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The Hive

By: Gill Hornby
Narrated by: Karen Cass
Length: 10 hrs and 41 mins
Categories: Fiction, General & Contemporary
3.5 out of 5 stars (19 ratings)

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Summary

Welcome to St Ambrose Primary School. A world of friendships, fights and feuding. And that's just the mothers. It's the start of another school year at St Ambrose. But while the children are in the classroom colouring in, their mothers are learning sharper lessons on the other side of the school gates. Lessons in friendship. Lessons in betrayal. Lessons in the laws of community, the transience of power... and how to get invited to lunch.

Beatrice - undisputed queen bee. Ruler, by Divine Right, of all school fund-raising, this year, last year and, surely, for many years to come. Heather - desperate to volunteer, desperate to be noticed, desperate just to belong. Georgie - desperate for a fag. And Rachel - watching them all, keeping her distance. But soon to discover that the line between amused observer and miserable outcast is a thin one.

The Hive is an irresistible, brilliantly observed novel - warm, witty and true. Wickedly funny, it is also a fascinating and subtle story about group politics and female friendship. From the joys and perils (well, mainly perils) of the Lunch Ladder, to the military operation that is the Car Boot Sale, via the dos and don'ts of dressing your child as a dalek, all human life is here.

©2013 Gill Hornby (P)2013 Hachette Audio

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for rebecca

Bit dull - I listened til the end- don't bother

What disappointed you about The Hive?

I heard the author at a book review- she was very pretty and lively and I was really keen to read her book. But it was dull pathetic prattle

What was most disappointing about Gill Hornby’s story?

I had high expectations. The minutes of the meeting were particularly boring. Love interest was predictable.

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for e
  • e
  • Manchester, United Kingdom
  • 22-06-13

the hive

Would you listen to The Hive again? Why?

anyone who has to do the school run will see all these characters in full swing daily. Avoid the cliques at school as a parent as that is the whole reason for leaving !!
I loved Georgies one liners and running commentry, was a fun listen !

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

made me LOL at the one liners

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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Profile Image for Saffy

Overhyped chick lit

A bidding war? A six figure sum? Witty? Charming? Clever? Well, great things have been said about Gill Hornby's debut but the most anticipated debut of the year is a huge let down. Maybe I'm missing something but to me this was standard throwaway chick lit. Boring, tedious, unfunny, lacking any interesting characters or storyline. Where is the wit and literary cleverness? I could not get involved in the story or the women in any way at all and felt extremely let down. Of course it didn't help that this was narrated by Karen Cass, who once again has failed to tackle multiple voices and makes most of the mothers sound pretty unconvincing.

0 of 2 people found this review helpful