Who Would Like This Book:
Ann Patchett takes you straight into the heart of the Amazon with unforgettable atmosphere - think relentless heat, biting insects, and that wild sense of adventure you crave from armchair travel. Her characters, especially the formidable Dr. Swenson and the quietly compelling Marina Singh, linger with you long after you close the book. If you love literary fiction with a dash of ethical quandaries, exotic settings, and the kind of twisty, immersive narrative that sparks book club debates, this one's for you.
Who May Not Like This Book:
Some readers found the premise a little hard to buy - a big pharma company sending untrained staff solo into the Amazon? - and the science behind the plot a stretch. The story also starts slowly and certain plot twists (especially toward the end) felt abrupt or contrived for some, with a few too many loose ends for comfort. If you prefer fast-paced action, ultra-realistic plots, or need to connect deeply with every character, this might not be your ideal adventure.
About:
State of Wonder by Ann Patchett is a novel that takes readers on a journey into the heart of the Amazon jungle, where Dr. Marina Singh is sent to uncover the truth behind her colleague's mysterious death. As she navigates the lush and unforgiving landscape, she encounters a world filled with ethical dilemmas, scientific discoveries, and personal revelations. The story delves into themes of motherhood, adventure, and the intersection of morality and science, all while painting a vivid picture of the Amazon and its inhabitants.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings include themes of death, medical procedures, and some graphic descriptions of the jungle environment.
From The Publisher:
SHORTLISTED FOR THE ORANGE PRIZE FOR FICTION 2012
There were people on the banks of the river.
Among the tangled waterways and giant anacondas of the Brazilian Rio Negro, an enigmatic scientist is developing a drug that could alter the lives of women for ever. Dr Annick Swenson's work is shrouded in mystery; she refuses to report on her progress, especially to her investors, whose patience is fast running out. Anders Eckman, a mild-mannered lab researcher, is sent to investigate.
A curt letter reporting his untimely death is all that returns.
Now Marina Singh, Anders' colleague and once a student of the mighty Dr Swenson, is their last hope. Compelled by the pleas of Anders's wife, who refuses to accept that her husband is not coming home, Marina leaves the snowy plains of Minnesota and retraces her friend's steps into the heart of the South American darkness, determined to track down Dr. Swenson and uncover the secrets being jealously guarded among the remotest tribes of the rainforest.
What Marina does not yet know is that, in this ancient corner of the jungle, where the muddy waters and susurrating grasses hide countless unknown perils and temptations, she will face challenges beyond her wildest imagination.
Marina is no longer the student, but only time will tell if she has learnt enough.
Ratings (31)
Incredible (7) | |
Loved It (13) | |
Liked It (5) | |
It Was OK (4) | |
Did Not Like (2) |
Reader Stats (61):
Read It (33) | |
Want To Read (24) | |
Not Interested (4) |
1 comment(s)
This was my fourth Ann Patchett book, third in the last month, and by far the best and most well written. The story is engrossing, beautiful, imaginative...just lovely. It was a bit slow to start yet captivating to the last sentence. I could have followed these characters and the story so much further than the book allowed.
What can you read after
State of Wonder?
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