Per amazon, in state of wonder, pharmaceutical researcher dr. Marina singh sets off into the amazon jungle to find the remains and effects of a colleague who recently died under somewhat mysterious circumstances. Online book discussion of ann patchetts state of wonder. State of wonder is a masterpiece novel, written by true wordsmith ann patchett. The story is so well written that you will feel yourself a part of the adventure. That is, of course, a simplified summary of a story that amazon describes as emotional. 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. Book summary ann patchett raises the bar with state of wonder, a provocative and ambitious novel set deep in the amazon jungle. Online resources and questions for your book club to connect your groups lives, interests and personal experiences to books you discuss, tuesday, january 28, 2014 discussion guide for state of. Marina singh is sent to the amazon to gather information on the mysterious death of a colleague and the status of a fellow doctors dr. 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. Best southern books for your book club southern living. Our october cc book club selection is state of wonder by ann patchett.
Palacio is juvenile fiction, written with a target audience of kids from 8 to years old. Enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. Consequently, most of the authors and publishers resources are directed toward discussing the books with children or young adults. A researcher at a pharmaceutical company, marina singh journeys into the heart of the amazonian delta to check on a field team that has been silent for two yearsa dangerous assignment that forces marina to confront the ghosts of her past. We discussed this at length in my bookclub and we all agreed. State of wonder, patchetts sixth novel, is a riveting variation on that tightly plotted journey from darkness to light. 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.
A casual observer of the bookclub scene could be fooled into thinking that this summer was a hard one for the nations leisure readers. 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. The only thing better than a great read is sharing it with friends. We were also split on whether the one night with anders was. Bookmark file pdf state of wonder ann patchett state of wonder ann patchett state of wonder by ann patchett pt1 ann patchett, fresh from her appearance on the colbert report, discusses her new novel state of wonder with the women of. 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. Discussion questions for state of wonder by ann patchett 1. This is the first in a series of posts about ann patchetts state of wonder.
Annick swenson, who seems to have disappeared in the amazon while working on an extremely valuable new drug. State of wonder by ann patchett book club discussion questions. Its received numerous national and international awards, including being one of time magazines 100 best young adult books of all time january, 2015, and usa today s top 100 bestsellers. Best southern books for your book club best southern books for your book club. State of wonder raises questions of morality and principle, civilization, culture, love, and science. 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. Annick swenson groundbreaking research with the lakashi tribe, where the women give birth well into their seventies. Discussion questions for state of wonder by ann patchett. State of wonder by ann patchett in the first installment of the forbeswoman book club. The state of wonder by roboreads see profile 103115every one had interesting comments, opinions and questions about this book, unlike other books. 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 i really enjoyed this book despite the reader not doing it justice. Its this overpowering impulse that will strike all but the most incurious reader of state of wonder, ann patchetts eighth book and sixth novel, a nearly pointillist creation about a mighty pharmaceutical company, a band of zealous scientists, and an untouchedbytime tribe in the amazon basin holding onto a medical secret that could.
Find discussion questions and reading group guide for state of wonder by ann patchett. Book club bc meets once a month to discuss a book chosen by the group. Alas, i did not reach a state of wonder reading this. Annick swenson, who seems to have disappeared in the amazon while working on an extremely valuable. State of wonder october cc book club selection college. The novel traces the steps of 42yearold marina singh, pharmacologist at. For more information about our book groups, please call the library at 3036518472.
The book was published by bloomsbury in the united kingdom and by harper in. 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. Marina singh is sent to brazil to track down her former mentor, who seems to have disappeared in the amazon while working on what is destined to be a valuable new drug. To kick things off, here are a few state of wonder book club questions. Barbara bovender, one of anniks caretakersgatekeepers, tells marina annik is such a force of nature. Participation in all book groups and online book clubs is free, unless otherwise noted. Book groups and online book clubs city of longmont, colorado. State of wonder is a 2011 novel by american author ann patchett. Ann patchett a researcher at a pharmaceutical company, marina singh journeys into the heart of the amazonian delta to check on a field team that has been silent for two yearsa dangerous assignment that forces. What is the significance of the novels title, state of wonder. State of wonder ann patchett, 2011 harpercollins 368 pp.
We are way overdue for our fourth installment of the sts science book club. This week were talking about state of wonder by ann patchett. Marina singh, a doctor, is sent into the amazon jungle to investigate the death of her coworker, and to check the. Ann patchett raises the bar with state of wonder, a provocative and ambitious novel set deep in the amazon jungle. State of wonder, patchetts eighth book and sixth novel, is no less multinational in its cast of characters, or highstakes in its plot. State of wonder is a story that conveys a wonderful adventure of stunning scope and scenery. Ann patchett raises the bar with state of wonder, a provocative and ambitious novel set deep. Dont be put off reading her other books by a less than brilliant reader though as anne patchett is an excellent writer. 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. 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. This time, its a novel with not one but two women scientists. About half of us thought marina was pregnant, but the other half didnt. These casual gatherings enable members with different backgrounds to share their thoughts and cultures with each other, all of which make for a deeper understanding of the book.
Ann patchett biography book summary discussion questions. State of wonder starts with the death of anders eckman, a research doctor for pharmaceutical company vogel. We were also split on whether the one night with anders was appropriate, or whether it added to the story. Choose a few events from the book to explore some of these themes.
State of wonder i almost gave up on this listen after the first hour. I am so glad i didnt because the book suddenly took off and i stayed awake all night just to see what would happen next. In her sixth novel, state of wonder, ann patchett delivers an adventure story that still rests comfortably on the shelf of literary fiction. State of wonder expect miracles when you read ann patchetts fiction. June 6, 2011 set in the amazon rain forest, ann patchetts latest novel, state of wonder, is a dramatic, transportive adventure story that takes on issues of medical ethics, cultural respect. Its always a good idea to check our calendar for lastminute changes or cancellations. State of wonder, by ann patchett by margaret manning 6 years ago mindset 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.
A site dedicated to book lovers providing a forum to discover and share commentary about the books and authors they enjoy. 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. Marina singh is sent to brazil to track down her former mentor, dr. She also hopes to find answers to questions about another friends death. Please click on the links below to access additional posts. She travels into the amazon jungle to collect the remains and. State of wonder summary and study guide supersummary. State of wonder summary and study guide supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature.
Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature. Videoannouncing the inaugural forbeswoman book club. She dares to send women into decidedly masculine territoryviolence and corruption in the jungle. 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. The movie wonder is scheduled to be released on november. A novel and millions of other books are available for instant access. Ironically this time it was a book club selection that i chose.