I've started the thread for our January Bookclub discussion night (next Thursday 31st, 8pm). Tim will be joining us around 8.30pm. Do feel free to post questions for Tim in advance and we'll kick off with those on the night.

And a reminder that February's choice is now up - its a classics month, and you can cast your vote here

See you on 31st, looking forward to our chat with Mr Dowling...

oops sorry Tilly - that'll teach me to meddle (and not read the small print

Actually the paperback isn't out till February 1st (sorry, that was bad timing on my part, I should have waited till next month to do funny books). There might be early copies but I'm not sure you'd get it early enough to read by 31st January (our discussion night). I promise I'll focus on paperback pub dates better next time. So the original link to the HB is the one to go for, otherwise you might wonder why your copy doesn't arrive for 4 weeks.

And... Hot off the press is that Tim Dowling will be joining us on 31st to answer all your questions and tell us about all the internet chatroom research he underwent for the book. Most exciting. Am preparing an inaugural Tim Dowling Appreciation Club right now.

So just to confirm, our January Book of the Month, Teh Gielws Wareing Haters Club will be discussed on Thursday 31st january, usual time of 8pm. Very much hope everyone can come and chat to Tim.

See you tonight for our chat with Ben Macintire and his spytastic biog Agent Zig Zag. The link to tonight's discussion thread for those who need it is here

Just in case you think we're getting flash linking to hardcover - you can also buy Jan's book of the month in paperback here

Just picked one up from the library. Now all I need is the time to read it...

Ordered mine from the library tonight.

Thanks Tilly. Morningpaper - good idea - I have an enormous pile of books waiting to go back to the library so will see if I can get hold of it.

yes, sorry midnight express, I thought it must be in PB by now but then realised it wasn't out till 3 weeks time. I promise to aim for paperbacks wherever possible.

Have started a new thread here for Thursday's Agent Zig Zag discussion so that anyone who can't make it and wants to ask Ben a question can pop it up there. Always good to have a few to kick off with so do put up any advance questions over the next couple of days and we will start with those...

midnight express: get it from the library, you can normally reserve it online for the same amount of time that it would take to buy it form Amazon

This has inspired me to read 2 of the 3 choices , different from my usual reads. See you on the 31st!

Ahem. Not sure if anyone has mentioned this, but can we please choose books that are available in paperback? This one doesn't come out until Feb so another month and we could all have got it much cheaper.

Just a thought. Feeling the pinch a bit after Chrimble and all.

Very much hoping that Mr Dowling will be joining us - hope his research didn't put him off internet forums forever though?

The discussion night for Giles Wareing Hater's Club is currently on Thursday 31st January, but I'll just check that our author can do that night before confirming. Pencil it in for now and I'll let you know asap.

Everyone welcome to join in at any point - annobel, the chat about ZigZag is this thursday night (8pm) so hope you get your copy in time. Even if you haven't read it do come anyway as the author will be joining us from 9 onwards.

Looking forward to it...

Can I join in - I've just ordered Agent Zigzag and Giles Waring and can't wait to start them.

Good-o about the Giles Waring Hater's Club

Will you get Tim Dowling for us to fawn over?

God that books sounds like it is about someone familiar

I've finished Agent Zigag

It was good

Worth the boring bits

It is a fab book, sooo much research, it makes me feel sick thinking about it

and the winner is....
The Giles Wareing Hater's Club!

I'm not exactly sure when the online discussion will be held, but you still have a few days to finish up Agent Zigzag before Ben Macintyre comes on next Thursday night.

hi, new to mn and just found the whole book of the month thing today. No DCs for me (pg with first) and am always telling myself to make more of an effort to find a decent book and read more so hopefully this will encourage me...

I've voted - have been meaning to get involved for yonks. Go Tim!

We're getting close... another few hours and we'll have our winner.

ahundredtimes, I usually choose the selection (with a bit of consultation with other Mumsnet Editors) but next month I'd like to try a Mumsnet Recommends where everyone puts forward their choice and we have a big vote on which book to do. More on that later...

twinklemegan, collison, ingles2, am thrilled you've joined us and looking forward to chatting.

Good question, morningpaper, not sure if Ben's got any smalls tugging at his trouser legs whilst he buries himself in old manuscriptss. I know that he writes regularly for The Times so he has a fair amount of work on. He's written a few books before this one too, and he's still pretty young.

notyummy, I sympathise: I'm having to go back and read most of it again as I read it too long ago (anything pre-Xmas feels like loooooong ago). And I keep losing my copy in the general mess. You know that bit of Toy Story where all the dolls and toys are mixed up in freaky combinations? That is our house.

I've voted for the last one, anything todo with North London and I 'm in

I can't get it here though, so if anyhone wants to send me a used copy in exchange for some kangaroo skins ....

I've voted. Let's see if I manage to get the book and read it this time.

me too!!

Hoorah,..I've voted. My 1st ever bookclub! Have been meaning to do this for...ooohhhh...10 years!

Yes I will be there next Thursday, I am going to try and think of some erudite questions although really I want to know if he has children and where the hell he gets time to do all that research? It must have taken AGES, does he have a proper day job? That sort of thing.

Also can I laugh about the stupid Germans

Especially thinking that the British had some secret submarine detecting device when actually they were just decoding their radio signals

hahaha

Oh and I did feel that he used the words 'whores' and 'sluts' rather gaily so I might have to have a word about that

I've voted! Still got A LOT of Agent Zigzag to go before next week and boring things like work and a dh who wants me to talk to him getting in the way....oh and dd too

Will be there next week....just not sure if I will be able to make my usual erudite comments...

Tilly do you chose the three to be voted from?

Looks like Giles is in the lead at the moment - and just one day left to cast your vote so if you want to fight for a different choice, hurry here

harj27, great to have you, and swing by next Thursday between 8-10pm for the December discussion (we're talking about Agent ZigZag with the author, Ben Macintire) if you fancy seeing how it all goes...

morningpaper and bubble 99, hope you can make next Thurs too?

Me too.

Great stuff, I have voted <claps hands together in satisfactory manner>

hi i'm new to this, and i have to say i'm very excited, it will be good to have something
other than baby stuff to do! lol

Tomorrow (Friday) is the closing date for voting, so if you haven't made your choice known yet please have a look at the three books on offer for Jan here and then cast your vote. It's all very close at the moment - so get your vote in now.

The link is working fine now, so everyone should be able to vote from the January BOTM page. Let me know if any further probs.

Looks like there'll be a fight between Gods and Giles..

Um yes, it doesn't seem to be coming up for some reason. You can vote directly here on the poll page and meanwhile I'll try and fix it....

Tilly, I think you've left out the link to vote at the foot of the page.

Very excited about one of the choices and I want to vote!

It it just me?

I can't see where to vote

Time was I wouldn't be able to peel myself away from the Xmas telly long enough to fetch a mince pie, let alone read three books. But this year I've felt sorely disappointed at the film choice (though might catch Meet the Fockers tomorrow for a bit of in-law therapy). Is it just me or are old Bond movies not quite what they used to be?

So ditch the remote and get voting on January's books. We've gone for funny ones, to get us through the next 12 weeks of drizzle, darkness and dead bits of holly behind every curtain. They're all nice and cheap on Amazon which means you don't have to face the sales shoppers. Peruse the selection and cast your vote here...