State of wonder summary and study guide supersummary. State of wonder was recommended to me by so many women in the sixty and me community that i decided it was time to add it to my reading list. I have no doubts that patchett loves easter as much as marina and all of us do. We discussed this at length in my bookclub and we all agreed.
My best guess is that if you liked those welldeveloped novels you will also like state of wonder. June 14, 2011 ann patchetts new novel lives up to its name. Its probably impossible to avoid making comparisons between ann patchetts new novel state of wonder and joseph conrads classic novella heart of darkness, so im not even going to try. Researcher marina singh leaves her minnesota lab for the amazon to investigate a coworkers death and evaluate the research of a field team deep in the jungle. About half of us thought marina was pregnant, but the other half didnt. Alas, i did not reach a state of wonder reading this. I didnt even realize that i was invested in the story until it was too late to do anything but sit back and enjoy the ride. State of wonder by ann patchett reading guidebook club. State of wonder i really enjoyed this book despite the reader not doing it justice. State of wonder by ann patchett book club discussion. State of wonder state of wonder is a world unto itself, where unlikely beauty stands beside unimaginable loss, a tale that leads into the very heart of darkness and then shows us what lies on the other side. Discussion guide for state of wonder book discussions. It is the story of pharmacologist marina singh, who journeys to brazil to bring back information about seemingly miraculous drug research being conducted there by her former teacher, dr.
She travels into the amazon jungle to collect the remains and. We were also split on whether the one night with anders was. Videoannouncing the inaugural forbeswoman book club. Infusing the narrative with the same ingenuity and emotional urgency that pervaded her acclaimed previous novels bel canto, taft, run, the magicians assistant, and the patron saint of liars, patchett delivers an enthrallingly innovative tale of aspiration, exploration, and attachment in state of wondera gripping adventure story and a. Jun 19, 2011 state of wonder, patchetts eighth book and sixth novel, is no less multinational in its cast of characters, or highstakes in its plot. Now that i have had a chance to see for myself, i can say that the praise for author ann patchett is totally justified. State of wonder by ann patchett halifax public libraries. She dares to send women into decidedly masculine territoryviolence and corruption in the jungle. Ann patchett born december 2, 1963 is an american author. Ann patchett is the author of six novels, the patron saint of liars, taft, the magicians assistant, bel canto, run, and state of wonder. Natalie shapero, week one natalie shapero, week two sergei lobanovrostovsky, week two david lynn, week two sergei lobanovrostovsky, week three janet mcadams, week three over the next month, david lynn, natalie shapero, janet mcadams and i will be writing. Anne patchetts beautiful writing alone is enough reason to read this book.
Marina singh is sent to brazil to track down her former mentor, dr. State of wonder state of wonder is a world unto itself, where unlikely beauty stands beside unimaginable loss, a tale that leads into the very heart of darkness and then shows us what lies on the other side dr. Mar 21, 2012 every wednesday in march the forbeswoman book club will meet online to discuss its first selection. Ann patchett, the new york times bestselling author of commonwealth and state of wonder, returns with her most powerful novel to date. State of wonder by ann patchett goodreads share book. Ann patchetts new novel, state of wonder, is her most mature work to date. We were also split on whether the one night with anders was appropriate, or whether it added to the story. Jul 12, 2019 this months book is state of wonder by ann patchett. Annick swenson, who seems to have disappeared in the amazon while working on an extremely valuable new drug. Choose a few events from the book to explore some of these themes. A young pharmaceutical scientist heads into the heart of darkness that is the amazonian rain forest to find her lost coworker and confront a scientist on the loose.
Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature. Marina singh sets off into the amazon jungle to find the remains and. State of wonder expect miracles when you read ann patchetts fiction. Jun 24, 2011 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. Identify a few for example, eden prairie marinas minnesota home, easter the young deaf native boy, milton the brazilian guide and talk about how ann patchett uses them to deepen the story. State of wonder echoes the asymmetries of that book in the emotional.
Please click on the links below to access additional posts. Ann patchett is one of my veryveryvery favorite writers, and rereading her books is such a joy. Ann patchett returns with a provocative and assured novel of morality and miracles, science and sacrifice set in. In that book, patchett explores two settings that are largely unfamiliar to most western readers. The state of wonder by roboreads see profile 103115every one had interesting comments, opinions and questions about this book, unlike other books. Club ed book club state of wonder discussion forums club ed book club state of wonder discussion this topic has 38 replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 1 week, 5 days ago by jennifer lawler. State of wonder is a masterpiece novel, written by true wordsmith ann patchett. State of wonder raises questions of morality and principle, civilization, culture, love, and science. Marina singh, the 42yearold research scientist who is the heroine of state of wonder, ann patchetts most farflung yet somehow least exotic book, is in her office at a large. State of wonder by ann patchett book club discussion questions. Marina singh, a research scientist with a pharmaceutical company, is sent to track down her former mentor, dr. May 03, 2011 discovery state of wonder is a story that conveys a wonderful adventure of stunning scope and scenery.
State of wonder raises questions of morality and principle, civilization, culture. State of wonder raises questions of morality and principle, civilization, culture, love, and. State of wonder is an imaginative tale of mystery, morals, ethics, and the delicate balance that can exist within the world, both within a single ecosystem and within ourselves. 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. 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. This is the first in a series of posts about ann patchetts state of wonder. Find discussion questions and reading group guide for state of wonder by ann patchett. State of wonder npr coverage of state of wonder by ann patchett. Patchetts other novels include the patron saint of liars 1992, taft 1994, the magicians assistant 1997, run 2007, state of wonder 2011, commonwealth 2016, and the dutch house 2019.
Annick swenson, who seems to have disappeared in the. A site dedicated to book lovers providing a forum to discover and share commentary about the books and authors they enjoy. She received the 2002 penfaulkner award and the orange prize for fiction in the same year, for her novel bel canto. Ann patchett has dazzled readers with her awardwinning books, including the magicians assistant and the new york times bestselling bel canto. State of wonder expect miracles when you read ann patchett s fiction. Barbara bovender, one of anniks caretakersgatekeepers, tells marina annik is such a force of nature. Jun 14, 2011 its probably impossible to avoid making comparisons between ann patchett s new novel state of wonder and joseph conrads classic novella heart of darkness, so im not even going to try. This week were talking about state of wonder by ann patchett.
State of wonder is a 2011 novel by american author ann patchett. Ann patchett raises the bar with state of wonder, a provocative and ambitious novel set deep in the amazon jungle. Marina singh, a doctor, is sent into the amazon jungle to investigate the death of her coworker, and to check the. Discussion questions for state of wonder by ann patchett 1. I have a special place in my heart of joseph conrads heart of darkness, so hearing this one. Dont be put off reading her other books by a less than brilliant reader though as anne patchett is an excellent writer. State of wonder starts with the death of anders eckman, a research doctor for pharmaceutical company vogel. I thought that ann patchett had made her great contribution to literature with bel. Ann patchett biography book summary discussion questions. Mar 07, 2012 videoannouncing the inaugural forbeswoman book club.
Discussion questions for state of wonder by ann patchett. Marina singh is sent into the isolated regions of the rio negro to investigate the death of one colleague and meet up with her former professor and team leader dr swenson. State of wonder, patchetts eighth book and sixth novel, is no less multinational in its cast of characters, or highstakes in its plot. Ann patchett is the author of seven novels, the patron saint of liars, taft, the magicians assistant, bel canto, run, state of wonder, and commonwealth. Annick swenson, who seems to have disappeared in the amazon while working on an extremely valuable. Dec 03, 2019 state of wonder deftly twists, turns off the map fresh air.
Ann patchett returns with a provocative and assured novel of morality and miracles, science and sacrifice set in the amazon rainforest. State of wonder ann patchett, 2011 harpercollins 368 pp. Buy a cheap copy of state of wonder book by ann patchett. Identify a fewfor example, eden prairie marinas minnesota home, easter the young deaf native boy, milton the brazilian guideand talk about how ann patchett uses them to deepen the story. This months book is state of wonder by ann patchett. Annick swenson, who seems to have all but disappeared in the amazon. Its been seven years since i first read state of wonder, and the novel is even more luminous than i remembered. Identify a few for example, eden prairie marina s minnesota home, easter the young deaf native boy, milton the brazilian guide and talk about how ann patchett uses them to deepen the story. Every wednesday in march the forbeswoman book club will meet online to discuss its first selection. Visa, mastercard, american express paypal, diners club and discover. Discovery state of wonder is a story that conveys a wonderful adventure of stunning scope and scenery. This 52page guide for state of wonder by ann patchett includes detailed chapter summaries and analysis covering 11 chapters, as well as several more indepth sections of expertwritten literary analysis.
Online book discussion of ann patchetts state of wonder. Now she raises the bar with state of wonder, a provocative and ambitious novel set deep in the amazon jungle. Book summary ann patchett raises the bar with state of wonder, a provocative and ambitious novel set deep in the amazon jungle. State of wonder deftly twists, turns off the map fresh air.