Bewilderment; Richard Powers
Random House Audio - 9/21/2021
Bewilderment was powerful story about a young boy named Robin, age 9 (soon to be 10) and his father Theo, an astrobiologist, whose researches possible life on other planets. It's also a story about their mother and wife Alys, a former environmentalist, who died in a car accident two years earlier while trying to avoid hitting an opossum. Robin is a highly intelligent and sensitive young boy who is considered to be on the spectrum, he has also been bullied. Robin is very intense about the world around him and is especially concerned about animal kind. When Robin becomes enraged in school one day and lashes out, hitting another classmate in the face with a thermos, the school demands that Theo do something about his son's behavior or he will not be allowed back in school. Not wanting to medicate Robin or label his son, Theo reaches out to a former associate of his late-wife asking him to allow Robin to participate in a neurological study to help better understand the emotional triggers which cause Robin's outbursts. The love of this father for his son is easy to see in the way these two interact. When Theo and Robin are a twosome exploring nature, rivers and sleeping under the stars, profound discussions happen and all is well.
The story is much more complex than my simplified review above demonstrates. Yes, it's about raising a child who is wired differently. It is also very much about science: the planets, our climate crisis at its tipping point and what is happening in American politics and the world around us. This is a fairly short book under 300 pages and 7+ hours on audio. I thought the story was awesome but, at times it seems like the author tried to cover too much territory as well. I enjoyed the audio but, I also wished I had a print copy of as well. The writing is quite moving so it would have been nice to reread some parts.
Bewilderment was narrated by Edoardo Ballerini who did an excellent job. The audio download was provided to me at no change by Penguin Random House Audio in exchange for my unbiased review.
Rating - 4.5/5 stars
I might have to read that one, I love science.
ReplyDeleteScience lovers will likely be pleased with this one. There is just so much to think about.
DeleteThis sounds wonderful. At the same time I can see where the author may have tried covering a lot of topics, with varying results- lots of big issues there. I love environmentalism and astronomy so I would probablt like this.
ReplyDeleteI can see science lovers in awe by the writing in this one. Lot's to think about.
DeleteI had to give up on The Overstory, which is written by Powers, but this one appeals to me. I'll add it to my audio TBR list.
ReplyDeleteI have The Overstory in print but, the spirit has not moved me to try it yet LOL - Maybe as a combo read/listen as it's rather long.
DeleteIt's very different. I was especially taken by the father/son relationship.
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of combining their personal journey with their experiences out in the environment.
ReplyDeletePowers is so incredible, his writing is always deep and thought provoking.
DeleteThat is a lot of ground to cover but sounds very much like a worthwhile read! I would like to check this one out but probably will have to be print version for me.
ReplyDeleteIr's not a terribly long book and so worth reading.
DeleteYou give me interesting things to think about it - when I get to this one. I have the print copy to read. On Friday I listened to the NY Times podcast with Richard Powers about the book ... if you haven't heard it already, you might like it here: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/01/books/review/podcast-richard-powers-bewilderment-honoree-fanonne-jeffers-love-songs-web-du-bois.html
ReplyDeleteThanks for the link Susan. I bet you will enjoy this one.
DeleteIt's high on my list of reads to get to. I liked The Overstory so much. Surprised he came out with a new one so fast.
ReplyDeleteI still have The Overstory unread; this is a much shorter book and very good.
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