Join author Lynn Barber for the discussion of our February Book of the Month.. AN EDUCATION (Tue 23 February 8pm)

[TillyBookClub]

Lynn Barber's memoir, An Education (27 votes), has won our February Book of the Month poll, beating Liz Jenson's The Rapture (25 votes) and Sabrina Broadbent's You Don't Have to Be Good (22 votes).

We'll gather here to discuss the book on Tuesday 23 February, 8-9.30pm.

We're hoping that Lynn will join us for part of the evening and answer questions - will keep you posted.

For those who missed it, here were February's Book of the Month choices (and for anyone new to Bookclub, here's how it works).

[JustineMumsnet]

Hi Lynn, loved the book and the movie too which I saw before reading it. Who was it who spotted the potential of that chapter - had it been separately run in Granta?

It's amazing how Nick Hornby fleshed it out into a movie, I think don't you? You say that you had the nous to put a clause in the contract allowing you to comment over the script. Does that mean there was a lot of to and fro/ revisions then? How long did it take? It must be hard letting someone else do the writing when you're a writer yourself, did you at times just want to grab the thing and re-write it in your own words?

(Thanks so much for coming on).

[LynnBarber]

Tilly: probably Philip Roth now so many of the other great Americans have died.
Must sign off now because my computer is getting slower and slower, and I have to do something else at 9.
you didnt ask my favourite biscuit! anyway it is chocoleibnitz dark.
Thank you v much to everyone - that was good fun

[maryjane71]

Thanks to you Lynn, looking forward to your column(?) in the ST this Sunday.

[SuSylvester]

ooh i like a leibnitz
I come over all "Kaffee und Kuchen gemutlich" when i have one.

[TillyBookClub]

Lynn, thank you very much indeed for coming on and thanks too for a brilliant book. Look forward to reading whatever is coming next (and fingers crossed for a gold statuette).

[TeaOneSugar]

Thanks Lynn.

[LynnBarber]

Justine - thanks, and it was Nick Hornby who spotted the Granta piece. I was v happy to let him write it - I occasionally made small suggestions but nothing more - must go now. thanks to everyone.

[JustineMumsnet]

Thanks very much for coming on, Lynn. Do come back any time you fancy (to answer my question ).

[JustineMumsnet]

Oh there you go, you came back and answered my question - thank you again! And do stop by any time.

[TillyBookClub]

Apologies to all those whose questions weren't answered, Lynn had told me beforehand that her computer isn't the fastest.

champagne/carrie: wanted to add how relieved I was too about the innocent photo. It would have been one hell of a bleak ending otherwise.

[elkiedee]

I missed the discussion again, no surprise there, was upstairs settling baby and then staying in the bedroom with him for a wee while.

I enjoyed the book too, probably the chapters on her journalistic career including Penthouse were the most fun to read (even though I don't really approve of porn magazines). And I didn't find the last part cold, it was a complete contrast with what had preceded it and it was very sad, but quite matter of fact. I think it's quite impressive to set it out so clearly among so much sadness, and possibly some anger - some aspects of his hospital care right at the end were a bit worrying.

I would have liked to see her answer the question about education, but think that what happened to her with the end of her school education was appalling, and was relieved that she managed to sit her exams and get out to college anyway. I don't know if some private schools would still have that much power, but hope that schools wouldn't be so quick to try and kick someone out.

[squeaver]

Wow, she was fab.

[MaryAnnSingleton]

oh bum,missed it

[MrsPotiphar]

wel i wish i had seen the movie first and then ahd the webchat.

grrr

Lynn - what happened to " david" after he and you finished.
what do you think ( in hindsight) was his plan - would he have committed bigamy?