Bought yesterday whilst trawling.

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

Off to find a new reader.

This is being released as part of my own challenge to release another 500 books by 28/09/10, my progress can be tracked on my book blog at http://daemonwolfbooks.blogspot.com/.

If you're a local we'd love to see you at the monthly Leeds Bookcrosser meet, we're a friendly group who like swapping books over a couple of drinks. Check us out on our homepage - http://bookcrossing.meetup.com/9/. :)

Picked up at the most recent BC Meetup in Leeds.

I've never read any Bulgakov - and I feel it's time to put that right. And I find the premise of this collection interesting... and possibly an easier way 'in' (for me) than a full novel.

I look forward to reading it...

I read this quite a long time ago - but I've only got around to journalling it now.

Basically, I remember this being very enjoyable (if such frequent grimness can be considered 'enjoyable'). The writing style (and translation) worked for me - and the storytelling was engaging, dynamic and evocative (although this did fall away a bit towards the end, I remember, when he moves to the slightly larger - better equipped - hospital and starts practicing from there). It provides a good, sideways look at the society of the time in that particular part of Russia - all pleasingly shot through with Bulgakov's black humour - and I am quite prepared to believe that (despite being ostensibly fictional) most of this material comes directly from his real experiences, such is its messy and depressing realism. Good stuff - highly recommended !

I feel slightly less scared of Bulgakov now - although, saying that, I do inherently like Russian 'autobiography' from this period anyway (especially in a sketch / vignette / short story format), so whether I could hack one of his novels, I'm still not entirely convinced...

Planning to release at this Tuesday evening's 'Winter'-themed BC Meetup in York.

If you pick it up and read it, let me know what you think by leaving a journal entry below... !

releasing, as promised...

To read