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methusalah's review against another edition
It may be a great satire, but without enough context, it's just a series of nonsensical events. Amusing for a little bit, but difficult to follow and not much of a plot to carry things along
zoeyreads's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
gothhotel's review against another edition
4.0
"Manuscripts don't burn."
"Everything will turn out right. That's what the world was built on."
"He has not earned light, only peace."
70% amusing satire of Soviet society with a light comic tone, 30% aching reflection on art and the human experience. Some passages that made me stop and appreciate, though sadly not the kind of thing one can capture in a quote. The story of Pilate defies simple summary and can't be taken apart in brief, at least not by me. It's subtle and very clever, what Bulgakov does with agency, tense, detail. And the story echoes beyond itself a bit, especially towards the end, when Bulgakov was dying and knew his novel would never be published without significant censorship; the exhaustion, the quiet acceptance, the determination that it mattered - the manuscript can burn because "I remember it by heart", and "I shall never forget anything again."
Anyway, minus a star for gender politics that are tiresome and predictable, if not malicious. The restrained style doesn't lend itself to rich internality, but Margarita's almost comic-book - she's beautiful and intelligent, but frivolous, and she's utterly devoted to the Master. She's a wife, then a witch, then a wife again, and that's all women are throughout the novel. Margarita gets an intriguing moment at the ball - the episode with Frieda - where she's almost something else, resonating with Yeshua, but it goes away, and in the end she's little more than a dog.
"Everything will turn out right. That's what the world was built on."
"He has not earned light, only peace."
70% amusing satire of Soviet society with a light comic tone, 30% aching reflection on art and the human experience. Some passages that made me stop and appreciate, though sadly not the kind of thing one can capture in a quote. The story of Pilate defies simple summary and can't be taken apart in brief, at least not by me. It's subtle and very clever, what Bulgakov does with agency, tense, detail. And the story echoes beyond itself a bit, especially towards the end, when Bulgakov was dying and knew his novel would never be published without significant censorship; the exhaustion, the quiet acceptance, the determination that it mattered - the manuscript can burn because "I remember it by heart", and "I shall never forget anything again."
Anyway, minus a star for gender politics that are tiresome and predictable, if not malicious. The restrained style doesn't lend itself to rich internality, but Margarita's almost comic-book - she's beautiful and intelligent, but frivolous, and she's utterly devoted to the Master. She's a wife, then a witch, then a wife again, and that's all women are throughout the novel. Margarita gets an intriguing moment at the ball - the episode with Frieda - where she's almost something else, resonating with Yeshua, but it goes away, and in the end she's little more than a dog.
zosiagibb's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
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? No
I found this tough going. Some funny bits but ultimately I cared about none of the characters and most of the plot was too bizarre for my tastes.
xbznskeieosoae's review against another edition
dark
funny
inspiring
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
tariqabdullah's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
spriteluver's review against another edition
5.0
MAGICAL!!!! tender and sad and beautiful. a true romance, even outside of master and margarita's relationship ....i absorbed so much of this story straight into my skin and heart, so it's hard to put it into words, but i get it ...i get it, and thats what makes it sadder and more beautiful. art is magic beyond time and corporeal nature...AGHHH
dada0407's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
mejawoo's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
4.5