B’s Baths & Books- The Master and Margarita and a cup of Salted Stardust

A bath and a good book is my retrieve, my solace. No matter where I am at, I am grounded in the water and Salted Stardust. The smell relaxes me and awakens my cognitive focus. Sip of Mountain Valley Spring Water I dive into pure magic.

In Hamtramck Michigan, in a little bookstore called Book Suey, I stumbled upon The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov. Upon finishing the book, this author rose to my top favorites right up there with Roald Dahl and Carlos Ruiz Zafon.

Mihail Bulgakov’s the Master and Margarita is said to be his magnum opus. Sadly, it was not published during his lifetime due to censorship. He is known as one of the best Russian authors of the 20th century. Bulgakov’s life and career are a testament to the challenges faced by artists under repressive regimes and their enduring impact on literature and culture.

Captivated from page one, I travelled through Moscow during the 1930s down a path riddled with satire, fantasy, and social commentary. So vivid, when I recall it, it’s like a movie in my head.

The novel explores themes of good and evil, freedom of expression, and the power of art.

Alternating between the storyline of the Devin and the Master. The Devil, known as Professor Woland, and his entourage as they visit the city and create chaos among its residents. The second storyline revolves around the Master, a writer who has written a novel about Pontius Pilate and is dealing with the censorship and suppression of his work.

Vivid and thought provoking, below are some of my favorite quotes that capture key themes in the novel including the power of literature, the dual nature of humanity, and the search for meaning.

“Manuscripts don’t burn.”- Spoken by Woland, highlighting the enduring power of literature and art, even in the face of censorship and destruction.

“What would your good do if evil didn’t exist, and what would the earth look like if all the shadows disappeared?”- Ah the duality of good and evil. 4

“Man is what he believes.”- the power of imagination.