Ask SHARON GUSKIN - author of THE FORGETTING TIME - a question now! Post yours by Wednesday 27 July

[UrsulaMumsnet]

Our featured debut author this week is Sharon Guskin. Her book The Forgetting Time, tells the story of Noah, who struggles to forget the life he believes he's lived before. Driven to desperation and reluctant to medicate her son, his mother Janie visits a psychiatrist who can provide some answers but not necessarily the ones Janie's ready to hear.

Pan Macmillan asked us to find a huge 190 Mumsnetters to read The Forgetting Time and tell us what they think about it on this discussion thread. Go to the giveaway page to find out more and apply for a free copy.

You don't have to win a free copy to take part in the discussion. Anyone who has read The Forgetting Time can post their feedback here.

As so many of you enjoyed The Forgetting Time, Pan Macmillan have asked you for any questions you'd like to put to author Sharon Guskin. The best questions will be answered by Sharon on film. Post yours on this thread by Wednesday 27 July

This giveaway is sponsored by Pan Macmillan

Many thanks for the opportunity to review this book.

First impression when I opened the parcel was that it was a beautiful looking book. Gorgeous cover, intriguing title and a pure luxury to have a hard back in my hands again after far too long reading on my kindle!

What a gripping tale! I devoured this in just over a day. The main theme of reincarnation and remembering past lives is a fascinating one. It's not something I've ever given any credence to, but am tempted to do some further reading on the subject now.

The relationship between Noah and his mother Janie was beautifully portrayed. The turmoil she felt at having to decide whether to ignore what Noah was saying and just medicate him, or listen to him and help him to find his 'mamma' really struck a chord. I suppose all mothers have felt that turmoil at some point...do we keep our children close or do we encourage them to follow their hearts and fly the nest a bit?

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this debut novel. Beautifully written, gripping storyline, thought provoking...yes, I'd definitely recommend. I will be keen to read Sharon Guskin's next book.

I found this book a compelling read. I had intended to read a chapter here and there on a coffee break and half an hour at night but instead I started it on Friday and had finished it by Sunday afternoon. I usually struggle to remember the characters, sometimes resorting to writing notes so I know who is who but with this book the characters are few and are introduced one by one so even I felt I knew them. I felt an empathy with all the characters as I read the story. I enjoyed the book and would recommend it, I have already passed it onto my neighbour who will return it for my daughter to read.

I finished this about an hour ago, with a short break to run to the post office for more coffee. All I can say is wow. Haunting, beautiful, compelling... I have always been fascinated by past lives, and this book hit so many of the right notes for me. The prose was elegant but straightforward, perfectly capturing the love and fear of a parent. I'm dropping this around to my neighbour tonight as we always share books, despite a 40 year age gap, and I just know she will love it as much as I did. It reminded me of The Ice Twins and I will be recommending this to people in the coming months. Great debut.

So far I'm finding it a bit trying. I love books, how they feel, smell and my perfect job would be to work in a library. So when I read the blurb I thought I would love the book, based around a child, and the unknown, and instead I'm finding it quite disjointed. I'm halfway through and can probably guess how it will end. However, I will finish it and post again, hopefully with a different opinion :)

I'm just over half way through the book now. The story is so in engaging that I've found myself reading way after I should be asleep! That said I was surprised to find it made me feel desperately sad at times. Janie's pain, fears and worries about her son and what is happening to him just were too close to home as I have a son with very complex needs and I can only too well remember the early days of realising something was very different about him but at the time not knowing what.
I really want to know how it's going to turn out but part of me does want to put the book down and stop reawakening the memory of these sort of feelings.

I read this book in a few days because every time I started it I just read and read, especially near the end I really couldn't put it down. It was a really unique book topic wise and it was fun to see a side of something that I don't necessarily think about otherwise.
Writing wise it was great, really brilliant and especially for a debut novel. Really excited to read any future novels as the prose is lovely. I especially love the way that she writes about the little aspects of people's lives, as though she realises that life is made up of lots of little moments put together - not just big moments.
It's a great book overall, that manages to bring a bit of non-fiction, a bit of mystery, and a lot of what it means to be a mother all into one book. It was also interesting to have different branches of loss and how they affect different people at different times in their life.

I am basically open minded on the subject of reincarnation because I have no direct experience of this but have read compelling accounts of children who apparently remember another life. Whether or not you believe in reincarnation, I think the book is beautifully written, compelling and deals with a number of themes in a very readable way. The difficulties in bringing up and caring for a child with different needs, grief, loss, ageing and illness are very well described. Yes, it perhaps tries too hard for a happy ending but I personally like a definite conclusion. I liked the book and the writing and would recommend it.

I've just finished reading my copy. Strange and slow beginning, chapter two has an interesting start. Noah is quite interesting, good build up in chapter five. Charlie and Denise are good characters. I liked the real life reincarnation stories that they included, thought they were good as well.

just finished this book. was interesting idea for a story. but for some reason it didnt deliver as much as i thought it would. the characters didnt seem to be developed enough. i really didnt feel that i cared much for any of them. And that is one of the things that in my opinion makes a good book.

Was thrilled to receive the book and read it straight away. I found it a good page turner, though Janie's encounter on the beach and subsequent pregnancy was clichéd,

The doctor's story was a lot more interesting than Janie's and I empathised much more with his plight largely because the central theme of Noah's 'reincarnation' I struggled with.

On balance, the book was a good , though forgettable read; I'll certainly take it along to my book club and see what they think.

Thank you for the opportunity to read it!

I'm currently about half way through and like others am finding this an easy if not completely engaging read. The use of simile is grating at times and I would have liked more backstory with the doctor.

Whilst I personally don't believe in reincarnation I don't think that affects my enjoyment of the book but I do feel that at times the storyline seems contrived.

Will hopefully post again once I've had a chance to read the rest.

I really enjoyed this. It was very readable and kept me wanting to know more. Like a previous poster I could have done without the opening one night stand - rather naff and unnecessary to the rest of the book. However the premise behind the story was really interesting and I loved the stories of children around the world that were included. Thank you for my copy!

Guskin’s debut novel tells a sentimental story with a murder mystery at its core, and it's interesting even if you don’t go for the premise!
It's a captivating, thought-provoking novel that explores what we regret in the end of our lives and hope for in the beginning, and everything in between. A captivating debut from an author I would like to read more of...bring on the next novel!

Well, now I'm finished that to reading it on my Mother's Day lie in!

Overall I enjoyed it although I did find reading about Noah's anguish and Janie's desperation to help her son emotionally hard at times. However, I'm aware that many parents won't have experienced these desperate, dark times (at least, I hope most haven't) and won't have this uncomfortable emotional connection.

Whilst fascinating I found the entire story really very sad, essentially peopled by characters whose worlds were falling apart in one way or another. It certainly wasn't a light hearted bit of escapism.

I have mixed feelings about this book - it was perfectly well written but I just couldn't engage with any of the characters and I didn't enjoy reading it. I thought it was a little bit formulaic, and guessed what would happen. However, as a first novel it was very accomplished.

I enjoyed reading the book, finding it a real page-turner!

The characters were believable and well portrayed, and the storyline gripping. However, as the plot seemed to be coming to a climax where more information would be revealed, I found that the author starting the next chapter with information about other people who had gone through similar experiences, detracted from the story.

It was distracting and quite annoying to have to read of others' experiences, when I wanted to find out what was in store for Noah, the subject of the story.

From my point of view, it would have made a more interesting story if Noah's 'father' had featured more in the book, rather than being forgotten after Janie had conceived her son.

An interesting concept, page-turning book, and well written characters, I would award 4 out of 5 stars.

Thanks for letting me read the book, I will certainly look out for further books by this author.

Have just finished this book. Loved it. Struggled putting it down. Thanks mumsnet for picking me. I will be passing it on to a friend to read as I know she will love it too!

I thought I was going to be intrigued by this book as the topic fascinates me so I rushed out to buy it, however I was disappointed. The outcome was obvious from fairly early on and so I was waiting for a surprise as I couldn't believe it would be so obvious. The characters were not all credible as real people which was a shame.

Received my copy thanks mn and its next on my read list. Seems to be dividing people on here so I'm looking forward to seeing how I find it.

The book was written in a descriptive style and was a easy read, once started I finished in three days.
I did start off thinking another holiday romance story but we were quickly introduced to the main characters. It was a pity but I didn't really engage with any of the characters. The book was based on an intriguing subject matter, one which I haven't delved into before. It was thought provoking and did make me consider the possibility of reincarnation.
I did kind of guess how it would end quite close to the start of the book, but I would recommend it.

Requested this book from the library. Intriguing introduction - it doesn't begin at break-neck speed or anything, but the character and story build-up leaves you curious as to what will happen next.

And judging from some of the comments above, it'll be worth reading to the end (not that once I begin, I ever stop without reading a book to the end)

:)

About half way through and really enjoying it so far

I'm 3/4 through the book, I am enjoying it but there is too much repetition due to the doctor having to read things again. It's obvious where the story is going and following 3 converging stories is not difficult. After the first couple of pages there are no surprises. It is a pleasant read but not one I would have chosen to pay for

I was excited to receive this book from mumsnet, especially as it was not the sort of novel i'd normally read. It was gripping from the start and well researched. The basis of the story is a 4 yr old boy who remembers being someone else, to the point where it affects his behaviour in nursery and towards his mother. The novel follows his and his mothers journey in discovering the truth about his previous life. I thought the novel waffled a bit in places but very readable, thought provoking and poignant. Thank you mumsnet!

Just finished reading my free copy and I loved it. I felt the book was slow burning....it was very descriptive at the beginning but I felt that built the mystery and uneasiness for me, and kept me reading. Then in the middle it turned into a pageturning mystery and I raced through. It has a proper ending in that you find out what has happened to all the main characters, and the ending returned to a more descriptive style of writing which I found calming ....in fact it was a bitnlike being on a ride reading this book - the build up and anticipationat the start, the thrill once the ride gets going, and the slow down as the ride comes to an end...like a Maggie O'Farrell book with a Jodi Picoult sandwiched in the middle. I loved the real life case studies....the whole book itself really made me think about beliefs/ re incarnation and the possibility of past lives. I have already recommended to friends and family