The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov

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drinkslinger

drinkslinger

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Just curious if anyone has read this. I was a Russian Language and Lit major in college, which was how I was introduced to it. It's my all-time favorite, which I'm a little hesitant to admit since it's not something by SK. If you have read it, I'd love to see what you think. If not, I strongly recommend you pick it up.
 
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blunthead

blunthead

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drinkslinger said:
Just curious if anyone has read this. I was a Russian Language and Lit major in college, which was how I was introduced to it. It's my all-time favorite, which I'm a little hesitant to admit since it's not something by SK. If you have read it, I'd love to see what you think. If not, I strongly recommend you pick it up.
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I just now read up on the novel at Wikipedia (for anyone who wishes to...The Master and Margarita - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia). It looks very interesting.
 
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Blake

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Finders Keepers and The Beach Girls by John D MacDonald and Werewolves and Shapeshifters: Encounters with The Beast Within.
 
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drinkslinger

drinkslinger

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Mr. Cranky said:
Finders Keepers and The Beach Girls by John D MacDonald and Werewolves and Shapeshifters: Encounters with The Beast Within.
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Hmm...I'm new here, so that may be why I'm not seeing the connection to my OP. No disrespect intended by that :)
I actually just cracked Finders though.
 
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Kurben

Kurben

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drinkslinger said:
Just curious if anyone has read this. I was a Russian Language and Lit major in college, which was how I was introduced to it. It's my all-time favorite, which I'm a little hesitant to admit since it's not something by SK. If you have read it, I'd love to see what you think. If not, I strongly recommend you pick it up.
Click to expand...
It is a great book. The only one i read by Bulgakov actually. Recommended by my father as a must and when it came to literature he know what he was talking about. He introduced me to King, Tolkien, Leguin, Conrad, Steinbeck, Dumas, Verne, Dick, Sayers, MacDonald, Poe, Chandler, Hammett, Twain, Dostojevskij, Gogol, Hawthorne, Doyle, Lovecraft, Jackson and several others and he wasn't wrong once. Think i got my hands on the Master and Margarita when i was about 17-18.
 
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drinkslinger

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Kurben said:
It is a great book. The only one i read by Bulgakov actually. Recommended by my father as a must and when it came to literature he know what he was talking about. He introduced me to King, Tolkien, Leguin, Conrad, Steinbeck, Dumas, Verne, Dick, Sayers, MacDonald, Poe, Chandler, Hammett, Twain, Dostojevskij, Gogol, Hawthorne, Doyle, Lovecraft, Jackson and several others and he wasn't wrong once. Think i got my hands on the Master and Margarita when i was about 17-18.
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I'd say your father has excellent taste! If it's been a while since you've read it (I have no idea how long ago 17-18 was for you), it may be worth another read.
 
Kurben

Kurben

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drinkslinger said:
I'd say your father has excellent taste! If it's been a while since you've read it (I have no idea how long ago 17-18 was for you), it may be worth another read.
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Its been 30 years, it is still standing in my shelf, but you're right. It might be time for a reread even if its still clear in memory.
 
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drinkslinger

drinkslinger

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RichardX said:
When I was in Moscow many years ago I stumbled upon Mayakovsky's final home. He was a fascinating character/writer from the Soviet era that has been largely forgotten or never heard of in the US. He took quite an intense photo as well:

Vladimir Mayakovsky - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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I've been there too! I had completely forgotten about him until your post. He was an incredible poet. His work translates ok, but it's much more beautiful in Russian. I need to revisit his work. Thanks for putting him back on my radar!
 
Kurben

Kurben

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drinkslinger said:
I've been there too! I had completely forgotten about him until your post. He was an incredible poet. His work translates ok, but it's much more beautiful in Russian. I need to revisit his work. Thanks for putting him back on my radar!
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I've only read some of him in an anthology somewhere. Very few poets are really doing them self justice in translation. I remember a german lesson we had ... We should translate Goethes uber allen wipfeln to swedish. Containing the poetry of the original poem. That was one of the few fun german lessons we had.
 
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Demeter

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Read this years ago and didn't like it much. Too weird even for my taste. I also found it very bleak. Can't remember more than that but I still have the book. I think I hoped to read it again and see if I can change my mind. It must be why I didn't give it away.
 
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drinkslinger

drinkslinger

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Demeter said:
Read this years ago and didn't like it much. Too weird even for my taste. I also found it very bleak. Can't remember more than that but I still have the book. I think I hoped to read it again and see if I can change my mind. It must be why I didn't give it away.
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I guess the concept is kind of strange. However, if you're familiar at all with Russian/Soviet History try to think about it in that context. According to the Soviets, the devil doesn't exist, yet he wreaks havoc in Moscow. Also, while I can see why you thought it was bleak, in my mind one of the major themes is redemption and also finding peace. If you still have it, you really should give it another go.
 
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Demeter

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drinkslinger said:
I guess the concept is kind of strange. However, if you're familiar at all with Russian/Soviet History try to think about it in that context. According to the Soviets, the devil doesn't exist, yet he wreaks havoc in Moscow. Also, while I can see why you thought it was bleak, in my mind one of the major themes is redemption and also finding peace. If you still have it, you really should give it another go.
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I was quite young when I read it and I have to admit Russian authors were never on my list of favorites. They still aren't but I am willing to go out of my comfort zone and try it again. Who knows, maybe I'll look at it differently this time. Thanks for the encouragement.
 
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Mr.Ace

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I've read it twice but it never impressed me. Did not like it at all. Though I must confess those parts about Yeshua and Pontius are intresting.

I love Bulgakov's "The White Guard", as for me this book is much better and stronger than TMAM.
 
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