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The nights are drawing in, the clocks are about to go back, the temperature is dropping - all of which are perfect excuses for hiding under the duvet with a cracking book.
This month we have the creme de la creme of literary fiction and your chance to vote on the Booker shortlist. Not only Best of 2007, but also surprisingly quick to read and affordable.
Finding it a tricky decision - want to read Chesil Beach, always like to read the winner and then a friend had recommended The Reluctant Fundamentalist....
Mind you, had better get on and read this months first...
October's book was In the County of Men by Hisham Matar - All explained here
The discussion of it is next Tues eve and Hisham Matar will be joining us, so if you're quick and fancy a fully weekend of reading, there's still time to join in!
ooh, I'll give it a shot.. I finished the new alwxander mccall smith - 'careful use of compliments' today - just fab! Problem is that when I am reading, I seem to have developed that special hearing that fathers have in the night when they literally cannot hear the children crying. There can be total war playing out in front of me and I only notice if I get to the end of a chapter, not my best parenting moments!!
Have just voted, slightly confused as the poll says that it's closed but my vote then appeared on the results page. Missed the October vote so have been looking for this every day since Wednesday! Mumsnet bookclub ideal for me as difficult to get out but would love to be in one. Shall read October's discussion but not read book. (Been reading "Atonement", finally, don't know what took me so long, I loved it.)
Atonement was fab, but On Chesil Beach is really not all that. It's the one Booker shortlisted novel I've read.
I'm voting for the Gathering. I loved Anne Enright's "Making Babies" - on being a mother, but from the opposite kind of perspective to that awful Rachel Cusk.
Fresh from our October web chat with Hisham Matar, who has just finished The Gathering... reminded me to check the polls and at the moemnt The Gathering is in the lead, followed by Ian McEwan.
Poll will close Thursday evening 6pm so if you haven't already voted, nows your chance...
As you are all probably aware, being much better at noticing the time than I am: Anne Enright has won our Mumsnet Booker with The Gathering. I'm now going to get on the case and see if I can squeeze a webchat into her world tour. Watch this space - will let you know as soon as I have news.
And don't forget, you can buy your copy of The Gathering directly [http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gathering-Anne-Enright/dp/0224078739/mumsnet here]
Does anyone need a copy of this month's book? Stupidly, I completely forgot that I had clicked on the link and bought the blardy thing, so I flaming well went and bought it AGAIN.
(I was really impressed though that I ordered the book from Amazon at 10pm and it arrived in the post the next morning )
So if anyone needs one, I can post you one. Let me know here if you want it and I'll give you my email.
A quick message on this thread, in case you haven't seen the new one, to say we have moved the date of our discussion night: bookclub session will now be on Thursday 29th November. Same time, 8pm kick off.
So that's two handy extra days to polish off Anne Enright's Booker prizewinner The Gathering. Hope everyone's managed to get their copy (and Squonk, hope you've found a loving home for your spare).
I'm still trying to find out if we can get our author live on the day, will keep you posted...
As an aside, have just read Making Babies by Anne Enright after reading the blurb on the back of my copy of The Gathering and thinking it would be good to read in my present state of mind - going slightly mad being 19 weeks pregnant whilst looking after tantruming toddler. I loved it - intelligent, honest and beautifully written. Real warts and all account of motherhood and I found it very comforting that someone who has gone on to be a Booker prize winner had days when the demands of motherhood meant she felt incapable of the most basic tasks of life and pretty pathetic and desperate. It can definitely happen to us all.
I've just ordered Making Babies as a present to myself - really glad that it comes with high praise, am so keen to read all her stuff now that I've discovered her. I thought the same - that if a Booker prize winner can feel floored by parenthood then there must be hope!
Pregnancy and toddlers don't mix v well do they - I am lying face down on the floor with knackeredness. And how come my son suddenly wants to bounce on my tummy all the time, pretending its a horse? Is he trying to kill it already?
A quick alert on this thread to say the December vote is now open and ready to go - click here to go to next month's selection and choose your favourite...
Just a reminder that we'll be pouring out the wine and the conversation at 8pm this Thursday 29th - we're discussing 2007's Booker Prize winner The Gathering. Sadly author Anne Enright cannot join us on the night due to prior commitments, but I'll gather any questions for her after the chat and email them to her afterwards.
Am really looking forward to this... 
and have voted.
