Who Would Like This Book:
Full of wild imagination, satire, and magical twists, "The Master and Margarita" is a rollercoaster ride through Soviet Moscow - with the devil himself crashing the party! Readers who love surreal stories, dark humor, literary satire, or classics with a fantastical edge will devour this. There’s a talking cat, a love story, devilish antics, and a layered critique of life under totalitarian rule. If you enjoy books that weave together philosophy, politics, love, and absurdity - and leave you with plenty to think and laugh about - this one’s a must.
Who May Not Like This Book:
This isn’t the easiest read for everyone. Some find the Russian names, shifting timelines, and multitude of characters confusing. The book jumps between slapstick farce, historical retelling, and philosophical musings - so if you prefer straightforward plots or warm up slowly to magical realism, it could feel chaotic or even frustrating. Readers not interested in political satire or unfamiliar with Soviet history might also miss some of the book’s deeper humor and references. If you like your stories tidy and linear, this may test your patience.
About:
The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov is a novel that delves into a mix of fantastical elements and historical allegories. The story follows the devil's arrival in Moscow, causing chaos and mischief among the characters. Intertwined with this modern-day narrative is the retelling of the crucifixion from Pontius Pilate's perspective, adding depth and complexity to the plot. The writing style is described as rich, vivid, and at times meandering, blending satire with magical realism to create a unique reading experience.
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Notes:
Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Triggers may include themes of violence, mental illness, and existential despair.
Has Romance?
The novel contains a significant romantic storyline focused on the relationship between the Master and Margarita.
From The Publisher:
Suppressed in the Soviet Union for twenty-six years, Mikhail Bulgakov's masterpiece is an ironic parable of power and its corruption, good and evil, and human frailty and the strength of love. Featuring Satan, accompanied by a retinue that includes the large, fast-talking, vodka drinking black tom cat Behemoth, the beautiful Margarita, her beloved-a distraught writer known only as the Master-Pontius Pilate, and Jesus Christ, The Master and Margarita combines fable, fantasy, political satire, and slapstick comedy into a wildly entertaining and unforgettable tale that is commonly considered one of the greatest novels ever to come out of the Soviet Union.
Ratings (231)
Incredible (87) | |
Loved It (66) | |
Liked It (42) | |
It Was OK (24) | |
Did Not Like (9) | |
Hated It (3) |
Reader Stats (627):
Read It (235) | |
Currently Reading (13) | |
Want To Read (279) | |
Did Not Finish (21) | |
Not Interested (79) |
9 comment(s)
Great satire in the Moscow bits, interesting framing device, slightly confused on the moral lesson we're supposed to take away.
Margarita makes a deal with the Devil, which considering how he'd been set up, made me expect the story to go in a completely different direction than it actually did.
If someone can also explain what I'm supposed to draw from the fact that Yeshua calls everyone good (the exact opposite of the account in which he tells the rich young man, "Do you not know none are good but God?"), I would appreciate it. Pilate's quest for truth at odds with his cowardice, on the other hand, was a plot I greatly enjoyed.
“You’re not Dostoyevsky”
“How do you know?”
“Dostoyevsky’s dead”
“I protest! … Dostoyevsky is immortal!”
I love this book so much ❤️
This is my favorite book. Through the years I have told many people to read this book, and it would be their favorite as well.
Some listened, and joined the club of the enlightened.
Some are still missing out on the greatest novel ever written. Why do this to yourself? Read this brilliant piece of literature today
Not a super easy read (emotionally). I found this book really interesting, although the morals seemed difficult for me. Definitely the kind of book you should read if you want to think about it and its meaning after.
This was yet another Reread. Last time I picked it up as 2021. Its a good book but one of those kinds I feel I struggle a bit remembering. Its quite weird but interestingly weird.
____
This was a book I've wanted to reread since I first listened to it in 2020 so not very long ago. I got a hold on it in my library and eagerly started reading. While it's still a very good book, I didn't quite love it as much as the first time so I'll knock it down to 4.5 stars
I tried really hard to like this one, but I ultimately found it fairly dull and didn't understand the point. The Biblical re-telling was more interesting than the Russian literary plot in my opinion.
Me habían hablado muy bien de este libro además de que es un clasico y todo eso.
No esta mal, pero no entiendo realmente a qué quería llegar el autor.
Hay partes que supongo que son comicas y otras partes serias y la parte de Jerusalem que no sé exactamente qué está intentando hacer.
Los clásicos suelen ser valor seguro, este me ha defraudado bastante.
DNF @ 15%.
Too weird for me. I didn't really realize how much of the story was historical fiction about Pontius Pilate. Maybe I'll come back to it at some point.
What can you read after
The Master and Margarita?
About the Author:
Mikhail Bulgakov was born in Kiev, Ukraine, in 1891. At the outbreak of World War I, Bulgakov joined the Red Cross, and he graduated from Kiev University medical school in 1916. After graduation, Bulgakov joined the White Army, which opposed the rising Bolshevik presence in Russia, and he served as a field doctor in the Caucuses during the Civil War. After his family was forced into exile, in Paris, when the Soviets secured the government, Bulgakov became a journalist.
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