4. Master and Margarita - Mikhail Bulgakov

Ok - so it's a fairly complex story. I stumbled across a multimedia attempt to make sense of the characters and themes in this book. Worth a look - perhaps after you've read it :)

I was talking to Dutchy about this book the other day, and he asked me what I'd compare it to. I know this is banal and the phrase is overused but Bulgakov struck me as being quite Kafka-esque. Or is it more like Dickens, or Douglas Adams? I'm definitely not qualified to make a judgement on the matter, and I'm not going to support any statement I might make anyway.

By about halfway through this book I found that I wasn't believing a single thing that was being written. I was second-guessing the narrative and found myself questioning why this might be the case. It has to do with the way Bulgakov weaves his story. It's a thoroughly intriguing story, and there is so much sleight of hand and trickery you end up not committing to an interpretation of what is going on until as late as possible. This delayed decision process makes the appreciation of the book quite unique. I put ideas, and potential decisions on a stack and try and keep track of them, and tie them together when it's become clear that this can be done. But it's never terribly clear. It's a heinous book in that regard :D

The ending was very special. I finished the last 50 pages standing up in my kitchen reading directly under a ceiling light. Bulgakov finishes the book beautifully. It is a masterful and beautiful ending.

I can wholeheartedly agree, without reservation, that Bulgakov is a master writer of the highest order and that "Master and Margarita" is a timeless classic. This book deserves to be read several times in a lifetime.

The next reading project is a secret, because I probably won't finish the book I have in mind - but I'll be sure to blog about it here if I do.