State of Wonder

A Novel

By: Ann Patchett

Narrated by: Hope Davis

Length: 12 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's summary

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)

I loved it from beginning to end.

A wonderful tale that feels familar yet foreign. This book got into my dreams at night.

Ann Patchett is a genius!!

Loved it. Most unusual. Excellent narrator. Ann Patchett is a genius! I recommend highly. Review required one more word .....

Fantastic Book, Patchett's best yet

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

Ann Patchett has written a lot of great books, but this one shows off her ability to turn a classic story on it's head. Patchett's feminist version of what it means to

Who was your favorite character and why?

Annik Swenson

What about Hope Davis???s performance did you like?

Davis' performance enhances what was already a good book, her emotional reading helped me forget I wasn't there myself.

If you could rename State of Wonder, what would you call it?

The name is good: A really nice play on

Any additional comments?

I you like Patchett, you will love this.

Interesting Story - not so interesting characters

I found the main character highly annoying and ridiculously naive. The plot was based around an interesting concept that wasn't fleshed out as well as it couldve been. It was hard to like any of the charcaters. The narrator's voice was so-so. Took some getting used to.

Loved the book, loved the reader!

Any additional comments?

I listened to this every day on my commute to work. I found it hard to leave the engrossing saga and go to work and I couldn't wait to get back in the car to hear more. The balance of the story was wonderful. The consequences of loss and gain sober and uplifting.

A thought provoking adventure around every corner!

Would you consider the audio edition of State of Wonder to be better than the print version?

It depends on if you want a definitive voice for the main character. As with all audio books, if you would rather interpret the voice of your main character(s) then listening to audio books may not be for you. However the narration for State of Wonder was an excellent addition to a very well told story from beginning to end, the narration of the main character drew you in.

What was one of the most memorable moments of State of Wonder?

The moment that you found out that the Doctor was pregnant, although I was slightly anticipating it - nothing eludes to it until later in the story. Wonderful twist.

Which character – as performed by Hope Davis – was your favorite?

The main character, Dr. Marina Singh. She was a well thought out mix of brave, brilliant and vulnerable which made the listener interested in what she was going to do next.

Any additional comments?

Although I listen to many books, a good book will make you miss the characters, the story the plot. I find myself wondering what the doctor's are doing right now. :)

great sense of place

This book was captivating for its well written descriptions of the amazon, and an interesting plot line. I thought some of the characters were somewhat one dimensional, but the plot made it worthwhile, overall, this was the best Ann Patchett I've read so far.

Caught my attention in the first chapter

I’m not a big reader but this book caught my attention immediately. I’m not sure why except the storyline developed quickly into many curious angles. The ending was good but several things were left hanging for me. These were brought into the story but perhaps I just didn’t look like this things to be opened. Great book regardless.

Interesting But Not Compelling

Is there anything you would change about this book?

Good story, not great. If I were reading, I probably would not have struggled through.

Would you recommend State of Wonder to your friends? Why or why not?

No. I only recommend the ones that I am sure they will like

Would you be willing to try another one of Hope Davis’s performances?

She got on my nerves after a while.

Did State of Wonder inspire you to do anything?

No

Couldn't stop listening

I listen to these audibles in my car, on long drives to work. I found that I was listening at home, running to the store, on walks. Hope Davis was a great narrator for a fascinating story about anthropology, obsession, dedication, fear, and the strange paths that life takes us. Wasn't sure about the ending---couldn't decide if it fit or was a deux et machina supreme, though. No matter---replete with human characters and adventure, mystery, romance, life and death....