State of Wonder is a lush and living novel about Marina, a scientist, who travels to Brazil. She’s chasing two phantoms- the story about the death of her colleague, Anders, and the woman he was chasing, a scientist whose lab, in the depths of the rainforest, is developing a drug for the company Marina works for. She’s caustic, selfish, and disdains interption. In a way, Marina is continuing Anders’ abandoned work, they were both sent to Brazil to track her down and get a status report on the miracle drug she’s developing, one that extends a woman’s fertility and staves off menopause until old age. Marina, Anders family, and Mr. Fox, CEO of the drug company and Marina’s love interest, are all shocked by the almost dismissive note she sends to announce Anders’ death.
Normally I don’t do so much plot recap, but for State of Wonder, Patchett’s impeccable plotting stood out to me. What seems almost fantastical on a back flap felt conventional and regular to me because of the way Marina’s life took on an almost mundane reality despite her mission. It was the lovely inner life of Marina in contrast to the complex plot that made this book really shine. Patchett’s plotting wasn’t the only thing admirable about this book, her sense of place, her characterization, and her ability to build tension between her characters seemed effortless while beautiful.
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