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Hm Rebekah Send a noteboard - 31/07/2010 10:53:46 PM
I found it bizarre that the Pilate chapers were so good but much of the rest of the book felt like a bad translation. What was up with that? I wonder how it comes off in Russian.


I'm possibly making stuff up, but I think Tim thought that too.

I didn't.

The two bits were obviously meant to feel different - one being the story written by one of the characters in the other story.

The Pilate story is very lucid, easy to follow, and understandable. It's a retelling of a very famous story, but this time from the "bad guy's" perspective. We know what's coming with the main action, so we can focus on the character instead. (At least, that's what I thought.)

The other story is completely different. It's madcap, it's anarchic, it's fantastical and bizarre, and so far out of the realm of normal life that it's hard to follow. I think that came across perfectly in the translation I read. It wasn't meant to feel smooth and accessible.

So. It mightn't be the translation? Or it might be a combination of the two things?
*MySmiley*

Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read. - Groucho Marx
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The Joint Book Club: Mikhail Bulgakov's The Master and Margarita Rebekah - 15/07/2010 08:36:47 AM 1898 Views
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Yeah. Rebekah - 18/07/2010 08:46:33 PM 1261 Views
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There wasn't much character-building, was there? Tim - 23/07/2010 11:26:44 PM 1408 Views
Too much crazy. nossy - 28/07/2010 02:59:46 AM 1354 Views
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Ah. Tim - 26/07/2010 08:54:30 AM 1290 Views
Interesting, I never gave that option a thought. Michael - 29/07/2010 02:54:17 PM 1377 Views
Yeah. I couldn't think of one that he would fit. Rebekah - 29/07/2010 10:35:35 PM 1262 Views
See, that seemed obvious to me. nossy - 28/07/2010 02:55:02 AM 1304 Views
Oh, so that was them making up a story to tell anyone else if needed? *NM* Tim - 28/07/2010 08:29:10 AM 693 Views
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That's how I read it, also. Michael - 29/07/2010 09:53:17 AM 1330 Views
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You are right. He didn't wield the metal weapon. Tashmere - 31/07/2010 10:19:57 PM 1378 Views
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may be... aragornital - 26/07/2010 03:50:48 PM 1215 Views
Ooh, I hadn't thought of that. Not a bad idea. *NM* Tim - 26/07/2010 04:11:43 PM 667 Views
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The story of the Passion is strikingly intense. Ghavrel - 20/07/2010 07:27:26 AM 1345 Views
It is. They are my favourite bits. Rebekah - 21/07/2010 07:11:33 PM 1206 Views
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Was wondering about that. *NM* Jacob - 20/07/2010 05:22:27 PM 646 Views
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That's neat. Rebekah - 18/07/2010 08:48:53 PM 1253 Views
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I suspect I'm missing a hell of a lot. Tim - 23/07/2010 10:45:35 PM 1451 Views
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I was slightly disappointed on my second read. Rebekah - 18/07/2010 08:48:02 PM 1362 Views
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I see that title and I think of taking up smoking... Larry - 18/07/2010 09:43:38 PM 1136 Views
My thoughts Tom - 20/07/2010 04:50:06 AM 1512 Views
Does this story translate well? Jacob - 20/07/2010 06:27:50 PM 1260 Views
I honestly have no clue. Tom - 20/07/2010 07:31:03 PM 1367 Views
That is what I thought you'd say. Jacob - 21/07/2010 02:04:26 PM 1239 Views
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There is a Russian author who believes Margarita was Gorky's girlfriend. Tom - 22/07/2010 03:15:13 AM 1361 Views
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To the devil with this. I don't care if I am showing my ignorance. Tashmere - 31/07/2010 10:52:54 PM 1527 Views
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For all the expressed interest, this book club discussion is languishing. *NM* Tom - 21/07/2010 02:07:23 AM 626 Views
I am trying to catch up. I've had NO time to read lately. nossy - 21/07/2010 02:58:23 AM 1328 Views
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I've nearly finished. Should be done tomorrow morning. *NM* Tim - 21/07/2010 11:22:05 PM 614 Views
Vacation and all the stuff associated with it. Will try to write something, but it might be a while. *NM* Vodalus - 23/07/2010 02:03:57 AM 636 Views
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Names. Rebekah - 21/07/2010 07:16:23 PM 1278 Views
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I thought that was so. nossy - 28/07/2010 02:53:21 PM 1389 Views
It felt like two different books.One part I felt like I was wading through a meaningless fluff. Tashmere - 31/07/2010 10:45:52 PM 1343 Views
Hm Rebekah - 31/07/2010 10:53:46 PM 1341 Views
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