Join Sarah Moss to talk about our May Book of the Month, NIGHT WAKING, on Wed 30 May 9-10pm

[TillyBookClub]

May's Book of the Month is one of the best books on motherhood I've read for ages. Like Helen Simpson in Hey Yeah Right Get a Life, Sarah Moss is one of those authors that just nails it. This is a book you'll be passing on to everyone around you, and should win prizes for its author.

Anna Cassingham (aka Dr Bennet) is an Oxford Research Fellow writing a history book. Only she isn't, because she is also trying to cope with the incessant interruptions, questions and demands of precocious, death-obsessed, seven year old Raph and two year old Moth, who has yet to sleep through the night. Husband Giles, owner of the tiny island of Colsay where they have come to live for the summer, is keen on homemade bread and recycling, less keen on childcare and clean surfaces. Whilst planting a tree one day, the family discover a baby's skeleton, which sets Anna (and the police) on a papertrail of stories that are interlinked with the island's history and Giles's family. The dialogue is sharp and funny, the observations are lively and true to life. Above all, the tension between the visceral love for your family and the need for self-preservation is brilliantly explored.

Find out more on the book of the month page, and you can check out Sarah's website for videos, reviews and more details on the people and places that inspired the book.

Granta have given us 50 copies to give away to Mumsnetters - to claim yours go to the book of the month page and fill in your details. We'll post here when all the copies have gone. If you're not lucky enough to bag one of the free books, you can always get your paperback or Kindle version here.

We are delighted that Sarah will be joining us to chat about NIGHT WAKING, motherhood and her writing career on Wednesday 30 May, 9-10pm. Hope you can join us then...

[blubberguts]

Very brave. Haven't met any real life mothers, in the flesh so to speak, who would even hint at finding parenthood as hard as Anna portrays it. There is massive competitiveness and insecurity out there which in turn undermines confidence because everyone thinks they are the only ones. Definite sisterhood failure going on.

[TillyBookClub]

Just a heads up to say we only have 5 more minutes left so any last questions get them in quick....

[Hullygully]

Absolutely blubber

[SarahMoss1596]

Yes, I love Dorothy Whipple, in the Persephone editions. But my absolute favourite is Crossriggs by Jane and Mary Findlater, best rediscovered C19 novel ever. And out of print.

[Hullygully]

Crossriggs. Ok.

[SarahMoss1596]

Blubberguts, I have. I'm not sure I'd have made it through the early days without them. (Though I would, because you have to, don't you, and that's part of the point.)

[Hullygully]

Red wine is the mother's best friend

[SarahMoss1596]

Childcare is the mother's best friend.

[AdeleVarens]

I quite like the idea of a teenage Adele regarding Jane Eyre as a completely pointless stepmother with terrible dress sense. Rather as the Fairchild part of the plot of Night Waking reorients motherhood by giving us the Zoe-Judith relationship...

[Hullygully]

Thanks Sarah, it's been jolly good. Am off to hunt down Crossriggs.

[SarahMoss1596]

She has a point, about the dress sense. And all that moral superiority. Hully, another rewrite?

[SarahMoss1596]

Crossriggs was republished by Virago years ago. And the Findlaters wrote several other books which I can't find anywhere at all.

[Hullygully]

Got crossriggs for £4.00. Lovely old Amazon.

Could do it as a Jacqueline Wilson...

[TillyBookClub]

That is all we have time for - thank you, everyone, for a truly excellent evening. It has been such a pleasure and I feel we ought to send Sarah's suggestions on equal parental leave straight to the PM...

Sarah, thank you very very much indeed for coming to talk to us tonight. You have been a brilliantly informative and thoughtful guest. Good luck with the sequel, and with all your projects, and I'm already looking forward to reading your Iceland memoir (and to making this country's attitude to motherhood a bit more like Iceland's).

Many thanks and congratulations again on a wonderful book.

[SarahMoss1596]

Go on then.

[SarahMoss1596]

Thank you, Tilly, and everyone else. I've really enjoyed it!

[Hullygully]

Come and be a MNer..

Actually, don't, you'll never write another word.

[fifide]

Oh no. Kicking myself. Had this in diary for tonight.

[flowers13]

Hi, apologies for very late message to this book. I have just finished reading the book and really enjoyed it so thanks to Mumsnet for making it book of the month, thanks to publisher for free book and mostly thanks to Sarah Moss for writing it!

[yUMMYmUMMYb]

Even slower reader! It was a fantastic book, perhaps a little too close to home in some places. Sarah Moss is so normal - I love and totally agree with her statement that she needs work and childcare to be a good mother, and yes I get "me time" whilst hubby has hobbies - actually made me laugh out loud when I think how ridiculous that is.
Looking forward to her forthcoming books.
I appreciate the free copy and have recommended widely. I wonder what my hubby would think of it?

[sally2012]

i cant wait 2 see ii