It took me only one day to read the entire book. Yes, it was that interesting.
At the same time it was so frightening that I couldn't sleep after finishing the story. It's really horrible how little value human life had at the beginning of USSR. They just took away all the property from those who had something (and I know that it were the most hard working people who managed to survive the war, revolutions and hunger) and then they just didn't know exactly what to do with all those unfortunates.
The book celebrates thirst for life which is one the defining characteristics of a human being. I also liked that all the characters have they own unique story and personality. I enjoyed the most these little wins of "karma" throughout the story.