While I cherish my friend who recommended that I read The Master and Margarita, I did not love the book itself. The novel contained too many characters to keep track of, a plot that spiraled into tangent after tangent, and little introspection or emotional depth. I enjoyed the book club discussion I participated in about this book, as well as how Mikhail Bulgakov parodied Soviet life under Stalin's regime. Perhaps if I had more of a background in Russia's history and/or religious studies I would have liked this more. Still, Bulgakov's intent to create a parody controlled the narrative instead of the book's characters, who came across as pawns delivering a confusing and rambling message. I feel glad that so many others hold this book in such high regard, even though it did not resonate with me.

فکرش را بکن؛ اگر اهرمن نمی‌بود، کار خیر شما چه فایده‌ای می‌داشت و بدون سایه دنیا چه شکلی پیدا می‌کرد؟... آیا می‌خواهی زمین را از همه‌ی درخت‌ها ، از همه‌ی موجودات، پاک کنی تا آرزویت برای دیدار نور مطلق تحقّق یابد؟ خیلی احمقی.

یک داستان فوق‌العاده با چاشنی جادو، طنز، تاریخ و فلسفه.

۱۴۰۰/۷/۱۸

Hard to write anything about this batsh*t crazy, fascinating, magical, grotesque, fearsome, fantastic, weirdo, chaotic thing of a book.

All those layers...

On re-read, I found the part concerned with Pilate and Jehsua to be the most fascinating and I would not have minded to read a whole book about them.

This time I found the mad shenanigans of Woland and his gang in Book 2 a bit too much and got a bit bored by them in the end.
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This has been soooo overdue for a re-read. I can hardly believe that it was 25 years (a quarter of a century!!) ago that I read it first. Quite frightening in a way.

But it also brings back memories. I read it at my Granny's place. I can still see the floor tiles in her kitchen and smell the elderberry syrup she was cooking. Goosebumps.