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Loading... State of Wonder: A Novel (P.S.) (edition 2012)by Ann Patchett
Work detailsState of Wonder by Ann Patchett
 usefuljack | May 17, 2013 |  I was definitely all over this book, and I have to say that I enjoyed every page because I love Ann Patchett and I always believe her. Her sentences are just always terrific. That said, this book quickly became problematic for me. I really couldn't figure out how the natives could remain so anonymous, their language so impenetrable. I see how Patchett meant to avoid the "white folks find selves among natives in the Amazon" trope, but I had many questions about the other resarchers' abilities to remain so closed for so long. The effect is disconcerting. They become a mass of indistinguishable natives, for the most part. I actually think that slow character build and quiet depth are Patchett's strong suits (even though I read an interview with her in which she lauded plot as her strength), and my favorites are still The Patron Saint of Liars and Magician's Assistant for that very reason. The atmospheric sadness of those books lingers. (  ) usefuljack | May 17, 2013 | I probably would never have picked up this book, but Ann Patchett is one of my favorite authors and I am always willing to read anything she writes. While I enjoyed the book overall, it's not my favorite. I found most of the main characters rather distant and wasn't particularly invested in their journey. Although Dr. Swenson's matter-of-fact, no-nonsense attitude began to grow on me eventually. I found the final third of the book more compelling as the main character was less in her head and more present with her colleagues and the native people. There also seemed to be more energy in Patchett's prose as the narrative gained momentum. CynA | May 10, 2013 | Oh, I loved it. I think she's a great storyteller here, with a very sure touch, knowing just when to pull away and when to get in tight. And the writing is very nice, literary but not showy -- again, just right. I really, really enjoyed it all the way through. Full review here. (  ) lisapeet | May 8, 2013 | Another great story by Ann Patchett. Dr Marina Singh, a pharmacological researcher with a drug company in Minnesota travels to the Amazon jungle to find her colleague Anders Eckman. He's been reported as dead but something is suspicious. The research station is under the care of Annick Swenson who is a rogue researcher for the company Marina works for. Great story, fabulous character development and a wonderful ending. (  ) MaggieFlo | May 4, 2013 |
In her latest novel, Ann Patchett, author of the beloved Bel Canto, takes her readers down the Amazon and deep into the rain forest in a book that is part adventure story, part morality tale...This book may be on a lot of book club lists already — but with good reason...  State of Wonder is heavy with literary parallels (to Henry James, to Greek myth), but in this respect the strongest links are to Heart of Darkness, a novel that Patchett substantially rewrites, with Conrad's male text repopulated with female characters (Swenson is this book's Kurtz). It lacks the developed emotional core of Patchett's earlier books, but it is her most mature work to date, a novel that tries to be more alive to the nerve ends of philosophical life than to the simpler machinery of character motivation. “State of Wonder” is an engaging, consummately told tale. Patchett’s deadpan narrative style showcases a dry humor that enables her to wed, with fine effect, the world of “Avatar” or the “Odyssey” with that of corporate board meetings, R&D reports and peer review... “State of Wonder” is an immensely touching novel, although as with much of Patchett’s work, its emotional impact is somewhat muted by her indefatigable niceness.  Nail-biting action scenes include a young boy’s near-mortal crushing by a 15-foot anaconda, whose head Marina lops off with a machete; they’re balanced by contemplative moments that give this gripping novel spiritual and metaphysical depth, right down to the final startling plot twist.
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Elizabeth Gilbert: As your close personal friend, I happen to know that you traveled to the Amazon to conduct research for this novel, and that you sort of hated the Amazon--can you share a little about that?
Ann Patchett: I absolutely loved the Amazon for four days. It was gorgeous and unfamiliar and deeply fascinating. Unfortunately, I stayed there for ten days. There are a lot of insects in the Amazon, a lot of mud, surprisingly few vegetables, too many snakes. You can’t go anywhere by yourself, which makes sense if you don’t know the terrain, but I enjoy going places by myself. I can see how great it would be for a very short visit, and how great it would be if you lived there and had figured out what was and wasn’t going to kill you, but the interim length of time isn’t great.
EG: Didn't I hear that you have a sort of magical story about a friend who is also a writer, who was also once going to write a book about the Amazon? Can you share this miraculous tale? Also, is your writer friend pretty?
AP: This friend of mine, who happens to be you, is gorgeous, and much taller in real life. Yes, you were writing a novel about the Amazon, and then you decided not to write a novel about the Amazon, and then I started writing a novel about the Amazon, and later when we compared notes (your book dismissed, mine halfway finished) they had remarkably similar story lines, to the point of being eerie. I thought this must be because it was an incredibly banal idea and we had both come up with a generic Amazon novel, but then you told me that ideas fly around looking for homes, and when the idea hadn’t worked out with you it came to me. If this is true I think your name should be on the cover. It would increase sales significantly.
EG: Readers of your prior work--particularly the luminous Bel Canto--will be delighted to see that opera makes an appearance in this novel, as well. In fact, one of the most dramatic scenes in the book takes place at the opera. Is that a wink and a nod to loyal readers, or just an expression of your own deep and abiding musical passions?
AP: It’s a wink and a nod to Werner Herzog and his brilliant Amazon film “Fitzcarraldo” which opens at the opera house in Manaus where the aforementioned scene takes place. I had very little experience with opera when I wrote Bel Canto, and since then it’s become a huge part of my life. It was fun to write a scene set at the opera now that I know what I’m talking about.
EG: State of Wonder a rollicking adventure story, full of peril and bravery and death-defying action. I personally know you to be a homebody who likes to bake muffins for neighbors. How the heck did you pull off this wildness so convincingly? Was it as invigorating to write as it is to read?
AP: Ah, the life of the mind. All the adventure I need I can dream up in my kitchen. I love writing outside of my own experience, making imaginary worlds. If I wrote novels based on my own life I would not be making a living at this. I also love to write a strong plot. I want things to happen in my books, I want to be thrilled. I always think about Raymond Chandler. I’m sure I’m getting the phrasing wrong but the general idea is that when things get slow, bring in a man with a gun. If you can’t find a gun, a poison arrow works just as well.
EG: The cover is a work of beauty. Authors are not always so lucky. Tell us how you managed such a miracle?
AP: When I first started writing this book, I came downstairs one night and found my husband listening to “Horowitz at Carnegie Hall”. The album cover has a very lush filigreed border. I had two thoughts: first, I have an amazing husband who thankfully held onto his Horowitz LPs; second, that the album cover had the exact the feeling I wanted for my book--half jungle, half Baroque period. When I was finished writing the novel I sent the album to my editor, who sent it to the art department. They understood exactly what I was talking about.
(retrieved from Amazon Wed, 02 Jan 2013 18:25:34 -0500)
A researcher at a pharmaceutical company, Marina Singh journeys into the heart of the Amazonian delta to check on a field team that has been silent for two years -- a dangerous assignment that forces Marina to confront the ghosts of her past.
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That said, this book quickly became problematic for me. I really couldn't figure out how the natives could remain so anonymous, their language so impenetrable. I see how Patchett meant to avoid the "white folks find selves among natives in the Amazon" trope, but I had many questions about the other resarchers' abilities to remain so closed for so long. The effect is disconcerting. They become a mass of indistinguishable natives, for the most part.
I actually think that slow character build and quiet depth are Patchett's strong suits (even though I read an interview with her in which she lauded plot as her strength), and my favorites are still The Patron Saint of Liars and Magician's Assistant for that very reason. The atmospheric sadness of those books lingers. (