Read during lock down - in a time of corona virus, most of us found this a difficult book to get our heads around. The many names of the characters, the flitting around in time and style was discombobulating. The allegorical, dreamlike narrative where the Devil, 'Professor Woland' battle with the bureaucracy of Soviet Russia as a character, then slipping to another narrative of a embittered writer, the Major who battles to create and publish his novel on Pontius Pilate and Jesus. While Margarita lover and muse of the Major, leaves him to live a life of the comfortable bourgeois, only to give it up when given the chance - to ride naked on a broomstick over Moscow before arriving in the middle of an event with all the other various characters and metaphysical beings made it essential to concentrate when reading.
This dense and difficult book requires time and an understanding of the Russian character, especially of the tense and difficult time under Stalin, where anything could mean your removal to the gulags, or death. I don't think that we quite understood the depths of this novel. Also we think that the different editions/translations make a huge difference to the ease of reading.
Most of us failed to read it, finding the metaphysical aspect too difficult at this time of uncertainty. However those (2 of us) who did finish it found the book a fascinating but problematic read.
Words used to describe it: difficult read, watching paint dry, sympathy for the Devil, confusing
Marks out of 10: between 1- 6
Next Meeting
Sunday 14th June by Zoom (probably)
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