June book of the month: Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng. Join author webchat Tuesday 26 June at 9pm

[RachelMumsnet]

Our June book of the month has been described by one of the mn book bloggers as: "without a doubt one of the best books I have read this year" and another says: "My life was put on hold until I had finished the very last word. I gorged on this novel and greedily devoured every single page." Reece Witherspoon has already snapped up the rights, so join us in reading this now.

Author Celeste Ng will be joining us for a webchat on this thread on 26 June when she'll be answering questions about the book and you'll have the opportunity to discuss with other readers. Find out more about the book, read - or listen to - an extract and find out what the Mumsnet bloggers have to say about Little Fires Everywhere

[anonymousbird]

I am collecting my copy from the library tomorrow, so fingers crossed should have read it in time to comment/post a question! Really enjoyed Everything I Never Told You.

[1sttimemama1986]

Feeling smug as just picked this up for my holiday read!! So glad it's been recommended.

[FernieB]

Read this in one sitting. Compelling and absorbing. I was quickly drawn into the Richardson's world and equally fascinated by Mia. Although the story is really told by the teenagers it's their mothers who are the most intriguing and in particular the ways they choose to mother their daughters.

Thanks MN - a great read.

[Kangaroo1]

I absolutely loved this-the perfect combination of an intellectual read, but an easy read too!

[IslandLivingEmma]

Adored this novel! I wanted to ask Celeste if she is planning on a sequel? I am desperate to find out what happens to the characters x

[impostersyndrome]

This is the perfect example of Mumsnet's bookclub bringing a book to my attention that I wouldn't have thought of reading otherwise. I'm halfway through and enjoying it enormously. It raises all sorts of interesting questions in my mind, but I'll save it for the chat.

[littlerose12345]

Amazing book! What a page turner, finished it today!

My question is where did you get the inspiration for the book from? Always so intrigued by an authors thought process.

Thank you for a great book :)

[ramonaquimby]

Reese Witherspoon has bought the film rights and I think is looking at a mini series similar to what she did for Big Little Lies. Agree was a great read.

[Ketzele]

Loved this book.

[Pratchet]

I'll get this on these recommendations thanks

[impostersyndrome]

OK. I finished it now. I really enjoyed the way the designed community was portrayed. Although it was shown as conformist and I suppose narrow-minded, this was a critique made not in a judgemental way, but showing that decisions made before one has had a chance to learn life-lessons, can determine one's path for decades onwards.

There are several things I'd be interested in discussing on the web-chat, but what strikes me most strongly is the question raised by the book itself: which is more important in the case of parenting: a blood connection, or material provision, when both options involve a loving parent (or set of parents)?

Funnily enough, a slightly different angle on the same question occurred to me when reading Little Boy Lost by Marghanita Laski. Laski's book seems to be saying that so long as the child is loved (and materially provided for), the blood connection is much less important.

I wonder what the author herself thinks, as Little Fires Everywhere seems to present this as very much a Solomonic dilemma?

[Tinlegs]

I loved this book - and was fascinated by the descriptions of the art and photography. I suppose my question is whether you are tempted to try out some of the ideas in your book and make pictures?

[MidiMitch]

Just nearing the end of the book. Have really enjoyed it but I do find Mia a bit unpleasantly smug. Does anyone else?

[LJdorothy]

Little Boy Lost was one of my favourite books as a teen and the ending still makes me cry, though I have much less patience with the main character now! The little boy in Little Boy Lost didn't have any other options though did he? It was either a family (whether blood related or not) or life in an institution.

[MajesticWhine]

agree MidiMitch, I wasn't a Mia fan. She seemed smug and also I was angered by her inability to just stick in a place for the sake of her daughter. Or at least to admit this failing to herself / to Pearl.

[Twogirlsandme]

I found Mia smug too. Also hated the way she wouldn't acknowledge the damage of the constant moving on Pearl. I'd love a sequel.

[TheLastNigel]

I thought Mia was pretty selfish. I loved the book though.

[clary]

I loved this book especially the relationships of the teenagers. I agree re Mia, also how she was constantly able to find money from nowhere eg to travel around hmmmmmmm

I also found the photos stayed with me and would like to ask if they were inspired by someone else's work (whose?) r are they our own ideas?

[BevBrook]

I really liked the book, thought the writing was fantastic. Mia's relationship with Pearl reminded me a bit of the mother/daughter relationship in Chocolat, where they are constantly moving about. Also Vianne in Chocolat was a similarly arty type who was the catalyst for change in the rather narrow-minded community she moved into.

[impostersyndrome]

Yes LJdorothy, you’re right, the scenarios are not quite comparable. I suppose I was thinking more in the sense that Little Boy Lost seemed to pose the question of whether the father would take on the boy if he wasn’t persuaded he was his son, even though they’d become attached to each other... not sure if I’m explaining myself very well!

[BuffaloCustardbath]

Fantastic book, I've just read this on holiday and it was the perfect holiday read - pact enough to keep interest, absorbing and thrilling, I couldn't wait to read more but equally did t want it to end. I'd also like to ask Celeste if she is considering a sequel, as I'm desperate to know more about what happens to these characters.

[MamaCBear]

Finished this yesterday and really enjoyed it. Can see why the film rights got snapped up, it read in quite a cinematic way and I kept trying to think who I would cast as I read it. I'd like to know if Celeste had any ideal actors she would cast in these roles?

[Svemoh]

Awesome !!! I didn't know Mumsnet has a book club as well !!! I am late for the web chat though ... Let me know the July book

[FernieB]

I was intrigued by the relationship between Izzy and her mother. Clearly this was a result of Elena's fear that Izzy wouldn't be 'normal' after her rough start to life, meaning that she picked on every little thing Izzy said or did. It's sad that Elena was unable to see this and also that Izzy's siblings had learnt to see her in the same way as their mother.

As a mother myself I'd like to think that Izzy and Elena are reunited at some point, but I doubt they would be. I'd like to ask Celeste if she thinks Izzy would return and also if Mia ever sees her parents again?

[PoodleQueen]

Looking forward to this!