Reviews

The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov

platinum_mole's review against another edition

dark funny mysterious reflective

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

frag's review against another edition

funny reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

bellalaf's review against another edition

4.0

I am going to need to re read this. I'm not used to reading classics, so this was a struggle to read at points, and I can't say I enjoyed all of it. BUT, it's been in my head non stop, and whilst the first third feels quite disjointed and confusing, it all ties together nicely by the end. It's funny and nightmarish and bizarre. The Master and his lover, Margarita, are two of many characters living in Moscow during a visit from Woland (the devil) and his accomplices (including the ultimate comedic relief, Behemoth, the talking cat with bad aim who happens to be the size of a pig). Devilry occurs and there's chaos throughout the city, but everyone is scarily accustomed to bizarre acts occurring and the authorities work to get to the bottom of it all and pin logical explanations to the weirdness happening - even if the explanation in several cases is 'ah, this person must be insane'. The story includes witches, Jesus, Pontius Pilate, a flying pig and a lot of fire. It's all a bit far fetched, but for a book that tackles some pretty heavy themes - oppression, fear, the virtue of honesty and if morals are worth having when judgement is not based on a moral code - it's fantastical and funny.

patlo's review against another edition

adventurous challenging funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

fionagreen's review against another edition

dark funny mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

graydon's review against another edition

challenging funny medium-paced

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

3.75

brittanyweinstockauthor's review against another edition

4.0

I really needed a whole course to fully understand the nuances of this book. There’s a lot there, and I suggest reading about it beforehand. It’s the strangest book I’ve ever read, but I loved it. I got confused at some points but I think it’s just because I didn’t understand it enough. The characters were colorful and rich and I got a lot out of the historical depth and meaning of it as far as it satirized the Soviet Union in the 1930s. I would love to read it again after I read some in-depth interpretations of it.

atticus13's review against another edition

5.0

If you read Russian literature and find yourself reading Tolstoy or Dostoevsky you will find a legacy of pristine, precise and cutting prose. The Master & Margarita throws that out the window with some batshit crazy absurdity. The book is ever unraveling, but at its core is a real set of gripes about Stalinist Russia, the weight of the literary experience and religion. Those gripes create a coherent thread that can be felt but not seen throughout the absurd novel.

Some remark on the sloppiness of this book, born in the fact that Bulgakov spent is life writing, rewriting and even on occasion burning the manuscript of this book. According to historians it never was completed by Bulgakov's standards, but it feels very complete to me. Complete enough to be an unforgettable and inspiring read.

juliette_readsgood's review against another edition

challenging mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

miriam97's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny mysterious slow-paced

5.0