Book Review

State of Wonder by Ann Patchett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Although "Bel Canto" seems to be the author's most well-received book, I liked "State of Wonder" more. The premise revolves around a drug company's desire to develop a fertility drug that will revolutionize the industry. An obscure tribe in the Amazon is discovered to be able to have babies well into their seventies! Dr. Annick Swenson has been sent there to obtain the secret of their fertility, only she's been there for years and rarely communicates. A researcher is sent to find her and after some months a cryptic note comes from Swenson saying that he died. Thus begins the heart of the story, when Dr. Marina Singh is now sent to find out what happened to the researcher and also locate Dr. Swenson. Her search is extremely difficult, aided, and sometimes hindered, by a young couple named the Bovenders. Once in the Amazon jungle, accompanied only by a deaf boy and her wits, Marina must contend with the danger of the jungle and shocking information she uncovers. To say more would spoil the book. The author's description of the Amazon had me feeling I was there with her and could almost feel the bug bites. The ending had a twist that was satisfying. It's a book you won't be able to put down.

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