Reading Discussion - Part I - Chapter 1 to 9

[Lidiana]

Please, mind the book part you are commenting on in order to avoid spoilers.

[Pedro]

I read this first part really fast. Although in the begining it gets a bit confusing diferentiating the different clusters from the book (and I guess Bulgakov's intentions), you get used to it easily!

[Lidiana]

Pedro wrote: "I read this first part really fast. Although in the begining it gets a bit confusing diferentiating the different clusters from the book (and I guess Bulgakov's intentions), you get used to it easily!"

I agree with you, Pedro... The first time I read the book, I went on taking notes, so I didn't get confuse with the clusters as it went on.

[The Reading Bibliophile]

Finished the 5 first chapters (and a 55-page introduction to Bulgakov's work) and what can I say so far? This book is amazing. Can't wait to go on reading.

[Lidiana]

Cynthia wrote: "Finished the 5 first chapters (and a 55-page introduction to Bulgakov's work) and what can I say so far? This book is amazing. Can't wait to go on reading."

In my opinion, it gets even more amazing as it goes on...

[Lidiana]

Now that I was able to start reading, I would like to check what is your opinion about the "breaks" Bulgakov takes from the story to go to other scenarios. For exemplo, how did you feel about chapter 2?

[The Reading Bibliophile]

Lidiana wrote: "Now that I was able to start reading, I would like to check what is your opinion about the "breaks" Bulgakov takes from the story to go to other scenarios. For exemplo, how did you feel about chapt..."

It was masterly introduced by the end of Chapter one. One of my favourite chapters so far.
I would like to point out at how sunlight is a character on its own in chapter 2. While reading it, I could feel the pain of too much light in my eyes. I can relate to this as I am photophobic (just my eyes can't stand too much light, the rest of my organism thrives on daylight).
It is interesting to read how Ponce Pilate yearns for darkness.
I was impressed by the strong depiction of Ponce Pilate's character and could not help impersonate it with David Bowie's character of Ponce Pilate in The Last Temptation of Christ.
I love the way the chapter ends with "It was 10 o'clock in the morning" and how the next chapter begins (it is almost nighttime and we soon lean that it is 10 o'clock at night).

[Samanta]

Lidiana wrote: "Now that I was able to start reading, I would like to check what is your opinion about the "breaks" Bulgakov takes from the story to go to other scenarios. For exemplo, how did you feel about chapt..."

I loved Chapter 2. My favorite so far.

The story was a bit different than the one I'm used to, and I was confused, but then in Chapter 3, Berlioz says it's completely different than the scriptures, and the professor say that it is because the scriptures do not tell the truth. And then it all made sense.

[Samanta]

Reading Chapter 5 I realized Bulgakov's subtle sense of humor (which is much appreciated).

The detail that caught my eye were the names of people in MASSOLIT (besides the obvious name of the association), in particular Bogokhulsky,Sladky, Shpichkin. In Croatian the first two words literally mean blasphemous and cute/sweet and the last surname can be used as a jargon for a person who likes to dress smart all the time. :D :D :D

[The Reading Bibliophile]

Samanta wrote: "Reading Chapter 5 I realized Bulgakov's subtle sense of humor (which is much appreciated).

The detail that caught my eye were the names of people in MASSOLIT (besides the obvious name of the asso..."

Amazing! Wow, thank you Sam for this info!

[The Reading Bibliophile]

Samanta wrote: "Lidiana wrote: "Now that I was able to start reading, I would like to check what is your opinion about the "breaks" Bulgakov takes from the story to go to other scenarios. For exemplo, how did you ..."

Indeed. Totally different.
I love chapter 2.
And chapter 9 was very funny. Korokiev comes on the scene, not just being a shadow-like character.

[Samanta]

Cynthia wrote: "Samanta wrote: "Lidiana wrote: "Now that I was able to start reading, I would like to check what is your opinion about the "breaks" Bulgakov takes from the story to go to other scenarios. For exemp..."

It reminded my of one of my favorite book series from one of my favorite Croatian writers, Miro Gavran. He wrote what was called "The Biblical trilogy" in which he took well-know stories from the Bible and gave them a human twist. The whole trilogy was translated to English.

, and by Miro Gavran

[Lidiana]

Samanta wrote: "Cynthia wrote: "Samanta wrote: "Lidiana wrote: "Now that I was able to start reading, I would like to check what is your opinion about the "breaks" Bulgakov takes from the story to go to other scen..."

Thank you, Samanta for all the extra information. This trilogy seems very interesting! And I had no idea about the name references.

[Samanta]

Lidiana wrote: "Samanta wrote: "Cynthia wrote: "Samanta wrote: "Lidiana wrote: "Now that I was able to start reading, I would like to check what is your opinion about the "breaks" Bulgakov takes from the story to ..."

I only caught it because my native language has the same basis as Russian....Slavic, although these were English versions of Russian names.

[Samanta]

The situations happening in Chapter 9 and, I suspect, Chapter 10 (just started reading it) are ridiculous. I wonder what Woland's agenda is.

[Lidiana]

Samanta wrote: "The situations happening in Chapter 9 and, I suspect, Chapter 10 (just started reading it) are ridiculous. I wonder what Woland's agenda is."

I think this is a feeling that will keep us company throughout most of the book...

[Nurul]

Lidiana wrote: "Samanta wrote: "The situations happening in Chapter 9 and, I suspect, Chapter 10 (just started reading it) are ridiculous. I wonder what Woland's agenda is."

I think this is a feeling that will ke..."