, another thing that I liked about the book is how you described the natural places or the area that surrounds the characters. For example you mention how the ice and the snow cover the buildings, the barbed wire surrounding the prison etc. It all gives you a visual representation and feel that you are in jail with the coolest weather. Also you make this with all the things that Ivan sees; for example you describe the food that is given to the prisoners or the different tools that Ivan used to resolve his problems.

So for me this book has an awesome story with action because this book is like your autobiography. I think that you combine this kind of things with different aspects of the story that make him a character that give examples of how to work in group and the real friends should never be separated. Thanks for reading this letter of what I think about your book, I hope you answer me if you read my letter.

Kindly: Juan Carlos Velásquez