The Mandibles by Lionel Shriver - April book of the month. Read and join the Facebook Live with Lionel Shriver on Wednesday 10 May, 8.30pm

[RachelMumsnet]

The Mandibles is our April book of the month and we’re delighted that award-winning author Lionel Shriver will be joining us on Facebook for a live chat on Wednesday 10 May, 8.30pm

Set in a near future USA where the dollar has become worthless, this is the story of the Mandibles family. Once super-wealthy, they are forced to come to terms with the fact their inheritance has turned to ash and, as the effects of the economic collapse begin to hit, they are faced with the sheer challenge of survival.

In this novel Lionel Shriver once again proves she’s one of the greatest social commentators in literature. She tackles big issues (global economy, race, class) but always with her trademark dry wit - in fact this is arguably her funniest novel to date.

Amendment: Lionel Shriver is now joining us to answer your questions on Facebook LIVE from 8.30pm on Wednesday 10 May

Please see our post further down the thread for more information

Got it on audible
Absolutely love Lionel Shriver- cannot wait for the webchat .

I'd like a copy please!

Oh me me me pretty please 🙏🏻

I have just finished reading We Need To Talk About Kevin for the second time. Even though the subject matter is tough going and the story heartbreaking it's an absolute joy to read because her writing is just so, so good. I love it. She's the kind of author that is both inspiring and intimidating to me as a creative writing student because her use of language and style of writing is so eloquent that it makes my work seem like the hackiest chic lit! Sorry to be so gushy but this timely post just caught me in the midst of a Lionel Shriver love -in and it would be very to cruel not to pick me MNHQ. Purleeeeease Pick Me you gorgeous people! Xxx

Super excited to read this book!

This sounds like a really interesting book, have added to my to read list but would be great to get a free copy of course!

Oooh I am a big fan would love to get a copy of this though will buy it if not successful. Lionel's books are always deeply enjoyable and though at times can be a hard read I love them. Looking forward to the webchat

The book giveaway is now closed and we'll be informing all those who have been allocated books before the end of the day. If you haven't been one of the lucky 50 this month, please do still buy a copy and read ahead of the webchat with Lionel on 3 May.

I haven't received my copy yet (for taking part in the Chris Cleave webchat).

I have not received my copy, either - the publishers must have delayed dispatch.

Apologies - I was away on annual leave last week and only just picked up the mails / messages to say the books haven't arrived. I'm just chasing the publisher now and will let you know as soon as I hear back.

Mine arrived today though not sure I'll be able to finish it before 3 May unless someone wants to come over and babysit!

Mine arrived today so will crack on!

Received my copy today too.

Mine arrived today too, perfect timing for an hour DC free this afternoon. Thank you!

It's great to hear that the books have now arrived. We're delighted that Lionel Shriver has agreed to put the webchat back a week so you have more time to read. Please put the date in your diary to join the webchat on Wednesday 10th May, 9-10pm.

Received my copy this weekend, many thanks.

We hope you've now had chance to read The Mandibles.

This month we're changing the usual webchat format and we're thrilled to announce that Lionel Shriver will be LIVE on Facebook where she'll be answering your questions about The Mandibles and her other writing.

We'd love you to join us on Facebook at 8.30pm on Wednesday 10 May to put your questions to Lionel. All you have to do is like the Mumsnet page and comment on the video feed. Lionel will be with us for approx 20 mins and we'll aim to get through as many of your questions as possible in that time.

If you're unable to join us live, fear not! Post your Qs up here before midday on Wednesday 10th and we'll aim to get them to Lionel during the live event. You can then watch the video at anytime after the event on Facebook - or from Book of the month page where the whole video will be streamed from Thursday morning.

If you have any questions about the format - do post on this thread. We hope you agree this is a great opportunity and a brilliant way to get your questions to the author.

Hope to see you next Wednesday (10th May) at 8.30pm

I'm really enjoying this book. I'm finding it compulsive reading. It is humorous and entertaining as well as thought provoking.

Lowell is discussing the novel 1984 with Savannah. He says "plots set in the future are about what people fear in the present".

I'm just over halfway through the book and as things go from bad to worse I cannot get that passage out of my head. My question to Lionel is is this her fear and the driving force behind the novel?

I'm looking forward to the discussion on Wednesday and the new format!

I enjoyed the book - although enjoy possibly isn't quite the right word for a dystopian novel. The only other of Shriver's novels that I've read is Kevin, and as with that, I found that the main characters were pretty unlikeable. However, the concept of societal breakdown was very interesting and kept me reading.

I did find the first section quite heavy going, as it involved the characters talking a lot about economics. I'd like to ask Lionel why she chose to write so much about how the currency collapse happened? I assume it must have taken a lot of research (although I can't pretend to know whether what she wrote was plausible or not!)

This was my first book by Lionel Shriver, and I am happy to say I will definitely read more!
It is so different and such an interesting book. I must say it wasn't an easy read though.

Will think of a question and be back soon.

Can I add that I love your name change

I've nearly finished this and overall have enjoyed it. Negatives: it's a tough read; I consider myself pretty well educated and read, and there were many words I've never come across! I had a taste of decoding similar to that which my learning to read ds talks about :) I also noticed a few mistakes and typos, which always irritates me slightly as it disrupts my flow of reading.

Positives: I love the premise and enjoyed the character development. The parallels to today's world were chilling and I liked the way Lionel focuses on the everyday details which just makes it more scary and plausible that such things could happen and people wouldn't particularly protest. I did find some of the characters annoying, but then so are some people in real life!

I found The Mandibles to have a certain dark humour about it at times. However, overall the events seem scarily possible and ensure that the work should be taken quite seriously. It is quite conceivable that if the dollar and the country itself went into 'meltdown', it would ultimately lead to a dog eat dog situation.

Whilst I found myself rooting for the character of Willing as the downtrodden survivor, he didn't seem altogether believable. I was rather incredulous in terms of how alert a young teenager is to the seriousness of the situation before anything had really happened, knowing the best course of action to take and the lines he came out with in relation to getting rid of Milo. (Perhaps because I don't have a teenager yet.)

For some reason the novel reminds me of T.S.Eliot's The Waste Land, in that whilst everything is disintegrating, inert and bankrupt, there is ultimately a drip, drip of water, in effect, hope. The final lines of the novel seem to suggest it is all just cyclical.

When did you start writing this novel? Was it when Ed Balls was on 'Strictly Come Dancing?' (You mentioned early on 'Ed Ball's government' 2029)

Do you want the novel to be considered as a warning or do you see the collapse of the American dollar, and everything that goes with it, as inevitable in the very near future?

How do you think you would react if the novel's events actually materialized? Do you think you have certain similarities with Nollie?

Thank you for my copy of The Mandibles. I loved it. Sorry not to join the live discussion. I am not on Facebook.

I've now finished the book and enjoyed the way it was ended.

Couple of questions for Lionel:
What do you consider to be the most successful society then? It seemed you were hinting that the new USA was one end of an extreme and the Nevada state was the other - somewhere in the middle then?

Or do you think that ultimately society will inevitably end up tipping over and a state of equilibrium isn't really possible for long with our human desires etc? I liked the implied idea that actually when it comes down to it, looking out for each and being compassionate out of choice is the best outcome. A bit like the Big Society idea in the U.K, but without the forcedness of it?! Although if one had never had the welfar state than I suppose there would be no outrage at it being stripped away...

Thank you for my copy

I've just finished this, only the second of Lionel's books I've read after 'Kevin'. I definitely want to read some of her others now. I'll join in the Facebook chat on Wednesday.