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jess_rawr's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.5
andromedace's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.25
michaelpdonley's review against another edition
5.0
Once again, Ann Patchett brings a complex story with human characters in the most high-stakes circumstances, and leaves me wrestling with "what would I do in that situation?" Set in the Amazon rain forest and, oddly enough, Eden Prairie, Minnesota! Patchett is an expert in making me feel for her characters. Highly recommended.
georgiemaher's review against another edition
3.75
It took me a while to finish this one as the middle third was really dragging (although it did mean that my experience mirrored Marina’s: waiting interminably to get out of Manaus and into the jungle… very immersive?) Luckily, I enjoy Ann Patchett’s prose so it was still pleasant enough to read. Her description of the jungle (the heat, the green, the insects) was particularly good.
It picked up with about 30% left, but I’m still trying to decide how I feel about the ending. I liked that there is a subtle implication at the end that Patchett does not make explicit, trusting the reader to make the connection on their own. You do have to suspend your disbelief for other plot points, but then again the book is called State of Wonder; maybe that refers to the state she’s asking us to be in as we read.
bethmara's review against another edition
3.0
Two and a Half Sad Stars
The Take Home: If a book were the Frankenstein love child with parts Indiana Jones, Michael Crichton and Sophie's Choice you'd get this wildly uneven and ultimately disappointing novel.
The Take Home: If a book were the Frankenstein love child with parts Indiana Jones, Michael Crichton and Sophie's Choice you'd get this wildly uneven and ultimately disappointing novel.
lalawoman416's review against another edition
4.0
I shouldn't have liked this book as much as I did. I know it was written in 2011, but with the all female cast of Ghostbusters and Oceans 11, this just felt a lot like an all female cast of Heart of Darkness. That, plus the possibilities of this falling into the Great White Hope trope had me skeptical.
So Marina Singh is a failed gynecologist turned pharmacologist who works for Vogel - a pharmaceutical company funding her mentor's project. Her lab partner is sent into the Amazonian jungle to look for Dr. Swenson since the company has lost contact with her and is concerned about its investment. When word returns that her lab partner has died, Marina heads into the jungle to get some answers. When she arrives in Manaus, she is greeted by Milton, Dr. Swenson's driver, who quickly, along with the Bovendor's, Dr. Swenson's tenants, stonewall Marina, endlessly distracting her from her purpose. When she finally convinces them she is worthy of meeting the elusive Dr. Swenson, Dr. Swenson appears and takes Marina into the heart of the jungle and the explosive reveals come one after another.
So the pacing of the book was a bit off. Too much time in Manaus - not enough time in the jungle - too much time ruining the end. Still, the book easily could have been twice as long - and quite possibly needed to be. There were quite a few areas that were lacking. First, Marina is half Indian - presumably to counteract criticism of the white savior in the jungle. The author does, after all, make a point of letting us know that in Manaus, Marina wasn't bothered by the local sellers because she didn't look like a tourist. And yet, the author completely saves herself from having to fully explore an ethnic protagonist by making her half white and a Minnesotan to boot raised so far away from any cultural influence. Second, Marina has daddy issues and it manifests itself as lariam induced dreams. Yet, it was a completely unnecessary issue that was never fully explored. Third, there is a hint of something special between Marina and Milton. Again, though, the thought is just planted and never fully explored - such a disappointment. Finally, for a book that could have been twice as long, it should have ended half a chapter early. I won't spoil the ending, but had the book ended half a chapter earlier, it would have been closer to perfect. The final conflict was completely unnecessary and served only to undermine any progress in character Marina had made.
Yet, for all its pitfalls, I really enjoyed this book. Dr. Swenson was easily my favorite character. She was tough, ruthless, and wise. Marina was annoying to me. The book certainly was set up to take us on the journey of her transformation, but I never connected with her from the beginning so I was uninterested in her growth and transformation. Still, the prose was so beautiful I hardly recognized my issues with the book until long after it was over. Sign of a well written book and well worth the read.
So Marina Singh is a failed gynecologist turned pharmacologist who works for Vogel - a pharmaceutical company funding her mentor's project. Her lab partner is sent into the Amazonian jungle to look for Dr. Swenson since the company has lost contact with her and is concerned about its investment. When word returns that her lab partner has died, Marina heads into the jungle to get some answers. When she arrives in Manaus, she is greeted by Milton, Dr. Swenson's driver, who quickly, along with the Bovendor's, Dr. Swenson's tenants, stonewall Marina, endlessly distracting her from her purpose. When she finally convinces them she is worthy of meeting the elusive Dr. Swenson, Dr. Swenson appears and takes Marina into the heart of the jungle and the explosive reveals come one after another.
So the pacing of the book was a bit off. Too much time in Manaus - not enough time in the jungle - too much time ruining the end. Still, the book easily could have been twice as long - and quite possibly needed to be. There were quite a few areas that were lacking. First, Marina is half Indian - presumably to counteract criticism of the white savior in the jungle. The author does, after all, make a point of letting us know that in Manaus, Marina wasn't bothered by the local sellers because she didn't look like a tourist. And yet, the author completely saves herself from having to fully explore an ethnic protagonist by making her half white and a Minnesotan to boot raised so far away from any cultural influence. Second, Marina has daddy issues and it manifests itself as lariam induced dreams. Yet, it was a completely unnecessary issue that was never fully explored. Third, there is a hint of something special between Marina and Milton. Again, though, the thought is just planted and never fully explored - such a disappointment. Finally, for a book that could have been twice as long, it should have ended half a chapter early. I won't spoil the ending, but had the book ended half a chapter earlier, it would have been closer to perfect. The final conflict was completely unnecessary and served only to undermine any progress in character Marina had made.
Yet, for all its pitfalls, I really enjoyed this book. Dr. Swenson was easily my favorite character. She was tough, ruthless, and wise. Marina was annoying to me. The book certainly was set up to take us on the journey of her transformation, but I never connected with her from the beginning so I was uninterested in her growth and transformation. Still, the prose was so beautiful I hardly recognized my issues with the book until long after it was over. Sign of a well written book and well worth the read.
jillian_roach's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
mysterious
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
mlynch323's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
terigeno's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
5.0