^The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov is a magical realism novel that many people rave about. I’ve always meant to try it.
Ignatius, the first three books you suggested all sound kind of fun, especially The Dry.
I have read The Gloaming and I’m afraid I would no longer recommend it. Some people might like it, for it is exquisitely written, but it has a good bit of disturbing – even shocklng – content. Much of the story takes place in Africa, and unfortunately the author depicts the settings there as rather dreary, which I found disappointing.
Your post #178 makes a lot of sense–I really like your explanation. And the idea of each book being its own creative form of alternate history aligns them even more closely as a duo read.
I will put Commonwealth on the list. Rules are made to be broken! This is not an autocracy! #Resist! 
Additions? Vetoes?
Swing Time by Zadie Smith
Swimming Lessons by Claire Fuller
The Custom of the Country by Edith Wharton
The Tsar of Love and Techno by Anthony Marra
The Water Museum: Stories by Luis Alberto Urea
The Dry by Jane Harper
Paradise Sky byJoe Lansdale
The Nix by Nathan Hill
Commonwealth by Ann Patchett
The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov
Oh no, NJTM. Thinking of you, sending healing thoughts, and wishing you’ll not have to spend more than one minute more than necessary in the hospital.
No time to weigh in on specific suggestions other than to say that I need some serious distraction from daily current events. I’m about to take a long drive to visit my mom.
Thanks, everyone, for your kind words.<3
I would not veto Commonweath, but it doesn’t sound good to me. I disliked Bel Canto, and the previous Patchett book that this group read (I was not a member yet) sounded weird.
I think Patchett is a good writer, and I have admired a couple of non-fiction pieces of hers that I have read, but I think she tends to go off the deep end with her fictional plots.
From the NYT review of Commonwealth:
^ Actually, we read *State of Wonder/i. State of Wonder led to a good discussion–maybe because it was “off the deep end”?
I read The Master and Margarita many eons ago, I didn’t love it, but I did finish it which is more than you can say about A Hundred Years of Solitude which I have tried to read multiple times. I am currently reading Cracking India. It’s an older book (1990 ish?) about the break up of India. It would provide interesting discussion - some parallels with our current political situation.
^^That may be a good thing or a bad thing. 
^ Yes, parallels with our current political situation might not fulfill @PlantMom’s request for “serious distraction from daily current events.” 
Okay, maybe take The Master and Margarita off.
I love reading about India, and Cracking India sounds good. Amazon represents it as a YA novel.
^^^ Cracking India has the political upheaval, not The Master and Margarita. So if you’re looking to remove on those grounds, take off Cracking India.
And totally beside the point, look at the new edition of The Master and Margarita: https://www.amazon.com/Master-Margarita-50th-Anniversary-Penguin-Classics/dp/0143108271/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1486668547&sr=8-1&keywords=the+master+and+margarita
I can’t resist gorgeous book covers and so must own it, regardless of whether we read it or not.
Oh, look, another good choice (#Don’t Ask): https://www.amazon.com/There-Lived-Mother-Loved-Children/dp/0143121669/ref=pd_sim_14_12_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=0143121669&pd_rd_r=70PWS82201M8Y39470QX&pd_rd_w=0G2ws&pd_rd_wg=EV1kr&psc=1&refRID=70PWS82201M8Y39470QX
I’m with @ignatius - missed Ethel being gay. I will say, though, I thought it kind of odd how she turned into such a caring person when Cora got sick. Prior to that it seemed as if she wanted nothing to do with her since she (Cora) put them all in such danger.
Also, the whole grave digging thing really seemed like it was unrelated to anything – until I finally figured out the connection.
Re: our next book – I’m open to almost anything, though I’m glad another duo is off the list. My RL Book Club read “Commonwealth” for last month’s meeting. I missed the gathering, but read it anyway. Apparently most in the group didn’t care for it all that much, but I liked it. (I’ve enjoyed all her books, actually.) For our February meeting we’re reading “Hillbilly Elegy.” Quick reading; lots of characters; will be interesting to see how much discussion we’ll end up having.
So many good links posted to articles and interviews…thank you!..but I can’t keep up!
My word!
That is a good cover, though. Some of the translations of The Master and Margarita are supposed to be bad, but I think the Penguin is supposed to be a good one.
There Once Lived a Mother Who Loved Her Children, Until They Moved Back In:Three Novellas About Family sounds interesting. However did you come across it? (Sorry for asking.)
^^^ It showed up on Amazon underneath The Master and Margarita. The title caught my eye because, well, just because. 
I looked up the NYT review of the book and it got a thumbs up. However, I meant for all to take my addition with a grain of salt (not that it doesn’t merit consideration).
Not a veto but decidedly low on my list:
*The Custom of the Country
Swing Time*
Other than those two, I’m good to go (and I’d read either of those two should it end up the chosen one.)
Still reading American Airlines. Speaking of distractions I’ve been reading books about the happiest people in Denmark, and Hygee.
Unfamiliar with all the books listed, so whatever chosen, is fine.m
I do like the idea of reading something happy and cheery. I don’t have time to check reviews till the weekend.
- *Swimming Lessons* by Claire Fuller
- *The Dry* by Jane Harper
- Either of the following: *The Tsar of Love and Techno* by Anthony Marra OR *The Water Museum: Stories* by Luis Alberto Urrea
A happy book is a nice idea, but I’m not sure how easy they are to find.
I may not be available to vote after today. I think I would be willing to read anything on the current list, though.