Ask non-fiction author THOMAS HARDING your question - on THE HOUSE BY THE LAKE or his other books - by 30 August!

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From the acclaimed writer of Hanns and Rudolf comes a captivating part-memoir, part-history. Thomas Harding's The House by the Lake is our non-fiction pick for this month. Apply for a free copy now.

When Thomas Harding returned to the place from which his grandmother was forced to flee by the Nazis, he found the lakeside house falling down and on the brink of demolition. But what he also discovered was the traces of the families who had lived there. In The House by the Lake, Thomas masterfully weaves their personal stories with wider events to create a unique telling of the 'story of Germany'.

You can also read in this article what effect Brexit has had on the lake house and Thomas' own relationship with Germany

We're giving away 50 copies of The House by the Lake to Mumsnetters who want to read and share their thoughts about it on this discussion. Go to the giveaway page to find out more about the book and apply for a free copy.

Thomas will be answering questions about The House by the Lake and his other books, post yours here by 30 August. We'll put up answers to 15 of the best questions in mid-September.

You don't have to win a copy to take part in this discussion or ask Thomas a question. Everyone is welcome to discuss the book here. If you miss out on a free one, you can buy a copy.

This giveaway ends 11 July

Didn't think I would enjoy the book, but really enjoyed it. I have now passed the book on to my mum,. I have often thought about writing a book about my parents lives , my mum growing up in Birmingham, and my dad in Cumbria such different lives they both led. I haven't a clue how to start .

A great and thought provoking book. I always find it unbelieveable how cruel humans can be to each other and what the consequence of war are. People should never ever forget.

I'm finding it hard to put this book down! It's a fascinating account of the last hundred years of German history and while I'm pretty well informed on the build up to WW2, I've found the post war story fascinating!
Well worth reading - non-fiction can be hard to read sometimes but I've found the flow of this book very easy going.

just starting this book, loving it so far. I don't normally read non-fiction books, but i am interested in tales from the world war era, really glad I won a copy, thank you Mumsnet

Can you ask the author- " Do you believe that 'houses' retain the essence of the people who have lived in them,"
Both good and bad memories.

This isn't a book I would necessarily have chosen to pick up, had I not been fortunate enough to receive a free copy (thank you!).

I am absolutely loving it. I am finding the historical content fascinating, and the way it is all told via the conduit of the house and family, adds a personal perspective that prevents it from ever becoming 'dry'. I thoroughly recommend this book.

I've now finished the book and was fascinated right until the end - although I guess it isn't the end at all and I'll keep checking the blog on the website to follow the progress of the house.

I now have a second question: 'Is the intention in restoring the house to strip it back to the original design and layout or will the house retain some of the later 'improvements'?

I haven't read this book - but it sounds very interesting so I will be getting a copy! I'd like to know - how you go about researching and writing your books - and how long it takes?

This book certainly wasn't a quick and easy read, and required concentration and quite large chunks of dedicated time to be set aside for it, rather than being a work you could dip in and out of. I found the sheer volume of information a bit much, to be honest, though I did learn a lot about modern Germany history. The book was very well written and meticulously researched and I'm grateful to have received my copy.

Whilst this isn't the usual sort of book I go for I'm finding it fascinating and learning so much! Thank you Mumsnet for allowing me to try something new!

DH read this after me. He also enjoyed it.

It opened both our eyes to how long prior to the war the Jewish people had been targeted. Neither of us had learnt about this aspect of history in school.

What a great story of a life lived in turmoil. I got lost in this book. Thank you so much Mumsnet.

Did the author ever do his q and a slot? I went to his session at Edinburgh book festival in 2016 and it was very interesting. His other books are good as well. The one about his son who died in an accident is desperately sad, but it’s very good writing.