Mumsnet debut fiction club: Join author Gill Hornby TONIGHT (weds 25 June) for twitter party and chance to win £100 books

[RachelMumsnet]

The all-new Mumsnet debut fiction club is designed to introduce Mumsnet's legions of bibliophiles to first-time authors whom we think you'll find interesting and engaging. This month, we're pleased to present Gill Hornby and her debut novel The Hive, which focuses on the ever-shifting, often unfathomable politics of the school gate. Think the children have it tough? Wait until you hear what the mothers have to go through.

If you'd like to read and review the book, apply for a free copy here.

Meanwhile, Gill will be offering her tips for budding authors and answering questions about the book when she takes over @Mumsnetbookclub Twitter at 9pm on Wednesday June 25: share your school gate stories with the author (#TheHive), and you'll be entered into a draw to win £100-worth of books, courtesy of Little Brown publishers.

[AnonymousBird]

We have already had a book giveaway and discussion about this. My review from last time still stands, I won't repeat it here for fear of getting the thread off to a bad start!

I have to ask, please, why are we "re-doing" the same book within a year (or so)?

[bibliomania]

Like Anonymous, I don't want to be negative, but it can't be on the basis that this book got such a rapturous reception first time round.

This feels like a particularly cynical exercise in trying to manufacture hype.

[AnonymousBird]

Thanks bibliomania, I thought I might be a lone voice.

I checked back, it was last May-July that this was given and discussed.

[bibliomania]

I was thinking it, but you gave me the courage to say it!

It's not that I'm against book give-aways, it's just that it feels like this particular book is being repeatedly thrust upon us for reasons other than its merits.

[areyoutheregoditsmemargaret]

Agree, am pretty sure I posted my thoughts on this book last time. It obviously didn't do as well as the publishers hoped, so they're having another bash. Ho hum.

[RachelMumsnet]

Sorry to hear you're not happy we're 'doing' this book again. When we ran the book giveaway last year it was when it had just been published in hard back; we hardly ever get the chance to give 50 hardback books away and we said at the time to the publishers that we would be happy to look again at doing something when it came out in paperback (when we normally promote books). The response to the book was mixed last year but we thought as the themes of the book are so pertinent to many mumsnetters, that it would be nice to give others the opportunity to read. It seems this is the case as we've already had over 600 people applying for the book!

This isn't a straightforward giveaway slot but our 'Mumsnet introduces' slot- the aim of which is to give a platform to debut authors. Author Gill Hornby is going to writing up her 'debut author tips' and also answering questions in a twitter party in June. In hindsight we should have mentioned that we ran the giveaway last year and apologise for that - and in the future we'll make sure this is clear. There's lots of books coming up later in the year in our 'Mumsnet Introduces' promotion slot that haven't previously been featured, as well as lots of great books coming up in our standard giveaway slots, so do keep your eyes peeled.

[bibliomania]

Thanks for the reply.

[AnonymousBird]

Rachel. Thanks for posting. My book last year was a paperback just out of interest (not that it matters!).

I think giving debut authors an outlet is fantastic, and clearly this has generated much demand second time around so I will read people's thoughts with interest.

Look forward to seeing what other books come up in due course.

[djillanne]

yet again, having logged off and then logged back in I still can't access the giveaway page, which just says it is private. Every now and again this happens and I keep missing out on entering the book giveaways. Am I doing something wrong?

[AliceMumsnet]

Apologies we didn't post on the thread sooner, but this giveaway closed Thursday 8 May as stated on the giveaway page. We will inform those who have been selected to receive a free copy via email. Please feel free to discuss the book here on this thread, and join author Gill Hornby for a @Mumsnetbookclub Twitter Party Friday 6 June at 8.30pm.

[Wings77]

Thank you for a surprise copy of this book. I have just started reading it and will post a review when finished.

[EduardoBarcelona]

Oh I hated. Agsin

[EduardoBarcelona]

Really odd to do twice. Not all women's books appeal to women

[EduardoBarcelona]

Mn introduces has yet to show a good book sadly. That one about Internet identity also weak - moggach

[bibliomania]

Presumably the choice of books is publisher-led rather than a choice made independently by mn on the basis of a book's merits.

No point looking a gift horse in the mouth, I suppose.

[Southeastdweller]

Thanks for my copy. Starting it at the weekend.

[Clawdy]

Thank you,copy arrived,have just started reading it.

[Cantdothisagain]

Thanks for my copy too- I hadn't had an email so it was a lovely surprise.

It was actually nearly a disaster though - the delivery company didn't leave a note through the door but apparently wandered into my back garden and left the book in the kids playhouse. The sun came out today so kids went into playhouse and DH followed them and saw the book. Otherwise we can not use the playhouse for months on end- so I might never have got it!

[SagaNorensLeatherTrousers]

What are everyone's thoughts so far? I picked the book up independently and started reading it last week...just searched on here to see if anyone started a thread on it and this one came up!

I'm finding it hard to follow to be honest. I feel like it's choppy and doesn't flow very well. For example, when the character Melissa was introduced I felt like I was already supposed to know who she was iykwim!

[bibliomania]

I absolutely hated the character of Georgie. She seems to churn out babies for self-gratification and because she hasn't the imagination to think of anything else she could do. Awful, awful woman, and yet held up as someone who is somehow admirably true to herself. Ugh.

[junowiththegladrags]

I read this couple of weeks ago and and it's an afternoon of my life wasted.
Really poorly developed characters with a trite, clichéd ending.

Author obviously did their homework re mumsnet as fruitshoots and few other reliable bunfight topics got a mention.

Really just very disappointing.

[QueenYnci]

After all the hype I was hoping the book might be a different take on school gate politics but unfortunately it just disappointed. I found the characters too stereotypical (and annoying) and the plot too predictable to be hold my attention for long.

Luckily it was quite a quick read so I did manage to finish it but it did feel like a bit of a waste of time. Thank you for letting me try it though.

[Cantdothisagain]

I didn't like the book at all- really found it superficial and irritating. Shame as I wanted to like it and was grateful for the free copy. It just didn't ring true to me.

[busyjelly]

Firstly, thank you for the free copy. There is a reason it has taken me so long to leave this comment however and that is because reading this book was a little bit like wading through treacle. A real shame because as a school-gate mum only to familiar with playground cliques I had high hopes for it. The premise behind the plot is pure genius though it only dawned on me in the last couple of chapters what the actual premise was... maybe that says more about me! Sadly its execution failed to keep my interest. I found the characters over-exaggerated and fake. Had I not promised to review it, I would have given up on it. Disappointing on the whole.