Questions About Hummingbird Salamander

by Jeff Vandermeer (Goodreads Author)

Reader Q&A

To ask other readers questions about Hummingbird Salamander, please sign up.

Answered Questions (3)

For those who have got an arc. What is the language like in this book? Is there a lot of cursing?

Donald Americans and their puritanism *rolls eyes* no cursing, but you can buy a gun and kill a few kids and nobody bats an eye...

flag

Hi, I am not a native speaker, and I don't get the "shovel pig" joke. Why is it a good name for a purse and how is it funny?

Rachel I'm a native American English speaker and I was confused, too. I even Googled "shovel pig" to see if I was missing something. But, by the end of the b…moreI'm a native American English speaker and I was confused, too. I even Googled "shovel pig" to see if I was missing something. But, by the end of the book, I had this image of Jane rooting around in her huge purse like a pig shoveling through the dirt for food. As someone who may occasionally put too many things in a too-big purse, I can relate.(less)

flag

If it's anything like Area X I won't be picking it up? I got through Annihilation (which I like so much more as a movie regardless of the many changes) and completely lost interest in the two other books. The writing is laborious at best, plot so vague and without pacing that I couldn't bring myself to keep reading it. I guess Jeff VanderMeers talent is just not my kind of tea.

Bford You share a similar opinion as myself, which leads me to believe you aren't wrong for avoiding this one...
I felt the same way about the Southern Reach…moreYou share a similar opinion as myself, which leads me to believe you aren't wrong for avoiding this one...
I felt the same way about the Southern Reach Trilogy. Annihilation was fantastic but the other two were not great reads at all by comparison. But I will say I'm glad I gave his other stuff a shot.

Borne, Dead Astronauts, and City of Saints & Madmen (I've yet to read the rest) are all worth your time.
I think each are amazing. Don't give up on VanderMeer because of Southern Reach.(less)

flag

Unanswered Questions (1)

Recommended age?

Answer

Flag

About Goodreads Q&A

Ask and answer questions about books!

You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.

See Featured Authors Answering Questions

Learn more