Have you read Orphans of the Carnival by Carol Birch? Post your feedback on the book by 28 October for a chance to win a £100 Love2Shop voucher!

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This month we'd like to introduce you to Carol Birch - author of award-winning, and vivid historical fiction. Find out more about her - and apply for her latest novel on the giveaway page.

Orphans of the Carnival - Carol's second book to be shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize - tells the real life story of 19th century 'incredible ape woman' Julia Pastrana, and her impact on the life of a modern-day woman. We've got 50 free copies of the book so apply for yours now.

We ask all winners to share their thoughts about the book on this discussion thread. However, you don't have to win a free copy to take part in the discussion - anyone who has read Orphans of the Carnival can post their feedback here (and you can buy the book now).

Everyone who posts on this thread before 28 October will be entered into a prize draw to win a £100 Love2shop voucher.

This giveaway is sponsored by Canongate

Thank you my for the book. I'm midway through so will update when I've finished but what an amazing story. I'm enjoying this really unusual tale so far.

Thank you for my copy. I've only just started reading this but I'm enjoying the story so far. If you are interested in true historical stories such as The Elephant Man (John Merrick) then you will probably enjoy this book. As the story starts to unfold, one can't help feeling genuine sympathy for Julia coupled with anger at her treatment.

Thank you so much for the free copy, I enjoyed reading this book. It's not perfect - I do agree with some of the other reviewers that the Rose plotline was not entirely successful, but overall I was captivated by the story and felt it was very moving in parts. The story has left a lasting impression on me: I find myself thinking of Julia often, which surely is the sign of a good novel?

I received my copy on return from holidays. looks very intriguing. Can't wait to start reading it. Thanks

Wow what an amazing book! I am so pleased to have read it although I did find it terribly sad. Julia was such a lovable character I really warmed to her and felt real pain reading some parts. The story of Rose was an interesting one and I loved how the story entwined and didn't see the connection until it happened. The most shocking revelation for me was that it was based on a true story. A fantastic read - really unusual and extraordinary will definitely recommend this to friends. Thank you for the chance to read it.

This was a very interesting story, but I found it a little difficult to get into and it did take me a while to finish. I found it very sad and moving at times.

However I did need to set aside time to read it, which I don't like having to do. Once I did this is, I did get into the book, but once I put it down I found it difficult to pick up again.
However the the actual concept of part of the story (Julia Pastrana who was born in the nineteenth century with a medical condition that made her an object of curiosity. Then passed from one exploitative person to another) and what the story is based on, was fascinating... maybe I just wasn't in the right frame of mind when I was reading it!

So pleased to have received a copy of this, thank you mumsnet. I read the book quickly and found it incredibly moving and profoundly sad. I looked up Julia Pastrana's history half way through so I knew what would become of her, nonetheless it was still upsetting. Birch did a fantastic job of making Julia extremely likeable and you really do feel for her throughout. I think this one will stay with me for a while.

Thank you for my copy - interesting & different. I thought I was going to struggle as I found the first few chapters (perhaps too descriptive). It was very wordy and I wasn't sure what characters went with what. However, once it followed Julia and her journey I was hooked.

The story, whilst sad was very humbling - led to some great discussions in my household as to what it was like for people with disabilities and how society treats them.

At times, I wanted more emotional insight to Julia. It's quite disturbing that it was based on a true person, but it made the book more poignant and it will stay with me. It's certainly a book that I would recommend.

This was a very compelling book, I loved reading it knowing it was all based on a true story and how the author brought history to life and link it to the present. It definitely made me think about how society treats people who are different, but there is also a lot of humanity in the characters which makes it a very moving read.

What an amazing book, so tender and thought provoking. It makes us thinks about our own lives, opinions and stereotypes which we carry around with us. The book started off slow, but drew me in and I could not put it down after I got half way through. High recommend. Thank you Mumsnet for the freebie.

I am really struggling to get into this book. The subject matter is not one that I would usually choose to read about in my leisure time. Maybe it will get better as the story unfolds but at the moment it's slow going.

I am enjoying this job so much I am trying to finish it but at the sane time I do not want it to end. The main character in this book you root for straight away,I have not read a book like this for ages,I definitely recommend this one

I have mixed feelins for this book. It is well written but the story line is not something i would go for. It is very unsual in its own way. Not sure whether to like or hate Theo. He loved Julia in his unusual way but of course he had his own interests first. And Julia is such a rarity both in her looks and her personality. Carol Birch's wriiting is impressive and unique but the story is very unsual and sometimes disturbing.

Thanks for my copy of the book. I absolutely loved it. Carol Birch tackles a subject that, though not unique, is rare enough to be noteworthy here. The heroine of the piece is julia Pastrana, a young Mexican woman who has the misfortune to be totally covered by hair, even on her face. She leaves the home where she has been raised and travels to the US where she inevitably becomes an attraction at one freak show after another. Birch writes in such a way as to portray great sympathy for Julia and all theother motley characters with which we, as the readers, are presented. The fact that this story is based upon real events only emphasises the horror of the whole situation. A fascinating read that will have you hooked from start to finish.

Thank you for my free copy. I found this book to be quite hard-going which is why it's taken me so long to read it! Despite that, I found it to be beautifully written and oddly moving. I'm glad that I persevered with it.
I would definitely recommend this book, mostly because it's so different to much of what is 'out there' currently. I certainly wouldn't have chosen it ordinarily, so I'm glad that I applied for a copy through Mumsnet. Thank you!