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I've finished. nossy Send a noteboard - 28/07/2010 02:39:57 AM
I like the way it builds. The crazy is moderate in the beginning, and I felt that we got to know Berlioz and Ivan more than any of the characters we spend more time with later. The story happens around Ivan and Berlioz, rather than to them as with the other secondary characters, until we get the first interesting revelation with the oil/tram/decapitation. And right in the middle of that, BLAM! (technical term), one hits the section about Pilate. I want to read that book. Unfortunately, even though I liked the way it ended (and how everything connected), I wasn't as impressed with subsequent sections as I was with the introduction of Pilate/Yeshua. Amazing. If I get to call that first section a short story, I'm claiming it as one of my favorites. I must read it again to see if I still think so.

The devil does devilish things but isn't what I would call evil. I've read that viewpoint before, but I can see that being a very interesting concept when this first came out. I like Woland.

I am amused by my own transition regarding all the supernaturals. I didn't like them. Then I liked them quite a bit (up to and during the ball sequence). Then I didn't like them (too much - too annoying post ball) and then I loved them at the very end. I'm not sure that's intended, other than the first and last impressions. I'd guess it's down to my reading straight through things I don't understand.

I'm doing that whole MUST READ THE HISTORY OF THE TIME thing that I do - among a gazillion other things, I'm intensely curious about when civil rights (re: africans) unfolded in Russia. And wondering about apartment shortages.

I am not sure I like Margarita. I will have to think about this and potentially expound tomorrow. I love the Master. Borderline treasure.
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The Joint Book Club: Mikhail Bulgakov's The Master and Margarita - 15/07/2010 08:36:47 AM 1525 Views
Things you liked - 15/07/2010 08:37:57 AM 927 Views
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You don't have to post only under those headings. - 15/07/2010 04:39:36 PM 956 Views
You contrarian you. - 16/07/2010 08:44:25 PM 978 Views
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Yeah. - 18/07/2010 08:46:33 PM 893 Views
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Things you didn't like - 15/07/2010 08:38:20 AM 834 Views
I'm not sure if it's the translation, - 21/07/2010 07:17:41 PM 903 Views
Ivan Bezdomny is Demyan Bedny - 22/07/2010 03:03:02 AM 992 Views
There wasn't much character-building, was there? - 23/07/2010 11:26:44 PM 1025 Views
Too much crazy. - 28/07/2010 02:59:46 AM 995 Views
Things that didn't make sense to you - 15/07/2010 08:38:54 AM 887 Views
Hm. - 21/07/2010 07:19:12 PM 1055 Views
The murder of Judas. - 23/07/2010 11:13:58 PM 848 Views
Does it make more sense if Aphranius is seen as... - 26/07/2010 12:39:46 AM 799 Views
Ah. - 26/07/2010 08:54:30 AM 897 Views
Interesting, I never gave that option a thought. - 29/07/2010 02:54:17 PM 1025 Views
Yeah. I couldn't think of one that he would fit. - 29/07/2010 10:35:35 PM 913 Views
See, that seemed obvious to me. - 28/07/2010 02:55:02 AM 942 Views
Oh, so that was them making up a story to tell anyone else if needed? *NM* - 28/07/2010 08:29:10 AM 496 Views
Mm, not just that. - 28/07/2010 02:45:58 PM 982 Views
That's how I read it, also. - 29/07/2010 09:53:17 AM 977 Views
The walls have ears. Nobody would know that better than Aphranius and Pilate. - 31/07/2010 07:32:09 PM 986 Views
Wait, isn't that what happened? - 31/07/2010 07:39:32 PM 1059 Views
You are right. He didn't wield the metal weapon. - 31/07/2010 10:19:57 PM 1003 Views
Also, who was Koroviev supposed to be? - 23/07/2010 11:44:28 PM 866 Views
Re: Also, who was Koroviev supposed to be? - 26/07/2010 12:40:32 AM 1006 Views
may be... - 26/07/2010 03:50:48 PM 847 Views
Ooh, I hadn't thought of that. Not a bad idea. *NM* - 26/07/2010 04:11:43 PM 496 Views
Ivanovich's dream. - 29/07/2010 02:43:43 PM 1000 Views
Characters (ordinary) - 15/07/2010 08:39:53 AM 914 Views
Are Russian characters always over the top? - 15/07/2010 05:25:43 PM 800 Views
I had a hard time remembering who was who. - 23/07/2010 10:18:44 PM 1038 Views
War and Peace was easier than this. - 31/07/2010 07:38:51 PM 955 Views
Characters (supernatural) - 15/07/2010 08:40:36 AM 845 Views
The story of the Passion is strikingly intense. - 20/07/2010 07:27:26 AM 990 Views
It is. They are my favourite bits. - 21/07/2010 07:11:33 PM 874 Views
I agree – those were my favourite bits to read. - 23/07/2010 10:15:55 PM 866 Views
Behemoth was hilarious. I love the idea of him being a large mischievous cat. - 23/07/2010 11:22:01 PM 759 Views
He is MY cat. - 28/07/2010 03:03:26 AM 922 Views
I'm reserving a spot for my comments but not posting them just yet. - 15/07/2010 03:46:34 PM 920 Views
(I just actually posted below) *NM* - 20/07/2010 05:22:00 PM 469 Views
Was wondering about that. *NM* - 20/07/2010 05:22:27 PM 482 Views
I had a very interesting conversation about the novel yesterday. - 16/07/2010 02:44:53 PM 1003 Views
That's neat. - 18/07/2010 08:48:53 PM 906 Views
Re: I had a very interesting conversation about the novel yesterday. - 21/07/2010 12:22:28 PM 902 Views
I suspect I'm missing a hell of a lot. - 23/07/2010 10:45:35 PM 1061 Views
I was slightly disappointed on my second read. - 18/07/2010 08:48:02 PM 1030 Views
Re: I was slightly disappointed on my second read. - 21/07/2010 12:31:50 PM 991 Views
I see that title and I think of taking up smoking... - 18/07/2010 09:43:38 PM 796 Views
My thoughts - 20/07/2010 04:50:06 AM 1073 Views
Does this story translate well? - 20/07/2010 06:27:50 PM 895 Views
I honestly have no clue. - 20/07/2010 07:31:03 PM 1003 Views
That is what I thought you'd say. - 21/07/2010 02:04:26 PM 913 Views
About evil in this book. - 21/07/2010 07:14:59 PM 811 Views
More about evil in this book. - 23/07/2010 02:01:40 AM 929 Views
Aha. There's the question I was going to ask: - 31/07/2010 10:32:17 PM 783 Views
Names. - 21/07/2010 07:16:23 PM 944 Views
They're not common. - 22/07/2010 03:08:55 AM 924 Views
I have finally started it. - 25/07/2010 04:30:57 AM 952 Views
Unfortunately do to my eye surgery I could not participate. - 28/07/2010 12:36:28 AM 965 Views
I "read" it in audiobook form, in the car and on the move. - 29/07/2010 02:55:50 PM 962 Views
I wonder if having the words in front would have helped Ivanovich's dream make (more) sense. - 29/07/2010 10:37:27 PM 749 Views
Indeed, it may have. - 30/07/2010 09:06:27 AM 1460 Views
I've finished. - 28/07/2010 02:39:57 AM 913 Views
Civil Rights? You do realize that Russia never imported slaves, right? - 28/07/2010 01:52:12 PM 1015 Views
I thought that was so. - 28/07/2010 02:53:21 PM 1018 Views
It felt like two different books.One part I felt like I was wading through a meaningless fluff. - 31/07/2010 10:45:52 PM 940 Views
Hm - 31/07/2010 10:53:46 PM 957 Views

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