Throughout the book Sergei Kourdakov wrote, their are many turning points and decisions that keep the reader wondering what will happen next. Not only this, but the writing shows insight into that time, and that place. Some of these decisions many people could have never thought of, as they are complex and life changing. Some of the biggest ones in the book are, Army vs. Navy, Lenin prayer vs. the slave labor city, joining a crime syndicate vs. staying clean, telling the truth about suicide vs. telling a lie. The decisions led to a tough and very unforgiving life. These decisions also led to failure, as all things eventually do.
The biggest decision in the book was when he had the choice of joining the crime syndicate, or staying clean. The biggest part in this choice was money. For each job he would be paid 25 rubles. Sergei was dumfounded by the idea of being paid this much. The jobs included beating up Christians and stealing their bibles. He made quick work of this, and did think twice about what he was doing. At this point in his life, he was doing good. He had a job and was making lots of money. He did these types of jobs over and over again. But he did eventually fail an assignment.
This assignment was just like all the others. He would find the Christians, beat them up, and then take and steal their bibles. So he found the Christians having a meeting in a cabin. He politely knocked on the door. One of the group members answered and asked if they were cops. Sergei responded with a yes. The member explained to them they were not doing anything wrong. They said they had religious freedom and it was their right. Of course the member was correct. When no one else had anything to say, two of the members offered to give themselves up, and they were escorted to the police station. The leader of the group Sergei belonged did not like this, and screamed at them. That was the failed assignment.
Of course money led him into the job, and eventually to failure. If he had not seen the job for the money, and for what the job was, he never would have taken it. And if Sergei was prepared for this sort of thing, and just did what he was told he would have been successful. Instead of violence like he was supposed to be doing, he tried reasoning. This was a failure, and a big one at that. This greatly angered the leader. The Christians were still able to worship. They were not supposed to do this.
Through the Book Kordakov wrote, it shows the many important changes in his life. All of these changes are both good and bad. These choices and changes are major turning points in his life and in the novel. It leaves the reader wondering not only what will happen next, but how he could get through the things he faced.
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