April Book- Almost English

It has taken me a while to get round to reading Almost English as I was still reading the brilliant Burial Rites when my copy arrived. I am now halfway through, but must be honest and say that I am finding it hard going as I can't seem to connect with any of the characters. Hopefully that will change as I get more into the story. Will reserve judgement till then!

Thanks so much for the copy of Almost English; I've just finished reading it. The Hungarian ladies are so wonderfully drawn. Reminds me of my German gran and her sister who were visiting when I had just come home from a first date. Their two questions were 'Vere did you go?' and 'Vot did you eat?' When I said 'To a Wimpy Bar,' they looked at each other and repeated in unison 'Vimpee Bar? Vot is Vimpee Bar? Have you been drinking? Vot is this boy doing taking you to drinking place?'

I did want to smack Laura for being such a ditherer and it did seem to make the story a little longer than I would have liked but, again, if Laura was perfect then there wouldn't have been a story would there. As for Peter, I found myself saying out loud 'Don't listen to him! Tell him to get lost! I bet he hasn't got Cancer!'

Charlotte, what was the inspiration behind these characters? Did you completely fabricate them or were they based on people in your circle?

Thanks very much for such an enjoyable read.

Thank you very much for the book! I am really enjoying reading it and would love to know if any of the characters have been inspired by real people in the author's life? thank you again and I look forward to finishing the read!

I really enjoyed the book. I thought the portrayal of that excruciating teenage embarrassment of their families was particularly good. Reminded me of myself (even though my parents were not in the least embarrassing now I look back)

Were you an "embarrassed" teenager?

I have just bought Almost English after seeing people talking about it on here - I loved When We Were Bad so am looking forward to digging in!

I would love to know a bit more about you

I have struggled with this book. To me it felt like reading a set text instead of an enjoyable read. Both Laura and Marina were so irritating and I could not relate to them. I did like the Hungarian ladies and the humour they engendered but found this book so dreary in the main. Sorry!

Maybe this is a book which you either love or hate.

Hi Charlotte

Did you start with a character/characters and then build the story round that or did you inject characters into a story line/plot that you had already thought of?

What a talent Charlotte has for the most beautiful prose, and she can set a scene that jumps off the page with just a few words. The Hungarian aunties are a joy. And some of the food, especially in chapter 1.....! I have no idea what palacsinta is/are, but it sounds divine, particularly stuffed with ground walnuts and rum (perhaps not the vegetarian option, "with only the tiniest taste of bacon" - shades of the Royle Family and their wafer thin ham!).

I'm going to pinch CariGransnet's question before someone else does and ask what it's like to be longlisted for the Booker? And what's the process - how do you first hear about the longlisting?

I was really looking forward to reading this having enjoyed When We Were Bad but although I was gripped by the story I just wanted to shake most of the characters & tell them to get a grip!

Laura was so wet- Marina a total drip (what year was it set? Had it been 40s or 50s maybe but post 1960 surely not!) I found it totally impossible to believe that such a repressed child as Marina could do a streak - although I liked her more for doing it! A pity she didn't feel some pride in doing it rather than shame.

Peter needed a good slap as did the doctor & I found the oldies rather annoying.

BUT I did like the basic story & I did find it flowed well after the first couple of chapters.

I would really have liked to hear the conversation when Laura tell them all Peter is alive & she is pregnant- now that would have been funny!

Hello Charlotte - I have read two of your books so far and enjoyed them very much. Are there more on the horizon?

And if I am allowed a second question - did you always want to be a writer?

I am always interested to know how successful authors work. Do you treat it like a 9 to 5 or do you fit in in around other things?

Thank you. I suppose I wondered whether you came from a family anything like the ones you write about, whether you have a family of your own, and what you do when you are not writing. That is three questions is that allowed?

Just seen you have answered a bit of mine above but I will follow it up with an additional how old are your children and what do you do for an office job?