try! It's hard to get into and you have to release your hold on reality. It's very weird but a powerful critic of living in stalinist russia. I've skimmed the wiki entry and agree its as clear as mud if you haven't read the book. Even if you get 1/2 way through you'll have got enough to talk about. and if you can't face reading it (it's not a book that lends itself to speed-reading), read up on the way many people would have read it - samizdat - copied text, typed or handwritten, passed discreetly from friend to friend and the kind of thing that could land you in siberia (or worse, not in siberia).
Also consider the art movement at the time. Post revolution there was a huge bloom in art in Russia as society's rules books were being rewritten (think Kandinsky). Then as the political repression started creative types had a choice - leave (as Kandinsky) or stay and try and work on anyway.
it's a really extraordinary book.
Either that or it was written under the influence of too much vodka. you decide!