Category Archives: Hive’s Blogs

A much loved book: The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein

21/05/2013 – 16:47
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Every year at the start of the F1 season, I smile to myself and take a minute to pay tribute to Enzo.

Suspend belief and be introduced to the teller of the tale of The Art of Racing in the Rain. Enzo is a mixed breed dog, his mother was a labrador and he thinks his father was an Airedale terrier, stay with me here……..this is the last day of his life and he’s waiting for his beloved owner Denny Swift to come home.

He has been part of Denny’s life since he was a puppy and they have spent the best times together watching TV and videos on F1 because Denny is a racing driver. According to Enzo the 1993 Grand Prix is, “the greatest automobile race of all time in which Ayrton Senna proved himself to be a genius in the rain”, and therein lies the narrative to his life with Denny. He truly believes that by applying the techniques of driving on the racetrack to real life, is the secret to achieving our life’s dream. Now, other than the Grand Prix his next favourite thing on TV was a programme about Mongolia that explained, that when the life of a dog is coming to its earthly close his next incarnation will be as a man.

I am not losing my marbles in wanting you to read this because I truly think that it’s worth spending some time with Enzo and Denny. The love and companionship between dog and man has been written about by far worthier people than myself, but this as the young people say is “off the scale”. It’s not an allegorical screed on the meaning of life but a very funny, charming and desperately sad description of a family that are torn apart because of the death of Denny’s wife. Although Enzo cannot speak, his understanding of their suffering and his empathy (I know he’s a dog) makes you believe that some good can come out of despair.

If you Google reviews of this from when it was published in 2009 (and why wouldn’t you) this is a Marmite book, you either love it or hate it. But if you love it please share it with your friends – if you hate it then sorry people, you ‘aint got soul!

As a postscript it is sad that Enzo was not able to see the stunning documentary about Senna from 2011 but perhaps he did?

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The Art of Racing in the Rain is available in paperback on Hive here

Click here for the eBook edition of The Art of Racing in the Rain

Recommended viewing: Senna on DVD and Blu-ray

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This book was chosen from the bookshelf of Hive’s legendary book guru

By hivenetwork | Also posted in Hive's Blogs | Tagged , , , , | Comments (0)

Hive’s Publisher of the Week: Wordsworth Editions

20/05/2013 – 11:39

Welcome to a new feature we will be running here at Hive entitled Publisher of the Week!

This week we will be focusing on Wordsworth Editions and their releases on the Classics.

Wordsworth Editions has been offering high quality, low priced books to discerning readers, both at home and abroad, for over two decades. The original £1 classic series from 1992 is still going strong; with over 200 titles available, the price is still only £1.99, and nearly all have exclusive introductions suitable for both the student and the general reader.

The selection we are highlighting demonstrates the range of the series, and includes our current bestseller, ‘The Great Gatsby’. At the same price, we can offer over 50 children’s classics featuring such timeless favourites as ‘The Little Prince’ and ‘The Secret Garden’. But this is only part of the nearly 500 titles we have currently in print (not to mention eBooks).

Our hardback Library Collection series make the ideal gift for only £11.99, and our Poetry, World Literature, Mystery & Supernatural, Reference and Metric Royal Special Editions series complete the set.

You can see our dedicated page to the top Wordsworth Editions right here

By hivenetwork | Also posted in Hive's Blogs | Comments (0)

Enter stranger: Why I still adore ITV’s legendary Knightmare.

10/05/2013 – 15:26

Ask anyone who was a child in the late 80s what their favourite TV programme was back then and you’ll probably hear the names of shows like Count Duckula, Fun House, He-Man or Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The latter there being slightly after my time, but nevertheless the acrobatic marine reptiles named after famous dead painters along with the others have earned their place in modern pop culture and to a lesser extent, the honour of being on the fronts of t-shirts from Primark because regressing is cool, kids.

However one show that anyone who was into fantasy, Dungeons & Dragons, chess and Lord of the Rings will remember with a love that is normally reserved for family members will be ITV’s Knightmare. And just how fun and exciting was Knightmare? Okay, I’ll tell you. In an age that predated the PlayStation, Game Boys and Pokémon, Knightmare was bloody exciting.

I have so many wonderful memories of when I was eight years old, arriving home from school and the most important thing to me on those afternoons was the twenty minutes or so that Knightmare was on. My blood would run cold when the gong sounded and Treguard the dungeon master, played with wonderful pomp and theatrical terror by Hugo Myatt, would proclaim ‘complete temporal disruption’ and the fun was over for another week. Knightmare was without doubt the best kids’ TV game show of my era.

So for the benefit of the Teletubbies generation or for those of you that were having your own children at the time of its first broadcast in 1987, here’s a quick guide to what happened in Knightmare, how it worked and why the hell I still love it so much to this day.

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Consisting of a team of four friends, three of them would sit around a television monitor encased in a treasure chest in a studio armed with clipboards, and verbally guide the fourth friend (the ‘dungeoneer’) through – what they could see from their point of view – a simulated virtual reality world of an enormous dungeon. To progress from one room of the dungeon to the next, each one they entered would have its own challenge in it not too dissimilar to the attributes of The Crystal Maze, all testing the team’s skill, mental or physical abilities. The only snag was that the dungeoneers were blinded by an enormous Viking’s helmet they wore, namely, the Helmet of Justice. It covered their entire head allowing the wearer to see objects on tables or on the ground that were only directly beneath them. As they played through the first level they would find out if their quest was for the sword, chalice, crown or shield.

Every room had a puzzle, whether they had to answer a set of three riddles given to them by a wall monster, dodge perils like catacomb bites or selecting the correct two objects out of three choices on a table to aid them further on their quest. If they picked the wrong item they may have found a few rooms along they would die in the game because they had chosen a dagger over a bottle of stardust. What good is a weapon to you if you can’t see?

Dodging giant cobras in pits and convincing gargoyles that they are attractive weren’t the only things the players had to master. They were also under extra pressure to complete their quests by the threat of their Life Force running out, which was essentially a graphic of a head that as time ebbed away would lose its helmet, skin with eventually the skull breaking up and two eyeballs remaining. If the Life Force got to this stage then they were dead, but they could prevent this from happening by placing food items in the knapsack that they wore. Fancy some funny Knightmare deaths? Course you do! Ooo, nasty!

Although Knightmare was completely computerised it also had a few real-life actors playing crones, witches, maids, wizards and jesters, all there to either help or hinder the dungeoneers in their quests. But the best part of Knightmare were the graphics. It’s only now I’m older I’ve obviously realised that everything seen on Knightmare was created with blue screens and animatronics, but believe me as a child where Star Trek back then was like Avatar is today, Knightmare’s special effects and graphics left me rapt every week . Yes, I know, it was pretty obvious but when you’re eight years old Knightmare was just the best thing ever because there had been nothing like it before.

The teams were interesting too, sadly not every child who went on knew the answers to questions like who fought the War of the Roses or how was the Greek goddess Athena born, but they slogged their way through the mazes and puzzles of the dungeons with all the guile and skill they could. Astonishingly, out of 112 episodes there0 were only eight winners which averages out at one per series. Many of my friends who are my age all remember Knightmare and the first thing they say when reminiscing about it is that they wanted to be on it.

Remember, The only way is onward, there is no turning back.

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You can relive the best part of your 80s childhood this very evening on Challenge on Sky as reruns of Knightmare begin tonight at 10:30pm, directly after Fun House! Don’t sidestep to the left, click here for details!

By hivenetwork | Also posted in Hive's Blogs | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments (0)

Hive’s guest publisher blog: The Soterion Mission… why a world without adults?

08/05/2013 – 11:28
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By Stewart Ross, author of The Soterion Mission

Where does this book come from?

Why, I wondered, do we write a book for ‘young adults’ – and then not call the readers adults or treat them as such? Strange. And why do we keep stretching out the thing we call ‘childhood’ longer and longer? What were ‘teenagers’ before the word was invented? Did they exist? Have we in the West invented them, and could they be de-invented?

The more I thought, the more the questions came. Why is it that Year 6 kids at primary school are given and can accept considerable responsibility, but the same people a year later – now Year 7 – are all too often regarded as incapable of tying up their own shoes? It’s odd, too, that in some societies, even today, one passes from childhood into adulthood in a single day or so with a coming-of-age ceremony.

In other words, have we really thought through what we mean by ‘adult’ and ‘child’? Perhaps we keep people young and immature by treating them as such. In doing this we do them, and ourselves a disservice.

These are some of the thoughts I have tried to explore in the Soterion Mission.

How was the plot conceived?

If you’ve read the above, you’ll know that I needed to create a situation in which people had to grow up quickly. Very quickly. That meant getting rid of adults. I thought of war and famine and plague, but all of those involved killing off young people as well as wrinklies. Some other sort of disaster, a totally new one, was needed.

Our DNA programme dictates that the species lives for a certain length of time. How might that programme be altered? The answer was the seemingly harmless 2017 pandemic of Mini Flu. Consequence: by the end of 2019 everyone over the age of 19 had gone. Dead.

What happened next was nasty, bloody and extremely painful and so I leaped a century to 2106. By this time, the world of Constants and Zeds had settled down … and the story could begin.

How did the plot develop?

The Soterion Mission was originally published online by Fiction Express. I wrote a chapter in a week and each one ended with a three-way choice as to what should happen next. When writing the next chapter I had to follow the result of the popular vote. So there you have it – a book with a plot devised by the readers and myself working hand in hand. Unique.

So what happens in this adult-free world of 2106?

You’ll have to read the book! And in case you’re a bit worried that it’s all blood and guts, don’t worry – I have a strong sense of humour and even Timur the Terrible, the foulest of foul Zeds, is presented with what I hope is a delicious mix of fear, hatred, tears and smiles.

Don’t believe me? Well, there’s only one way to find out.

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You can buy The Soterion Mission on Hive and support your local independent bookshop by clicking here

 

By hivenetwork | Also posted in Hive's Blogs, Hive's guest publisher blog | Tagged , , | Comments (0)

Our top ten favourite Moleskines on Hive.

18/04/2013 – 15:04

There is more to Moleskine that just plain, sensible notebooks, you know. So here I have rounded up my top ten favourite Moleskine products that are available on Hive, and would I think make the perfect gift for any one you want to get something fun, practical and stylish for – including yourself!

Please note that these are in no particular order, just ones that I love and have caught my attention in the vast range Moleskine offer.

Star Wars Large 18 Month Weekly Notebook Hardback

Star Wars Large 18 Month Weekly Notebook Hardback

Regular readers of my blog will know that my allegiance lies with Starfleet and not the Empire, but until Moleskine make it so for me and create a set of Star Trek Moleskines these Star Wars ones will keep their spot warm in this list.

This is a wonderful Moleskine that allows Star Wars nerds the complete indulgence of combining the love of journaling with their passion for all things Jedi or Sith. The famous Star Wars log is embossed on the cover, and from the second you open it on the inside first page you’re in a galaxy far, far away with the cool space imagery printed inside.

This is a weekly notebook but comes with additional everyday-needed data such as conversions, measurements, dialling codes and global and travel information. Then of course there are 18 months’ worth of pages for you to timetable your life. There is also a removable address book inside an accordion pocket in the back that although isn’t very fancy, at least you have all your addresses and contacts in the same place. Perfect for when you’re on the Millennium Falcon and you can’t access your online contacts book because the systems are offline.

The best part of this Moleskine though I have saved until last, and this is where you can truly express which one of the original trilogy is your favourite. Included in this Moleskine are three different stickers depicting C-3PO, Boba Fett and Darth Vader all with the titles of the first three films on, which you can use to customise your Moleskine’s cover.

That’s pretty damn cool and these Moleskines will make any Star Wars fan happy.

Our full range of Star Wars Moleskines in stock and coming soon can be found here

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Soft X-large Ruled Notebook

Soft X-large Ruled Notebook

One of the classics and a Hive bestseller, this is the one favoured by students, artists, writers and just about any professional that wants a no-fuss, no-frills Moleskine to just do the job of note-taking and journaling. The main features are the soft cover, 192 pages of acid-free paper and accordion pocket in the back that will house slips of paper and other notes that are gathered during the day. It also comes with the Moleskine’s signature elastic closure and nothing on the cover, just plain black, for a professional image.

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Mickey Mouse Limited Edition Large Ruled Notebook Hardback

Mickey Mouse Limited Edition Large Ruled Notebook Hardback

There is something about the feel of this Moleskine that when you first hold it, you’re holding warm, melted butter. The cover has such a beautiful and soft finish that you really feel like you’re holding something special. The world’s most famous animated mouse has finally had his own range of Moleskines created for him, and gorgeous ones they are too.

On the front of these Moleskines are pictures of Mickey brandishing pencils and paint, beautifully embossed on the cover and symbolising that this is Moleskine for the artist as well as the writer, or anyone who loves animation and the House of Mouse. Once you take the belly band off the Moleskine it is plain black, so it gives the air of sophistication with a hint of mirth with the line pictures of Mickey on the outside. There’s treasures on the inside of the belly band itself, on which is printed a short history of Mickey Mouse and a quote from Walt Disney.

Printed on the inside front and back covers are pencil instructions on how to draw Mickey and the Moleskine also comes with a beautiful insert of a Mickey Mouse Drawing Guide. This eight-page booklet has instructions and guides on drawing Mickey and his famous features, such as his gloved hands, costume and cross-sections.

The rest of the notebook is just ruled pages, so perfect for your journaling, with the standard accordion pocket on the inside back cover and elastic band closure.

These Mickey Mouse Moleskines also come in various sizes and in ruled and plain pages. To see the whole range, click here

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Hard Black Page Album A4

Hard Black Page Album A4 (pocket and large sizes also available)

This is a rather sexy way to display anything you’re proud of, like photos, tickets, memorabilia, drawings, notes and other cool stuff. The jet black paper is 200 gram acid-free and gives a very smart and professional look to anything you decide worthy of housing in it. It’s very lightweight too, obviously until you put all your bits and pieces in it. The beautiful black pages are perfect for mounting precious photographs and drawings or sketches you want to display, so it makes the perfect portfolio too. It comes with Moleskine’s signature elastic strap closure and accordion pocket on the inside back cover.

In short, if you are looking for a sleek and professional way to display something you’re proud of, do yourself even more proud and display them in one of these beautiful albums.

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Small Shell in Orange

Small Shell in Orange (cerulean and black also available)

This is a very fun but practical piece of travel equipment that does a grand job of housing and protecting your precious gadgetry, or indeed anything else you decide to use it for. At the moment I am using mine to carry my mobile juice pack, a rechargeable battery for my Apple devices. The awesome thing about this product is that it has net pockets on the inside of each shell half, so I can put my mobile juice pack in one side, my iPod or iPhone in the other, connect them to charge and all the while they are protected from the tough outer shell from bumps and other mishaps.

It also has a funky little opening on the back for you to feed your headphones through, so if you’re listening to music on the go, you can zip up the whole unit without the cord preventing and your music player will be completely protected. It has an anti-theft Velcro strap on the back too, which can only be released from the inside of the shell.

The cover is very tough and durable and will protect your beloved device from everyday knocks and wear and tear. £16.99 might be considered a hefty price tag, but when you’ve spent maybe two or three hundred pounds on a gadget you love, this is actually a small price to pay for its protection.

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Peanuts Gift Box

Peanuts Gift Box (Little Prince edition also available)

This truly is something special. If you know someone in your life who loves Charles Schultz’s iconic Charlie Brown, Snoopy and Peanuts strips, then this is the gift for them.

Where do you even start with how beautiful this is… well, I’ll give it a go.

Quintessentially Moleskine, this product embodies everything about Moleskine that make them the leaders in notebook and journal making. Six ruled notebooks, three tan coloured and three black, are presented in this keep-sake box, all emblazoned with characters from the Peanuts stories embossed on the covers. On the inside of each cover of the journals is a quote from Schultz about the character on the front, and on the inside back cover is a pocket for loose leafs.

Perhaps the most fun part though of this gift set is what awaits you when you open the box. A black envelope is the first thing you see in which are contained three postcards with Charlie Brown, Linus and Snoopy on, and four gorgeous sheets of stickers. The sheets contain blank cartoon speech bubbles, stars, hearts, Woodstock images, quotes from other characters and Snoopy’s doghouse. Presumably one uses these to customise their journals with but you could put these anywhere to show just how much you love Peanuts. The whole box has Moleskine’s signature elastic closure and on the cover is a line drawing of Snoopy typing on top of his doghouse.

The perfect and very special gift for any fan of one boy, his dog and small bird friend.

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iPad 3 and 4 Purple Slim Digital Cover with Notebook

iPad 3 and 4 Purple Slim Digital Cover with Notebook (Yellow, green, pink, orange and black also available)

A rather funky way of covering your iPad, this range of Moleskine covers for your tablet allow for you to express your fun side in some cool pastel and bright colours. Inside, your iPad is protected with suede microfiber so the screen of your tablet will always have a soft rest against it. The tablet snaps in the cover with hard plastic holders, but it must be said that even though you’re able to rotate the notebook on the inside cover, if you’re right handed, your iPad will always be upside down. Fortunately you can combat this by taking the screen orientation off but the home button will always be at the top and the camera at the bottom.

If you’re left-handed then your iPad will the correct way up in terms of the home button and camera. That’s not to say you can’t use it if you’re right-handed, but if you do then your wrist will be rubbing against the screen of your iPad, so make sure the screen is locked or you’ll be launching a game of Angry Birds without intention.

Having said that this is only a minor thing and it is all about preference. Moleskine have considerately made an ambidextrous cover for people who write with either hand, so if you don’t mind your camera being on the bottom and your home button on the top, then this this is a stylish way to pimp out your pad.

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Gift Box Writing Set

Gift Box Writing Set (Drawing Gift Box set also available by clicking here)

This writing set is rather a fine little gift to give to anyone you know who enjoys writing on the go, that is to say that the notebook contained within the presentation gift box is pocket-sized, so it’s easy to carry about to jot down all those ideas and inspirational thoughts one might have when out and about. A simple notebook it is, in classic Moleskine black with 192 pages, signature elastic strap and accordion pocket on the inside.

This gift box also comes with a Moleskine Roller Pen which has beautiful fluid black gel ink, though I am yet to figure out quite how it stays attached to the notebook as the description of the product informs me it does. I’m sure others are cleverer than me.

The notebook and the pen are encased in a firm but soft foam inside the box which makes the presentation of the set just that bit more special, and the box itself can be used as a neat little keepsake too. The cover of the box has various literary words embossed on it, and on the inside front cover is an accordion pocket to keep loose leafs.

A lovely set for the writer in your life who gets inspiration on the bus, train, car or plane.

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City Notebook: Las Vegas

City Notebook: Las Vegas (Click here for the full range of City Notebooks)

Although there are many city Moleskines available, I have selected the Las Vegas one for my top Moleskine choices simply because I am going there in August. This is such a wonderful little pocket notebook where you can document and record all your memories from the city you’ll be visiting, you can write in it things you’re preparing for, and you can journal your after-thoughts too.

So let’s go through this lovely notebook from the beginning so you know what to expect. Personal data is first, then a pull-out colour street map of Las Vegas; measurements; sizes and conversions; ‘before you go’ section a ruler and more detailed street maps. After that are lots of blank pages to write your notes and your diary, and then comes one of the most fun parts of the Moleskine. There is a section of tabbed pages with icons on for you to record things such as where you have eaten, slept, shopped; things that have made you happy, angry or sad on your trip; music, film and theatre you saw, to list but a few. There are blank pages following this, but the Moleskine comes with a sheet of pre-printed and blank stickers for you to customise the pages as your heart desires. Other features include 12 sheets of tracing paper for you to draw over the maps with, and 32 perforated tabs for you to write notes and messages on.

All combined with Moleskine’s signature elastic band closure and accordion pocket for loose leafs in the back, this is just the perfect personal item to take with you away to the city you’re going to, to record all you see, think and feel and providing you make full use of it what it can do, you’ll always use it as something to add to and look back on.

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Passion Cat Journal (other Passions available, see the full range here)

Passion Cat Journal

This is without doubt my favourite of the Moleskines I have chosen to review. I have selected the cat journal, but there are many subjects in the Passion series, including Dog, Art, Restaurant, Chocolate, Music and Travel and a whole host of others.

The cover is embossed with line drawings of cats in different positions and feels like the Mickey Moleskine, an exquisitely soft black finish. This is a bit larger than the pocket size as obviously you want to show your passion off with this journal with maximum effect.

The beginning of the Moleskine allows you to write down all the factual data about your cat, such as birthdate, breed etc., but my personal favourite is the ‘tail talk’ page which gives you a simple guide of what your cat is feeling by how his tail looks. After that are tabbed sections for you to write about your cat’s personality, sleeping patterns, toys they play with, memorable moments with room for photos, likes/dislikes, grooming details, eating preferences, budget, vaccinations, illnesses and treatments, and so much more.

The second half the journal has blank pages for you to write your own notes and memories of your cat, with pages to stick photos in or draw sketches on. Put it this way – this journal is so detailed and lovingly thought out, it even has an index in the back of all the different features it boasts.

Inside the back cover is a double accordion pocket in which you’ll find sheets of cool and fun stickers for you to place in your journal. They are all cat-related, including stickers for social media, pictures of mice and encouraging words to express how much you love your kitty. The stickers add to the customisation of your Moleskine beautifully and ensure that whatever goes in your Moleskine will be as unique as your cat itself.

You really won’t find a more comprehensive or fun way to record and document the life of your beloved feline.

To see our dedicated page to all our favourite Moleskines and series, please click here

By hivenetwork | Also posted in Hive's Blogs | Tagged , , , , , | Comments (0)

Hive’s Top 10 Favourite Books for April

15/04/2013 – 15:01

Black Roses by Jane Thynne

Black Roses by Jane Thynne

Ok although I’m a fan of Phillipa (I’m Queen of historical fiction) Gregory, I’ve found a new pash ………Black Roses is the first of a trilogy set in 1933 Berlin ….oh the decadence, the fashion, the glamour the underlying evil. Check out the jacket which captures the essence of this decade. You should read this with the soundtrack of Cabaret in the background.

Jane Thynne has intriguingly written about a group of women I think we know little about – the wives and partners of the Nazi hierarchy.

Our heroine, aspiring actress Clara Vine travels to Germany to find fame, fortune and hopefully a role in a film being made at the Ufa studios in Berlin, she is consequently drawn into the company of Magda Goebbels and her cohorts.

Clara meets up with Leo, a member of the British Intelligence and he perceives that her growing relationship with these women and their partners could be used to benefit the British spy network, who are gathering information about the rise of Hitler and his plans for a new Germany.

The author has obviously done a lot of detailed research and that is evident in the narrative but she also has a sure touch with her knowledge of fashion and the “hot designers” of the time. Although we are all aware of the atrocities of Hitler, did we know that he formed the Reich Fashion Institute so that the women of Germany were encouraged to embrace Teutonic virtues ?

This is a seriously good read and as is often the case with a “historical novel ” sent me off to the internet to find out more about the women of this era. I of course then linked into HIVE to order background reading and a DVD of Cabaret!

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Accidents Happen by Louise Millar

Accidents Happen by Louise Millar

This is the second novel from the author of The Playdate (never leave your child with anyone, not even your best friend) I’m touching wood that I like this new offering from Ms Millar, well touch wood doesn’t even come into it!

Kate Parker unlucky widow, with a precious son Jack is so paranoid about coincidences and the probability of accidents that she displays characteristics that make you think OCD then, as this plot unravels you think yep, she’s bonkers. However, this is a psychological thriller of superior proportions with many a twist, building suspense worthy of Alfred Hitchcock.

I would have to kill you all were I to reveal the denouement, remember first rule of Fight Club ……….just read it but don’t do the plot spoiler thing with your mates. Certainly one to put on the holiday reading pile.

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Every Contact Leaves A Trace by Elanor Dymott

Every Contact Leaves A Trace by Elanor Dymott

I shall ‘fess up to you all and share, that when this was originally published in April 2012 reviews were very mixed, well I veer to the positive and have no compunction in recommending that you click on buy and order the paperback edition.

It is a slow burn of a read about a grieving widower Alex Peterson, his wife Rachel has been murdered on Midsummer Night in Oxford. Worry not, John Nettles does not pop up as an investigating officer, this is a very dark literary story about grief and revenge.

Alex and Rachel had met as students and gathered around them a clique of very complex characters. Years after they all graduated they return to their old college for dinner and on the same night Rachel is found dead, inevitably Alex is the prime suspect.

The “Dreaming Spires” of Oxford are well represented and provide a suitably elite background for this novel of academic intrigue.

Yes, it does echo Donna Tartt The Secret History but one review from 2012 also referenced Ford Madox Ford The Good Soldier, so with that endorsement I’m pretty confident it’s one to add to your reading list

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Seventy Times Seven by John Gordon Sinclair

Seventy Times Seven by John Gordon Sinclair

Let’s address ” The elephant in the room “Yes, this is he of Gregory’s Girl - and look he’s all grown up now and has written a violent thriller about the IRA in the 1990s.

Danny McGuire is a professional killer and is on a mission to avenge the death of his brother. The locations move between Northern Ireland and Alabama USA and JGS has written a fast moving, pacey tale with 2 incredibly heroic women as key characters however this is not a cosy read, there are some very detailed descriptions of torture but not at all gratuitous (if this was a film, you’d be likely to shut your eyes) these scenarios regrettably, will have been all too real which does lend gravitas to the development of the plot.

The title is taken from a quote from the Bible in which St Peter says, there is no limit to the forgiveness you can have for someone and that it could be seventy times seven.

As a debut novel I think he’s made a great start and despite the violence, it’s a cracking read.

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The Cuckoo’s Calling by Robert Galbraith

The Cuckoo’s Calling by Robert Galbraith

One of my heroes of crime writing is Raymond Chandler and the ultimate PI has to be Philip Marlow but hey, there is now someone tugging at his very fine coat tales

Meet Cormoran Strike, Afghanistan war veteran invalided out of the army because he lost a leg in an explosion. Now back in civvy street he sets up as a private eye and takes on the case of the suicide of one of the “hottest” supermodels, her brother thinks she was pushed off the balcony………now read on!

We are taken to the seediest streets in Soho (but where else would his office be ?) to the heart of London’s nightlife and are drawn into the twin worlds of rock music and models –’ twas ever thus.

Cormoran is a true detective he’s methodical, wants to see justice done, sleeps in his office, has a complicated love life, drinks too much and of course has to have a secretary, who turns out be the perfect foil for him. I predict a great new sleuthing partnership.

if you enjoy “old fashioned crime ” and are a little bit tired of Scandi noir, walk this way and meet Mr Strike and his wooden leg……have been agonizing about how to work in a leg based pun, sorry this is my best shot.

Read this and in a year’s time you’ll be able to boast to your friends, oh yes I knew this would be a bestseller.

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Be Awesome: Modern Life For Modern Ladies by Hadley Freeman

Be Awesome: Modern Life For Modern Ladies by Hadley Freeman

There are 2 women journo’s who always make me laugh out loud and one of them is Hadley, her weekly ” Ask Hadley” column in the Guardian is a must read and her incisive and witty advice is essential to survive all the challenges of life today. She writes in that wonderful sardonic American style in the tradition of Norah Ephron and Dorothy Parker both of whom are name checked in her list of 10 awesome books.

I really want Hadley as a buddy, as my closest women friends make me howl with laughter and she would be just perfect to “shoot the breeze” with. How can you not love someone who has chapters headed up as You’re never too old for Topshop, The ten commandments of being an un-annoying vegetarian, When to listen to friends and when not to and Sex tips for smart ladies – Parental warning, ladies do not read this chapter, page 38 whilst you are having a drink, you will choke. However do look at 10 awesome women amongst whom is Miss Piggy.

We will all be truly awesome if we read this and gentlemen don’t be shy, it’s for you too – you may learn something

Oh yes, the other journo is of course the sainted Caitlin Moran, so if you enjoy Be Awesome and haven’t yet read Caitlin’s How to be a Woman you have a treat in store.

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That’s Not My Meerkat by Fiona Watt

That’s Not My Meerkat by Fiona Watt

This bestselling series from the ever reliable Usborne publishing is so well loved and respected, that when a new title is published it’s a Yay moment.

This is one of the “Touchy Feely ” series so teeny fingers will enjoy the tactile experience and yes, the mouse is still on every page. The pictures are bright and clear with the usual lovely illustrations.

Note for mum, dad, grandparents, teachers, grown-ups in general……just try and get the TV images out of your head, it should be simples but for those of you that have seen The Life of Pi, not so cuddly now eh? Interested, then click on our DVD section (The film is magnificent).

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Primrose by Alex T. Smith

Primrose by Alex T. Smith

The new book from Alex is truly delightful because he has painted us some glorious pictures of Princess Primrose and the Palace Pug Percy. Oh yes, you’re going to have to purse your lips a lot when reading this with the kiddies.

Primrose is bored because she has to behave, and like Cyndi Lauper ( when you’re older darling ) she just wants to have fun, the royal parents are in despair, how can we get her to act like a princess and they then have a brainwave, let’s roll granny in ! That was not a good idea because we all know how the Queen has behaved recently, co-horting with James Bond and jumping out of helicopters and this Grandmama is just as bad.

This is a lovely cheerful story with vibrant pages and clear text but does end with a moral that life can be fun. Another winner from this talented illustrator and author

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Mrs Vickers’ Knickers by Kara Lebihan and Deborah Allwright

Mrs Vickers’ Knickers by Kara Lebihan and Deborah Allwright

Apparently inspiration for this book came to Deborah when she was out for a walk with her baby, she spotted a sock lying on the pavement and wondered why stray pieces of peoples clothing were often seen in the street or draped over a gate or railing – and what about the single shoe on the hard shoulder of the motorway ?

Mrs Vickers is just pegging out the washing ( don’t you just hate doing that ) and her favourite frilly knickers are caught by the wind and whoosh off they fly. They fly over the town, tangle with a kite, cause mayhem over the Town square and then help a boat win a race, we do have a happy ending though but you have to read it to find out.

The beauty of this, is that every page has such a lot of detail, you’ll have great fun spotting all the animals and people and this is great for boys and girls because these adventurous knickers go over a building site with diggers – one of the workmen even has a tattoo, you spot a fire engine and lots of cars and buses and the wedding looks lovely.

You might remember The Night Pirates, from Deborah, published last year – which was fab because the pirates were girls !

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Tiny Islands: 60 Remarkable Little Worlds Around Britain by Dixe Wills

Tiny Islands: 60 Remarkable Little Worlds Around Britain by Dixe Wills

I know we’ve had a terrible winter and we all desperately need some sunshine and it is very tempting to book that holiday and find that pesky sun but when we have good weather, Britain is beautiful and what larks and adventures we can have on our amazing Island.

Dixe Wills is an outdoor guy – no doubting that, he wrote the bestselling Tiny Campsites and he does have an air of Swallows and Amazons and Secret Seven and Famous Fives about him. In this unique guide to 60 of our islands he paints an idyllic picture of our heritage of lakes, lochs, rivers and the sheer joy of landing on an Island.

Even if you shun our shores this Summer pop this in the suitcase and when you’re sat on that overcrowded beach you’ll think….should have listened to the sage advice of the Hive book guru –happy hols.

All the choices here were nominated by Hive’s resident book guru.

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Star Trek Into Darkness release day tickets: all hands, brace for impact.

11/04/2013 – 14:26

Cor blimey guv’nor, you weren’t wrong. Mid-morning on Tuesday 9th April, I was one of many thousands of people trying to book opening-day tickets for Star Trek Into Darkness, JJ Abrams’ second big-screen venture into the final frontier. Like many of my other Trekkie/ Trekker [delete as applicable] brethren on Tuesday morning, I logged onto the ODEON website like one of the children from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory with their winning golden ticket brandishing my debit card, but then yelling at my iPad in rage that I couldn’t get anything to load or display times and dates. Server crashes, Mr Data? What are they? We don’t have server crashes on the Enterprise!

Anyway I quickly went over to the ODEON Twitter feed where indeed they were replying to lots of people all encountering the same issue as me, they couldn’t log onto the ODEON website to order tickets and it would appear, after further investigation around the internet and Twitter, ODEON just experienced an unprecedented and overwhelming amount of Star Trek fans all eager to book their release-day tickets.

Then the British Film Institute (BFI) tweeted this:

Luckily, I had a minion who was able to go to the box office at the BFI IMAX in Waterloo and purchase our tickets in person, so I am happy to confirm that myself and my Trek kin will be seeing Mr Cumberbatch make the Alpha Quadrant a very dark place on the release day of May 9th. Engage!

One could argue that we brought the ODEON website down like the D in Generations. Har har har.

If you’re missing out on any Star Trek sets or films, check out our new and dedicated page to all things in Gene Roddenberry’s vision by clicking here

Star Trek books available on Hive can be found here and we have a vast range of Star Trek eBooks to be discovered here

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Hive’s Author of the Month for April : Harlan Coben

08/04/2013 – 11:26
Harlan Coben

Harlan Coben

Our Author of the Month on Hive for April is bestselling thriller author, Harlan Coben.

Harlan Coben is an international number one bestselling thriller author. He is the winner of the Edgar, Shamus, and Anthony Awards – the first to receive all three. His books are published in forty languages, with over forty-seven million copies in print worldwide. Both his standalone thrillers and series featuring the indomitable Myron Bolitar have been number one bestsellers in over a dozen countries, gracing the lists of the Sunday Times and the New York Times. His novel Tell No One was turned into the smash hit French film of the same name, and received the highly coveted Lumiere (French Golden Globe) for best picture as well as four Cesars (French Oscar). Harlan lives in New Jersey with his family.

Harlan Coben’s new book, Six Years, and will be published on 25th April.

Six years have passed since Jake Fisher watched Natalie, the love of his life, marry another man. Six years of hiding a broken heart by throwing himself into his career as a college professor. Six years of keeping his promise to leave Natalie alone, and six years of tortured dreams of her life with her new husband, Todd.

But six years haven’t come close to extinguishing his feelings, and when Jake comes across Todd’s obituary, he can’t keep himself away from the funeral. There he gets the glimpse of Todd’s wife he’s hoping for…but she is not Natalie. Whoever the mourning widow is, she’s been married to Todd for more than a decade, and with that fact everything Jake thought he knew about the best time of his life – a time he has never gotten over – is turned completely inside out.

As Jake searches for the truth, his picture-perfect memories of Natalie begin to unravel. Mutual friends of the couple either can’t be found or don’t remember Jake. No one has seen Natalie in years.

Jake’s search for the woman who broke his heart – and who lied to him – soon puts his very life at risk as it dawns on him that the man he has become may be based on carefully constructed fiction.

You can check out our dedicated page to Harlan Coben by clicking here

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Hive’s Top 10 Favourite Books for March

13/03/2013 – 10:06

Fiction

The Night Rainbow by Claire King

The Night Rainbow by Claire King

The Night Rainbow by Claire King

Although this book is being touted as “perfect for book groups” but don’t let that put you off! This is an enchanting, seductive story told by five and a half year old Pea. Her younger sister Margot has to be one of the wisest voices you are likely to hear. The two sisters are left to their own devices at their home in France, as their pregnant mother tries to cope with the grief of losing her husband and another child in separate tragic circumstances.

Claire King evokes the countryside of rural France beautifully and you can almost taste and smell the food the children prepare in an effort to encourage Maman to share meals with them. We meet a cast of characters including Claude and his dog Merlin who become both playmate and protector but Claude has his own secret history to contend with, which means you begin to question his relationship with the girls.

It is a remarkable first novel that deals with loss, anger, childhood, trust and eventually healing but the denouement may surprise you. Pea and Margot stay with you long after you’ve finished the book.

The House on the Cliff by Charlotte Williams

The House on the Cliff by Charlotte Williams

The House on the Cliff by Charlotte Williams

I hate reviews that start with ‘if you liked’ but hey, my rules, made to be broken! If you enjoyed the current hottie Gone Girl then this is one for you. Set in Wales (with suitably stunning descriptions of the area, lots of driving done) for psychotherapist Jessica Mayhew, life is not perfect she has just found out that her husband had a one night stand with a young colleague. At her practice she meets a new client, a very good looking actor Gwydion who has a fear of buttons; he thinks that some therapy might help him cope with the challenge of appearing in a TV costume drama. As their professional relationship develops she discovers a murder from her clients past and in response to a phone call from his mother, Jessica goes to visit him at the house on the cliff and she becomes embroiled with all the family and the death of the au pair who looked after Gwydion as a child.

This is a multi-layered thriller with Williams drawing on her experience as a psychotherapist. Her description of Jessica’s relationship with her friends and family, particularly her troublesome teenage daughter are acutely observed but she sets a great pace on building the tension. This is to be read in one session, you won’t be able to put it down and it’s a treat to read about a woman with flaws but who understands what drives her on…..that’s psychotherapy for you!

Red Joan by Jennie Rooney

Red Joan by Jennie Rooney

Red Joan by Jennie Rooney

I love Jenny Rooney, her previous two novels are excellent and I think you always approach a new novel from author you like with some trepidation – will it be as good, will I be disappointed …not at all.

Red Joan is inspired by the true story of Melita Norwood, exposed at 87 years old as a cold war spy. Joan is studying at Cambridge in 1937 and is recruited by the Russian Secret Service, inevitably you think of the master of cold war fiction John Le Carre but here we have a very humane and less forensic approach to the dilemma of a young idealistic woman who has to make a decision to support the man she loves or betray her country. The narrative moves between the war and the present day and absolutely nails the atmosphere of secrecy and the guilt that Joan suffers.

She has hidden her past for 50 years because “nobody talked about what they did in the war” but the knock on her front door subsequently spins her suburban life out of control and threatens her one truly honest relationship with her son…but she hadn’t been honest with him and that is one of the key themes of this novel.

Mention must be made of Sonya, impossibly glamorous, born in Russia and one of the best reasons in contemporary fiction to justify wearing a fur coat and those shoes …

Children’s

Knock Knock! Open the Door by Michaela Morgan

Knock Knock! Open the Door by Michaela Morgan

Knock Knock! Open the Door by Michaela Morgan

If you are ‘expecting’ a new addition to your family, this is a funny and gentle introduction for a sibling to welcome a new ‘special person’ into your home. We open with a child on a sofa with his stuffed toy dog, then Knock Knock who’s there? Lift the flap and it’s a Polar Bear who’s invited in then another Knock and it’s a Spotty Cat and so it proceeds until the sofa is full of visitors including a smelly skunk and a noisy dinosaur but not that special visitor, then hurrah here’s mum and dad with the new baby!

This is a sturdy lift the flap picture book of 24 pages which little fingers should be able to turn over again and again and again – we may regret this as it could become a firm favourite. An ideal read for mums, dads and grandparents or anyone who wants to explain that a new arrival is on the way. Michaela Morgan has also written Never Shake a Rattlesnake.

The Mummy Shop by Abie Longstaff and Lauren Beard

The Mummy Shop by Abie Longstaff and Lauren Beard

The Mummy Shop by Abie Longstaff and Lauren Beard

Well, who knew- there’s a shop where you can buy a new mummy? There’s also a catalogue to choose the perfect mum from. When a little boy is really fed up with being told what to do all the time, don’t jump on the bed, eat your vegetables, tidy your room, he sees an advert in the local newspaper ‘Get a new mummy from our shop today’ he rings up and is sent a procession of possible mummies that can cook (but only carrots) knit scratchy clothes, have cuddles but with prickly needles, he realizes that perhaps the mummy he’s got, who knows his favourite dinner, plays his favourite games and tucks him in at night and reads him his favourite books is the perfect mummy. We knew that!

This is a great picture book and could take a considerable time to read together, so don’t start it at bedtime. Every page has vibrant illustrations with lots of details of assorted animals. Watch out for the very cute dinosaur that pops in and out of the story.

The Terrible Thing That Happened To Barnaby Brocket by John Boyne

The Terrible Thing That Happened To Barnaby Brocket by John Boyne

The Terrible Thing That Happened To Barnaby Brocket by John Boyne

There’s nothing unusual about the Brockets. Normal, respectable and proud of it, they turn up their noses at anyone different. But from the moment Barnaby Brocket comes into the world, it’s clear he’s anything but ordinary.

A great book, well written and with a cracking story-line. It delivers a punchy message laced with humour and pathos.

Written by Boyne, whose previous children’s book was the huge seller The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas.

 

 

 

 

Teens

Back to Blackbrick by Sarah Moore Fitzgerald

Back to Blackbrick by Sarah Moore Fitzgerald

Back to Blackbrick by Sarah Moore Fitzgerald

A contemporary read aimed at readers of eleven years upwards. Cosmo and his family live in Ireland and his grandfather has Alzheimer’s. Cosmo and his gran are struggling to cope with all the challenges of looking after him and inevitably there is an element of black humour which does make you smile. In an unusual plot development, for this theme, he meets his grandfather as a young man and thinks he might be able to change their future.

It is written with skill and sensitivity and reflects the anguish and the joy of being a teenager with all the baggage that those years of growing up involve. The underlying themes of love, memory and how the past forms your future are key elements in this engaging debut novel.

 

 

 

By Any Other Name by Laura Jarratt

By Any Other Name by Laura Jarratt

By Any Other Name by Laura Jarratt

I was intrigued to see if this new ‘young adult’ novel by Laura Jarrett would be as engrossing as Skin Deep – it is and I predict that this author will pick up a dedicated following.

Holly is 15 and because of a crime that she has seen, she and her family have had to enter a witness protection scheme, and that’s all I’m going to reveal about the plot because you have to read it! The only other thing I will share with you is that her young sister is autistic.

This is a fast moving and pacey novel but Jarrett writes about feelings of loneliness and isolation and those pesky teenage hormones with great charm and insight. She brings us a family who are fiercely loyal and protective of each other but also weaves in a nail biting conclusion.

If you’re a mum with a teenage daughter and both enjoy reading, trust me you’d better buy two copies as you’ll end up fighting over who is reading it – dads – it’s not too girly for you to read along with your daughter so don’t be shy and go ahead and enjoy!

Non-fiction

Doodlemum: A Year of Family Life by Angie Stevens

Doodlemum: A Year of Family Life by Angie Stevens

Doodlemum: A Year of Family Life by Angie Stevens

In 2010 Angie Stevens, launched her Doodlemum blog, with the support and encouragement of her husband she posted a drawing of her three children and family life every day. She built up a dedicated following and like Topsy it grew and grew and we now have this splendid book charting the day to day joy of the Stevens family.

This is a great treat for yourself or a mate, because to use a well-known phrase ‘A picture paints a thousand words’ I particularly love the drawing of Angie brushing her daughters hair with the tag line of ‘Mam it hurts’ the pained expressions on their faces are priceless.

Order this book, put the kettle on and request that someone makes you a cup of tea or perhaps pour you a glass of wine and just empathise with Angie and her wonderful illustrations.

 

 

 

Melt by Claire Kelsey

Melt by Claire Kelsey

Melt by Claire Kelsey

Claire Kelsey owns the most beautiful retro Ford Transit ice cream van called Ginger and what’s more she drives it around festivals and food related events throughout the UK. She is passionate about re-inventing ice-creams image and in this simply stunning book brings us one hundred of her favourite recipes. You don’t have to own an ice cream maker and she introduces us to the secret weapon of Stir-Freezing (you do need a freezer!)

The book is beautifully produced with mouth-watering full colour photographs and recipes that you think duh! Gorgonzola and Honey or Guinness and Gingerbread??

As someone who loves a cookery book but fights with them in the kitchen to stay open at the right page, this book is perfectly practical and I’m looking forward to my first foray into making my own ice cream.

All the choices here were nominated by Hive’s resident book guru.

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Author of the Month: Tracy Chevalier

12/03/2013 – 11:52
TC

Tracy Chevalier

Here at Hive we have just launched our new feature, Author of the Month, and March sees American historical author Tracy Chevalier highlighted.

Tracy is the author of six previous novels, including Girl with a Pearl Earring which sold 4 million copies worldwide and was made into a film starring Colin Firth and Scarlett Johansson. Born in Washington DC, in 1984 she moved to London, where she lives with her husband and son.

Her new novel, The Last Runaway, will be released on 14th March.

“The stunning new novel from the bestselling author of Girl with a Pearl Earring. When modest Quaker Honor Bright sails from Bristol with her sister, she is fleeing heartache for a new life in America, far from home. But tragedy leaves her alone and vulnerable, torn between two worlds and dependent on the kindness of strangers. Life in 1850s Ohio is precarious and unsentimental. The sun is too hot, the thunderstorms too violent, the snow too deep. The roads are spattered with mud and spit. The woods are home to skunks and porcupines and raccoons. They also shelter slaves escaping north to freedom. Should Honor hide runaways from the ruthless men who hunt them down? The Quaker community she has joined may oppose slavery in principle, but does it have the courage to help her defy the law? As she struggles to find her place and her voice, Honor must decide what she is willing to risk for her beliefs. Set in the tangled forests and sunlit cornfields of Ohio, Tracy Chevalier’s vivid novel is the story of bad men and spirited women, surprising marriages and unlikely friendships, and the remarkable power of defiance.”

Check out our page on Tracy Chevalier where we you can also take advantage of our 45% promotion on Tracy’s new title and backlist.

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