Scan barcode
A review by julie_embleton
Follow the Hummingbird by Elena Carter
3.0
Elena Carter’s debut novel tells the story of Tina, a young woman mired in grief who finds unexpected worlds in her dreams. At first she’s confused, and ready to write the dreams off as nonsense, but when she meets Alice, Tina discovers there’s far more to her night-time adventures.
As a study on grief, the author presents the reality of life after death with sensitivity in this tale. Tina continues to struggle with bouts of depression, worrying her friends when she hides out at home for days at a time, unable to work and cutting off communication. But once Tina meets Alice, the truth behind her dreams begins to unfold, and she too slowly emerges from the fog of her loss.
I’m personally not a huge fan of dream sequences, and perhaps because of this, the plot dragged in places for me. I have to admit I ended up skimming the passages where Tina’s dreams were interpreted by Alice as they didn’t hold my attention. I felt Tina wasn’t challenged enough; she dreamt, then had Alice to explain everything, and while I understand the Master/Student setting was a way for the author to reveal the magic behind Tina’s dreams, I didn’t enjoy it as a vehicle to demystify the world-building. I also felt Tina’s friends were too quick to believe her strange experiences. Again, a challenge would have forced the protagonist's hand and added more to the story.
There’s no doubt Carter has a rich imagination. There’s a dreamy, ethereal feel to this book, ideal for readers who enjoy mystical pursuits. Hope abounds in Follow the Hummingbird; an important message when the story revolves around grief. The ending was satisfying, and the author has created such a fantastic world, it left me wondering will Tina return in a sequel. Packed with symbolism, this otherworldly tale reminds us of the power of unwavering faith, even when it seems all is lost.
As a study on grief, the author presents the reality of life after death with sensitivity in this tale. Tina continues to struggle with bouts of depression, worrying her friends when she hides out at home for days at a time, unable to work and cutting off communication. But once Tina meets Alice, the truth behind her dreams begins to unfold, and she too slowly emerges from the fog of her loss.
I’m personally not a huge fan of dream sequences, and perhaps because of this, the plot dragged in places for me. I have to admit I ended up skimming the passages where Tina’s dreams were interpreted by Alice as they didn’t hold my attention. I felt Tina wasn’t challenged enough; she dreamt, then had Alice to explain everything, and while I understand the Master/Student setting was a way for the author to reveal the magic behind Tina’s dreams, I didn’t enjoy it as a vehicle to demystify the world-building. I also felt Tina’s friends were too quick to believe her strange experiences. Again, a challenge would have forced the protagonist's hand and added more to the story.
There’s no doubt Carter has a rich imagination. There’s a dreamy, ethereal feel to this book, ideal for readers who enjoy mystical pursuits. Hope abounds in Follow the Hummingbird; an important message when the story revolves around grief. The ending was satisfying, and the author has created such a fantastic world, it left me wondering will Tina return in a sequel. Packed with symbolism, this otherworldly tale reminds us of the power of unwavering faith, even when it seems all is lost.