State of Wonder

A Novel

By: Ann Patchett

Narrated by: Hope Davis

A New York Times best seller

Orange Prize nominee

A Time Magazine’s Best Books of the Year

A Publisher’s Weekly’s Best Top Ten Best Books

A Wellcome Trust Book Prize nominee.

“Expect miracles when you read Ann Patchett’s fiction.” (New York Times Book Review)

Award-winning, New York Times best-selling author Ann Patchett returns with a provocative and assured novel of morality and miracles, science and sacrifice set in the Amazon rainforest.

Marina Singh is a research scientist at Vogel, a pharmaceutical institute in Minnesota, and inconveniently in love with her boss, Mr. Fox. When one of her colleagues is reported to have died while following up on the progress of a field team based in Brazil, Marina is dispatched by Mr. Fox to the Amazon to uncover the truth of his death. And his widow wants his effects.

She travels to Manaus, then down into the Amazonian delta, deep into the dense, dark, insect-infested jungle. The research team is looking into the development of a new miracle drug that could revolutionize Western society. A local tribe has the bark of a certain tree, it yields a substance which allows them to conceive late into middle age: many of the women are getting pregnant into their 60s and 70s.

The problem is that the team is taking too long: they have been silent for two years, and Marina has been tasked to find out what is holding back their progress. The second problem is more serious: the team is being headed up by the daunting figure of Annick Swenson, an eminent and fiercely uncompromising scientist who was once Marina’s colleague, and towards whom Marina has very complicated feelings. What Marina learns will change her life. In a novel that is packed with amazing twists and surprises, Ann Patchett returns with immense confidence to a broad canvas, teeming with atmosphere and characters and rich with narrative.

Remarkable events - fights with anacondas; encounters with cannibals; deaths; re-births - and profound moral decisions come together in a novel that will enthrall her many listeners and fans and is guaranteed to be a major best seller.

Infusing the narrative with the same ingenuity and emotional urgency that pervaded her acclaimed previous novels Bel Canto, Taft, Run, The Magician’s Assistant, and The Patron Saint of Liars, Patchett delivers an enthralling, innovative tale of aspiration, exploration, and attachment in State of Wonder - a gripping adventure story and a profound look at the difficult choices we make in the name of discovery and love.

©2011 Ann Patchett (P)2011 HarperCollinsPublishers

Critic reviews

“An expansive page-turner . . . Patchett’s fluid prose dissolves in the suspense of this out-there adventure . . . that readers will hate to see end.” (Publishers Weekly)

“An engaging, consummately told tale.” (New York Times)

“A superbly rendered novel. . . . Patchett’s portrayal is as wonderful as it is frightening and foreign. Patchett exhibits an extraordinary ability to bring the horrors and the wonders of the Amazon jungle to life, and her singular characters are wonderfully drawn. . . . Powerful and captivating.” (Library Journal, starred review)

Not one of Anne Patchett's better efforts.

Is there anything you would change about this book?

The main character is naive, obsequious and unbelieveable. I've been on long wilderness group trips before. We would have fed HER to the anaconda.

Has State of Wonder turned you off from other books in this genre?

no

Have you listened to any of Hope Davis’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Hope Davis is excellent Highly recommended.

Was State of Wonder worth the listening time?

no

Any additional comments?

It is difficult to believe this is the same author that wrote Bel Cante. As excellent as BelCante was, State of Wonder was dreadful. One dimensional characters and a wholly improbable plot. I will still read Patchett. But I recommend giving State of Wonder a pass.

State of Disbelief ?

Is there anything you would change about this book?

I have some complaints but I did kind of enjoy the book. I have to ask, who's bright idea was it to have Marina take Larium ? Well, of course she had nightmares. Malarone would have been the logical choice since she wasn't planning on staying in the jungle all that long and there are no psychotic side effects. If Big Pharma could fling money at the Jungle Project all that time, surely they could have treated her to the high-priced drug. And, what's all that nonsense with the insipid Mr. Fox? Marina is a hottie - what was she doing with him? And Dr. (Kurtz) Swenson? I know Mr. Kurtz. I read Heart of Darkness, and Dr. Swenson, you are no Mr. Kurtz. Or was that satire? I'm confused.The best thing about this book was the vivid rendering of the jungle. I really did like that. Okay, and I liked the little kid. And, there was the satire - at least I'd like to believe that. In fact I'd like to believe that the whole book was satire. Maybe I should listen again with that in mind - except I didn't like the narration. Once they got to the Jungle, they all sounded like Dr. Swenson.

What didn’t you like about Hope Davis’s performance?

Most of the characters sounded alike.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

I might, just for the jungle scenery.

Any additional comments?

I loved Bel Canto.

Exquisite Collaboration

State of Wonder is my first audio book. Accustomed to the reader in my own head, I didn't think I would enjoy listening to someone else's interpretation of any book. On top of that, while reading particularly good writing, I often pause over a phrase or passage to enjoy the way an author plays with words. I spent four days choosing this experience, finally settling on Ann Patchett's State of Wonder as a book I have tried to read many times but couldn't 'get into', narrated by Hope Davis, a very fine actress who, with a theatrical (some Mamet) background, I expected to know how to respect an authors words.
(Hearing a few cringe-making samples had me as concerned about the narrator as the author).

I could not have made a better choice. This audiobook is a true collaboration; the sum, the result of two extraordinary talents working to create a sublime storytelling experience. I now understand that while my own (in head) reader/narrator was not up to the task of fleshing out what some print reviewers call 'flat characters', Ms Davis' interpretation breathes life and liveliness into Marina, Mr. Fox, Dr Swenson and the living and dead ghosts that accompany Marina on her Amazonian quest.

Although I found State of Wonder a sometimes too literal interpretation of the Orpheus myth filtered through Conrad's heart of Darkness (the Horror!), I enjoyed every moment of Patchett's rollicking tale. The audiobook is at its best during the action scenes when (as I'd hoped) Davis reads the narrative with a subdued sense of urgency, propelling us through Patchett's words and heart pounding images of Amazonian terrors.

To be honest, I have only one real complaint about this audiobook; If, as I suspect, the State of Wonder audiobook, is a masterpiece in this new twist on an ancient artform- how on earth am I going to choose a second one without being disappointed?

A little drawn out

While I enjoyed the book, I felt it was a little drawn out and fairly predictable. The narration, however, was fantastic.

Interesting story

Would you listen to State of Wonder again? Why?

I just might. This was a good story with lots of different things going on.

What did you like best about this story?

I liked the ending. It was not something I would have figured out so I liked how it was developed in the story.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

While listening I'm sure I did many aha's and laughs.

Great story, interesting characters

This is an interesting book and I was quite invested in the relationships and the characters to the very end. Unique storyline, a few interesting plot twists, a touch of both tragedy and comedy. A worthwhile investment of time.

Love almost all Ann Patchett

This story is as involved, detailed, and intriguing as other Ann Patchett, you won’t be disappointed!

Thoroughly engaging?

As usual Patchett writes a compelling story with believable characters wrapped around a world social issue. She manages to engage listening as well as inform.

Beautiful imagery

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

People who have lived in the tropics will love this book. We feel like we are back there.

Felt like this never reached a climax

Is there anything you would change about this book?

There was a lot going on in this book - missing person presumed dead, physician scarred by accidental blinding of patient, love story with boss, maybe-love story with co-worker, miraculous anti-ovary-aging drug, miraculous anti-malarial drug, adopted deaf child, cannibals, miraculous ecosystems.... These things are interesting, but it didn't seem that any of them was fully developed. The main character seems pretty uninspired through much of the book, eventually finds some gumption, but I generally found her to be disappointing.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

I would've cut out all the interaction with the Australians - boring and didn't contribute to the plot except as a barrier, which perhaps was the point but it made the book drag. I would've developed the character of Dr. Swenson more - she seems to be the remarkable character but she was only given one dimension in the book: that of selfish and socially clueless scientist.

Was State of Wonder worth the listening time?

Yes