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A review by tits_mcgee
The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov
adventurous
dark
funny
informative
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Russian satire at its finest.
Its always quite an intimidating task to review a classic, especially one held in such high regard; but let's give it a crack shall we!
"What would your good do if evil didn't exist, and what would the earth look like if all the shadows disappeared?"
Picture a two part history lesson about Pontius Pilot executing Jesus, and Stalinist Russia; now picture the Devil and his charismatic lackeys (including a stone cold assassin and a boozey black cat who plays chess) causing chaos in both timelines, pulling at people's strings for the hell of it.
Mikhail Bulgakov has provided a shining light of cheerful absurdism at a time when Russia was at its most bleak. The absurdity of Master and Margarita is matched only by its profound reflection and commentary of living in a totalitarian police state, drawing similarities in the debate of good vs evil, and philosophising on what life is worth regardless of circumstance.
The tone of this book was deliciously whimsical, and while I read the physical book I also listened to some parts on Audible. The voice actor Julian Rhind-Tutt did a fantastic job, not only by virtue of energetic storytelling but also by expertly mirroring the strangeness and whimsy of the book. Bravo.
An instant top 10 book for me.
10/10
Its always quite an intimidating task to review a classic, especially one held in such high regard; but let's give it a crack shall we!
"What would your good do if evil didn't exist, and what would the earth look like if all the shadows disappeared?"
Picture a two part history lesson about Pontius Pilot executing Jesus, and Stalinist Russia; now picture the Devil and his charismatic lackeys (including a stone cold assassin and a boozey black cat who plays chess) causing chaos in both timelines, pulling at people's strings for the hell of it.
Mikhail Bulgakov has provided a shining light of cheerful absurdism at a time when Russia was at its most bleak. The absurdity of Master and Margarita is matched only by its profound reflection and commentary of living in a totalitarian police state, drawing similarities in the debate of good vs evil, and philosophising on what life is worth regardless of circumstance.
The tone of this book was deliciously whimsical, and while I read the physical book I also listened to some parts on Audible. The voice actor Julian Rhind-Tutt did a fantastic job, not only by virtue of energetic storytelling but also by expertly mirroring the strangeness and whimsy of the book. Bravo.
An instant top 10 book for me.
10/10