tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post3355882637149030113..comments2023-10-03T11:41:21.191+01:00Comments on The Truth About Lies: The Master and MargaritaJim Murdochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786388638146471193noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-4759848151274745692016-10-24T06:07:50.899+01:002016-10-24T06:07:50.899+01:00Thank you, Jessica. I'm glad you enjoyed the r...Thank you, <b>Jessica</b>. I'm glad you enjoyed the review and, of course, the book. I've read a few other things by Bulgakov but <i>The Master and Margarita</i> really stands head and shoulders above the rest. That said I did enjoy <i>A Country Doctor's Notebook</i>. Sky Arts recently <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Young_Doctor%27s_Notebook_(TV_series)" rel="nofollow">dramatised the stories</a> and Daniel Radcliffe did a good job of once again proving to the world there's more to him than Harry Potter.Jim Murdochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12786388638146471193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-36263492331969131052016-10-12T17:42:56.428+01:002016-10-12T17:42:56.428+01:00I read the book in a span of 24 hours. I couldn...I read the book in a span of 24 hours. I couldn't put it down, knowing wouldn't fully understand it until all had been read. Thoroughly excellent piece of work. My first foray into Russian literature as well, and hopefully will motivate me into reading more significant pieces. Also, fantastic review. 😉Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04860224971683724828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-40663602923519275082016-09-10T14:27:57.384+01:002016-09-10T14:27:57.384+01:00Thank you for that comment, Natasha. Actually I’m ...Thank you for that comment, <b>Natasha</b>. Actually I’m Scottish but you’re quite right, <i>The Master and Margarita</i> is a hugely popular book worldwide. And this has for a long time been my most popular post. Jim Murdochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12786388638146471193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-80543255926707205072016-09-10T01:24:25.570+01:002016-09-10T01:24:25.570+01:00Wow... I'm stunned that an American can unders...Wow... I'm stunned that an American can understand so much about Russian culture and Russian soul :-) I'm Russian, obviously :-) and my favourite book is Master and Magrarita. I'm not sure I understand it completely but it's simply amazing that people from other cultures are also drawn to this book trying to undersrtand it. Thank you.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14413768360743476983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-79628816760952547672015-09-09T14:21:58.668+01:002015-09-09T14:21:58.668+01:00I’m glad you appreciated the article, William. It ...I’m glad you appreciated the article, <b>William</b>. It has been a while since I read the book and I have very poor recall at the best of times so I’m not sure I really have anything worthwhile to say about how Bulgakov treated his women; I, literally, would have to reread the book and I don’t have the time for that. I’m well aware of when he was writing and some would say it would be impossible to read him without bearing in mind the political landscape in Russia at the time. Every fictional world has its roots in our real world. I accept that but keep it in the back of my head. I don’t remember much about <i>The Master and Margarita</i> but the one thing I <i>am</i> sure of is that I didn’t read it as a political book. If I was to call it anything it would be a morality tale.Jim Murdochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12786388638146471193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-17942513434387714202015-09-07T18:29:38.787+01:002015-09-07T18:29:38.787+01:00Thanks for that information, William. Shame it’s o...Thanks for that information, <b>William</b>. Shame it’s only available on iTunes. There are so many people—myself included—who never go anywhere near Apple. You should get it up on Smashwords and possibly, depending how you feel about them, Amazon.Jim Murdochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12786388638146471193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-33153415026588895552015-09-06T14:28:00.010+01:002015-09-06T14:28:00.010+01:00Your comments about the book are intriguing. Part...Your comments about the book are intriguing. Part of it is listening to a cultured and perceptive reader who is not weighed down by a lot of academic hoo-ha. I like that you make references to Lewis Carroll because his works too deal in magical realism -- fancy and fantasy that are not at all frivolous. "The Master and Margarita" might differ a bit from other similar works in that it is dead serious and is deep into philosophy, aspects that can apply to Russian literature as a whole. I wonder what your thoughts are concerning the treatment of women in the book. I've seen some polemic writing on the subject, but nothing said without a strong political agenda.<br />William Jackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12663226013964921753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-57313355759028959922015-09-05T06:09:17.542+01:002015-09-05T06:09:17.542+01:00An American professor is researching "The Mas...An American professor is researching "The Master and Margarita" with an unusual and genius college drop-out. Suddenly he finds that it's 2005 now, and he doesn't remember anything about 2004, except that something happened and it was bad. The ebook is free on itunes for now. See a short review at: http://www.masterandmargarita.eu/en/00start/nieuws/150827forgotten.html<br /><br />-------------------<br />I taught Russian literature. I have an MA and PhD in Russian. I studied and taught in Russia/the USSR.William Jackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12663226013964921753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-44172792106539906512013-06-15T00:34:01.956+01:002013-06-15T00:34:01.956+01:00Hi Jim,
Thanks for posting this overview of the n...Hi Jim, <br />Thanks for posting this overview of the novel, I've just finished it and, it being my first foray into Russian literature it took a lot of time and mental energy! I have had to delve immediately in to the literary criticism of the text as I would love to piece together the theological message Bulgakov was going for. Is atheism perhaps preferable? Satan/Wolands gifts to the Theatre goers seem as much to be false opiates to the masses as Lenin et al felt religion was. The skeptic is decapitated and the noisy, but truthful, zealot is institutionalised before becoming solipsistic. Who can be saved?!<br /><br />Best,<br /><br />Taltaldonahuehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11187659522027167625noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-39456802844552904822011-01-10T09:56:35.397+00:002011-01-10T09:56:35.397+00:00I think what I meant by that, Alessandro17, was si...I think what I meant by that, <b>Alessandro17</b>, was simply that Woland is devilish in that he gives with one hand and takes back with the other. Thanks for commenting. This has been a hugely popular post but sadly not many take the time to say a few words. It’s appreciated.<br /><br>Jim Murdochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12786388638146471193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-29971448176377555242011-01-06T04:55:26.778+00:002011-01-06T04:55:26.778+00:00Where I don't agree is that Woland is "cl...Where I don't agree is that Woland is "clearly reminiscent of Goethe's Mephistopheles"<br />As said by yourself, Woland is much more subtle.<br />Apparently he is not interested in anybody's soul. As you say, "he acts more as a counterpart to God rather than his opponent", which is absolutely true. He brings some justice to Moscow. He gives peace to the Master.<br />And can you imagine a paedophile Woland, fooled by angel because he desires them sexually?Alessandro17https://www.blogger.com/profile/06537772001283979964noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-78655926326714854382009-11-09T14:05:27.641+00:002009-11-09T14:05:27.641+00:00Yes, do persist, Jeanne. It is worthwhile. I'v...Yes, do persist, <b>Jeanne</b>. It is worthwhile. I've never been one for audiobooks I have to say. I like the idea of them and I've always planned to listen to them on the way to work and that but I find my mind wanders without something physical before me to focus on, besides you can't really flip ahead to see how many pages to go to the end of the chapter you're on and I'm dreadful for doing that.<br /><br>Jim Murdochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12786388638146471193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-78180699722759412432009-11-09T13:24:57.011+00:002009-11-09T13:24:57.011+00:00Came over here from the carnival--I'm listenin...Came over here from the carnival--I'm listening to this one as an audiobook right now, and although I was starting to feel lost, I think I'll persevere after reading your review.Jeannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01374498643286099244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-46725416198243171972009-10-30T09:26:39.192+00:002009-10-30T09:26:39.192+00:00Rachel Fenton - strange, since I knew Rachel Fox f...<b>Rachel Fenton</b> - strange, since I knew Rachel Fox first I think of <i>you</i> in my head as 'Other Rachel' (it's all very confusiing) - anyway, it's going nowhere so take as long as you like on it. And glad I made you laugh - always a bonus.<br /><br>Jim Murdochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12786388638146471193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-46873111971689357052009-10-29T23:23:46.820+00:002009-10-29T23:23:46.820+00:00"I just finished reading it over the week vac..."I just finished reading it over the week vacation" C.A.G.<br /><br />That's me...can you leave it up a while longer, Jim? I just got back and I want to read it properly without rushing to get up to speed!<br /><br />Other Rachel's comment made me laugh, but not as much as your response!Rachel Fentonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10046917627054462214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-42739698766983533992009-10-29T11:09:35.283+00:002009-10-29T11:09:35.283+00:00Thanks for the feedback, anzlitlovers. As I think ...Thanks for the feedback, <b>anzlitlovers</b>. As I think I mentioned in the article I read it many years ago too but the only thing that really stuck was Pilate and his headaches and I really thought there was a lot more of him in the book. I was surprised this time to see how little there was of him. The thing is, I regarded myself as clever back then - and I was - but I was clearly in too much of a rush to read anything properly so not that wise, eh?<br /><br>Jim Murdochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12786388638146471193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-35654410493192854392009-10-29T01:13:52.855+00:002009-10-29T01:13:52.855+00:00Hi, Jim, just dropping by to tell you how much I e...Hi, Jim, just dropping by to tell you how much I enjoyed this wonderful exploration of the novel. I read it ages ago at university, and reading your blog has reminded me of what a great and very enjoyable book it was. <br />This is what I love about the blogosphere: all those books I read so long ago and now a bit blurred in the memory come back to life again when some generous soul like you writes a really good blog post like this. Thanks!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-48630791953996757312009-10-28T16:45:04.331+00:002009-10-28T16:45:04.331+00:00Thank you kindly, Cheryl.Thank you kindly, <b>Cheryl</b>.<br /><br>Jim Murdochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12786388638146471193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-42319307357132060522009-10-28T16:09:33.030+00:002009-10-28T16:09:33.030+00:00I didn't want to ruin any of the plot elements...I didn't want to ruin any of the plot elements either, so I pretty much avoided any direct plot summary. My brief review will post next Tuesday and I linked back to yours as well.Cheryl Anne Gardnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12564041914501542048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-42498592738326196682009-10-27T16:42:18.881+00:002009-10-27T16:42:18.881+00:00Yes, Cheryl, I did. The big problem was not trying...Yes, <b>Cheryl</b>, I did. The big problem was not trying to spoil the book by telling too much so I mentioned things but never really talked about them. The whole time in the asylum or the lengthy interchange between Pilate and Jesus, the antics of Woland's crew, again, just skirted over. No, there's plenty of scope.<br /><br />And, <b>Rachel</b>, yes, I have to say the opening section where the three of them are sat on the bench is probably my favourite bit. If he'd stopped there and called it a short story I would have been happy.<br /><br>Jim Murdochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12786388638146471193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-24982344281029932602009-10-27T10:31:43.676+00:002009-10-27T10:31:43.676+00:00p.s. 3 blokes sitting on a bench? Sounds familiar....p.s. 3 blokes sitting on a bench? Sounds familiar. No wonder it appeals to you...Rachel Foxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11803852725693518924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-6240615642237169302009-10-27T10:31:03.878+00:002009-10-27T10:31:03.878+00:00Even though I studied quite a lot of Russian lit a...Even though I studied quite a lot of Russian lit at uni this is one that was never even mentioned (at least not to me). A hole in my education obviously. You have encouraged me to fill that hole...at some point.<br />xRachel Foxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11803852725693518924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-55031149340074005662009-10-26T17:16:42.520+00:002009-10-26T17:16:42.520+00:00Ha! Did you miss anything????Ha! Did you miss anything????Cheryl Anne Gardnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12564041914501542048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-6779056548042943992009-10-26T15:00:12.272+00:002009-10-26T15:00:12.272+00:00Glad you appreciated the review, Cheryl. Perhaps w...Glad you appreciated the review, <b>Cheryl</b>. Perhaps when you do write your own you could focus on some of the bits I've missed.<br /><br>Jim Murdochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12786388638146471193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-24535685575976925702009-10-26T14:08:51.296+00:002009-10-26T14:08:51.296+00:00This is wonderful Jim. I just finished reading it ...This is wonderful Jim. I just finished reading it over the week vacation, and all I can say is, I am muddling over my own thoughts on it and will post a short review on the peeps site sometime next week. <br /><br />I am a huge Russian Lit fan, and so the read was a breeze for me, even if I didn't "get" some of the social satire. I tried to focus more on the theological stuff, and the fact that it was written in the theatrical style of a playwrite made it most exciting. Behemoth was just killing me.Cheryl Anne Gardnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12564041914501542048noreply@blogger.com