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A review by mxunsmiley
Hummingbird Salamander by Jeff VanderMeer
4.0
Drove me fucking crazy and I felt unfulfilled by the ending. I was constantly wondering what was wrong with Jane, to be so obsessed with Silvina. I feel like it was an attempt to illuminate how we overestimate our impact on the world, which I understood was a main underpinning of the novel in general--how Silvina felt this pressing need to enact change to the point where she went to such extremes that harmed so many around her, how she overvalued nature and her relationship with it, meaning herself to be a savior.
It was very thrilling, which I appreciated, as thriller is a genre I am interested in but frequently am disappointed by. I was always in awe of how Jane got away with so much. By the end, though, I just didn't really care about her. She was so selfish and self-absorbed. I gave this 4 stars because I feel like the subject matter is pertinent and it was a very enjoyable read all in all. It brought up a lot of questions regarding humanity's relationship with nature, how it may even breach a kind of misanthropy all while meaning the best for us, as was the case with the eventual reveal of Silvina's plan. It was very eerie and I feel like that was the intention.
It was very thrilling, which I appreciated, as thriller is a genre I am interested in but frequently am disappointed by. I was always in awe of how Jane got away with so much. By the end, though, I just didn't really care about her. She was so selfish and self-absorbed. I gave this 4 stars because I feel like the subject matter is pertinent and it was a very enjoyable read all in all. It brought up a lot of questions regarding humanity's relationship with nature, how it may even breach a kind of misanthropy all while meaning the best for us, as was the case with the eventual reveal of Silvina's plan. It was very eerie and I feel like that was the intention.