A review by ms_sarah621
The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov

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

4.0

Okay, I have been putting this one off for years because Russian classics intimidate me. But, I regret doing so! This was phenomenal. The story itself was wildly entertaining and had me just blowing through certain chapters. Then, when you take a moment to analyze the story and relate it to the point of history when it was being written, it just makes it so much better. It says so much about the secret police, dictatorship, and the ways we define good and evil. I am left with a lot to think about. Also, the way it’s written and the storytelling makes the book feel more accessible. Some fear the language and background knowledge used for classics, but I didn’t experience that with this book. Now, you’re wondering why I’m not giving this five stars since I seemed to have loved it. Well, this book has two parts, and part one is beautiful. *chefs kiss* However, part two was extremely fantastical and difficult to follow at times. The entertaining bits were stripped away, and it started to feel more and more incoherent. I was enjoying Woland going around Moscow driving everyone to madness and the secret police being at a loss of what to do. It was crazy to see how everyone was affected and their reactions. Then, in the second half, I believe it focused on good and evil much more. I lost the feeling that I had in part one. I feel that part two could have been cut down and integrated into the plot of part one more. I understand that part two is important and is the reason for the book title itself, but it just didn’t go well with me and was difficult to get through. This can just be a case of my reading preferences, but, overall, I really enjoyed this book. Would definitely recommend to classic lovers or someone interested in trying out some Russian literature. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings