Book giveaway: The Gustav Sonata by Rose Tremain. Post your feedback by 5 August for chance to win £100 Love2Shop Voucher!

[SorchaMumsnet]

This month, we're thrilled to introduce you to Rose Tremain. Her latest novel The Gustav Sonata is both magnificent and tender, showing Tremain to be at the height of her writing career. Set in post-war Switzerland, it follows the story of Gustav Perle, who since losing his father, seems to have lost his mother in spirit too. Gustav leads an isolated life until he meets Anton and from then on the boys' fates are irrevocably entwined. What follows is a friendship across years, borders and in the face of great loss. To find out more about this heart-wrenching novel, head to the book page.

Rose Tremain Q&A

What are you reading now?

I'm gripped by Peter Pomerantsev's extraordinary account of filming documentaries in Putin's Russia, Nothing is True and Everything is Possible. This deservedly won this year's Ondaatje Prize. It makes me dread going to Russia, where bribery and summary arrest seem to be becoming the terrifying norm of people's lives.

What is the last book you bought someone as a gift?

Patricia Duncker's brilliant (but underrated) Sophie and the Sybil: a fabulously witty and clever take on George Eliot's fiction, with bits of her life thrown in. Read this, then attempt Daniel Deronda! This novel should have won prizes.

Is research a big part of your writing process?

All my subjects lie outside my own immediate life, so inevitably my research has to be long and exacting. But novelists should never put their research on show; it should all seem an integral part of the fiction, as though one had known it forever, or just thought it up that very moment. Many contemporary novels suffer from horrendous 'data overload'.

Do you have any peculiar writing rituals or habits?

Nothing peculiar. Probably the most eccentric thing I did a few years ago was to redecorate my study (which was drab like an office) to resemble a delightful small sitting room: wallpaper with birds and flowers, bright red and gold curtains, globe lamps. I spend HOURS in here, so why not make it pretty?

What advice would you offer to aspiring writers?

Don't recycle your own life. Find something you are passionately interested in, research that and then write about that- bringing yourself in only as the mind and voice behind the endeavour. That way you will a) learn something and b) not run out of material by the time you're 50.

Can you tell us about your book, The Gustav Sonata?

This is a story set in 'neutral' Switzerland, before during and sometime after the Second World War. It explores a passionate friendship between two boys, Gustav and Anton, one of whom is Jewish. Their attempts to keep this friendship emotionally 'neutral' is the thing which nearly destroys both their lives.

This giveaway is now closed but you don't have to win a free copy to take part in the discussion. Anyone who has read The Gustav Sonata can post their feedback. If you miss out on a free one, you can always buy a copy. All who post feedback before 5 August will be entered into a prize draw to win a £100 Love2shop voucher.

This giveaway is sponsored by Vintage Books

loved it

Impossible to put down. A touching story of friendship and love spanning a lifetime.

An unusual & intriguing book written with a lightness of touch. Very moving & sad, cruel in places. I don't like the split years chapters but that seems to be the norm these days. You follow Gustav's progress & hope things will get better for him. Love & death follow closely & you have to read on to the end. A clever author. I will look out for more of hers. Thank you for the chance to read it.

Gustav captured my attention right from the beginning of the book and I found that i really empathased with him throughout. A very enjoyable read.

I've just read this book and it made me cry, the sadness and his determination to carry on

Great read

Really emotional piece X

from what I've read so far I'm really enjoying it

i really enjoyed this book. proper summer reading

I won this book from Goodreads and found it to be a real page turner.. A beatific story of love and friendship over a lifetime. It is set in the in war and post war Switzerland. The atmosphere of a small town in Switzerland from the 1940s to the 1990s is really well thought out (reminded me a little of the sound of music setting) . Gustav and his mother Emilie are really poor after his father's fall from grace and death and this a massive contrast with the oppulant homes of Gustav's friend Anton Zwiebel and of his father's former colleague and his wife. I found it sat that, he never manages to help his mother to love him but everyone else does. The book at the end quite rightly makes him to be a quiet hero. Well done x

tbh I haven't read the book or heard of the author but I will definitely read it now after reading some of these reviews. sounds like a good plot for a film

The Gustav Sonata, composed with such feeling
Tender and charming, a score most appealing
A study of life, of loss and amour
Will touch all our hearts and sell copies galore

Sounds great. Definitely on my reading list!

Really lovely book. I got very attached to the characters. Recommend.

Thanks mumsnet for letting me review this book. I was glad to receive it after a bit of a wait.
I enjoyed the book very much. It was incredibly well written. The scenes and characters were so well described. I haven't read any other books by the author, but would defiantely look out for her other novels. The main character Gustav had a difficult childhood and I found it very sad that really he never got any further in life. The book showed the balance of life, the ups and downs, all painted so graphically that you felt so much for the characters. Thanks again for the book.

It was a bit heavy with me, not really my cup of tea but very well written.

On reading the comments, they are all positive. Will have to make a point of reading it.

Rose Tremain is a wonderful writer, and this book is a well-written and gripping read. I found myself drawn to the characters, and thinking about them after I finished the book. Poignant, compelling, a real keeper.

I love reading historical fiction like this especially ones involving family relationships. The Ken Follett trilogy was fantastic and this book is too.

I have to admit to signing up for all the book giveaways regardless of the genre so I probably wouldn't have chosen this myself....so thank you Mumsnet for introducing me to a fantastic author who has written many other books - yippee!

I was gripped from the start. I read the whole book yesterday and never wanted it to end. It was fascinating to look at the war from Switzerland's viewpoint. I loved being given the story from Emilie's perspective. This reminded me of Anne Tyler's A Spool of Blue Thread which also turns the story upside down once you see it through another character's eyes.

Gustav was admirable from the start. Despite his upbringing and lack of love he was such a rock to the other weaker characters. He appreciated all the small comforts as opposed to Anton who was never satisfied.

I never feel I can express myself well enough in book reviews so can just only say that this is a wonderful read and I thoroughly recommend it.

Thank you for sending me a copy of the book to review. I have read and loved all of the other arose at remain books, and this was no exception. I loved the characters, the story line, and the way she writes with such subtlety, yet so powerfully about human emotions. I particularly loved the story when Gustav was a young boy, and his home life was very poignant.
I could have read so much more around these characters, and like any good book, feel a little bereft when finished.
I would highly recommend this book as part of anyone summer packing list.
I won't comment too much in the story, as I don't want to give away important parts of the story to anyone who still is reading. But I did so love the story behind Gustav's fare, the setting in Switzerland and the concept of neutrality, friendship and love.

That should read Gustav's father (not fare)

Interesting read and well written, not my usual subject matter.

Thanks for the copy mumsnet. I'd never have bought the book from a shop as the cover and description weren't great, but once I got I to it I found I kept wanting to read on (never good when you have a child who wants you up at 6am though!)
I really felt for the characters, Gustav in particular. As has been said it can be sad but it's not depressing.
Overall an interesting read, will pass on to my friends now.
Didn't know of the author before this but Will certainly see if she has anything else I can.pick.up at a reasonable price

I've just finished reading this - it only took two sittings to read it as I wanted to rest on and find out 'what next' for the characters.

Like others have said - I don't think the description does the book justice.

A beautifully written book that makes you want to read on - I liked how the characters intertwined and you could feel what Gustav was going through - I thought it was delicately written - a joy to read.

My only criticism was that I felt the final part was a bit rushed - but perhaps this needed to happen to get them to where they were at the end of the book.

I've never read any other Rose Tremain books as I'm not a huge fan of historical fiction but I'm definitely going to hunt out more of her work.

Thanks for the free copy :o