quote:

Originally posted by silly_punk, feral student:
true.
so maybe when someone's done reading it, they can post some questions that they'd like answered? or perhaps someone should volunteer at the beginning of the book selection to post questions while they read?

quote:

Originally posted by Circus:
See, i did this with Neverending Story and got the impression people thought i asked the questions because i didn't "get it"--which was fine, but a little awkward for me.

quote:

Originally posted by silly_punk, feral student:

i dunno. i think this book has gone over a month hasn't it?

quote:

Originally posted by Thirith & His Enormous Tibia:

quote:

Originally posted by silly_punk, feral student:
anyone else? did the WEBC fail massively this round?

I feel somewhat guilty saying this, since I'm not too active in the book club (too much on right now), in addition to which I was one of the people to suggest The Master and Margarita... but I do think that if we keep this going, we have to structure it more. For instance: We could have different people in charge of different chapters, and then every week or so we'd deal with a chapter. The person in charge could then prepare questions for discussion, perhaps even check whether there are interesting web resources on the bits they've focused on. Without that sort of focus, there's just too much of a risk of the discussion turning into:

"I liked it."
"I didn't."
"..."
"..."
"Let's go for a drink."

quote:

Originally posted by halucinagenia:
I had to just go read the old thread to make sure it wasn't me that did that Circus

And yup would be good to have discussion based on questions that encourage debate, maybe we could have a seperate one for questions where you didn't get something, just to clarify and allow for both types? Some sort of symbol before a question? like ? for a question where you don't have a clue and @ for one to discuss?

Example:

? - Are all the writers named in the Massolit diner actual writers? (i'm guessing yes which would add to the satire if you actually knew any of them....)

quote:

The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov is considered one of the best and most highly regarded novels to come out of Russia during the Soviet era. The book weaves together satire and realism, art and religion, history and contemporary social values. It features three story lines. The main story, taking place in Russia of the 1930s, concerns a visit by the devil, referred to as Professor Woland, and four of his assistants during Holy Week; they use black magic to play tricks on those who cross their paths. Another story line features the Master, who has been languishing in an insane asylum, and his love, Margarita, who seeks Woland's help in being reunited with the Master. A third story, which is presented as a novel written by the Master, depicts the crucifixion of Yeshua Ha-Notsri, or Jesus Christ, by Pontius Pilate.

Using the fantastic elements of the story, Bulgakov satirizes the greed and corruption of Stalin's Soviet Union, in which people's actions were controlled as well as their perceptions of reality. In contrast, he uses a realistic style in telling the story of Yeshua. The holy life led by Christ in this book is more ordinary than the miraculous one told in the Scriptures. Because the book derides government bureaucracy and corruption, the manuscript of The Master and Margarita was hidden for over twenty years, until the more lenient Khrushchev government allowed its publication.