Rating: 
Summary: Striking
Review: Terrifically insightful, if something less than subtle. Bulgakov's genius for satire turns, again, upon the Soviet way of life. In retrospect, not exactly a moving target, but his came early, and displays considerably more insight than most of the others. A quick and humorous read, but lacking in both the scope and the depth of emotion that his "Master and Margarita" attained.
Rating: 
Summary: Light humor
Review: This book (if you've seen the other reviews you already know this) is laugh out loud. The scenes in the book are created simply as a comedy, and no one can present like Bulgakov can. However, don't be fooled. This book won't knock you over with it's stunning insight or split second timing. It is simply a short, whacky tale of a dog gone wrong - in human form. Pick it up and breeze through it. It's very entertaining and is an easy read.
Rating:
Summary: Heart of a Dog
Review: This book is fantastic. Bulgakov had something to say and he said it outright. As all those busybody do-gooders out there in the world march down the road to becoming oppressors, this guy stands in the ditch and spits at them as they pass. I laughed a lot.
Rating:
Summary: Heart of a Dog
Review: This book is fantastic. Bulgakov had something to say and he said it outright. As all those busybody do-gooders out there in the world march down the road to becoming oppressors, this guy stands in the ditch and spits at them as they pass. I laughed a lot.
Rating:
Summary: Just great.
Review: This book is just great.Its irony is just fantastic.It reveals the Soviet Union experiments upon its citizens.Bulgakov implies that all those Soviet apparatchiks had hearts of a dog. But don't be fooled so easily.It's easy to read,but it's not an easy reading.The reader should THINK and analyse everything while reading this book.Both its humor(or,rather,satire)and underlying psychological meaning are great. Read it once,read it twice,read it thrice-just read it,it's worth while doing it.
Rating:
Summary: subliminal messages
Review: This is one of Bulgakov's greatest work. It presents the reader with a critical commentary on the state of the society (primarily its cultural development) in the Soviet Union. Perhaps the most important question that the author tries to answer in this book is as follows, "What does it take to be a human being?"
Rating:
Summary: Even a dog can join the party
Review: This novel (a bit like Metamorphosis by Kafka) combines both an understanding of the turmoil of Russian society just after the Revolution of 1917 and enough humor to make you laugh well after you've put the book down. it's really hilarious. perhaps similar to metamorphosis, a stray dog is picked up by a famous scientis and given human organs. the dog takes on a semi-human appearance and learns to speak. In a sarchastic take on the how revolutions tend to fear thinking and critical minds, Bulgakov shows how easily mediocrity can raise your station in life in such an ideological climate. the 'Dog' becomes a party member and even manages to get the scientis in trouble with the authorities, while acquiring the self-importance of little minds. You don't have to be a student of ethics to appreciate this novel. just think of your supervisor and how he got to the top. This book is a far better analysis of 'climbing the ladder' than many specialized management books.By the way, to better appreciate the humor, it helps to know that many Russians took odd names after the revolution to honor the concept of the new man that was being inaugurated with by socialism. I've heard of gilrs being named Tractorina (yes after a tractor, symbol of modernized agricultural renewal). Just remember this point when you read what the man-dog decides to call himself.
Rating:
Summary: A great satire.
Review: This short novel will make most of readers to laugh. Although it is true that the book may be interpreted as a feroucius citique to the soviet system, it is also true that the very "facts" of the novel, the plot, the dialogs, are quite funny by themeselves. So I agree with the reviewers that think this novel is an easy reading.I give Heart of a Dog four stars just becuase I can't avoid comparing it to The Master and Margarita. Compared to Bulgakov's masterwork, The heart of a Dog is just an exellently written divertimento.
Rating:
Summary: Read this BEFORE you read M&M
Review: This was an enjoyable little book, though after the wild, breathtaking ride that was _Master & Margarita_, this book for me was something of a let-down. If you are unaquainted with Bulgakov or have never read his magnum opus, _Master & Margarita_, do yourself a favor and read _Heart of A Dog_ FIRST. If you like it, go on to _M&M_. If you DONT, go on to _M&M_ anyway. _Heart of A Dog_ is one of Bulgakov's earlier works, he was still developing as a writer when he wrote it. _M&M_ is shows him at his absolute best. _Heart of A Dog_ is a good book in its own right, but it kind of suffers from standing in _M&M_'s shadow, at least for me it did.
Rating:
Summary: Allegory, Mischief and Humor
Review: What a wonderful book! Funny, ascerbic and critical of the Soviet regime, Bulgakov writes an amusing tale that is easy to read, with an obvious message. The book remains delightfully readable 70 years after it is written - this is a book you will enjoy, not a book you 'should' read.
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