State of Wonder is a page turner. It's a book that gnaws at your mind in a good way. It is a book that surprised me. It's a book that I want to see as a movie done well.
The novel opens with the news of a death. Marina's colleague, Anders, has died while in the Amazon. He had been sent there to investgate the work of Dr. Swenson. a researcher funded by their pharmaceutical company who has refused to be pinned down on how the work is going and when it will be completed. Marina is asked to go to the Amazon to finish what her friend started. She also intends to bring back his belongings and to find out more about his death.
The thing that I have always loved about Ann Patchett's work is that she infuses her books with emotion. As you read, you grow to really care about the characters. She is adept at creating a world of distinct people with their own particular points of view that you grow to understand.
I also love her ambition. On an emotional level, this book takes you on a journey of grief, loss, and self-discovery. On the cerebral side of the ledger, she writes in detail about medical procedures, medications, and what it would be like if you lived in an Amazonian culture. It's a book that keeps your heart and mind busy. I will be reading it again.
