A review by paperindy
Bewilderment by Richard Powers
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Bewilderment is a commentary on the current state of the world, told through the story of a widowed Dad and his 9-year-old son who undergoes a new therapy for behavioural management.
There was a lot I liked about this story. I thought Theo and Robin were great characters, and I enjoyed watching Robin’s development over the course of the book, and Theo’s insights as he muddled through parenting with the ghost of his wife. I really loved the interweaving of science and science fiction, the comfort that was found from imagining other worlds and the importance of being able to do that for grappling with the state of our own world.
I couldn’t quite suspend my disbelief of the therapy method (and being able to summon someone’s essence through training to their brain scan) so I struggled a little bit with that element of the novel. But overall I thought this book had a good mix of character, plot, and insight. It was an honest portrayal of the current world’s trajectory, and a moving exploration of empathy and loss and solace within that.
There was a lot I liked about this story. I thought Theo and Robin were great characters, and I enjoyed watching Robin’s development over the course of the book, and Theo’s insights as he muddled through parenting with the ghost of his wife. I really loved the interweaving of science and science fiction, the comfort that was found from imagining other worlds and the importance of being able to do that for grappling with the state of our own world.
I couldn’t quite suspend my disbelief of the therapy method (and being able to summon someone’s essence through training to their brain scan) so I struggled a little bit with that element of the novel. But overall I thought this book had a good mix of character, plot, and insight. It was an honest portrayal of the current world’s trajectory, and a moving exploration of empathy and loss and solace within that.