Scan barcode
elladk's review against another edition
4.0
I’m going to pretend I wasn’t confused for the entirety of this book.
dnagornyi's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
informative
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
ionm's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
"The Master and Margarita" by Mikhail Bulgakov is rightly celebrated for its genre versatility. Part satire, part fantasy, part romance - each of us can find something to love in this novel.
When Satan decides to visit Soviet Moscow, by default he forces the locals to question their state atheism. Believing in evil-incarnate is equal to believing that God, through Jesus of Nazareth, also exists. But what educated intellectual would admit to physically meeting and talking to Satan, even if he appears in ordinary clothes and can foresee the future? Decisively no one, as it's easier to create a believable theory of a skilled dark magician of supernatural powers, then admit to facing that we cannot see.
This premise allowed Bulgakov to immediately put the Soviet disregard for theology on guard, whilst allowing the ordinary Russians to express their deeply held private beliefs in Christianity. Unsurprisingly, this did not please the censors of the time, and with foresight Bulgakov gave us in the central character a master-novelist in a mental health institution mad from being persecuted for writing a novel about Pontius Pilate, himself suffering for ordering the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. In itself, the fundamental plot was an act of courage on the writer's behalf, his engagement in detailing a plethora of supernatural events orchestrated by Satan and his entourage on the streets of Moscow is decisively an act of suicide in the face of the Stalinist regime.
Bulgakov's anger at the new state is evident in the book's social criticism, and even in the fantastical tales of the underworld. What we read is a satire that through laughter invites a most solemn condemnation of the status qvo. The brilliance in this novel is that Bulgakov actively engages us to support the devilish entourage in every instance they are to face the authorities. Even Satan's acts of kindness are a direct attack, signifying that the people of the state are incapable of even the pettiest actions of the dark prince.
The most remarkable aspect of this novel is how the political and the philosophical never stay in the way of literary brilliance. The imagery in every chapter gives us, as readers, an active role in each scene, allowing us to enjoy, through reading, every sense surrounding the characters themselves. Reading this in original Russian makes the experience even more intimate in this tale of deception in the battle between good and evil. Even if at times some aspects of the novel feel superfluous, our memory of the book will always be one of exceptional strength.
When Satan decides to visit Soviet Moscow, by default he forces the locals to question their state atheism. Believing in evil-incarnate is equal to believing that God, through Jesus of Nazareth, also exists. But what educated intellectual would admit to physically meeting and talking to Satan, even if he appears in ordinary clothes and can foresee the future? Decisively no one, as it's easier to create a believable theory of a skilled dark magician of supernatural powers, then admit to facing that we cannot see.
This premise allowed Bulgakov to immediately put the Soviet disregard for theology on guard, whilst allowing the ordinary Russians to express their deeply held private beliefs in Christianity. Unsurprisingly, this did not please the censors of the time, and with foresight Bulgakov gave us in the central character a master-novelist in a mental health institution mad from being persecuted for writing a novel about Pontius Pilate, himself suffering for ordering the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. In itself, the fundamental plot was an act of courage on the writer's behalf, his engagement in detailing a plethora of supernatural events orchestrated by Satan and his entourage on the streets of Moscow is decisively an act of suicide in the face of the Stalinist regime.
Bulgakov's anger at the new state is evident in the book's social criticism, and even in the fantastical tales of the underworld. What we read is a satire that through laughter invites a most solemn condemnation of the status qvo. The brilliance in this novel is that Bulgakov actively engages us to support the devilish entourage in every instance they are to face the authorities. Even Satan's acts of kindness are a direct attack, signifying that the people of the state are incapable of even the pettiest actions of the dark prince.
The most remarkable aspect of this novel is how the political and the philosophical never stay in the way of literary brilliance. The imagery in every chapter gives us, as readers, an active role in each scene, allowing us to enjoy, through reading, every sense surrounding the characters themselves. Reading this in original Russian makes the experience even more intimate in this tale of deception in the battle between good and evil. Even if at times some aspects of the novel feel superfluous, our memory of the book will always be one of exceptional strength.
jakejake's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
cvvvnvvvl's review against another edition
4.0
Really good but I think some of the satire was lost on me, I need to read some annotations and think over the book a bit further. Love the character of Behemoth and i wish the descriptions of the ball went on for longer.
alliepeduto's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.0
captainstarcat's review against another edition
funny
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
hmkramer's review against another edition
challenging
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25