Mimosa
21 March 11
- The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov
I recently finished reading The Master and Margarita. It's my mum's favourite book, so she had been nagging me to read it for ages. This was actually my second attempt, because the first time I tried it in Russian and around the Pontius Pilate bit I literally had no idea what was going on. Second time - in english - is the charm though, because I loved it. Thanks to the magic of the kindle I saved the above description of Margarita and her alarming yellow flowers, which I believe to be Mimosas.
I can't stop thinking about this book. I might try drawing the cat next, there's this great description of Behemoth sprawled on top of an ottoman with a glass of vodka in his paw...
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Love the illustration! This is my best friend’s favourite book, so I bought it to see what all the fuss was about. Like you, I gave up after a few chapters and haven’t picked it up since. I found it too confusing at first, even in English!
Michelle replied over 12 years ago.
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It definitely is confusing at first, but when it all comes together it’s super satisfying!
& thank you! x
kris atomic replied over 12 years ago.
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Please draw the cat! What fantastic imagery.
Kate replied over 12 years ago.
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I shall try! x
kris atomic replied over 12 years ago.
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Stunning!
I must read that book.
x
Kate replied over 12 years ago.
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Please do! and let me know what you think! x
kris atomic replied over 12 years ago.
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Lovely! I tried to read it too, but didn’t like it on the first pages. Maybe I didn’t have the right age, who knows. I might give it a try again. Regarding the mimosas, I think the yellow flowers were forsythia though, since they are the first to bloom here in Romania, too, and the two climates are similar. Just my guess.
Dia replied over 12 years ago.
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Oh, I searched a bit and it seems they were mimosas after all. I should have searched before commenting, sorry :)
Dia replied over 12 years ago.
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oh good, I was just getting worried! I thought they were mimosas because further in the book she’s described as being adorned with mimosa or something like that, so it made sense.
I think the book is a bit tough at the beginning, but after a while all the different bits come together in a very satisfying way! Definitely worth persevering with. x
kris atomic replied over 12 years ago.
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oh wow.
ive never read this book, but I LOVE this drawing. you have done a really good job with the eyes.
Porsha replied over 12 years ago.
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thank you very much! x
kris atomic replied over 12 years ago.
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Nice illustration and great work, your blog is really pleasant, merci pour cette chouette ballade dans votre univers! tks+
céline.n replied over 12 years ago.
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merci beaucoup! x
kris atomic replied over 12 years ago.
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i’ve started reading the master and margarita so many times and keep giving up for some reason! everyone says how amazing it is so i really must try again when i have more time.
sarah replied over 12 years ago.
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I really struggled at first, but it was so worth it! x
kris atomic replied over 12 years ago.
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Oh this is one of my all time favourite books, I’ve read it a couple of times. Fantastic. And this drawing is great, I love her eyebrows.
Ismay replied over 12 years ago.
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thank you! and I love your drawings! x
kris atomic replied over 12 years ago.
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This illustration is so lovely! I love her hair and eyebrows, along with the bright flowers!
Calla replied over 12 years ago.
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thank you! I love big eyebrows right now! x
kris atomic replied over 12 years ago.
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Just lovely. I love your work.
I got half way through the English version of this and admit that I was not 100% sure what the heck is going on so I gave up. I think I need to pick it back up though?
Jennifer replied over 12 years ago.
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thank you so much!
It’s tricky until all the stories come together, but it all makes sense in the end! I’d say it’s definitely one worth reading to the end. x
kris atomic replied over 12 years ago.
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Beautiful! Now I really want to read this book.
Heïdi replied over 12 years ago.
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thank you! and you should, you won’t regret it! x
kris atomic replied over 12 years ago.
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It’s my favourite book of all times :)
love the feeling of getting lost and confused at the very beginning
then it all makes sense (sort of). Reminds me a bit of Alice.
Really love your Margarita btw, exactly as I had imagined her.
M
x
mina replied over 12 years ago.
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Thank you so much, that’s great to hear :D
kris atomic replied over 12 years ago.
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Oh yeah, The Master and Margarita is great, I love it. It’s so difficult though, all the characters having three names and they mix it up and use different names all the time. I think I should read it again, now that I’m prepared for the name-mayhem and perhaps remember a few from the last time I read it.
a replied over 12 years ago.
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Totally. I had the same problem with Anna Karenina etc, damn Russians and their patronyms! I grew up in Russia, so I feel like I shouldn’t have such a hard time of it, but nope. If it’s a really confusing section I just have my phone with the relevant wikipedia characters page open to hand ;)
Kris x
kris atomic replied over 12 years ago.
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Great book, great pictures!
Gracie replied over 12 years ago.
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thank you! x
kris atomic replied over 12 years ago.
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i absolutely loved this book, though i found if i let my mind wander too much i would completely miss what i was reading! it requires alot of attention! i love your drawing and can’t wait to see more!!!!! i like the part where the suit is sitting at the desk with no body in it and the part where everyone in the theater ends up naked! and of course the cat!
xo
sami
sami replied over 12 years ago.
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Yes! So much great imagery in this book! I loved when Margarita becomes a witch and flies off on a broom, naked!
& thank you so much! x
kris atomic replied over 12 years ago.
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ooooh so nice, it’s the season of the mimosa i miss it so much !!! where I from ( côte d’azur ) it was such an event !! and it smell so nice !!!
Amelie replied over 12 years ago.
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Oh, lucky you! I was in Nice last spring and it was just beauuuutiful! x
kris atomic replied over 12 years ago.
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The new Annik Goutal perfume le Mimosa recreates the smell, it’s divine!
Jenn replied over 12 years ago.
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It really has been a treat being able to see your work transform before our very eyes into what it is today.
And I am begging you to go through with an interpretation of the vodka wielding cat!
Kim replied over 12 years ago.
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Such a nice thing to say, thank you! I shall certainly attempt the cat when time allows :)
Your site is looking great by the way, lovely photos! x
kris atomic replied over 12 years ago.
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i really love this book too! (would love to read it again but there are always other unread books to read instead!).
cute illustration. love the bright yellow.
anewgirlinvienna replied over 12 years ago.
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thanks!
I know what you mean, so many books, so little time! x
kris atomic replied over 12 years ago.
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Such a gorgeous illustration! Okay, I’m sold— I must now read that book!
Carrie replied over 12 years ago.
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thank you! enjoy the book! x
kris atomic replied over 12 years ago.
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I actually like this picture more because it reminds me of Australian wattle flowers :)
Hannah replied over 12 years ago.
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If my googling is correct, a mimosa is actually the same thing as an Australia Wattle!
Kris x
kris atomic replied over 12 years ago.
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I’ve read this book many times, and it just gets better every time! I read it in Russian, though.
And mimosa happens to be my favorite flower! Right now the only perfume I’m using is Mimosa pour Moi by L’Artisan. This one: http://www.swedishloveaffair.com/mimosa-pour-moi-by-lartisan-parfumeur/
Have a great day, Kris!
Kind wishes,
Antonia
Antonia at Swedish Love Affair replied over 12 years ago.
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I’m so out of practice at reading in Russian, it’s far too slow to be able to read satisfactorily :(
That perfume sounds amazing!
Kris x
kris atomic replied over 12 years ago.
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I know what you mean! How old were you when you moved from Russia?
Antonia at Swedish Love Affair replied over 12 years ago.
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I was 9! I can still speak and understand ok-ish. x
kris atomic replied over 12 years ago.
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Gorgeous as usual. Digital or gouache?
visivo replied over 12 years ago.
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All digital!
Thank you :)
kris atomic replied over 12 years ago.
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So funny. I am also reading this book and I will finish it today! Beautiful illustrations!
Veri replied over 12 years ago.
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I want to read it!!
Diana replied over 12 years ago.
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I love this book, and your illustration – please sell it as a print!
Fiona replied over 12 years ago.
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Should be available as a print in a couple of weeks!
Kris x
kris atomic replied over 12 years ago.
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Kristina, could you please PLEASE tell me whose translation you read?!
It is one of my favourite books (read it in Russian, even though my Russian is that of an 8-year old who grew up to read some of Russian classics) and loved it (Behemoth!). And it breaks my heart that I cannot share this book with the many friends and loved ones who do not speak / read Russian.
Btw, sorry for the random shout-out, have been a fan of your webpage and your art for some time now, but never had anything to say that would not sound lame.
Best,
Stasia
Stasia replied over 12 years ago.
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Hi Stasia!
I read the Penguin Classics edition:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Master-Margarita-Penguin-Classics/dp/0140455469/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1301325047&sr=8-1
Well, the kindle version, but I presume they’re the same.
My mum has this translation:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Master-Margarita-Mikhail-Bulgakov/dp/0330351346/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1301325229&sr=8-5
which she says is good too (she knows the original text much better than I do).
Hope that helps! And thank you :)
Kris x
kris atomic replied over 12 years ago.
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I stumbled on your blog when GoogleReader listed ‘Chronic Bitchface’ in my recommended items (it’s growing a bit too astute for my liking), and scrolling down the page saw this picture and started, automatically wondering if it was Margarita and her yellow flowers. Poignantly and effectively rendered – hope to see Behemoth soon!
Emily Z. replied over 12 years ago.
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Or rather, good job on Behemoth as well, as I appear simply to have missed him on my first scroll :)
Emily Z. replied over 12 years ago.
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Funny thing, I’m Russian and I’ve read this book several times and loved every bit of it (though The Cat – my forever favourite and you draw him perfectly!), but never thought about reading it in English. Now I’ve read this bit you posted and I think about getting the English copy!)
And I never thought that there are so much non-russian people who read Russian literature in original. You are so great!)
a replied over 12 years ago.
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[…] KRISATOMIC//KRISATOMICShop housekeeping August 25th, 2011 New print in the shop! The much requested Margarita with Mimosa is now available.Chronic Bitchface prints back in stock.All paintings are on sale! I’m going […]
Shop housekeeping « KRISATOMIC replied about 12 years ago.
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[…] y agradable olor siempre me ha encantado. Un amor que nuestra protagonista parece compartir, habiéndola descubierto eneste fragmento de El Maestro y Margarita de Mikhail Bulgakov. ^–*_isn’t it […]
La Mimosa de Kris Atomic | dadanoias replied about 12 years ago.
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I was searching for drawings of mimosa flowers (actually the pink ones which aren’t truly mimosas…) and saw this image. Having read the Master and Margarita (in English – my Russian was never up to it) about a billion times, as soon as I saw the picture, I thought of the book. And, I was right. Nice work.
Margaret replied over 10 years ago.
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