Jason’s review of The Master and Margarita > Likes and Comments
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Ginsburg translation? Good choice. I have this edition as well, but I read the Burgin/O'Connor translation because it is complete and Ginsburg translated a heavily censored text. Ginsburg reads best, though, out of all the translations I've sampled, and I think I would have liked it better if I had just stuck with her translation.
I just added it to my shelf; haven't decided on a translation yet, but thank you for the suggestion. So you think Ginsburg?
Yeah, or if not that, Burgin/O'Connor would be great second choice. Apparently some of the stuff that was censored out of the source text that Ginsburg translated was fairly important, but her translation is the most natural and least clumsy. Some of the translations are pretty bad (based on limited samples, at least); I would stay away from Pevear/Volokhonsky, which didn't feel right to me at all. It's very clumsy, and they just translate Russian idioms literally rather than find an equivalent English phrase that makes sense within the context.
I did, Mike! Thanks! That's actually what made me think to add it.
I peeked at the group discussion, looks like it's going to be either Burgin/O'Connor or Pevear/Volokhonsky.
Rod wrote: "I peeked at the group discussion, looks like it's going to be either Burgin/O'Connor or Pevear/Volokhonsky."
We're actually letting people read whichever version they would like - we recommended the Ginsburg for people who want to read the censored version, based on all the feedback we heard on how well the version read.
Jason wrote: "Burgin/O'Connor it is!"
I'm so glad the library copy came in time!
I'm going to delay picking it up until next week (I have until Tuesday, I think) because right now I'm reading Cloud Atlas.
Jason wrote: "I'm going to delay picking it up until next week (I have until Tuesday, I think) because right now I'm reading Cloud Atlas."
I'm trying to remember - is it your first time through Cloud Atlas? What do you think of it? I loved it, but I know a lot of people are divided on it.
I'm on the second story (I have never read it before) and I am definitely enjoying it. I love good writing and this certainly qualifies.
this is the translation i have. i have been meaning to read it for years.
i would love to but probably not right now. i have book club commitments. unless my library copy of the audio book finally comes in, then i can listen to it whenever.
i read this, it was amazing!a tale about good and band, lovely, realistic and phantastic!!magic land!
"Hilarious and contemplative my ass!" Love it. Good stuff. And you brought Omar into the discussion which just makes it awesomer. (I'll make up words if I want to).
I completely, totally agree with you: I do not see the awesomeness at all. Unlike your exhibit A: that caught my attention, like yours, although I suspect for different reasons. In my case, I only understood the meaning of the two prepositions (to, and by) in the title, and nothing whatsoever from the abstract. Could you do a review on that instead, please?
This review is my hero as well, but that's just because it rescued my dog out of a tree. Don't ask.
I just noticed the name of the book shelf you put this on. One of my all time favorite movies. Love Madeline Kahn.
Brigid wrote: "I just noticed the name of the book shelf you put this on. One of my all time favorite movies. Love Madeline Kahn."
fucking LOVE that scene.
Perhaps literary fiction just isn't for you?
Capsguy wrote: "Perhaps literary fiction just isn't for you?"
Right. Or just books. More specifically, the ones with words, I guess.
Jason wrote: "Brigid wrote: "I just noticed the name of the book shelf you put this on. One of my all time favorite movies. Love Madeline Kahn."
fucking LOVE that scene."
Same here. She ad-libbed the whole thing.
Dammit, Jason! Why'd you give a link to Exhibit A? Now my head hurts...
Capsguy wrote: "Perhaps literary fiction just isn't for you? (sniff)"
Fixed.
Jason wrote: "Capsguy wrote: "Perhaps literary fiction just isn't for you?"
Right. Or just books. More specifically, the ones with words, I guess."
Yeah, maybe you could try learning to read in Braille? Try picture books? Try audiobooks? Nope there's still words associated.
Well done, Jason. I too am baffled by the positive ecstatic reception of this book, on Goodreads and (especially) elsewhere in the literary world. Often I can understand why someone may enjoy a book, even if it isn't for me. But with The M&M? It's like a big winking joke everyone's in on that you're half-expecting to be given up at any moment with a 'ha! just kidding, of course it sucks!'
![s.penkevich [hiatus-will return-miss you all]](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1735525095p1/6431467.jpg)
Ha, grand review. I enjoy that you became 'tired of even writing about this book', that made me laugh.
Capsguy wrote: "Perhaps literary fiction just isn't for you?"
Was that a comment of epic pompous twattery or is there a mitigating nuance that I'm missing here?
Bram wrote: "Well done, Jason. I too am baffled by the positive ecstatic reception of this book, on Goodreads and (especially) elsewhere in the literary world. Often I can understand why someone may enjoy a b..."
This is a great analogy, Bram; I feel the same way. Someone let me in on this joke, please!
David wrote: "Was that a comment of epic pompous twattery or is there a mitigating nuance that I'm missing here?"
I have no idea who he is, David, so if there's a nuance there, I'm not aware of it.
Maybe he can use his monocle to help you find Dan Brown at the library.
lol! i love this discussion as much as i loved ur review! "just books...the ones with words..." and
"epic pompous twattery..."
just beautiful.
i have yet to read it myself...now i really want to read it...
I think I'll read this book right after I read Atlas Shrugged. (Note: I will never read Atlas Shrugged.)
David wrote: "Capsguy wrote: "Perhaps literary fiction just isn't for you?"
Was that a comment of epic pompous twattery or is there a mitigating nuance that I'm missing here?"
"epic pompous twattery" aw dd, you always know just what to say to warm my bitter little heart
Nice to see the backlash in full swing after months of five-star reviews. Now to take down that untouchable titan Cloud Atlas.
MJ wrote: "Nice to see the backlash in full swing after months of five-star reviews. Now to take down that untouchable titan Cloud Atlas."
already did!
The bartender drew his head into his shoulders, so that it would become obvious that he was a poor man.
Hahaha! How hilarious and contemplative!
Yes, Jason. I like this book, so you must be an illiterate moron if you don't. Hey CAPSGUY, come over here and gimme a kiss and let me read to you from my journal. Oh wait, you only read works written prior to World War II and BY MEN ONLY!
Careful, guys. He threatens to use all caps when he types if you make him angry enough. He's like a loaded gun, that one. A CAP GUN.
Months later, Jason emerges from reviewing silence, beaten and bruised but still with enough fight in him to take down the Russian canonical masterpiece. POW! BANG! SMASH!
But maybe he's just a small minded simpleton who can't read no littry fixshion.
You can't really blame him for not wanting to read books written by broads. They're probably all about shopping and tampons.
*fall down laughing my ass off* love this comment thread...but jeez...must we continually pick on Atlas Shrugged and women authors?
Commiseration post-slog, Jason! But I disagree about those sampled sentences. There needed to have been more of those. Maybe there were is the response I'll get from the you've-read-the-wrong-translation crowd which wrong translation theorem won't redeem this slog. Or maybe's those sampled sentences just didn't belong at home in this book because they certainly didn't feel like they were reclining with an old fashion in hand.
"POW! BANG! SMASH!"
David wrote: "You can't really blame him for not wanting to read books written by broads. They're probably all about shopping and tampons."
Poor boy must have been forced to read Are you there god? It's me, Margaret. at a young age.
I am so happy for you that you're free from the shackles of this book! It was sucking the life outta ya!
Mike wrote: "Since I like Judy Blume, am I entitled to say Atlas Shrugged totally sux?"
I also like Judy Blume and agree that Atlas Shrugged is terrible.
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Rod
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Jul 26, 2012 10:47AM
Ginsburg translation? Good choice. I have this edition as well, but I read the Burgin/O'Connor translation because it is complete and Ginsburg translated a heavily censored text. Ginsburg reads best, though, out of all the translations I've sampled, and I think I would have liked it better if I had just stuck with her translation.
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I just added it to my shelf; haven't decided on a translation yet, but thank you for the suggestion. So you think Ginsburg?
Yeah, or if not that, Burgin/O'Connor would be great second choice. Apparently some of the stuff that was censored out of the source text that Ginsburg translated was fairly important, but her translation is the most natural and least clumsy. Some of the translations are pretty bad (based on limited samples, at least); I would stay away from Pevear/Volokhonsky, which didn't feel right to me at all. It's very clumsy, and they just translate Russian idioms literally rather than find an equivalent English phrase that makes sense within the context.
I did, Mike! Thanks! That's actually what made me think to add it.
I peeked at the group discussion, looks like it's going to be either Burgin/O'Connor or Pevear/Volokhonsky.
Rod wrote: "I peeked at the group discussion, looks like it's going to be either Burgin/O'Connor or Pevear/Volokhonsky."We're actually letting people read whichever version they would like - we recommended the Ginsburg for people who want to read the censored version, based on all the feedback we heard on how well the version read.
Jason wrote: "Burgin/O'Connor it is!"I'm so glad the library copy came in time!
I'm going to delay picking it up until next week (I have until Tuesday, I think) because right now I'm reading Cloud Atlas.
Jason wrote: "I'm going to delay picking it up until next week (I have until Tuesday, I think) because right now I'm reading Cloud Atlas."I'm trying to remember - is it your first time through Cloud Atlas? What do you think of it? I loved it, but I know a lot of people are divided on it.
I'm on the second story (I have never read it before) and I am definitely enjoying it. I love good writing and this certainly qualifies.
this is the translation i have. i have been meaning to read it for years.
i would love to but probably not right now. i have book club commitments. unless my library copy of the audio book finally comes in, then i can listen to it whenever.
i read this, it was amazing!a tale about good and band, lovely, realistic and phantastic!!magic land!
"Hilarious and contemplative my ass!" Love it. Good stuff. And you brought Omar into the discussion which just makes it awesomer. (I'll make up words if I want to).
I completely, totally agree with you: I do not see the awesomeness at all. Unlike your exhibit A: that caught my attention, like yours, although I suspect for different reasons. In my case, I only understood the meaning of the two prepositions (to, and by) in the title, and nothing whatsoever from the abstract. Could you do a review on that instead, please?
This review is my hero as well, but that's just because it rescued my dog out of a tree. Don't ask.
I just noticed the name of the book shelf you put this on. One of my all time favorite movies. Love Madeline Kahn.
Brigid wrote: "I just noticed the name of the book shelf you put this on. One of my all time favorite movies. Love Madeline Kahn."fucking LOVE that scene.
Perhaps literary fiction just isn't for you?
Capsguy wrote: "Perhaps literary fiction just isn't for you?"Right. Or just books. More specifically, the ones with words, I guess.
Jason wrote: "Brigid wrote: "I just noticed the name of the book shelf you put this on. One of my all time favorite movies. Love Madeline Kahn."fucking LOVE that scene."
Same here. She ad-libbed the whole thing.
Dammit, Jason! Why'd you give a link to Exhibit A? Now my head hurts...
Capsguy wrote: "Perhaps literary fiction just isn't for you? (sniff)"Fixed.
Jason wrote: "Capsguy wrote: "Perhaps literary fiction just isn't for you?"Right. Or just books. More specifically, the ones with words, I guess."
Yeah, maybe you could try learning to read in Braille? Try picture books? Try audiobooks? Nope there's still words associated.
Well done, Jason. I too am baffled by the
Ha, grand review. I enjoy that you became 'tired of even writing about this book', that made me laugh.
Capsguy wrote: "Perhaps literary fiction just isn't for you?"Was that a comment of epic pompous twattery or is there a mitigating nuance that I'm missing here?
Bram wrote: "Well done, Jason. I too am baffled by the positive ecstatic reception of this book, on Goodreads and (especially) elsewhere in the literary world. Often I can understand why someone may enjoy a b..."This is a great analogy, Bram; I feel the same way. Someone let me in on this joke, please!
David wrote: "Was that a comment of epic pompous twattery or is there a mitigating nuance that I'm missing here?"I have no idea who he is, David, so if there's a nuance there, I'm not aware of it.
Maybe he can use his monocle to help you find Dan Brown at the library.
lol! i love this discussion as much as i loved ur review! "just books...the ones with words..." and"epic pompous twattery..."
just beautiful.
i have yet to read it myself...now i really want to read it...
I think I'll read this book right after I read Atlas Shrugged. (Note: I will never read Atlas Shrugged.)
David wrote: "Capsguy wrote: "Perhaps literary fiction just isn't for you?"Was that a comment of epic pompous twattery or is there a mitigating nuance that I'm missing here?"
"epic pompous twattery" aw dd, you always know just what to say to warm my bitter little heart
Nice to see the backlash in full swing after months of five-star reviews. Now to take down that untouchable titan Cloud Atlas.
MJ wrote: "Nice to see the backlash in full swing after months of five-star reviews. Now to take down that untouchable titan Cloud Atlas."already did!
The bartender drew his head into his shoulders, so that it would become obvious that he was a poor man. Hahaha! How hilarious and contemplative!
Yes, Jason. I like this book, so you must be an illiterate moron if you don't. Hey CAPSGUY, come over here and gimme a kiss and let me read to you from my journal. Oh wait, you only read works written prior to World War II and BY MEN ONLY!Careful, guys. He threatens to use all caps when he types if you make him angry enough. He's like a loaded gun, that one. A CAP GUN.
Months later, Jason emerges from reviewing silence, beaten and bruised but still with enough fight in him to take down the Russian canonical masterpiece. POW! BANG! SMASH!But maybe he's just a small minded simpleton who can't read no littry fixshion.
You can't really blame him for not wanting to read books written by broads. They're probably all about shopping and tampons.
*fall down laughing my ass off* love this comment thread...but jeez...must we continually pick on Atlas Shrugged and women authors?
Commiseration post-slog, Jason! But I disagree about those sampled sentences. There needed to have been more of those. Maybe there were is the response I'll get from the you've-read-the-wrong-translation crowd which wrong translation theorem won't redeem this slog. Or maybe's those sampled sentences just didn't belong at home in this book because they certainly didn't feel like they were reclining with an old fashion in hand."POW! BANG! SMASH!"
David wrote: "You can't really blame him for not wanting to read books written by broads. They're probably all about shopping and tampons."Poor boy must have been forced to read Are you there god? It's me, Margaret. at a young age.
I am so happy for you that you're free from the shackles of this book! It was sucking the life outta ya!
Mike wrote: "Since I like Judy Blume, am I entitled to say Atlas Shrugged totally sux?"I also like Judy Blume and agree that Atlas Shrugged is terrible.
