MARCH BOOK OF THE MONTH - see the selection and cast your vote here

[TillyBookClub]

Its memoir month this month. But not the copycat miserable sort. These four stories are remarkable and the last two are especially brilliant. Take a look at the selection here and cast your vote for the March Book of the Month.

Polls will close at 8pm next Friday 29th February. And sharp-eyed bookclubbers may notice that we've swapped Amazon for Blackwell - you'll still be able to get all these books straight away, and you'll be supporting a worthwhile business while you're at it.

[sophiewd]

Will go with whatever but none of them grab me enough to vote, The year of Magical Thinking puts me in mind of Isabelle Allendes memoirs Paula which was beautiful

[TillyBookClub]

yes, Paula was a great book wasn't it. Isabel Allende used to be one of my favourites, but I wasn't quite so keen on the last one I read - Daughter of Fortune.

I'm rooting for Diving Bell and Butterfly.

[janeite]

"Paula" is one of the best books I have ever read (and have read a LOT!).

I've read "Bad Blood" and wasn't that impressed. Quite fancy "The Year Of magical Thinking".

[Nerdbomber]

How could we pass up the chance to have a live chat with Joan Didion? Come on!!

[TillyBookClub]

hi jammi,
yup, we all read the winning book (the results of the poll will be announced this Friday at 8pm) and then at the end of the month we logon to the March discussion thread and chat about it.

For March, our discussion night will be 8-10pm on Tuesday 25th (just after Easter).

If the author is alive and willing then we often have them on to answer questions as well; if not, we just have a good debate amongst ourselves.

janeite, interested you didn't like Lorna Sage - what put you off?

And hope you can all make it tomorrow night at 8pm for our Feb discussion on To Kill a Mockingbird - here's the thread to join if you're up for it.

[TheHonEnid]

oh I didnt know lorna sage had died

its a v good book though

[TillyBookClub]

Hon Enid, glad you like it - I'm always harping on about it. She died about a year or so after Bad Blood was published I think. I'm fairly certain it was cancer. Extremely sad, especially as she was still teaching and inspiring students.

Hope everyone's voted, only two more days left...

[TillyBookClub]

hi jammi, would be great to have you but understand if you're a bit busy that night... Very nice time to have a baby I reckon, with all the warmer, longer days and sunshine ahead.

Diving Bell currently still in the lead, will let you know the final result tomorrow at 8pm.

[toomanydaves]

bad blood
or year of magical thinking

[princessmama]

year of magical thinking is my vote.

[TillyBookClub]

We have our winner - Jean Dominique Bauby has pipped the other three to the post and The Diving Bell and the Butterfly is Mumsnet's March Book of the Month.

Forgot to mention that its nice and short, an added bonus to an already brilliant book. You can buy your copy here

Discussion night will be 8-10pm Tuesday March 25th. I'm now going to try and to stop myself from seeing the film beforehand, otherwise I'll get too mixed up...

[toomanydaves]

has anyone seen the film yet? Is it any good?
Mathieu Almaric (who plays JDB) is one of my fave actors.

[TillyBookClub]

Haven't seen the film yet but everyone who has says its brilliant. Very imaginative and artistic as well as moving. I'm still amazed anyone has managed to make it into a film at all, considering all the action takes place in his head.

[Carnival]

Just in case you haven't bought your book yet...

The Book People are doing this month's book as part of a decent set for £9.99, the set includes one of the other nominees, Bad Blood, and 8 other fairly decent books:

Longitude - The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of His Time by Dava Sobel
Reading Lolita In Tehran - A Memoir in Books by Azar Nafisi
Sea-Biscuit - The True Story of 3 men and 1 Racehorse by Laura Hillenbrand
The Perfect Storm - The True Story of Men Against The Sea by Sebastian Junger
Fermat's Last Theorem by Simon Singh
The Diving-Bell and the Butterfly by Jean-Dominique Bauby
The Naked Civil Servant by Quentin Crisp
Stuart - A Life Backwards by Alexander Masters
Bad Blood - A Memoir by Lorna Sage
In the Heart of the Sea by Nathaniel Philbrick

I got it as a Mother's day gift.

Almost finished the Bauby book, enjoying it thoroughly.

[MrsT78]

Hi there can anyone tell me what time on the 25th March please?

Thanks

[MrsT78]

Ok sorry just reread the posts 8-10pm

[TillyBookClub]

Thanks Carnival - that's a brilliant list. You're going to be fairly busy for a while...

Just to confirm Mrs T78 it is 8-10pm, come at any time.

See you then - and don't forget you can nominate your Unsung Heroes/Heroines for April's Book of the Month. We're looking for the writers you love but aren't so well known, or haven't had the recognition they deserve. Pop up your secret favourites here and spread the word...