Chat to the one and only JUDY BLUME - ask Judy a question and discuss her latest book IN THE UNLIKELY EVENT on Monday 8th August, 9-10pm

[TillyMumsnetBookClub]

Judy Blume is a revolutionary. Her books have sold more than eighty-five million copies in thirty-two languages. She wrote about racism, bullying, sex, menstruation — you name it, she did it - with clarity, warmth and honesty. Now she has written what she says will be her ‘final novel for adults’, using her own experience of catastrophic plane crashes in her hometown as the central plot. IN THE UNLIKELY EVENT is set in 1950s suburban America, and told in a chorus of voices, covering the whole small town. Miri is an amusing and gawky 14 year old living with her glamorous single mother, her make-up saleswoman grandmother and her journalist uncle. Miri’s best friend, Natalie, comes from a wealthier family whereas her first-love/almost-boyfriend Mason is an orphan. When three separate planes fall out of the sky in the space of three months, the impact on the community is immense. Fear, panic, horror and a desperate need to make sense of the devastation means that emotions and relationships are pushed to the limit. But it is the long-term fallout that Blume really explores, with repercussions on her characters drawn out over three generations. It is a beautifully crafted, tightly woven work of art, with Blume’s unmistakable voice ringing throughout.

To find out more about the book, and for your chance to win one of 50 copies, please go to the book of the month page and fill in your details before 10am Monday 27 June. We'll post on this thread when all the copies have gone.

You can also find out why Judy is a Mumsnet heroine and read what Judy’s up to on the official Blume website or follow @JudyBlume on Twitter

We are honoured and delighted that Judy will be joining us to answer your questions about IN THE UNLIKELY EVENT, all her terrific novels and her exceptional career on Monday 8 August, 9-10pm. Please feel free to discuss the book here throughout the month and then come and meet Judy on the night, and ask her a question or simply tell her what you think of any of her work. Here is your chance to chat to a legendary literary figure, so please do come along, whichever book you’ve read at whatever age…

I don't have a question but I so love your books Judy. Your ability to relate to the audience is unrivalled. I had read every book countless times -in fact, I re-read 'Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great' last week (I'm 40) and it is still great.

I also devoured (and still own) 'Letters to Judy: What kids wish they could tell you' As an adolescent with a difficult childhood and some emotional difficulties, this book was hugely important in my life so thank you for that.

Another huge Judy Blume fan here.

I discovered her books when I was looking for something new to read on my primary school library shelves aged 10. I found Otherwise known as Sheila the Great and read it quickly as it was such a good read.

I then went on to read all her other books throughout my childhood and teens (including a well thumbed Forever!). Agreed that the Fudge books are so funny. Judy deals with so many important issues in her books. I found the racism issue so poignant in Iggie's House for example.

But my favourite book of hers has to be Starring Sally J Freedman as herself. I must have read it countless times and still re-read it occasionally as an adult. The close relationship between Sally and her father particularly touched me as I lost my own father when I was 4 years old. Each and every character was so believable, the over-protective but very loving mother, the warmth and wisdom of the grandmother and the closeness between Sally and her brother even though they argued sometimes like any siblings. Such a brilliant book so well written.

I have 3 dds and they have also read Judy Blume.

I can't be here for the chat unfortunately but just wanted to say hi and thanks to Judy for so much reading pleasure! And when are you next coming to the UK?

Another one here whose daughter absolutely loved and learned such a lot from your books, Judy. Thank you so much for that.

My question is this: did you have the normal problems with teenagers in your family that we all did, and which books did you find helped them? I know my daughter enjoyed rebelling against me and I wondered what happens if a child has to accept that her mother understands her! Mine was furious just at the thought.

Judy, your books changed my life. It was about 84/85 as an 11/12 yr old that I discovered 'Are you there God? It's me, Margaret' and I re-read and re-read. Loved Deenie, Blubber, Superfudge, Forever - all of them. Thankyou for those gifts. They helped me to discover my rapidly changing teenage world. They were also a great insight into American teen life, which I always found so glamorous as a young girl.

Did it surprise you how much we Brits took to these all-American tales? The themes are universal, but did you expect us to relate to these books - and years after you wrote them too?.(clearly great books transcend time and continents!)

Hi Judy!

I'm reading IN THE UNLIKELY EVENT at the moment and as the reviews have said, it's amazing slipping into the familiarity of the writing, even though it's a very different type of story to the teen books and I was shocked as the events unfolded.

One of the things I love is the descriptions of food - sundaes and maraschino cherries in particular evoke the same feelings as many previous books, so you can almost taste them! Is that a conscious decision - is food and the sensations of eating an important part of your life?

Wow!

Am another big fan and still recall "Forever" being passed around the class! Which was unfortunate for the boy named Ralph. "Blubber" captured bullying so well.

Judy, do you think today's teenage girls have it even harder? Eg bullying online; relationships and sex affected by their partners' early exposure to online porn. Can fiction still help?

Hi Judy, as a teenager reading your books back in the 90s, I always wondered why Connecticut was called that. Is it a state that connects other bits of land together? And do you pronounce the second c? I know I could Google it but I'd rather ask you. And The Body Shop seems to be a place to drink milkshakes in one of your books too - is that anything to do with the cosmetics chain of the same name? My 90s teen self thanks you in advance for your answers. :-)

I know Judy isn't as 'big' here as in America but my local library had a lot of her books. I read a lot of them when I was around aged 10 and was relieved when I found out sanitary towels had moved on from being attached to a belt!

Judy, it's the dialogue in your books I always find so spot on; conversations feel real. Does writing conversations just come naturally as part of the story when you get to that point or do you spend time re-writing until it feels right?

I'm scarlet here cos after some research it turns out my favourite Judy Blume book was written by Paula dazinger

No question but I loved Judy's books growing up. I'm just about to order them all for my 11 year old, I know she'll love them too. Might leave Forever for a couple of year though, couldn't stand constant talk about Ralph!

Hi Judy,
Like PPs, I loved your books as a teenager and it was like meeting an old friend when I read In The Unlikely Event. Thank you for writing such relatable female characters and addressing so many important issues in your books.

I read recently that you have bought a bookstore. Which do you enjoy most - writing or introducing customers to new books?

Did you know that a character in one of Diane Chamberlains books reads one of your books?

I LOVED the fudge stories, so much that I bought them for my nephew and read them again before he got them! There was a TV series of them when I was younger and it was great, the characters were exactly as I pictured them. I would love to be able to watch them with my nephew, I have passed my love of fudge on to him!

Oh how exciting and what a coincidence (for me) since I'm rereading 'Starring Sally J.Freedman As Herself' at the moment! (my joint favourite, along with 'Margaret')

My question is: hi Judy! Which is your favourite of your own books?

What is your favourite book by another author?

Wow, Judy Blume! I read many of your books as a child growing up in rural Ireland - although I didn't always get some of the US references/food, etc. My favourite book was Blubber - resonated with me at that time at a school with more than a few bullies. I remember the friend's mum always had to leave the house at Hallowe'en as "the smell of pumpkin guts made her sick to her stomach". This was mystifying to me as there weren't any pumpkins here back in the 1980s!! However, we have them now, and every Hallowe'en when I'm carving pumpkins, I think of Blubber and Judy Blume (but I cope just fine with the smell of pumpkin guts!!). Thanks, Judy!

I used to love Judy Blume books as a child and can still remember the plots of most of them in great detail despite not having read them for at least 20 years, whereas sometimes I forget what happened in a book I read a few months ago. My mum even bought me a copy of Forever at the tender age of 10 because I had read all the others, even the ones with kids' letters to Judy, and I remember writing to her and getting a generic letter back. I remember wishing I lived in suburban Connecticut and wondering what were these exotic American things called real estate, homerooms and the Y.

I also liked it when Sawyer in Lost was reading "Are You There God? It's Me Margaret."

Anyway I don't really have a question other than to say thank you to Judy for writing them (and In the Unlikely Event too, which I enjoyed) and for coming on Mumsnet...maybe whether to ask whether they are just as popular with children and teens today? Many of the themes (e.g. divorce, bereavement) are still just as relevant even if teenage life has changed in other ways.

Swoon - MNHQ, this has to be the best web chat guest ever. EVER. I bow down to your amazingness for getting her on!

Question for Judy - are there any of your books that you think are less relevant now and could maybe do with an update so that they are still as powerful for future generations as they were for mine? Or do you think they stand the test of time?

Ashamed to say that although I've heard great things about your books, Judy Bloom, I must have been the wrong age to read them as a tween/teen (think end-stage baby boomer) .

So my question is this: with a tween DD not far off secondary school age, when would be a good time to introduce her to your novels, and what would you recommend we start with?

Many thanks.

Hi judy, I intend to read your book as soon as I can afford to buy it. I grew up reading your books for teens. I always found them extremely relevant and they helped me through some of the more challenging aspects of puberty. i can't thank you enough for your thoughtful insights into the lives of teenage girls. I am currently trying to get my "non book loving'' dd into your books, as a way to start her off on a love of reading.

So excited about Judy Blume web chat. I wasn't a huge reader when I was young but I remember reading my first book of hers ('blubber') and then I was hooked and devoured my way through 'tiger eyes' 'are you there God, it's me Margaret?' and then 'forever' (whenever I hear of a person named Ralph even now I can't help but smile and think of the book!) and remember feeling I had never read a book before that dealt with such issues and feelings that were to similar to what I was going through or understood things from someone of my age at the time. I've still got all my well thumbed copies of hers when I was younger and in time they'll be passed to DD.

I was lucky enough to be sent a copy of 'in the unlikely event' from mn which I finished today and I really enjoyed it. It felt slightly eerie reading it in the garden with the sound of aeroplanes overhead as background noise as to was bringing to life the crashes.

I have to admit initially I was confused by the number of characters (I am a bear of very little brain) so was very glad of the character list at the beginning of the book which I repeatedly referred to. It was a great story, and I felt uplifted at the end despite the sadness throughout the book. The time the book was set in in Elizabeth was completely brought to life with details like the music of the time and even little details like a character using Revlon's 'love that red' shade of lipstick. The only thing I found could have been developed more was Natalie chanelling Ruby, it felt like it would be more integral to the plot further down but then it stopped quite abruptly (although I'm glad it was briefly referred to at the end).

I didn't realise until the authors note at the end that Judy came from Elizabeth and the crashes were real occurrences . It must've been a huge research undertaking and a book a long time in the making.

I'd like to ask Judy what made her choose to write a book about the incidents and does she have any memories of them taking place when she was in eighth grade, or the aftermath and change in her hometown during or after?

I'm a huge fan Judy and I have read all your books. Along with your books, I also loved Lois Duncan. My question is are you friends with Lois?

Thank you

I've just finished reading this and really enjoyed it. Loved all your books when I was growing up!

As a result, I've been jealous all my life of Americans having dens and basements. Do you think American houses are better for families? I think Britain feels really cramped by comparison and teens don't have a lot of places to go. Hence we all drank cider in the park and other foolish things.

I LOVED this book. Not a surprise, but what was really lovely was having watched me read it in a day, DD1 demanded it (and read it in a day) and now DD2 is reading it.

Let me tell you what I love about JB's books It is such a strong and honest voice, where the protagonists are facing up to the ills of society and the weaknesses in themselves with the same clear sightedness, first with a healthy acceptance and then taking on the challenge to improve themselves, even if they can't change the world. It is such a healthy world view - it was for the teenage me, and now. I am SO glad that my daughters have responded to this as well.

So my question is: what made you turn to these events (i.e. the plane crashes in Elizabeth) for this book - and were you influenced by something that my mother often talks about, i.e. the spate of "end of the world" rumours and fears that seemed so prevalent in the 1950s? It is interesting, perhaps, to compare those "end of the world" fears with our current ones - our current ones seeming much more real, of course, seeing as we know we did survive another 60 years, but we don't have the benefit of hindsight now! Did you want us to think about that, or am I just off on a tangent?

Once again, thank you for another wonderful book. It's been an absolute pleasure

No questions from me, just a thank you for all your books.

They were a godsend to an awkward teen from a religious strict family who wouldnt talk about periods, sex boys etc.

All the girls used to pass your books around in secret and we would spend hours walking around, talking through what we had read, trying to teach ourselves what our parents wouldnt.

So thank you for shaping my teen years!

I loved reading Judy Blume's books when I was growing up. I especially remember "Flubber" & the Fudge books! I Will be introducing my DC to these books in the near future hopefully.

Did you find the process of writing hard? Did you set yourself targets or did writing just come naturally?