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4.16 AVERAGE
4.16 AVERAGE
Abysmal translation made this an absolute slog to get through.
To be honest, as I am deeply fearful of classics, I never really believed I would pick up this book and start it, let alone finish it! Yet, here we are and I am proud to say I don't regret it. Bulgakov opened a new literary universe for me, one of circumstances and characters full of satire and naive humanity. Thus, I find it needless to say that I found this masterpiece not only a pleasurable read but also a piece of inspiration in my writing journey.
I was sincerely surprised by how easily comprehensible it is, giving off the idea of a contemporary book, especially because of this enticing plot (somewhat similar to Sabrina, the teenage witch). I loved the parts where the narrator cuts in and leaves a little comment or interacts with the reader as if he was reading your mind. The title of the book only made sense to me only at the end of the first book but, until then, it was fascinating to see Bulgakov play with these "clay figurines" that he so amusingly crafted and the myriad of unfortunate events happening to them.
I have yet to become one of those elitist readers who knows exactly the meaning behind every story and haven't many clues to how this book relates to Faust but I can say that it was mesmerizing to see the story partly told from the villain perspective. Woland and his troupe is one of the best animated team I've ever read about and they constantly bring that fever dream element to the table with their constant interventions in Russian people's cowardly, selfishly lead lives. I often found myself underlining or marking segments that woke up this urge in me to put this into a theater play. Even the chapters following Pontius Pilate were surprisingly very immersing.
What I am not so sure about is the epilogue. I found myself slightly unsatisfied with its ending although I loved seeing how each character's life evolved afterwards.
ALL IN ALL! This book deserves all the praise and if you're looking for an entertaining classic that blatantly shows you how real life is then this is it! One more thing...please, for the love of Yeshua Ha Nozri, write on your books, underline your favourite quotes with vibrant colours, draw, put stickers because I swear you'll regret reading all these books and never remembering what made you love them so much!!!
I was sincerely surprised by how easily comprehensible it is, giving off the idea of a contemporary book, especially because of this enticing plot (somewhat similar to Sabrina, the teenage witch). I loved the parts where the narrator cuts in and leaves a little comment or interacts with the reader as if he was reading your mind. The title of the book only made sense to me only at the end of the first book but, until then, it was fascinating to see Bulgakov play with these "clay figurines" that he so amusingly crafted and the myriad of unfortunate events happening to them.
I have yet to become one of those elitist readers who knows exactly the meaning behind every story and haven't many clues to how this book relates to Faust but I can say that it was mesmerizing to see the story partly told from the villain perspective. Woland and his troupe is one of the best animated team I've ever read about and they constantly bring that fever dream element to the table with their constant interventions in Russian people's cowardly, selfishly lead lives. I often found myself underlining or marking segments that woke up this urge in me to put this into a theater play. Even the chapters following Pontius Pilate were surprisingly very immersing.
What I am not so sure about is the epilogue. I found myself slightly unsatisfied with its ending although I loved seeing how each character's life evolved afterwards.
ALL IN ALL! This book deserves all the praise and if you're looking for an entertaining classic that blatantly shows you how real life is then this is it! One more thing...please, for the love of Yeshua Ha Nozri, write on your books, underline your favourite quotes with vibrant colours, draw, put stickers because I swear you'll regret reading all these books and never remembering what made you love them so much!!!
dark
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, Violence, Medical content, Alcohol
Moderate: Cancer
Minor: Racism
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Red for a book club, and I really tried! First in English, snd then in Swedish, but I just couldn't bring myself to pick it up again.
adventurous
challenging
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
“𝙈𝙖𝙣𝙪𝙨𝙘𝙧𝙞𝙥𝙩𝙨 𝙙𝙤𝙣'𝙩 𝙗𝙪𝙧𝙣.”— 𝙈𝙞𝙠𝙝𝙖𝙞𝙡 𝘽𝙪𝙡𝙜𝙖𝙠𝙤𝙫
WHAT AN EXPERIENCE!!!
This book is packed with absurd, surreal, and escalating events that all seem disconnected at first but actually form a sharp satirical arc. The story has two main storylines that are woven together, one takes place in Moscow, and the other in ancient Jerusalem (Yershalaim). The key characters include Woland (Satan) and his retinue, the poet Ivan, Pontius Pilate, the unnamed writer known only as the Master, and of course Margarita.
𝙈𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨: Reading this got me lost in chaos and drenched in Soviet satire. Like… EVERY CHAPTER JUST THROWS SOMETHING WILD AT YOU and I’m here screaming, laughing, and questioning everything????!!!
Part I of the book feels like satirical realism with lots of weird and ominous edges: a Soviet writers’ union (Massolit), bureaucratic pettiness, the trial of Yeshua, Stalinist culture, Ivan's breakdown, theatrical exposure, etc. with Woland and his retinue doing some mysterious and strange things in the background with their sufficient supernatural powers to deliberately toy their targets (the Muscovites discouraged religion, magic, and irrationality). Tbh I think the illegal foreign currency transactions (a major Soviet crime) and an extraordinary rendering of the operation of secret police within society are interesting to study hehe. And in the end… basically all of Woland’s targets end up in the psychiatric clinic lol 😂
Then in part II, it’s like the magical realism is throwing me off. At first, I feel a bit disappointed because the first reunion of the Master and Margarita doesn’t hit hard and feels somewhat flat. But along the journey, it hits harder because I realize their love is what carried them through chaos. Suffering, sacrifice, and longing. It just probably gutted me in the best way 🤧
𝙈𝙮 𝙛𝙖𝙫𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧: I got two favorites.
Chapter 2 “Pontius Pilate”, because of the political-religious tension feels very much like the world of Hellenistic Judea, where Roman governance and Jewish law clashed and the nuances really blend Aramaic and Greek, and Latin elements. I’M CAPTIVATED. Another interesting thing is the bureaucratic facades, a political setup by the high priests (especially Kaifa) to get rid of a harmless man who challenges their authority.
Then, chapter 23 “The Great Ball at Satan’s”, called the spring ball of the full moon, or the ball of the hundred kings (meaning it attracts powerful and dark figures from many realms), where Margarita meets kings, dukes, cavaliers, suicides, poisoners, gallowsbirds, traitors, madmen, sleuths, etc. Feels so fantastic. The atmosphere is just terrifying and probably the most magical part of the book (me too was sinking in fear lol).
🌟 4.5/5
Whoopsiee… Hope I didn’t spoil too much 😿
Anyway… Since The Master and Margarita is such a multilayered story, at first it might feel confusing but believe me, it’s worth your time.
dark
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No