AUGUST Book of the Month - THE IMPROBABILITY OF LOVE: Join author HANNAH ROTHSCHILD for bookclub webchat on Monday 12 September, 8.30 - 9.30pm

[RachelMumsnet]

The Improbability of Love was shortlisted for the Bailey's Prize and described by Lynn Barber as "a fast-paced imbroglio of skullduggery, dirty dealing, even murder" that "finishes with a sort of James Bond flourish".

We think Hannah Rothschild's brilliant satire about love, crime and the glitzy London art scene is perfectly placed as our August book of the month. Apply for a free copy now, devour over the summer and join us on 12th September to chat about the novel and put your questions to Hannah who will be joining us between 8.30 and 9.30pm.

Find out more about the book and apply for a free copy. We'll post on this discussion thread when the 50 have been selected next week.

Loved this book. The slightly gossipy style is the perfect companion for the summer. It's a whodunnit/love story/mystery and it all works brilliantly. The story flips from character to character easily and as they're all a bit eccentric, the reader never loses track of who's who. I especially enjoyed the pictures somewhat pompous descriptions of its life - this was a great touch. And Barty was wonderful.

Can't wait for the Webchat.

Can't wait to read this, thank you for the copy.

Thanks for the free copy. I had better crack on and start reading it now!

Thanks for my copy mumsnet . I started reading it yesterday. I was wondering, what do other readers think of the parts where the painter is used as the narrator? I'm not sure how I feel about the chapter I've just read.

Just this minute finished! I enjoyed this book very much - it's a rollicking, rolling romp through the art world. I know nothing about art and was a little apprehensive about being bored by the references to paintings, painters and academic critiques - but I wasn't at all.

I believe some reviews have said the book starts slowly but I didn't find this to be the case at all. I liked the character scene-setting, which is essential to the development of the story. It reminded me a bit of a Jilly Cooper novel but without the sex!

I loved the originality of the characters, they are sympathetically drawn and the detail provided gives them real depth and honesty. They are 3D people - warts and all - and this enables the reader to understand and even sympathise with the 'baddies'.

I did find the portrait narration somewhat odd at first and wasn't sure about this trick, but then found it to be a useful, sane interjection into the twists and turns of the plot and people.

I will probably post more on this later, but I've got a beach to go to right now! Great book .

Quick break before G&T time...
I also loved the silliness of certain things and people, eg Barty. There's a lot to be said for silliness. Remember the Goons, the Goodies, Monty P? There's not enough of it about today. Everybody is so serious...

I don't quite believe where Grace ended up, but I did like the 'afterwords'. I always love to know who ended up doing what - even though it's not real.

Evie had her silly side too - one of her best redeeming features. Dancing semi-naked sounds good to me - maybe I'll try it one day.

Me again... I wanted to post more whilst the book is still fresh in my mind.

For me, the book poses more about possession than it does about love - I am very interested to hear what other readers think.

On the one hand we have Jesse who deliberately eschews possessions, Annie who gave them up for a new life, and Evie who has none and is possessed by drink.

On the other, we have the artistic elite who go to any and all lengths to possess pictures that are valued according to how much people desire to have them - not necessarily their intrinsic worth.

For the Russian potentates, possessing beauty is somehow seen as a redemption from past, evil misdeeds. For the academics, it's not so much about possession as it is about association..

Interesting themes. I'll wait until someone else offers their perspective.

Thank you for my copy of this book.

It's a captivating tale. Romance, history, mystery and humour. It's hard to put it nearly into a single genre. Wonderful descriptions, interesting characters and something a bit different.

I feel I'm going against the grain but this book wasn't for me sadly. So many characters who were too stereotypical or caricature like for me. Sorry

Best summer read. And I read a few over those precious 2.5 weeks away from work!

I liked how believable this was. I liked how there was no judging of characters - they are simply presented for who they are. I loved glimpsing into the world of money and how preposterous it is. And art. It really does make you think - what is art? Sadly, some of the answers are not what they should be.

The art world is like any other world governed by money. It is shady, dangerous, underhanded, two faced and ultimately, unfortunately, it is purely driven by money for many of it's inhabitants - artists included.

An easy read. Very well researched. 'Real' without being unnecessarily judgemental.

Have recommended to all my friends.

It's great to see so many of you enjoyed the book over the summer as much as we did.

The webchat with author Hannah Rothschild and book discussion evening is looming! Please do join us on Monday evening between 8.30 and 9.30pm when you'll have chance to discuss the books with other bookclubbers and also put your questions to Hannah. We thought it would be useful and interesting to post up a few questions for discussion which have been supplied to us from Bloomsbury, Hannah's publisher. Feel free to ask whatever you like but we thought this may be helpful food for thought:

How familiar were you with the art world before reading this novel? Did your perception of the business change as you read it?

The voice of The Improbability of Love shifts between sections. How does the oscillation between the removed third-person narrative and the ‘voice’ of the painting contribute to the story’s progress? What does the painting’s voice reveal to readers? How would you characterise ‘him’?

Art represents different things to different characters in the novel. Discuss the tension between loving art for its own sake and loving art for its monetary value. What does the sudden public interest in ‘The Improbability of Love’ show us about the relationship between desire and value?

How would you describe Annie’s personality at the beginning of The Improbability of Love? How does it shift over the course of the novel?

Deception and secrecy are found throughout the plotlines of The Improbability of Love. Which characters use deception to get ahead? Which people demonstrate the most authentic versions of themselves to the world? Which secrets are most surprising?

Viewing a painting is a highly subjective experience, informed both by emotion and intellect. What initially attracts Annie to ‘The Improbability of Love’? How does her perception of the painting change over the course of the novel?

The dinner party scenes within the novel describe a world of unfettered lavishness. How do these scenes contrast with Annie’s day-to-day life? Discuss the concepts of ‘consumption’ and ‘excess’ as depicted throughout The Improbability of Love.

How would you characterise Annie’s relationship with her mother? What information about their shared history helped shape your understanding of Annie’s views on love?

Although it deals with serious subject matter at its heart, The Improbability of Love is a comic novel. Discuss how Hannah Rothschild achieves her comic effects. Are there other satirical writers you would compare her to?

Thanks for my copy. I'm only halfway through and unlikely to finish before Hannah's discussion. I've found it quite hard going and I'm afraid to say that the portrait narrative is really annoying me! Here are my answers to the questions:

1. How familiar were you with the art world before reading this novel? Did your perception of the business change as you read it?

Quite familiar so I thought it would be an interesting background but I found it hugely stereotypical.

1. The voice of The Improbability of Love shifts between sections. How does the oscillation between the removed third-person narrative and the ‘voice’ of the painting contribute to the story’s progress? What does the painting’s voice reveal to readers? How would you characterise ‘him’?

I can see why the painting's voice has been used but it doesn't work for me. I just find myself muttering under my breath that paintings don't talk!

1. Art represents different things to different characters in the novel. Discuss the tension between loving art for its own sake and loving art for its monetary value. What does the sudden public interest in ‘The Improbability of Love’ show us about the relationship between desire and value?

This is an interesting point. The majority of the potential bidders are just interested in the monetary value and this is in direct juxtaposition to the true art lovers.

1. How would you describe Annie’s personality at the beginning of The Improbability of Love? How does it shift over the course of the novel?

I'm only halfway through and other than she's a great chef with an alcoholic mother trying to get over a break-up I couldn't tell you much about her as a person.

1. Deception and secrecy are found throughout the plotlines of The Improbability of Love. Which characters use deception to get ahead? Which people demonstrate the most authentic versions of themselves to the world? Which secrets are most surprising?

This is like an A-Level English literature question, one that I'd leave until the end of the paper...

1. Viewing a painting is a highly subjective experience, informed both by emotion and intellect. What initially attracts Annie to ‘The Improbability of Love’? How does her perception of the painting change over the course of the novel?

Again, interesting how her feelings towards the painting shift depending on her mood, other people's opinions and its potential value.

1. The dinner party scenes within the novel describe a world of unfettered lavishness. How do these scenes contrast with Annie’s day-to-day life? Discuss the concepts of ‘consumption’ and ‘excess’ as depicted throughout The Improbability of Love.

Annie uses cooking as escapism from her day-to-day life. The concepts of excessive consumption are quite frightening and probably a rather accurate representation of this world.

1. How would you characterise Annie’s relationship with her mother? What information about their shared history helped shape your understanding of Annie’s views on love?

It is a reversal of the usual parent/child relationship. The mother's character is just starting to develop at this halfway point.

1. Although it deals with serious subject matter at its heart, The Improbability of Love is a comic novel. Discuss how Hannah Rothschild achieves her comic effects. Are there other satirical writers you would compare her to?

Satirical maybe but I'm not really finding it a comic novel at the moment. I'll report back when I've finished the book.

A beautifully researched cleverly written, fun and absorbing take on the International Art market, created by one of the world's greatest art and antique buying families. Very satisfying.

Thank you so much for my copy. The Improbability of Love is my favourite mumsnet book of the month so far!

I’ll start by putting myself in the pro painting camp. I absolutely loved the painting’s narratives, and it really drove home a message we could all do with remembering more often: that there is always so much more to someone than you can ever imagine or assume. Also, I found “one” very funny.

I really enjoyed reading all the Winkleman sections, and the food bits. I don’t consider myself very “arty”, and appreciated the validation that art means different things to different people.

One thing I was not enamoured with is the book title. I can see how it ties into the narrative, but for me this wasn’t the main theme that came through the novel. My question for Ms Rothschild is this: How do you decide on a book’s title? How much of this decision is driven by the desire for would-be readers to pick up the book and take a look past the cover? Is it as polarising as naming a baby, and if so, who gets a say in it?

I'm posting an early question for Hannah. Firstly what a fabulous book, really great fun. I'd like to ask what prompted you to take up writing when you clearly have a successful career in documentaries? I appreciate that you have a knowledge of the art world and it's great that you can take the mickey out of a world that takes itself so seriously.

As I said earlier, I loved the array of characters, especially Barty. I have to ask, is he based on anyone you know? Also which of your characters is your favourite?

@SallySwann

I'm posting an early question for Hannah. Firstly what a fabulous book, really great fun. I'd like to ask what prompted you to take up writing when you clearly have a successful career in documentaries? I appreciate that you have a knowledge of the art world and it's great that you can take the mickey out of a world that takes itself so seriously.

Thanks for the interesting question. I see writing and filmmaking as different extensions of story telling. I always dreamed of writing fiction but thought it was something that you had to start early. I was approaching 50 and thought that I should give it a go. So pleased that I did.

@HannahRothschild

[quote SallySwann] I'm posting an early question for Hannah. Firstly what a fabulous book, really great fun. I'd like to ask what prompted you to take up writing when you clearly have a successful career in documentaries? I appreciate that you have a knowledge of the art world and it's great that you can take the mickey out of a world that takes itself so seriously.

Thanks for the interesting question. I see writing and filmmaking as different extensions of story telling. I always dreamed of writing fiction but thought it was something that you had to start early. I was approaching 50 and thought that I should give it a go. So pleased that I did.[/quote]

so pleased that you liked the book thanks-

@FernieB

As I said earlier, I loved the array of characters, especially Barty. I have to ask, is he based on anyone you know? Also which of your characters is your favourite?

so pleased you liked the characters FernieB. I actually liked all of them but have a particular soft spot for the picture 'Moi'.

@FernieB

As I said earlier, I loved the array of characters, especially Barty. I have to ask, is he based on anyone you know? Also which of your characters is your favourite?

In answer to FernieB's other question, Barty was inspired by but not based on Nicky Haslam, the designer. Few would have a party without inviting him so i thought why have a novel without him in it

We're delighted to welcome our bookclub guest this evening HANNAH ROTHSCHILD, author of the THE IMPROBABILITY OF LOVE, which was shortlisted for the Bailey's Prize for fiction and named winner of the Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse prize for Comic Fiction. As well as award winning author, Hannah is a filmmaker, company director and serves on boards of various trusts and museums, including The National Gallery and The Tate, both of which appear at various times in the novel.

Thank you so much for giving us your time tonight Hannah and big congratulations on such a dazzling novel which was, for me, a perfect summer read; gripping, enlightening and genuinely funny.

We've got a few standard questions from Mumsnet HQ:

Which childhood book most inspired you?

What was the last book you gave someone as a gift?

What was the best book you read over the summer?

And finally - can you describe the room where you wrote The Improbability of Love?

Over to you Hannah....

@pbandbacon

Thank you so much for my copy. The Improbability of Love is my favourite mumsnet book of the month so far!

I’ll start by putting myself in the pro painting camp. I absolutely loved the painting’s narratives, and it really drove home a message we could all do with remembering more often: that there is always so much more to someone than you can ever imagine or assume. Also, I found “one” very funny.

I really enjoyed reading all the Winkleman sections, and the food bits. I don’t consider myself very “arty”, and appreciated the validation that art means different things to different people.

One thing I was not enamoured with is the book title. I can see how it ties into the narrative, but for me this wasn’t the main theme that came through the novel. My question for Ms Rothschild is this: How do you decide on a book’s title? How much of this decision is driven by the desire for would-be readers to pick up the book and take a look past the cover? Is it as polarising as naming a baby, and if so, who gets a say in it?

so pleased that you enjoyed it pbandbacon. The title was taken from the imagined painting which in turn was an imagined title in the style of many of Antoine Watteau's works. You are right- it was as difficult as naming a baby (I have three of those) but once I got it, I never really thought about it again.

@wallers5

A beautifully researched cleverly written, fun and absorbing take on the International Art market, created by one of the world's greatest art and antique buying families. Very satisfying.

Thanks wallers5- that is really good to hear

I loved how you had the painting giving a kind of commentary and revealing snippets of its history as the story progressed. Where did you get the idea for this? Also do you have plans for another book and, if so, when? I'm definitely seeking out The Baroness anyway.

I'm so pleased to hear that Barty was inspired by Nicky Haslam - I imagined him all the way through the book! Has he read the book do you know?