Live web-chat with Tony Parsons, 9pm-10pm, 6 October

[rachel(mumsnet)]

Columnist and author Tony Parsons will be joining us here on Monday 6th October from 9-10pm for a live chat. Tony's sixth novel, 'My Favourite Wife' has just been published and is described by The Independent as 'a much bigger, more ambitious book' than million-selling 'Man and Boy'. If you can't make the chat you can post your questions in advance here.
Hope to see you here on Monday.

All of you lovely, polite, grown up people and not a single interesting question between you. Hmm. Wonder why that is? Could it be that he isn't very interesting?

But he just writes diverting novels

He is not pushing back the boundaries of truth

No, he certainly isn't

Well , I've ever been diverted by them.

Look! We are the MN Late Review! haha!

Yes MrsM I think that is the truth. I've never read a book by him, and I'm sure I don't much want to.

I don't understand why this is so black and white. Because I've never read a book by him, and don't much want to, it doesn't mean that I think he's a worthless shite, hawking his book around and therefore worthy of my ridicule.

I don't treat anybody like this. Because I think that you should treat people with a modicum of respect it doesn't make me pious or outraged, and it doesn't mean that I think we should all fall off our chairs with gratitude that he is on MN.

I think it's just bog standard manners tbh.

Can you imagine Greer going - now you can't say that - that's just rude and insulting!

erm, no

You don't treat anyone like this. Okay. Yet the fact that Parson's is himself a critic and that entails giving opinions on the work and creative/commercial motives of someone, is lost on many it seems

i dont model myself on germaine greer

I don't understand what you are saying MT.

If you'd wanted to criticize his work and challenge him on that, then fair enough, fair dos. But you haven't done that, because like me you've never read one of his books.

I just think this general dismissive slightly bullying attitude - not you, it happens a lot - smells of little shits with a hint of power - oooh here's someone on MN, I can insult them. I wouldn't normally have an opportunity to do that. oooh, look at me, Isn't this democratic.

Not, it's not democratic. It's rude.

It's not democratic?! Are being serious? LOL I give up.

Yes, I am being serious.

Because what drives that attitude isn't a desire to express a democratic opinion, it is a desire to cut someone down to size and have a go at them, just because they can. Not nice.

mnhq, any luck with tony hawkes?

zippi- I'm not sure what I think of his books. I bought My Favourite Wife to read on the train and at night because I was going to an academic conference and wanted some light reading to read around it. Didn't want to have to concentrate. I did stay up reading it one night which is always a good sign although I couldn't quite decide what I thought as I was reading the book. I do think the books I've read seem to feature men having affairs - the male main characters are never that likeable - I think perhaps that's the problem I had with My Favourite Wife, but I liked his answer to me last night and I will buy the next one.

Right, so by your thinking The Late Review and all criticism is undemocratic.

This not withstanding the fact that no ones opinion has been challenged here, except mine. I have repeatedly stated I do not mind counter criticism, that I am only stating my opinion and that that is no threat to others. But we appear to have fallen down the rabbit hole once again.

I wish I could muster up ebough energy to be cross - and defend muyself - but against what? There is no argument here. It's just madness.

Well done Tony. You must be proud.

Well, he answered both my questions and gave me love, hugs and kisses.

I thought he came across well,actually.

But I am easily pleased.

Well good you Coco!

I was suprised at how well he came across (unlike in his articles). And at least he was funny

sorry I missed it but I had an urgent date with 2 episodes of the Wire (and TP was wrong on that one)

All criticism is undemocratic? We are getting unstuck here because you didn't criticize his work and yet you think you did. That's what you think you are defending? Yes?

MT on the sofa during Late Review, not having seen anything she is reviewing saying 'I've never seen Mark Rothko and I don't want to. I don't have a Mark Rothko size hole in my life. If he was alive I would be thinking HUH, he's just having this retrospective because he wants to make money. Takes me to point this out to you all RIGHT? You should be more cynical.'

lol 100x

have you been to the tate modern yet

So by my book MT that's not criticism, at the very best it is name calling.

No Zip. But I want to

Have you?

no not yet i was in london the opening weeekend but have been there a few times recently with bf so thought i would wait

went to see skeletons instead..the wellcome institue has some interesting stuff too

God, you are impressive. I wish I went to see all these things.
I might need to have a day trip. I went to the Louise Bourgeois thingy ages ago, after you mentioned it on 10/10. I loved that.

[impressive critical faculties at work ]

What is 100? What is namecalling? And is is distinguishable from criticism?