User:Northerlywind/State of Wonder

State of Wonder

Author	Ann Patchett
Language	English
Genre	Adventure
Publisher	HarperCollins
Publication date	2011
Publication place	United States
Media type	Print (Paperback)
Pages	368
ISBN	0-06-204980-1

State of Wonder is a 2011 novel by American author Ann Patchett. It was shortlisted for the Wellcome Trust Book Prize . The book follows Dr. Marina Singh, a pharmaceutical researcher sent into the Amazon jungle to investigate the death of her colleague, Anders Eckman. Marina is also instructed to find Dr. Annick Swenson, formerly her professor, and bring news of Annick's research on the extended fertility of women in an Amazonian tribe.

Plot

The story begins with Dr. Marina Singh, who receives a curt letter from Dr. Annick Swenson regarding the death from fever of her colleague, Anders Eckman . Marina works as a medical researcher at a pharmaceutical company, Vogel, in Minnesota. She holds both a PhD and MD. The CEO of Vogel, Jim Fox (frequently referred to as "Mr. Fox") instructs Marina to travel to the Amazon to investigate Anders' death and continue his work, which was to bring news of researcher and Marina's former professor Dr. Swenson. Dr. Swenson's research involves the women of the fictional Lakashi tribe, who have been fertile well past the average age. Marina visits Anders' wife, Karen, in their home, where she lives with their two boys. Karen confides in Marina that she does not believe Anders to be dead, and beseeches her to find him.

Mr. Fox is widowed, and romantically involved with Marina. No one at Vogel knows about their relationship, and they have mutually agreed to keep things secret. Before Marina leaves for the Amazon, Mr. Fox gives her a cellphone and lariam. Marina realizes she has taken lariam before, since she frequently travelled to India to visit her father as a young girl. She recalls several nightmares she had involving her father leaving her in a crowded market. Though Mr. Fox instructs Marina to frequently take the lariam, she throws the medication in the trash after having a nightmare on the flight to Brazil. Once she arrives in Manaus, Brazil, she is greeted by Milton, a local guide who leads her to the hotel. Marina is told to seek out the "Bovenders" an American, bohemian couple who live with Dr. Swenson. She frequently sends them letters, but receives no reply.

Marina returns to the hotel one day to find Milton with the Bovenders. She attempts to acquaint them in order to learn the location of Dr. Swenson, but they are unrelenting. Eventually, it transpires that Dr. Swenson is returning to her house. Despite teaching Marina at Johns Hopkins University's medical school, Dr. Swenson does not seem to recognize Marina. However, they eventually come to a superficial acquaintance. Soon after, Dr. Swenson decides to return to the Lakashi tribe, bringing Marina along with her. They meet a young, deaf boy, who turns out to be under the care of Dr. Swenson. His name is Easter, as Dr. Swenson found him in Easter. Marina and Dr. Swenson travel along the Rio Negro with Easter. They arrive at the Lakashi tribe's dwelling, to a great fire display by the Lakashi, who are welcoming them back. Marina stays with Easter in Anders' old residence, while Dr. Swenson resides alone.

Soon, Marina becomes acquainted with the other researchers. She learns about Martin Rapp, the researcher that discovered the Lakashi tribe, and how he used to be romantically involved with Dr. Swenson. Several days later, there is a Lakashi woman giving birth. Marina helps deliver the baby with a C-section, and subsequently gains enough renown to be granted access to the trees that extend the Lakashi women's fertility. She learns that the Lakashi women scrape and chew the bark straight off the trees deep in the Amazon jungle. The trees are named the Martins, after Martin Rapp, and Marina tries to eat some of the bark herself. Marina also learns about the Rapps, hallucinogenic mushrooms that grow around the trees.

Later, Dr. Swenson tells Marina that she has been frequently eating the bark of the trees, and is pregnant herself, despite being past the fertile age. She tells Marina to stay and help her deliver the baby. Presently, Mr. Fox arrives, with guidance from Barbara Bovender and Milton. They have not communicated for a very long time, due to the loss of Marina's phone and the unreliability of the post from Manaus. He realizes that Marina has changed a lot since he last saw her, and tells her to return to Minnesota. Barbara remarks offhand that she thought she saw her long-dead father running and waving to her through the trees during their river journey. Marina realizes that this must have been Anders Eckman, who would be still alive, as there were not many Caucasian males in the Amazon whom Barbara could mistake for her father.

She travels with Easter through the river to another, hostile, cannibal tribe. Marina brings the Rapps and oranges as gifts in exchange for Anders. However, they recognize Easter as one of their own, and ask for Easter in exchange for Anders. Though Marina is unwilling, Anders tells her there is no other way. They leave Easter with the other tribe, and return to the Lakashi. Meanwhile, Dr. Swenson has had a miscarriage. Anders and Marina eventually return to Minnesota. The book ends with Anders greeting his wife at the door.

Characters

Dr. Marina Singh is the protagonist of the story. She is a medical researcher at Vogel, a pharmaceutical company. Marina has an ex-husband but no children. She is the daughter of a researcher based in India, whom she rarely sees.

Jim Fox is the CEO of Vogel, and is romantically involved with Marina, despite being considerably older than her. He is a very practical and serious man.

Anders Eckman is Marina's colleague, who was sent off to the Amazon against his will, in order to bring news of Dr. Annick Swenson. He has a wife, Karen Eckman, and two sons. He ostensibly died by fever while living with the Lakashi tribe; however, at the end of the novel, it is revealed that he survived. Anders was held by a neighbouring, cannibal tribe, eventually recovering from his fever but unable to return home. Anders frequently writes letters to Karen, which are rarely received.

Easter is a young boy whom Dr. Swenson cares for. He is deaf, but has the intellectual capacity of a 12-year-old. Dr. Swenson estimates his actual age to be much younger. Easter was primarily in the care of Anders, who was very paternal to him, until his 'death'. Easter quickly grows attached to Marina. At the end of the novel, Marina is forced to give Easter to the cannibal tribe in exchange for Anders.

Barbara and Jackie Bovender are Americans who live with Dr. Swenson. They generally keep the house, collecting her mail, and cleaning the house when Dr. Swenson visits. Marina refers to them as the "Bovenders". Initially, they are reluctant to help Marina, despite being outwardly nice and kind to her. However, eventually they relent and reveal to Marina the location of Dr. Swenson. Later on in the book, Barbara Bovender helps Mr. Fox find the Lakashi tribe. Jackie Bovender is less outgoing than Barbara and is often seasick.

Setting

The book is initially set in Minnesota, which presents a stark contrast to the later setting, the Amazon jungle of Brazil. The characters travel along the Rio Negro in Manaus, to find the Lakashi tribe. The tribe members live among the trees, in very simplistic shelters. They have a great respect for the trees; the women scrape the bark off with their teeth, which is the suspected cause of their extended fertility. In addition, there are mushrooms that grow near the trees, which are known to cause psychedelic effects if ingested.