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Please vote for the Bulgakov book you would like to read in December by November 30th.
The aim of the Book Club is to read and discuss new books together with other members.
Please try to avoid from voting for the books you have already read and/or do not intend to (re)read with us.
The Heart of a Dog
A Country Doctor's Notebook
The Fatal Eggs
The Master and Margarita
Book Club Procedures
I've never read anything at all by Bulgakov, so count me in. Regardless of which book is chosen, you can count me in on this month.
I have read only "The Master and Margarita", but I am planning to reread it this year. I would prefer to read one of the others but no matter which one it is I will read it. I will wait with my vote for a while, because I am not sure which books are available to me in the moment. I know I have all his works, but the problem is that they are in Russian and I have to check which one I have translated since I can't read Russian. The only one I know for sure is "The Master and Margarita".
I planned to reread Master and Margarita, so they got my vote.
I have never read Bulgakov and i have wanted to. Unfortunately I have to finish Don Quixote first. I don't think I will by next month. But we'll see.
M&M is the only Bulgakov book I have read and I would like to read something different this time.
Yes, me too. That's why I have to search a lot through my library :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Scheherazade
I voted for M&M too..(sorry sher :p )..it is a book I bought a while ago and was planning to read it much later but it is always a nice experience to read books and discuss them ;)
It seems like M&M will be the book after all, but I will vote for one of the other.
I've read recently his short novel Black Snow and I can't say I was very pleased. But, that's not on the list so I really don't know why I wrote this...
:lol: well, that's an opinion. I would be really disappointed if I decide to read something else and it isn't on the level of my expectations. After M&M I have serious expectations.Quote:
Originally Posted by bazarov
Well, yes; that's a serious problem. So I don't want to take any risks!
I've read 4 of his novels, including Master and Margarita, Heart of A Dog and Black Snow (the other being White Guard which is about the Russian revolution and Civil War. It takes place in Ukraine so it's a slightly different perspective and it's incredible!)...anyway, my point was, out of those 4, Black Snow was easly the least impressive so don't let that worry you. He's really a much better author than that book would suggest.Quote:
Originally Posted by bazarov
I see...Quote:
Originally Posted by manolia
I think I will take out my KitKat box for future voters! ;)
http://img229.imageshack.us/img229/3...tkatns2.th.jpg
I finally voted for "The Heart of a Dog". I am not sure if it really matters, the votes now are for M&M and I suppose this wont change till the end.
Come on, boys and girls! Let's move out of our comfort zone and read something different (ie other than M&M)
Umm, how is that within our comfort zone?
I've never read Master and Margarita, so it's not a comfort zone for me. I'd gladly read it.
Like this:Quote:
Originally Posted by B-Mental
:pQuote:
Originally Posted by bazarov
Seems like M&M is the most popular Bulgakov book and everyone is willing to read that one rather than giving his less known books a try. :)
I honestly hadn't heard of any of these books, and seeing how I was the first one to vote, just picked one...because you wouldn't let me vote for book club regulations....I didn't think everyone would follow my lead....I'm so sorry...*runs off and sniffles in the dark closet under the stairs*.
I knew it was all your doing... With all your talk about M&M and chosen one!
*locks the closet door and throws the key into the well in the back garden*
Lqtm!!
Why "White Guard" is not included in the list? It is a bit less known than "M&M" but it absolutely brilliant. Btw, the play "Day of Turbins" that is based on "White Guard" was Stalin's favorite and was probably the reason Bulgakov didn't end up in Gulag or worth.
I voted for "Heart of the Dog" because I know "M&M" by heart- I read it both in Russian and in English, and actually did some research on it.
Even though Bulgakov has other "good" books, I am trying to limit the number of books included in the polls because more options usually means that no book gets the majority vote. So, we are trying to include couple of more popular works of the authors (amazon's commentaries are a good guide for this).Quote:
Originally Posted by Boris239
I had to go with The Fatal Eggs. I'll be interested to see how the book plays out if it wins.
I am not sure about amazon's commentaries but it is a fact that "White Guard" competes for the second most popular Bulgakov book in Russia ( with "Heart of a dog") being superceded only by "Master and Margarita"Quote:
Originally Posted by Scheherazade
Today I bought golden hard covered copy of Master and Margarita, so I hope it will win!:banana:
Anyone else for The Heart of a Dog? It's a bit short and is available online.
And just from personal experience, I would agree with Boris. White Guard is incredible. Heart of a Dog is a wonderful, scathing satire, I laughed out loud on several occasions but White Guard is so heart wrenching and it was fascinating to see the Civil War from a different perspective. It doesn't quite have the scope of Master and Margarita, it's just a different kind of book but I think if you're a Bulgakov fan, you have to read this book so even if it isn't on the list, if you like whatever book is chosen for the book club, go out and buy this one and read it on your own, you won't be disappointed.Quote:
Originally Posted by Boris239
If M&M is chosen there is a very good site for non Russian speakers to better understand the novel
http://cr.middlebury.edu/public/russ...v/public_html/
There are descriptions of various themes, characters, soviet realities, etc.
It is so close! Come on, folks; I need to order my book before we start reading!
What?!?! A tie?? Scher i bet this is all your doing..:lol: you've been giving away chocolate, haven't you?
:brow:
I never know whats gonna happen with work, so I am going to go out and buy the two leading novels....I am hoping I like them too.
I will wait for another week before I place my reservation requests at the library.
Ok I voted for Heart of a Dog (I was the last voter, damn me) I'll take back my vote. Even though I already read M&M I'd like the discussion on this book.
Hi Etienne (there is a character named in the book I am reading at the moment as well! :)),
There are some on-going discussions on M&M already if you would like to have a look:
http://www.online-literature.com/for...ight=margarita
http://www.online-literature.com/for...ight=margarita
Someone plz break the tie :D
I don't see his vote in Master and Margareta section :lol: Scher, you have rights to solve Manolia's problems. :lol:Quote:
Originally Posted by Etienne
yes, yes, I'm switching my vote! You guys hadn't realised yet?Quote:
Originally Posted by bazarov