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kmhst25's review against another edition
1.5
- There is one main female character, and she is naked for more than half of all of her appearances.
- There is one secondary female character, and she is naked for all of her appearances.
- In fact, most of the background women in the book are also naked. Female nudity is basically a theme. Theoretically, a lot of it can be explained by the association of witches with nudity, but there are so many non-witch naked women floating around that that explanation proves flimsy.
- The "Master" is a man who writes one novel that his (barely fleshed out) lover reveres so much that she only calls him Master from then on, and he adopts the name as his own. (He still calls her by her name though, and her defining characteristics are that she's beautiful and that she's devoted to him.) If anyone asks him who he is, he only says, "I'm the Master." The Master conveniently shares several traits and life experiences with the author of this book.
Later in the novel, it becomes clear that some of the chapters that we have been reading are actually excerpts from the Master's brillaint masterpiece. So not only is he similar to the book's author, but the book's author decides that he is also qualified to write the Master's genius work.
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Body horror, Gore, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, and Blood
Minor: Infidelity, Mental illness, Racism, Slavery, Fire/Fire injury, and Sexual harassment
syliu's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
But Bulgakov is (to quote Théoden) a lesser son of greater sires. Nowhere does he delve into questions of morality and social responsibility with particularly startling depth, breadth or clarity. Instead there are far too many same-ish middle-aged male characters that muddle the narrative. And his treatment of women is extremely disappointing if not somewhat abhorrent.
I can appreciate the book for what it is -- an intriguing and quaintly absurd time capsule from the Soviet Union. But my appreciation for it as a piece of literature does not stretch quite so far.
Moderate: Sexism and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Minor: Gore, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, and Murder
biobeetle's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Mental illness, Sexism, Murder, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Gun violence, Violence, and Alcohol
lisztaffe's review against another edition
- 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? No
4.75
Graphic: Death and Violence
Moderate: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Cancer, Confinement, Cursing, Gore, Infidelity, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Abortion, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
rchatterjee188's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Forced institutionalization and Gaslighting
Moderate: Body horror, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual content, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Car accident, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
skyeuqx's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Sexism, and Gaslighting
wishbea's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Forced institutionalization and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Infidelity and Alcohol
Minor: Cancer, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, and Medical content
urfavpunk's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Death, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Racial slurs, and Sexism
pythonesque's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Infidelity, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Car accident, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Body horror, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, and Religious bigotry
rachelfek's review against another edition
- 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? No
3.5
Minor: Racial slurs, Racism, and Sexism