A review by applesodaperson
The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov

challenging funny medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

This book was honestly such a struggle to get through, but I still really enjoyed it, and am glad I finished it. Personally, I just have a really hard time with Russian literature in general. The way it is written, and the fact that every character has life three names, means it takes me a lot of brain power to read. But I will say, this book was easier to read then some other Russian lit I have read. About this book in particular, I thought it was super fun and random and whimsical, and my favorite part was Margarita becoming a witch and just destroying some guy's apartment. Speaking of Margarita though, I am confused as to why her name is in the title, when she really wasn't in the book all that much. She was just a side character, as much as Ivan Homeless was. And "The Master" part of the title isn't really even referring to Satan, the main instigator of the book, but to her lover who wrote the book about Pontius Pilate. And that's another thing, I enjoyed the biblical narrative, but I still don't quite understand what its significance to the story was. Despite being pretty confused by this book, I still did enjoy it.
Read from the Provo library.
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