Mumsnet Talk

I know, there are too many choices around as it is: endless Xmas presents, where to spend Boxing Day, who is going to get to drink and not drive on New Years Eve. But this one is a fun decision, I promise. We've got three outstanding biographies lined up for December's bookclub - have a look here and vote for the one you'd like to see as our Yuletide Book of the Month...

Oh, dammit, I thought for a second that I was going to have the perfect excuse to read Russell Brand's bio!

Quite a lot of RB's book is in this weeks Grazia. Mad pic of him as an 8year old looking like Morrissey crossed with Elvis crossed with that little guy form The Wonder Years.

Of course I only glanced at it before rushing straight back to think deep thoughts about Booker Prize winner etc....

Nail biting stuff...with a dead heat so far... Agent Zig Zag and Nella Last's War are vying for the top spot with 14 votes each. Have you marked your ballot yet? Polls close 6pm this Friday 30th so have your say now - here's the link again for those who missed it [[ http://www.mumsnet.com/bookclub/December2007.html seehereforDecemberchoice]]

POLL UPDATE: We've changed the poll closure time to 8pm this evening, which gives you all a bit more time to fight for your favourite book, if you haven't done so already.

I'll let you know the result at 8.01....its another pretty close race.

Am determined to partake in Book Club this month although have enormous backlog of unread books by my bed.... Quite fancy that 2WW housewife's diary although I find war stuff wildly emotional (funnily enough) - had to blink back tears when I saw a 2WW display in DD's classroom because there wsa a huge poster that said "MOTHERS OF LONDON: SEND YOUR CHILDREN AWAY" which made me really sad

ooh I want to read Agent Zig Zag. I love books like that.

Drat, did my amazon order yesterday and didn't order it arrghhh.

<poor MP>

isn't your dd quite young still? Didn't think they did WW till they were a bit older.

yes the display was actually outside her classroom - one of the older classes

aaaah. (had visions of little reception children being terrified!)

There is something about seeing artifacts and memorabilia from that time that makes it more real in your mind, isn't there.

I was haunted for ages after visiting the Holocaust museum in Jerusalem. It wasn't that I hadn't known what went on but I think the stark reality of having it right in front of your eyes iyswim.

artefacts (knew there was something wrong with it the first time round)

I realised we're quite war heavy in this bookclub - the first selection contained two WW2 books, the second batch had two war-related books and this third lot has...yes, two WW2 books. Is it that I'm subconsciously obsessed with camoflauge and air raid shelters? Or maybe there's just a lot of books out there set in the war?

I promise January will be different and have nothing to do with guns and barbed wire at all.

About to check the polls, we'll see who's won the War of December Bookclub in just a few minutes....

Forget the fight for Christmas Number One. Much more importantly, the polls have now closed for our December Book of the Month, and after another neck-and-neck race, I am delighted to announce the winner: Agent ZigZag by Ben Macintyre.

Its an easy, rollicking read and full of extraordinary escapades with which to amaze your relatives over the turkey buffet.

And if your house is about to be invaded and the sellotape has gone missing again, shut yourself in the bathroom with Agent Zig Zag: you'll be so engrossed you won't even hear the carol singers.

We're aiming to get the author to come and chat to us time too, so watch this space.

Oh bugger. Have just ordered Nella Last's War from Amazon, so confident was I that it was going to win.

That'll learn me.

Yet again I've missed out. Anyway I enjoy being told what to do once in a while.
Its quite refreshing not having to make the decision (sp. prob. knowing the day I've had) for once!!

<..Daddy or chips?...Daddy or Chips?..>

Just bought Nella Last's War for MIL from Amazon

Yay! Delighted!

When will December's discussion be? I've been looking for the date, but have failed so far. Thanks.

yep - when will discussion start? just bought it today

Oh dear, I don't like this month's book. I've given up on it, 40 pages in. Hope other people get along with it better than me!

Yep, sorry, I hadn't put the date of discussion as we're trying to work around the author, plus Xmas and New year etc. But to give you a provisional time, we're thinking Thursday 10th January. Bit later than usual but it'll give life a chance to get back to normal after the festivities.

As soon as we've spoken to the author and confirmed he can do 10th i'll put a post up..

CocoBear, am gutted to lose you, can we persuade you to keep going another few pages? Or is it just not your bag at all...

loving this book - its so good I didnt even have time to get stressed about my scan today

Its addictive isn't it - I keep thinking 'what on earth is he going to do next?'. Still can't get over the fact its all true.

oops, I forgot to add the link to buy again - for those of you who still need to find your copy, buy one here