The Bottom Line
Ann Patchett, the bestselling author of several novels, including Bel Canto, has released a new novel called State of Wonder, set in the Amazon jungle. Marina Singh is a research scientist from Minnesota who finds herself on a bizarre journey to track down colleagues in the deepest reaches of the jungle. Fascinating and engrossing, State of Wonder defies expectations in the best ways.
Pros
- The plot is anything but ordinary, and yet never feels too unbelievable or forced
Cons
- There's not much to complain about in 'State of Wonder'
Description
- 'State of Wonder' by Ann Patchett was published in June 2011.
- Publisher: Harper
- 368 Pages
Guide Review - 'State of Wonder' by Ann Patchett - Book Review
Dr. Marina Singh chose to use her medical degree to become a research scientist working in an office, away from the messiness and reality of patients. She and her coworker at the pharmaceutical company are friendly colleagues, but when he disappears in the Amazon jungle on a work trip, she finds herself leaving the cold simplicity of her lab for heat, insects and confusion in Brazil.
Some novels focus on the mundane, the everyday, domestic strife and scenes with which we are familiar. State of Wonder is not that kind of novel; it uproots its modern inhabitants and thrusts them into a hot, crowded and inexplicable world with its own rules untouched by technology. Dr. Singh is looking for scientists researching possible new drugs deep in the heart of the jungle; she finds much more than anyone ever expected.
Despite the vast world of State of Wonder, the story is rooted in the personal lives of its characters, including Dr. Singh, which is what makes it so powerful. State of Wonder is a story that will stick with you.
