i don't know whether to like or hate this book. I read it because it is a classic that won something. The writing itself, author's style, and the surprising and sometimes shocking ways he introduces events, people, and places is quite authorly. This, however, adds to the confusion of understanding of what's what and what happened where and when. A mixed-up kind of a timelessness and the beyond plus this world seem to be mixed up and juxtaposed at the same time.

1930s Moscow and Jerusalem) around the time of Jesus’s execution. The story begins in Moscow with a group of writers' discussions. Into their mix arrives Woland, who we later learn is Satan. The chapter following this one goes to Jerusalem where Pontius Pilate, who doesn't really want to execute Jesus--who is said to cause public unrest--decides to do just that. After this, the story takes a lot of weird turns and goes back and forth from the 1930s t0 2000 yrs ago, There's also those lovers, whose eternal union Woland aka Satan manages to make happen but in the beyond. In the story, some people are affected by Woland's power while others become side issues. In short, it is a very complicated plot and takes a lot of patience and understanding by the reader.

My confusion about everything in the story's makeup was also heightened with the plethora of characters with Russian names, but this type a confusion occurs when one reads a book from another time, country, and place. So, I'm not holding it against this book and its writer. What also turned me off was, what I thought was the disrespect about the way we understand religion.

Again, this is me and it has nothing to do with the quality of the story. In short, I think this book is a jumble of a plot and characters, but interesting at the same time.

saying, "I read something classic, which was an award winner, but it confused me!"

The author's way of plotting.

the story itself

as if I could have spent my time on a better story.

"Mikhaíl Afanasyevich Bulgakov (May 15 1891 – March 10, 1940) was a Russian writer and playwright active in the first half of the 20th century. He is best known for his novel The Master and Margarita, which has been called one of the masterpieces of the 20th century," says Wikipedia.

I can neither recommend nor not recommend this book. It is 386 pages, and what was said to be funny in some parts, I found them to be ridiculous instead of funny.

Interested in buying this? Support Writing.Com by making your purchase of The Master and Margarita   from Amazon.Com!

Created Dec 29, 2024 at 1:39pm • Submit your own review...