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Come and chat to KAZUO ISHIGURO about his extraordinary writing career on Thurs 9 April, 9-10pm

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TillyBookClub · 24/02/2015 13:15

Kazuo Ishiguro OBE is a multiple nominee and winner of the Booker Prize and dozens of other international awards. Throughout his hugely successful and varied career, from the exquisitely poignant REMAINS OF THE DAY to the dystopian NEVER LET ME GO, he has often explored the idea of memory: how it shapes us, its fickle nature, how it distorts the choices we make.

Ishiguro’s new novel, THE BURIED GIANT, is an adventure fantasy, set in a Dark Ages Britain populated with knights, giants, monks and dragons. All the inhabitants appear to have suffered a loss of memory. The central characters, Axl and Beatrice, are an elderly married couple on a journey to find their son. As with all fantastical quests, they encounter mysterious strangers and dangerous escapades. Throughout the novel, an overriding question hangs in the air: is it worth suffering painful memories, or better to live in ignorance?

For more details, go to our book of the month page. You might also like Mark Lawson's interview with the author on BBC iplayer.

Faber have very generously offered 50 hardbacks of The Buried Giant to give to Mumsnetters. To claim yours, please fill in your details on the book of the month page. We’ll post on this thread when the copies have gone. If you’re not lucky enough to bag one of those, you can always get a copy here.

We have the very rare and special opportunity to talk to Kazuo Ishiguro when he joins us on Thursday April 9th, 9-10pm for a live web chat. The discussion will range from his latest book to his previous bestsellers and future projects. So whether you have read THE BURIED GIANT, or are a lifelong fan of REMAINS OF THE DAY, or would like a few tips from one of the UK’s most experienced and acclaimed writers, please come along and say hello. Look forward to seeing you on Thurs 9th…

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MNHQ

RachelMumsnet · 16/03/2015 09:28

Sorry to hear some of the copies haven't arrived. I'll chase Faber today to check they've all been sent and keep you posted.

MNHQ

RachelMumsnet · 18/03/2015 16:59

The final batch of books should have been sent out from Faber on Monday - can you confirm whether they have arrived? Thanks

MNHQ

TillyMumsnetBookClub · 19/03/2015 15:40

Hopefully everyone has received their copies by now, but just to say DO come along even if you haven't managed to read this particular book, or haven't finished it by the web chat.

We aim to make the webchat feel as personal as possible, a chance to spend time with inspirational writers, so feel free to ask about previous novels or recommendations for reading lists or anything at all...

(After finishing Buried Giant I'm now re-reading Remains of the Day and it is as subtle and beautiful second time round as it was when I read it 10 years ago. Perhaps more so, now that I'm older. Absolutely one of my very top books of all time. I'm going to have to seriously limit the amount of questions I want to ask..)

MNHQ

RachelMumsnet · 20/03/2015 14:46

Phew! Hope this gives you enough time to read before the webchat. I've just finished reading Never Let Me Go and was quite blown away by it. It's really stayed with me since I finished and I can't stop thinking about the ending. I'm going to try and read another of his earlier books before the webchat - any recommendations? I've read Remains of the Day.

MNHQ

TillyMumsnetBookClub · 09/04/2015 20:59

Evening everyone

Firstly, thank you to all those who have posted their reviews and thoughts so far (and I hope Neeta06 has found the right thread…)

I’m immensely excited, thrilled and honoured to welcome Kazuo Ishiguro, OBE and winner of an extraordinary amount of awards, to Bookclub this evening. Kazuo’s novels share a tenderness and an ability to conjure worlds that seem real and unreal at the same time. Each book is highly distinctive with a particularly clear voice. I am delighted that we have the opportunity to talk about them all with Kazuo over the next hour.

Kazuo, thank you very, very much indeed for giving us your time tonight (particularly as I know you are on a punishing global publicity tour).

We've already got a fair few questions to get through so I'll just add the standard Mumsnet ones that we like to ask all our authors...

What childhood book most inspired you?

What would be the first piece of advice you would give to anyone attempting to write fiction?

What is the best book you’ve given someone recently?

And the best you’ve received?

Over to you...

MNHQ

TillyMumsnetBookClub · 09/04/2015 21:26

Fascinated by your answer to Bouncing Jellyfish. My strongest response to The Buried G was the recognition that the barbarity of the past is only just underfoot in almost all places (particularly resonant when Axl and Beatrice are walking over that burial ground, and you think of all the horror that has built this pretty pastoral England).

You have so many questions to answer that I don't mind if you don't get to this, but my thought was: do you think it is possible to attain civilised society without bloodshed and barbarity? I can't think of many societies that have achieved it...

MNHQ

TillyMumsnetBookClub · 09/04/2015 21:51

My fault about the OBE by the way. I think I worried that somehow you should always have it there, correct procedure and all that. If you are knighted in the future (and I rather think you should be because your books are outstandingly marvellous), I'll definitely check whether the Sir should be used..

MNHQ

TillyMumsnetBookClub · 09/04/2015 22:07

I wish we had more time, but we have come to the end of our hour. Thank you to everyone for their questions and making this such an extremely lively discussion night, and apologies that there wasn't time to answer every question.

Kazuo, thank you so much for your thoughtful, engaged answers. As you can tell by the glowing messages, it means an enormous amount to us that you joined us tonight, and have given so much of your time and energy. It is deeply appreciated.

We never got round to what you are writing next, but please, if you can, come back again and talk to us about it when it is published. Good luck with the next book, and congratulations on all your success with The Buried Giant.

Many, many thanks once more.

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