State of Wonder

A Novel

By: Ann Patchett

Narrated by: Hope Davis

“A nail-biting narrative, setting stark human dilemmas against a lush, exotic backdrop.”— People

“Extraordinary. . . . Nothing is as it seems, and the ending is as shocking as it’s satisfying.” — Boston Globe

From award-winning, New York Times bestselling author Ann Patchett, a provocative and assured novel of morality and miracles, science and sacrifice set in the Amazon rainforest

In a narrative replete with poison arrows, devouring snakes, scientific miracles, and spiritual transformations, State of Wonder presents a world of stunning surprise and danger, rich in emotional resonance and moral complexity.

As Dr. Marina Singh embarks upon an uncertain odyssey into the insect-infested Amazon, she's forced to surrender herself to the lush but forbidding world that awaits within the jungle. Charged with finding her former mentor Dr. Annick Swenson, a researcher who has disappeared while working on a valuable new drug, she will have to confront her own memories of tragedy and sacrifice as she journeys into the unforgiving heart of darkness.

Stirring and luminous, State of Wonder is a world unto itself, where unlikely beauty stands beside unimaginable loss beneath the rain forest's jeweled canopy. Patchett delivers a gripping adventure story and a profound look at the difficult choices we make in the name of discovery and love.

good summer read

Overall a good read. It was a little slow at the beginning ,but has a good ending.

WONDER - full

The writing is terrific and the story is engaging. I was fascinated and couldn't stop listening.

Wonderful reading, wonderful book

This is my second Ann Patchett audio, I also read Bel Canto which I really loved. This was even better. Hope Davis is a fabulous reader. I can't decide whether to go straight to another Ann Patchett novel or straight to another Hope Davis narration. I must admit from the book's description I was not really interested.....I am not much for Amazonian jungle adventure, but the reviews were so good I couldn't resist. I was not disappointed. The humanity of the story and the excellence of the narration made me as eager to listen as with a suspense novel yet the weight of the moral and human issues it considers make it as thoughtful a book as I have read in a very long time.

A Lot of Time to get to the Good Part

Any additional comments?

Before purchasing an Audible book I like to read listener reviews and this book got an overwhelming number of great ones. The overall plot leads to the leading lady, Marina, going to the Amazon and this takes the entire first half of the book to happen. Kind of a long boring plod for me. Once in the Amazon there are some cool scenes of the actual environment and the story has some interesting developments and twists. But when the events reach the point of being so unlikely and unbelievable this book lost me as a reader/listener. I finished it but with my eyes rolling. But I must note that Hope Davis does a wonderful job as narrator.

Strangely Hypnotic and Interesting

Bel Canto was my first Ann Patchett book, and I loved it. I then read a few more and didn’t love them. I’d written her off as “not for me” when everyone started raving about this book. Being easily influenced and because Hope Davis was the narrator, I gave it a listen. The book has an almost dream-like quality, and I found it quite involving. The basic plot it this: Researcher Dr. Marina Singh ventures deep into the Amazon to find her former mentor Dr. Annick Swenson—who has been isolated in the Amazon researching a potentially lucrative new drug for their mutual employer—to get some answers about the fate of Marina’s office mate, who preceded her into the Amazon but never returned. Patchett manages to spin a fantastical tale that also feels grounded in reality. Part of me could imagine such a world existing, and I fell under the same enchantment as Marina. The characters were always surprising me (particularly Dr. Swenson), and I’m glad I took the chance on Ann Patchett again.