Mikhail Bulgakov - The Master and Margarita

Sometimes re-imaginations of classic texts consist of nothing more than a cutesy renaming of characters and places, a cheeky sacrilege committed by undertalented 'writers.' Sometimes they don't.

The Master and Margarita is a true reinvention of the classic Faustian tale, set in 1930s Moscow. Written in Russian in the 1930s, the novel tells the story of what happens when Satan comes to Moscow. Incidentally, it also tells the story of what happens to parted lovers The Master and Margarita.

Translated to english, the novel retains that certain indefinite Russian flavor - that same flavor Nabokov has - and circuitous method of storytelling. If one can get beyond the first 100 pages, the story becomes captivating, and despite the slow start, those first 100 pages are essential to the rest of the story. Interspersed with the story of Pontius Pilate (from his own perspective), which is interwoven with the rest of the plot, the story is inventive, original (ironically) and entertaining.

The best part of the story is not The Master or Margarita, but Satan himself, along with his retinue, which includes a gigantic cat with a taste for chess, vodka, and arson.

Definitely a good read, and at only 300 pages, it doesn't even take too long.