Synopsis
Security consultant “Jane Smith” receives an envelope with a key to a storage unit that holds a taxidermied hummingbird and clues leading her to a taxidermied salamander. Silvina, the dead woman who left the note, is a reputed ecoterrorist and the daughter of an Argentine industrialist. By taking the hummingbird from the storage unit, Jane sets in motion a series of events that quickly spin beyond her control.
Soon, Jane and her family are in danger, with few allies to help her make sense of the true scope of the peril. Is the only way to safety to follow in Silvina’s footsteps? Is it too late to stop? As she desperately seeks answers about why Silvina contacted her, time is running out—for her and possibly for the world.
Hummingbird Salamander is Jeff VanderMeer at his brilliant, cinematic best, wrapping profound questions about climate change, identity, and the world we live in into a tightly plotted thriller full of unexpected twists and elaborate conspiracy.
Review
Hummingbird Salamander by Jeff VanderMeer
My rating: 1 of 5 stars
I could not get into this one for the life of me. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Lisa Flanagan which was pleasant, well-paced. It’s got this speculative element which other readers may enjoy more than I did. I mostly lost interest at mentions of “Looks so antiseptic inside.”
The Story
So boring.
Meandering around the research office, day to day tasks, repetitive efforts like someone lost their keys and re-entered the room asking the same questions over and over again, telling you about the process and account of their day.
Read like this:
I lost my keys. Where are they? Or did I?
In primary school I had to ride the bus. One time the bus driver ran over the curb. A bumpy ride. Sometimes we did fire drills, it prepared me for the drills of life.
Basically it was a pondering of what things could, would, and should be with every mundane task at the office and the most boring parts of life.
The Writing
Repetitive. Again the antiseptic bits.
Fascinating concept, just didn’t capture my interest in execution.
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