Play Audiobook Sample
Hummingbirds: A Novel Audiobook
Play Audiobook Sample
(3.03) - 338 listener ratings
Quick Stats About this Audiobook
Total Audiobook Chapters:
Longest Chapter Length:
Shortest Chapter Length:
Average Chapter Length:
Audiobooks by this Author:
Publisher Description
A wonderfully compelling novel about the intertwining—and darkly surprising—relationships between the teachers and students at an all-girl prep school, Hummingbirds marks the debut of author Joshua Gaylord, a prep school teacher himself on New York City's Upper East Side. Spanning a year at the Carmine-Casey School for Girls, this intimate private school community becomes tempestuous and dangerously incestuous as the rivalries and secrets of teachers and students interact, intersect, and eventually collide. Ultimately, Hummingbirds poses a fascinating question: who are the adults and who are the children?
Download and start listening now!
"Wow, this book is phenomenal! I loved the touching story and the talented writing. I feel like the whole setting, conversations, characters are falsely innocent from the beginning. Only later does everything reveal itself. It is a great piece of modern writing."
— Andrea (5 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
-
“Glistens with erudition and insight…Gaylord’s stunning writing elevates his subject matter with equal parts humanity and elegance.”
— Jonathan Tropper, New York Times bestselling author of This Is Where I Leave You -
A sly, charming novel about the students at a Manhattan girls' school and the adults who sometimes remember to teach them.
— Brock Clarke, author of the national bestseller An Arsonist's Guide to Writers' Homes in New England -
“A very grown-up novel about adolescence and the folly of adults, by an impressive new voice in American fiction.”
— Kirkus Reviews (starred review) -
“Gaylord’s tale of overeducated men and the teenage students who exhibit the finesse and understanding their teachers lack hits all the right notes.”
— Publishers Weekly -
“Especially good at characterization, Gaylord has delivered a story that’s ripe with acute and wry observations on men and women, competition, sexuality, and secrets…Highly recommended.”
— Library Journal
Hummingbirds Listener Reviews
-
" A quick, predictable read. While the author is a wonderful writer, I was bothered by the fact that he seemed to recycle many words and phrases. It seems he was trying to sound smart, and it definitely took away from what I think is a great ability to write. "
— Laura, 1/31/2014 -
" I started out really liking this, but after getting about halfway through the book and nothing seems to have happened yet...I'm losing interest. Putting it away for now. "
— Lindsaygail, 1/26/2014 -
" Just didn't hold my interest. I will have to try again another time... "
— Lauren, 12/24/2013 -
" It was okay - I just don't think the same way the author does. He perceives reality in a different way. "
— M, 10/8/2013 -
" Good. Not great, but good. "
— Heather, 9/21/2013 -
" Joyous reading, like a crystal refracting the sun! "
— Sami4413, 8/7/2013 -
" forgettable, sadly. I wanted to love this because of some gorgeous writing, but overall it just seemed like it was trying too hard. "
— Nicole, 4/22/2013 -
" I read a short story by Joshua Gaylord in a New Yorker anthology, so tried his novel. He is a good writer. The book was about a girls school in Manhattan, and I thought the story line was a little trite, but I enjoyed it and will look for more by him. "
— Julie, 3/2/2012 -
" A literary-for-the-sake-of-being-literary story of a man who teaches English at an all-girls school. His wife, an academic, cheated on him years before, and the man who seduced her becomes a teacher at the school. A little pretentious at times, but still a decent read. "
— Jeff, 11/24/2011 -
" I felt like this book had ADD. "
— Vicki, 10/31/2011 -
" Loved this debut novel from Joshua Gaylord! Best written book I've read in a long time. Gaylord avoids common traps when writing about teenaged girls. "
— Suzi, 9/22/2011 -
" This book reminded me of I am Charlotte Simmons by Tom Wolfe. I thought that Binhammer and Ted were going to have a relationship. Binhammer's wife, I couldn't stand her....but none of the characters were extremely likeable. "
— Jennifer, 5/29/2011 -
" I read a short story by Joshua Gaylord in a New Yorker anthology, so tried his novel. He is a good writer. The book was about a girls school in Manhattan, and I thought the story line was a little trite, but I enjoyed it and will look for more by him. "
— Julie, 5/6/2011 -
" Wonderfully structured, lovely characters, fantastic sense of humor... "
— Kathleen, 10/10/2010 -
" Beautiful, lyrical writing; funny situations. Also, the author makes his character "go there" in what must have been very difficult, transgressive things for a high school teacher to write. "
— Joe, 10/10/2010 -
" I didn't really like the characters much or get deeply into the plot, but quite a few insightful and/or well-written passages merit a three-star rating. "
— Lizzie, 7/20/2010 -
" A literary-for-the-sake-of-being-literary story of a man who teaches English at an all-girls school. His wife, an academic, cheated on him years before, and the man who seduced her becomes a teacher at the school. A little pretentious at times, but still a decent read. "
— Jeff, 7/9/2010 -
" I read this in a day. I hoped it was going somewhere as it took a long time to get nowhere. There was a lot of potential with this storyline but the author just scratched the surface. Definite snooze. "
— Marci, 7/6/2010 -
" i liked this book a lot it was different from what i normally read so it was a nice change "
— Madison, 7/6/2010 -
" Ho hum. Just couldn't get into it.... "
— Lila, 5/12/2010 -
" Gaylord has an unusual manner of writing which I most enjoyed.<br/>His knowledge of classic english authors is oh-so enviable and I loved the character relationships in this novel. Stereotypes with a twist at its best. "
— Cheyenne, 5/11/2010 -
" Loved this debut novel from Joshua Gaylord! Best written book I've read in a long time. Gaylord avoids common traps when writing about teenaged girls. "
— Suzi, 5/6/2010 -
" A slightly overwritten book about learning, lust & literature at a Manhattan girl's school. Full of secret-keeping and indiscretions. "
— Craig, 2/16/2010 -
" I felt like this book had ADD. "
— Vicki, 1/11/2010
About Joshua Gaylord
Joshua Gaylord is the author of two novels, Hummingbirds and When We Were Animals, as well as two horror novels under the pen name Alden Bell. He received his PhD in twentieth-century American and British literature from New York University (NYU) and has taught both at NYU and the New School.
About Cynthia Holloway
Cynthia Holloway, a native of Seattle, has performed on stage, in film and television, as well as doing voice-over work. She has given her voice to television programs, radio and television commercials, video games, and audiobooks.