Join the webchat with author Matt Haig: Monday 9 July, 9pm

[RachelMumsnet]

Book club special: We’re joined by author Matt Haig on Monday 9 July between 9 and 10pm when he will be talking about his latest book: Notes on a Nervous Planet as well as his other fiction and non-fiction titles, including Reasons to Stay Alive, How To Stop Time (currently being made into a film starring Benedict Cumberbatch) and his best-selling children’s book A Boy Called Christmas.

Reasons To Stay Alive charted Matt’s breakdown at the age of 24 and how he came through crisis and triumphed over an illness that almost destroyed him. Notes on a Nervous Planet looks at the link between anxiety and the world we live in. Thought-provoking, funny and honest, the book offers practical advice alongside his personal insights and meditations.

Join Matt on Monday at 9pm - or post up a Q for him on this thread in advance. Join the chat for chance to win one of FOUR copies of Notes on a Nervous Planet. Names will be pulled out of the hat and announced just after the webchat.

How do you deal with very negative critical reviews? I Am specifically referring to one of the harshest reviews I think I have ever read (was in last weekend’s times or telegraph)

No questions at the moment, will have a think later on. Just wanted to say I love, love, love your books, in particular The Humans. I was recommended it by a friend who works at Waterstones. I have depression and anxiety - though much improved lately - and that book has helped me through some tough times. It's immensely uplifting and makes you appreciate life, I've not come across any other books that had such an impact on me. Thank you.

Marking my place so I remember to be here on Monday. I've not read any of Matt's non-fiction books but absolutely adored How to Stop Time.

Does a truth pixie have a very high voice or a very low voice? We always do very high but would be interested in your take.

I also loved The Humans. I have recommended it to so many people. Keep going, we need more!

I came across reasons to stay alive during the darkest days of my life and it really helped me. I think it made me feel less alone at a time when my struggle with my dark thoughts made me feel “apart” from the rest of the world. I have recommended it to others since. No question- just wanted to say that!

I read Reasons to Stay Alive, and it gave me a really good insight into what my DH experiences with depression, and so it was incredibly helpful. I did wonder if Matt's partner would ever consider writing or co-writing a book to tell her experiences in supporting Matt during that time, just because, as someone who loves a person who struggles with depression and anxiety, I think it would be very interesting to see her perspective. I also wanted to say Matt's writing is wonderful, very readable and brilliantly descriptive of something which by it's nature is very hard to describe clearly.

Matt, your books are beautiful and have been really useful for my therapy clients, so thank you!

How much input do you have with the film and are you worried it won't be how you/your readers pictured it

I love Matt's books. The Humans made me actually laugh out loud which hasn't happened with a book in a long time, Reasons To Stay Alive touched a nerve with past me and I've passed it on to multiple friends struggling with clinical depression and How To Stop Time was just wonderful. I can't wait for the chat!

I read Reasons to Stay Alive while my husband was experiencing a terrible episode of depression - I can't tell you how much that book helped us both. It's a bloody amazing thing and thank you.

As the partner of the person with depression I was left thinking dear god, Matt's wife is one amazing person! (No offence to you Matt, it's just living with somebody, who has departed planet Earth temporarily is incredibly tough.)

I found myself wanting to read how your wife kept perspective and what it was like being the person trying help keep you above water ... This is just an observation really as at the time I couldn't find very much out there about what to do and how to keep sane yourself when all happiness disappears from the person you love.

DH is doing so well now. Your book was part of that journey. Thank you again. I'll say it again, it's a bloody amazing book.

Hi Matt, I have tickets to see you on Wednesday evening. I wondered if you are going ahead with it still due to the England game? My kids would kill me if I didn’t watch it with them but I’m really gutted!

Really enjoy your books and as PP can identify with you and your struggles.

Ashamed to admit had never heard of you until I heard you on Radio 2 last week. My partner suffers from anxiety and depression and I have now suggested he reads your books. I really hope they can help him and for me to understand better what he is going through. Have you any advice for partners of people who suffer with anxiety ?

Brilliant, am currently half way through this book, will post question tomorrow when hopefully I will be closer to finishing, really enjoying it so far.

I am a fan happily following you on Twitter. Without exception, I love what you tweet but you clearly have a love/hate relationship with the platform. Do you think social media is (in general) a force for good or evil. I vacillate between both stand points 😳

I have really enjoyed your fiction books without exception. I may try the non fiction now.

How did you get started with writing?

Just finished reading How To Stop Time and loved it. I enjoy time slip/ time travel type books, and this one is geat. I look forward to seeing it on the big screen.

I should have clarified that my truth pixie voice question is from DS2!

Hi Matt, my children are huge fans of yours and my daughter (who has read all but one of your children’s books) has a question for you:

Dear Matt Haig, you’re awesome but I wanted to know why you always kill someone in your books. Love from Eleanor, age 8

I’m going to honest, she’s been wanting to write and ask you this for ages, but bad Mummy hasn’t found an address, so it would really, really (please, please, please) help me out if you could answer this! Thank you!

PS. I loved How to Stop Time

New here
what Does it mean (but thick)
Webchat 9pm
Do you just gone on that thread?

Such a varied range of writing, what moves you to a particular topic? Or maybe the question really is whats next? another children's book in the pipeline?

Just finished the book. Am on holiday and spent the afternoon on the beach finishing it off. Facisating read (bought it on recommendation of a radio DJ who has discussed how much he enjoyed it several times).

One of favourite quote from the book (there are lots of good ones) is ‘better to be disliked for being you, than being liked for being someone else’

My question is have you still turned off the notifications on your phone and are you still limited social media? As time goes on are you finding it easier or harder?

My daughter said she loves this book the most out of all of my books because of the rainbow design inside the sleeve

@granadagirl it means that Matt Haig will be here as a poster at 9pm so you can ask him a question and he'll probably answer it.

Hi Matt, I've enjoy reading your books and have been recommending How to Stop Time to everyone.

As someone who has suffered from depression I did find parts of Reasons to Stay Alive quite hard going because I had been in very similar situations. How did you feel when you were writing it? Were you in a good place looking back? Or did it bring back memories and emotions that were unpleasant? Did the process of writing it make you feel differently about your depression?

X

Hi Matt, I follow you on Twitter but haven't read one of your books yet, I find it a bit hard to read about topics which really affect me...I will get there in time.
Anyway, my question is about how you see the atmosphere changing around mental illness - it seems as though everyone is really supportive these days (maybe just on my timeline?!) but then I know you were taken aback by a cutting review last weekend. Do you think things are starting to change or do those of us in the chattering classes just perceive it that way in our bubble?