Join webchat with award-winning author ANNE ENRIGHT and discuss May book of the month THE GREEN ROAD on TUESDAY 24 May, 9-10pm

[TillyMumsnetBookClub]

Winner of the Irish Novel of the Year 2015, our May Book of the Month THE GREEN ROAD was also longlisted for the 2015 Man Booker Prize, shortlisted for the Costa Award and is currently on the shortlist for the Baileys Prize (announced 8th June). This may all feel familiar to its author, Anne Enright, who won the 2007 Booker Prize with THE GATHERING and in 2015 was made the inaugural Laureate for Irish Fiction. Enright's novels are fantastically well-crafted, eloquent and funny - even when they are quite bleak in subject matter. She is also an expert in dissecting family dynamics, and at examining their constant pull of complex emotions. In THE GREEN ROAD, we meet four siblings from County Clare who are set on very different paths. Their stories are tracked over 1980s to present day, across different countries, until they are all called back for Christmas in the family home, by their overpowering and manipulative mother. She announces she will be selling the house, which propels them into a crisis. Each character is beautifully realised, and their difference from each other as adults is contrasted with the sudden immersion into childhood stereotype and ingrained patterns once they are all reunited. What is special about Enright's handling of the family saga is her gift for the perfect sentence. She finds unexpected adjectives, brilliantly exact description, the spot-on emotion. Her writing is lyrical but always unsentimental. There is pleasure in reading every paragraph, and an enormous wisdom throughout the pages.

To find out more, go to our book of the month page, where you can also apply for a free copy - just fill in your details on the book of the month page and we'll post here to let you know when the copies have gone. If you’re not lucky enough to bag one of those, you can always get a Kindle edition or paperback copy here

We are thrilled and delighted that Anne will be joining us to answer your questions about The Green Road, all her previous award-winning novels and her stellar career on Tuesday 24 May, 9-10pm. Please feel free to discuss the book here throughout the month and then come and meet Anne on the night, and ask her a question or simply tell her what you think of her books.

[Allalonenow]

The link to Book of the Month pages don't work for me, have I broken Mumsnet? Oh I do hope not!

[Allalonenow]

I've just thought that it might mean all the free copies have been bagged?

[rfarrelly67]

The link to apply for the book doesn't work?

[flso]

I would love love love a free copy too, but my link doesn't work either

[ImperialBlether]

I would love a copy of this book. Please could you add my name to the list?

[chelseamum47]

Would love to apply but the link does not work. I see I am not the only one.

[Allalonenow]

Hello,
Thanks for answering my "Report post"~ The link that isn't working is "book of the month page" to allow me to fill in details to apply for the book!!
Looks as though I'm not the only one having problems.
My operating system is Vista and browser is mozilla/firefox.

[spiroo]

The link to apply for the book doesn't work? Bookshelves locked up?

[boo2410]

The link isn't working for me either (I'm using a kindle). I would love to read the book!!

[alialiath]

This sound fab, and just the ideal uplifting novel I need to read, after last months tragic and harrowing The House of Grief.

[BeccaMumsnet]

Hi all - should be working now. Is anyone still having trouble?

[minsmum]

It's still not working for me

[Belo]

It has just worked for me. I've applied and have my fingers crossed.

[UrsulaMumsnet]

Hi everyone. Sorry the link wasn't working. It should now be. You can find out more about the book and apply for your free copy here

[whatwoulddexterdo]

Ooh yes please. Fingers x

[whippetwoman]

I have applied too! Keeping fingers and toes crossed for this one

[Twitterqueen]

Me me me!
Pretty please. I just love family sagas like this. And since I suspect I will be in a very similar position in the not too distant future (selling family home) I could do with some insights and guidance.

[Blu]

This is the best book I have read in a long long time. The quality of the writing is , well I can't really describe it without descending into low quality hyperbole.

I have put my name down on the list, even though I have read it, and this is for two reasons:
1 I read it on my Kindle and I want to read it again in a proper book. I want to be able to flick back and forth and see if I am correct about certain cross references and resonances. I like to read good books on paper.

1. Then I would lend it to my Mum. She doesn't do online or kindle or Amazon and she can't get to a book shop (frail and rural) but she enjoys good writing and loves to have a book we can discuss together when I phone.

[Obs2016]

Applied

[Enoughisenough9]

I have already bought a copy so don't need one but I LOVE YOU ANNE!

[GrumpyMcGrumpFace]

I've applied. I so want to read it now - especially after Blu's review!

[Susangilley7]

Sorry to have missed the opportunity for this book. Must be more organised!

[RachelMumsnet]

The giveaway is closed and we've sent details over to the publisher who will send the books out next week. We'll be informing all those who were allocated copies before midday on Tuesday. If you weren't lucky this time, do borrow from the library or buy a copy of this brilliant book so you're able to join us for the discussion and webchat with Anne Enright on Wednesday 25 May.

[whippetwoman]

Thank you very much for my copy of The Green Road!
I am very much looking forward to reading and reviewing it

[FoxInABox]

Received my copy this morning, thank you so much! Started reading it already and so far I am really enjoying it, Enright has an engaging, descriptive style of writing that means everything flows brilliantly and you find you have read a lot more than you expected in the time you had.