The Hub

Predictable, but fairly enjoyable

I think it started out nicely, had a few chuckles, but by the time I got to the end I was just a bit bored. It was very predictable, you just sort of know what jokes they're gonna make.

I liked the different characters though, and the narrators all did a great job.

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Could be something...

The Hub takes its place in a long line of sitcoms based around bureaucratic incompetence, pomposity and the absurdity of all those silly rules. Think Men from the ministry, Twenty twelve and....the mother of them all....Yes Minister.
It has some good ideas and the central premise of being set in the world of intelligence is a sound one but I think it would need to go more into the intelligence gathering itself to really work. I hope that is the plan.
An enjoyable half hour, thank you, and I look forward to hearing how you develop things.

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Has promise

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Maybe yes

Would you recommend The Hub to your friends? Why or why not?

Depends on the friends sense of humour

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

Quite liked the characters

Could you see The Hub being made into a movie or a TV series? Who would the stars be?

Possibly, could see Daniel Craig as the postman (in his humorous persona)

Any additional comments?

Something good could come from this, like the concept

2 people found this helpful

Liked a lot

Thought this was very similar to the cabin pressure series
Enjoyable subject matter and performances

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Predictable, but quirky.

Any additional comments?

I enjoyed this, even though it was fairly predictable (top secret establishment that is not so secret or impenetrable). The actors' comic timing played a big part, and if there were to be another free episode, I would make sure I listened.

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Laugh Out Loud!

If you could sum up The Hub in three words, what would they be?

Clever, inventive, quirky. Refreshingly silly with great pace! Would love to hear more of this series...

Have you listened to any of the narrators’s other performances? How does this one compare?

No

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes

Any additional comments?

No

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When is episode 2

A very well written social satire which cries out to become a series..Reviews demand at least twenty words so here is the rest!

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Bit more editing needed?

Would you try another book written by Bruce Windwood or narrated by the narrators?

I would listen to other scripts written by Bruce Windwood, because there was potential in this one, but I'd preview carefully before buying.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

Some parts of this which worked for me included the general setup and the military bits, such as the operational codenames and the elf'n'safety stuff. A lot of it fell flat to me, though, mostly because the humour was sometimes a little bit obvious or absurdist: worst of all to me was the edible-invention sequence, which drifted right off into 'specialists are idiots' territory.

Any additional comments?

I really wanted to like this and still think there's considerable potential in the theme and setup. In my opinion, though, it needs work. To me, sitcoms work best when the characters are at least a little credible/believable on their own terms, and that wasn't always the case here; many of the characters were one-dimensional caricatures. But I hope there will be a chance to take the concept forward sometime.

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Wanted to like

I kept wanting to like thus more than I did but ultimately just didn't find it funny. Performance was generally fine.

1 person found this helpful

Funny Tale very topical.

What made the experience of listening to The Hub the most enjoyable?

I enjoyed the way the story was acted out rather than just read out as a story.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

I thought it was very topical for the era that we live in and although very funny it is also not too far from the truth.

Which scene did you most enjoy?

I enjoyed the scene when the postman is offered a job, due to the fact that he really is a postman and not a spy and now knows far too many secrets.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

This is a book that is better to listen too in one sitting, it is not very long and to split it up would ruin the flow.

Any additional comments?

very funny, some great little jokes and humorous settings.

1 person found this helpful