Ann Patchett has dazzled readers with her award-winning books, including The Magician's Assistant and the New York Times bestselling Bel Canto. Now she raises the bar with State of Wonder, a provocative and ambitious novel set deep in the Amazon jungle. Dr. Marina Singh, a research scientist with a Minnesota pharmaceutical company, is sent to Brazil to track down her former mentor, Dr. Annick Swenson, who seems to have all but disappeared in the Amazon while working on what is destined to be an extremely valuable new drug, the development of which has already cost the company a fortune. Nothing about Marina's assignment is easy: not only does no one know where Dr. Swenson is, but the last person who was sent to find her, Marina's research partner Anders Eckman, died before he could complete his mission. Plagued by trepidation, Marina embarks on an odyssey into the insect-infested jungle in hopes of finding her former mentor as well as answers to several troubling questions about her friend's death, the state of her company's future, and her own past. Once found, Dr. Swenson, now in her seventies, is as ruthless and uncompromising as she ever was back in the days of Grand Rounds at Johns Hopkins. With a combination of science and subterfuge, she dominates her research team and the natives she is studying with the force of an imperial ruler. But while she is as threatening as anything the jungle has to offer, the greatest sacrifices to be made are the ones Dr. Swenson asks of herself, and will ultimately ask of Marina, who finds she may still be unable to live up to her teacher's expectations. In a narrative replete with poison arrows, devouring snakes, and a neighboring tribe of cannibals, State of Wonder is a world unto itself, where unlikely beauty stands beside unimaginable loss. It is a tale that leads the reader into the very heart of darkness, and then shows us what lies on the other side. (From jacket copy)

I bought this book because it was a "Heather's Pick" and I have always loved her choices that I've read. I finally decided to read the book because one of my good friends read it and loved it. I was very disappointed. I found the story was extremely slow, and didn't really get too far. In fact, I thought it to be almost unbearbly boring until about the last 100 pages, and even then it wasn't much more interesting. I couldn't stand any of the characters, with exception to Milton, the man who helps Marina get around when she makes it to Brazil. I honestly had a hard time making it through this book, and told my husband continuously that I wanted to give up on it. I held out hope and endured until the end. Though the ending was not disappointing it definitely was not worth the journey. It is rare for me to not finish a book; I think had my friend not loved this book so much, and had it not been so highly praised, I would have given up hope for some sort of entertainment (and saved myself the hours it took to read this.) But that's just me, maybe I am missing something most others seem to have picked up on and enjoyed.

This author made me believe I was in the jungle. I loved the story and the exotic setting. However, the best part of this book is that all the major characters are female. They are all smart, brave women embracing life. I highly recommend this book.

This is the first Ann Patchett book I've read and was really looking forward to it. I'm not so sure how I feel now after reading the book. It left me with quite a few mixed emtions. There were aspects of the book that I really enjoyed, mostly the jungle exploration, but there were some parts of the story that just didn't sit all that well. Mainly the events that occur in the last quarter of the story. I had been hoping for more of a conclusion as well, but that's probably just personal preference. Found the book a bit slow going at first, but it picked up about halfway through. Didn't really enjoy the banter between the doctors. Overall I didn't hate it but I wouldn't go out of my way to suggest it to anyone. Still going to give another of her books a try and hope for the best.

This book is well written, has an interesting story line, but there are flaws - something just doesn't ring true for me with the main character, but those surrounding her and the plot keep you reading. The book is not very universal in appeal - probably be of interest mostly for women 35 and older as many will be able to relate and bond with the character and her personal struggle.

I found this to be a very boring read and very difficult to finish.

I was going to give this book 2 stars but decided against it and gave it 3. Let me tell you. This was a very boring book. Absolutely nothing happened in it. The main character, Melanie, goes to the Amazon after receiving a letter from her previous mentor, Dr. Annik Swenson, saying that her coworker, Anders Eckman, who was currently in the Amazon has died. Melanie is so upset and when she tells Anders' wife that he is dead she doesn't believe Melanie and asks her to find out what happened since Dr. Swenson said that they buried him in the Amazon. Melanie, after days of struggling, finds her mentor Dr. Swenson and helps out in the study of the Lakshi people who eat a special bark right off the tree and can have kids until they are on their dying bed. By eating the bark it also gives them immunity to malaria. Melanie finds out that Dr. Swenson is pregnant and delivers her baby for her. It is pretty much the same thing over and over again. Malaria, bark, mushrooms, babies, Lakshi people. I don't know. I need excitement in my books and this just didn't do it for me. I will give the author credit and say that it was written beautifully and that I could picture myself in their boat as they rowed through the Amazon, but other than that the book was dull. I didn't like the ending either. I won't spoil it but giving up people in return for other people doesn’t go well for me and the sex scene turned me off as well. The whole action didn't turn me off; it was the people who were doing it. I would say, read it to find out, but I wouldn't want to bore you. That's all.

I have read two other books.... Bel Canto and Run. I would have to say that I enjoyed Bel Canto much more than I did State of Wonder. While I related tremondously to many aspects of this novel (3rd world living, malaria, anti-malarial medications and the effects)... I felt that the ending of the novel did not do it justice. I feel like there was a lot of build up during the novel and she didnt follow through with the ending. It was still a nice read and the story developed quite beautifully. I felt it was very ambitious and perhaps could have had a more robust ending.

This is one of the best books I have read in years, and Patchett's best since Bel Canto. She has such an amazing gift with interpersonal relationships and her description of people's most intimate thoughts is constantly shocking yet correct. Great plot, interesting all along. Well recommended for both men and women.

This is the best book I've read in a while....and I read quite a few books. Her character development is very good. I found myself chuckling to myself as I read because I could really picture the quirky characters.

I believe this book deserves more than it's 3 stars in Chapters rating. Although slow at the beginning with the impression that the author is spending much too long on mundane relationships, by the middle of the book it begins enticing you and the last 1/3 of the book is better than many books I have ever read. I actually cried near the end and it will be a book I will not forget!