I like the way it builds. The crazy is moderate in the beginning, and I felt that we got to know Berlioz and Ivan more than any of the characters we spend more time with later. The story happens around Ivan and Berlioz, rather than to them as with the other secondary characters, until we get the first interesting revelation with the oil/tram/decapitation. And right in the middle of that, BLAM! (technical term), one hits the section about Pilate. I want to read that book. Unfortunately, even though I liked the way it ended (and how everything connected), I wasn't as impressed with subsequent sections as I was with the introduction of Pilate/Yeshua. Amazing. If I get to call that first section a short story, I'm claiming it as one of my favorites. I must read it again to see if I still think so.

The devil does devilish things but isn't what I would call evil. I've read that viewpoint before, but I can see that being a very interesting concept when this first came out. I like Woland.

I am amused by my own transition regarding all the supernaturals. I didn't like them. Then I liked them quite a bit (up to and during the ball sequence). Then I didn't like them (too much - too annoying post ball) and then I loved them at the very end. I'm not sure that's intended, other than the first and last impressions. I'd guess it's down to my reading straight through things I don't understand.

I'm doing that whole MUST READ THE HISTORY OF THE TIME thing that I do - among a gazillion other things, I'm intensely curious about when civil rights (re: africans) unfolded in Russia. And wondering about apartment shortages.

I am not sure I like Margarita. I will have to think about this and potentially expound tomorrow. I love the Master. Borderline treasure.