Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Waiting on Wednesday - State of Wonder; Ann Patchett


Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we are eagerly anticipating! Want to participate? Post your own WOW entry on your blog, and leave your link at Breaking the Spine.Here's my pick for this week:


State of Wonder; Ann Patchett
Harper Collins - June 1, 2011

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.

25 comments:

  1. I LOVE Ann Patchett's books! I am so excited for State of Wonder.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wow! The Amazon! I don't think I have ever read a book set there. I look forward to hearing more.

    ReplyDelete
  3. This one is on my list, too. I usually really enjoy Patchett's work.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Oh my! This book sounds fabulous, and since I have really enjoyed Patchett's writing in the past, I am adding this one to my list right now! Thanks for that enticing summary statement!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I bet a lot of people are waiting for this one!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Didn't know Patchett had a new book coming out - can't wait!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. This is a new author to me. Off to research thanks! Hope you will stop by for a visit http://www.lisasworldofbooks.com/2011/03/waiting-on-wednesday_30.html

    ReplyDelete
  8. Oh, definitely one for me! I love Ann Patchett's books. And this one sounds thrilling and fascinating, too.

    Here's MY WOW POST

    ReplyDelete
  9. I'm eagerly awaiting this one too!

    ReplyDelete
  10. There is another one on our list, I like the sounds of that one!

    ReplyDelete
  11. This definitely sounds like one that you could get lost in...hope you enjoy it when it comes out.

    ReplyDelete
  12. ooh - I like the sound of this one - I work in the pharma industry so I am interested to see how realistically drug development is described.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Sounds interesting. Hope you enjoy it! LOVE your blog name ^__^

    My WOW

    ReplyDelete
  14. I know I'm waiting for this one too. Great choice.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I can't wait to read this one! I just loved Bel Canto!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Diane, this does sound riveting! I hope you'll enjoy it.

    ReplyDelete
  17. I'm very happy I saw your post today - I also didn't know Ann Patchett was coming out with another book! Yay!

    ReplyDelete
  18. This one sounds interesting. I can't believe that I've never read anything by her!!!!!!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  19. I enjoyed Bel Canto but I haven't tried Patchett's other books. Maybe I'll pick up this one.

    ReplyDelete
  20. I'll have to keep an eye out for this one. I enjoy books based in the world of science.

    ReplyDelete
  21. I'm so up and down on Patchett books but this does sound interesting.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Yay. I love Ann Patchett and I had no idea she had another one coming out. Can't wait.

    ReplyDelete
  23. I still haven't read Ann Patchett. I guess I should!

    ReplyDelete
  24. I didn't really enjoy Bel Canto all that much, but I'm still excited for this one!

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for taking the time to visit and double thanks for any comments. If you ask a question in your comments, I will try to reply to it here, or by email if your settings allow me to do so. Thanks again for visiting.