State of Wonder

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State of Wonder by Ann Patchett

 

Have you ever read a book and thought this must be good because I’ve heard good things about the author?  Well, my book club pick for November was State of Wonder by Ann Patchett and, even though I haven’t read anything else by Ann Patchett, her previous book, Bel Canto, is widely talked about so I was excited to read it.  Well, I have some mixed feelings about this book.

The story line is that a pharmaceutical representative company has been funding research in the Amazon and when a representative sent there to check on the status of the research is reported dead, Dr. Singh travels to Brazil to find out what happened to her colleague and friend in hopes of providing his widow with answers.

The research that is being done there is quite fascinating.  The potential profit from a fertility drug is quite high as it would allow women to bear children when they are very old.  Women in a tribe there are being researched because of their ability to do just that – could you believe being fertile well into your later years!  Wow!

The story line is quite interesting and you learn a lot about living in the Amazon.  However, some of the twists and turns (specifically in the end) left me scratching my head.  That all being said, it was interesting and now I want to read a novel by her that everyone thought was amazing – just requested Bel Canto from my library…