Mrs. Gallagher's Book Group discussion

"In the First Circle" is a well-written book that follows the lives of many characters in the Soviet Union after World War 2. Most of the novel takes place in a Soviet sharashka, or labor camp. Many of the people working there are very intelligent people, and are being forced to work on projects for Soviet intelligence. The book covers a wide range of characters, from prisoners in a labor camp to Joseph Stalin himself. "In the First Circle" provides insight on what Soviet political and social views during the cold war era, from the point of view of many different kinds of people. The novel shows how the authoritarian communist government affected people in the Soviet Union, both inside and outside of prison walls. Many opinions on the Soviet government and way of life are shown throughout the book, showing the diverse ideologies of the Soviet people. One of the major themes in this book is the characters seeking a sense of morality, which would allow them to feel good about the lives that they live. I would rate this book four out of five stars because the book can be very insightful and, at some points, moving, but it can also be hard to follow because of all of the characters that are referenced throughout the novel. "In the First Circle," at over 700 pages, is a very long book, but in the end, it is well worth the read.