Join Jeffrey Eugenides to talk about our April Book of the Month, THE MARRIAGE PLOT, on Thurs 3 May, 9-10pm

[TillyBookClub]

'To start with, look at all the books'. So begins the very first sentence in our April Book of the Month, THE MARRIAGE PLOT by Jeffrey Eugenides. And books are everywhere in this novel: Victorian love stories, literary theories, philosophical tracts, holy scripture and all sorts of writing in between.

It is 1982, and three undergraduates are about to leave Brown University. Madeleine, an idealistic and romantic English Literature addict, is infatuated with Leonard, her mercurial and scientific boyfriend. Meanwhile, theology student Mitchell is convinced that he and Madeleine are destined to be together. Full of idealism and ideas, all three embark on a journey of discovery that reveals adult life is definitely no fairy tale - nor a classic Jane Austen novel.

THE MARRIAGE PLOT crammed with energy and intelligence; it makes you think big and bold. But more than that, it is funny, warm, tender and understanding. Eugenides' writing is seemingly effortless; it amuses and beguiles and thoroughly entertains. And it is full of those small, telling details that are perfect in their perception of human emotion, and in understanding the fallibility of human nature. A true modern classic.

You can find out more at our book of the month page, and read an interview with Eugenides here.

4th Estate have 50 copies of the book to give away to Mumsnetters. To claim yours, please go to the book of the month page and fill in your details.

We'll post on the thread when all the copies have been sent out but if you're not lucky enough to bag one of those, you can always get your paperback or Kindle version here.

We're delighted that Jeffrey Eugenides will be joining us to talk about THE MARRIAGE PLOT, and his other novels, on Thursday 3 May, 9-10pm.

Whether you've read this book, previous books, or just want to ask him how he started writing, come along and join in.

Meanwhile, do keep posting your thoughts and any advance questions on this thread.

Looking forward to it...

[Abcinthia]

Done :)

[NoraHelmer]

Me too :)

[MayCanary]

Done! :)

[juneybean]

Done :)

[ladydepp]

Done, am I way too late

[Hullygully]

I love Jeffrey.

I already have and have read this.

And Middlesex is on my tip top list.

I love you Jeffrey!

[Hullygully]

I do realise this isn't Middx, by the way. I was just exemplifying my great love and deep and abiding admiration for Jeffrey

[RachelMumsnet]

@Hullygully

I love Jeffrey.

I already have and have read this.

And Middlesex is on my tip top list.

I love you Jeffrey!

Great to hear this Hully. And for anyone who's just joined this thread, there are still copies of The Marriage Plot left, so do apply asap.

[Heyyyho]

done!

[BartletForAmerica]

Thank you. just applied for mine.

[mum2jakie]

Just applied. Fingers crossed I'm in time! Hopefully everybody else is too busy sunbathing outside! ;)

[LaVitaBellissima]

Me too, probably too late on this one though

[sfxmum]

very exciting I so love the Lisbon sisters must get on and read this one, as I got it for Christmas

[yUMMYmUMMYb]

Just submitted. I am looking forward to tyhis, especially as hullygully appears to like him - she's a hard one to please, so must be good!

[orangina]

Oh I am excited! I love his writing....

(marks place)

[MamaMary]

I really enjoyed The Marriage Plot.

However I am currently in the middle of Middlesex and I'm finding it a total and utter drag

Looking forward to the discussion. :)

[RachelMumsnet]

The fifty copies have now all gone. We'll be contacting those who have been lucky shortly and have sent over your details to Fourth Estate who will be sending the books out. If you've missed out this time, buy the hardback now, the kindle edition or pre-order the paperback now for 12 April.

[Hullygully]

One person's hard to please is another person's discernment.

so ner

[Camb79]

This book redefined boredom; I kept waiting for it to acquire any depth of any kind but it just stayed on the surface the whole way through.

[TillyBookClub]

Had a feeling this one might divide everyone. I loved it, loved Virgin Suicides and Middlesex and think the man is a god. Other friends have written emails in CAPITAL LETTERS to tell me how disappointed they were.

Can't wait to hear what everyone thinks...

[NoraHelmer]

This will be the first Jeffrey Eugenides novel for me.

[yUMMYmUMMYb]

Yipee, i am getting a copy. Hope i love it, i really need a good book for a change.
Ps how do you pronounce his surname?

[Bennifer]

Read it, absolutely brilliant (plus I'm going to spend two weeks at the university in the summer, where it's set)

[SamsGoldilocks]

damn, i missed this yesterday - you threw me by starting it to early in the month

[juneybean]

Virgin Suicides is on my to read list, but a friend read Middlesex and wasn't sure what to make of it. This one sounds interesting.