Come and chat to award-winning author of Purity JONATHAN FRANZEN on Friday 2nd October, 12-1pm. Post your questions for him here.

[RachelMumsnet]

We're delighted to announce that our September book of the month will be Jonathan Franzen's latest novel Purity, which is published on 1 September. We're also honoured that Franzen has agreed to join us for a webchat to discuss the book and his other novels on Friday 2 October, 12 - 2pm.

Jonathan Franzen is one of America's most acclaimed contemporary novelist and essayist. In 2001, his novel The Corrections, a sprawling, satirical family drama, won a Pulitzer Prize for Fiction finalist and won Franzen a National Book Award.

Purity is a multigenerational American epic that spans decades and continents. The story centers on a young woman named Purity Tyler, or Pip, who doesn't know who her father is and sets out to uncover his identity. It's a story of youthful idealism, extreme fidelity, and murder.

Come and put your questions to Jonathan Franzen on Friday 2 October, 12-2pm

@Corygal

Optional other question, poss a little more reasonable: you did the first, and best, portrait of Alzheimer's in Alfred. (Corrections). Alfred's internal narrative carries on until he's in nursing care (we call it 'in care' in UK, or 'in a home').

Did you feel it was a story that just had to be told? And that it was incredibly difficult to pin down? What research did you do to be able to write that deteriorating mental state - or did you just guess based on medical reports out there? Were you absolutely fascinated?

Although this site is one big gush of talk and feeling about one's relations and their many and wondrous ways, please don't mention your father if it feels intrusive.

Thank you. I can say that Alfred was taken more directly from life than any of my other characters.

@minsmum

This is the first book of yours that I have read and though I enjoyed it like many others I don't like any of the characters. My question is when you start the book do you make the characters of the book fit the plot or as the writing of the book continues are you surprised where the characters take you

Also when people don't like the characters that you have created does it upset you

Character always first! And when a person doesn't like my characters, I have a complete array of psychological defenses with which I dismiss (or pity!) that person.

Jonathan's having to rush off now as he has to get to Cheltenham for the book festival event this evening. Thanks so much to everyone who posted questions today. It's been a fascinating webchat and a huge thanks to Jonathan for giving us some of his time this lunchtime during his incredibly busy schedule in the UK.

@stayanotherday

Jonathan - where did the reclusive mother idea come from please?

This is the perfect question for me to end this session by not answering. I want to thank everyone for the mostly great questions, and apologize to everyone whose questions I didn't get to. The hour went quickly.

All best, JF

Thank you Jonathan (and MN), I really enjoyed this.

I've only just started this, but I'm really enjoying it so far. How's everyone else doing?

I've just finished the book and I really enjoyed it. I hadn't read any of his books before and it was not something I would normally read. It took me a while to get into it but once I did I couldn't put it down. I enjoyed the sections on the different characters so that you felt like you got to know them in depth and it felt like there were lots of stories linked together. The story involved such a huge complexity of emotions that I think I will be reflecting on it for a while!

I wasn't sure about this to start with, but then the story really got going and it was excellent. However, it wavered a bit from time to time, but overall a really good read. It seems that there are several stories in this but they all come together and link up, very cleverly done. Some shocking moments are included which reflects the author's skills in writing. It is hard to pigeon hole this book - it's set around the fall of the Iron Curtain, it's about the evils (or otherwise) of wealth, it's about growing up, relationships including a young girl's search for her father. Not an easy read, but rewarding if persevered with.

Sounds great!