State of Wonder: A Novel

Book #21: Karen's pick, Karen hosted!

I feel really ambivalent about this book. On the one hand, some of the descriptions were delightful, the plot was interesting, there were quite a few plot twists that kept you guessing, but on the other hand there were just too many things that did not sit well with me. I felt an overwhelming desire to never to go South America after this books, and for better or worse, that's a mark of a good author. Her descriptions of the jungle are so intense and border on the horrifying -- it makes you want to avoid the place like the plague. Or malaria, which seems more appropriate.

SPOILERS -- Dr. Swenson's a jerk. She's high and mighty and can't be bothered with anyone who doesn't precisely meet all of her ridiculously rigorous standards. She's one of those characters that is deeply unpleasant and difficult to like. As a result, she's responsible for most of the growth of the protagonist over the course of the novel, but her presence is a source of deep displeasure for me. Additionally, she has an affair with her mentor and colleague for years and gives him hardly more than a passing reference. The affair bothers me in general, but it's almost worse that she seems so cold about it all. Why bother potentially ruining lives if you don't really have burning, deep-down, once-in-a-lifetime passion and love? It just seems horribly wrong. Plus, the whole sex scene between Marina and Anders also really bothered me. I know he was just rescued and so glad to see a familiar face and they were both probably displacing, but they're both aware, mature adults. At least couldn't Marina have said something like, "This is wrong"? Then, the absence of an epilogue and a wrap-up to Marina's story was disappointing.

I hated Marina and Dr. Fox's relationship. He also seemed so cold and so overly concerned with how it would look if they were found to be in a relationship. I can understand that if there's rules and regulations in Minnesota that they would want to be a little cautious, but why the heck can't they at least kiss IN THE JUNGLE? No one is there who would even remotely care! I think that is a sign that when she gets back to Minnesota she should realize that Dr. Fox doesn't really care that much about her and she should break it off and raise Anders's love child by herself.

Recently I haven't been reading a lot of "adult" fiction. I've been catching up on my kid's books. I guess I forgot how so many modern American novels these days are actually quite depressing. There seemed to be an aura of gloom shrouding this book, and even though there was the occasional beautiful moment, more or less I would regard it as a pitiful tragedy. A culmination of hundreds of small things that have gone not quite right. Not horribly wrong, just not quite right.

I don't think I would read it again and I don't think I would recommend it.

This is one of my all-time favorite books. Will definitely read again.

I found it interesting and well-paced, but I can't say I loved it.

I liked this more than I thought I would. The writing is spectacular. The story is interesting. There’s a lot to think deeply about.