State of Wonder, Ann Pachett 1 "13

Ann Patchett, in State of Wonder, revisits the contemporary adventure story genre, with a provocative tale of pharmacological research doctor - Marina Singh - who embarks on an journey through the Amazon after learning that her pharmacology colleague Anders died there. Anders wife doesn't believe it...and her boss and love interest, Mr. Fox, entreats her to go there to find out what is going on.  He is, after all, invested in the outcome of the research that is going on there. Dr. Annick Swenson, Marinas former instructor and mentor, has been there for years, reportedly working on a new drug that will have a massive effect on extending female fertility, with the prospect of making his company very rich.

Early reviews of the publication say to "expect miracles". In many ways, State of Wonder does meet its hype. Its vivid sense of place, for example, is truly magnificent. One can almost feel hear the buzzing and ravenous mosquitoes, feel the oppressive heat, recoil from the floating snake heads, and feel the power of the storms. But in the end I felt a little disappointed in both the plot and the character development. 

One of the premise of the book is that a drug that would  extend female human fertility indefinitely was  highly saleable commodity .   When the 50 + years old members of my Pawleys Plantation book club met today to discuss this book, they thought the idea ridiculous..  And the older their age the more they l scoffed at the idea.  There was universal agreement that they would all rather be a grandparent than bear another child themselves. .

Then there was the credibility of character development … Marina in particular seemed to step out of character. While portrayed as emotional crippled and submissive to authority, she was also highly moral and held herself to a very high ethical standard.  Sometimes she held to that character, and sometimes she slipped from it very badly to suit the plot. 

 There was enough action and exotic setting that  it would probably make a good movie,  but don’t expect a lot from the plot.