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rchatterjee188's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Forced institutionalization and Gaslighting
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Body horror, Bullying, Car accident, Classism, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Gore, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Self harm, Sexism, Sexual content, Torture, Slavery, Stalking, Toxic friendship, and Violence
mikarala's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Based on the description and what I'd heard about this novel, I honestly thought it was going to be a new favourite. Like, an absurdist story about the devil visiting 1920's/30's Soviet Moscow and getting up to hijinks and causing chaos? Sounded right up my alley. Unfortunately, the matter-of-fact tone that was (I believe) meant to come across as absurdly understated just felt dull and lifeless to me. I was constantly losing track of where I was in the text due to lack of interest. I feel like the mayhem of the events of the story were not well served by the narrative style. For reference, I read the Burgin & O'Connor translation, which is the one I saw most recommended when I searched, so maybe other translations have a little more panache, but yeah, frustratingly, the writing somehow made incredibly ridiculous and absurd events seem incredibly boring. (Although, I will admit I did become somewhat more invested in the second half of the story.)
That's unfortunate, because I do think there are some really interesting themes in this novel. Bulgakov parodies the absurdity of Soviet beaurocracy, drawing a parallel with the Roman state/Pontius Pilate that crucified Jesus Christ (Yeshua Ha-Nozri in this text) out of political cowardice with the cowardly actions of modern Muscovites living under the Soviet state. The final chapters actually almost made me up my rating a bit because there are actually some pretty thought-provoking quotes about the nature of evil and how it without it, good also wouldn't exist, but ultimately 3 stars is where this book actually lands for me, even if there are some really complex and fascinating thematic elements.
Graphic: Violence, Death, and Car accident
pythonesque's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Car accident, Infidelity, Fire/Fire injury, Torture, Forced institutionalization, and Murder
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Body horror, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Sexism
alexandra_skl's review against another edition
4.25
Graphic: Blood, Violence, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Car accident, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, and Forced institutionalization