State of Wonder cover art

State of Wonder

Preview

£0.00 for first 30 days

Try for £0.00
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

State of Wonder

By: Ann Patchett
Narrated by: Hope Davis
Try for £0.00

£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Buy Now for £14.99

Buy Now for £14.99

Confirm Purchase
Pay using card ending in
By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and authorise Audible to charge your designated card or any other card on file. Please see our Privacy Notice, Cookies Notice and Interest-based Ads Notice.
Cancel

About this listen

Bloomsbury presents State of Wonder by Ann Patchett, read by Hope Davis.

SHORTLISTED FOR THE ORANGE PRIZE FOR FICTION

There were people on the banks of the river.

Among the tangled waterways and giant anacondas of the Brazilian Rio Negro, an enigmatic scientist is developing a drug that could alter the lives of women for ever. Dr Annick Swenson's work is shrouded in mystery; she refuses to report on her progress, especially to her investors, whose patience is fast running out. Anders Eckman, a mild-mannered lab researcher, is sent to investigate.

A curt letter reporting his untimely death is all that returns.

Now Marina Singh, Anders' colleague and once a student of the mighty Dr Swenson, is their last hope. Compelled by the pleas of Anders's wife, Marina leaves the snowy plains of Minnesota and retraces her friend's steps into the heart of the South American darkness, determined to track down Dr. Swenson and uncover the secrets being jealously guarded among the remotest tribes of the rainforest.

What Marina does not yet know is that, in this ancient corner of the jungle, where the muddy waters and susurrating grasses hide countless unknown perils and temptations, she will face challenges beyond her wildest imagination.

Marina is no longer the student, but only time will tell if she has learnt enough.
________________________________
'The best book I have read all year. It made me laugh and weep and left me in a state of wonder: perfect from first page to last ... a masterpiece' EMMA DONOGHUE

'A triumph ... Pachett's best book yet' GUARDIAN

©2011 Ann Patchett (P)2023 Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
Literary Fiction Fiction
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

Listeners also enjoyed...

Bel Canto cover art
Mary Coin cover art
The Poisonwood Bible cover art
Ruritanian Rogues: Volumes 1-3 cover art
Jurassic Park cover art
Heart of Darkness: A Signature Performance by Kenneth Branagh cover art
Medicine Man cover art
Inescapable cover art
Lord of All Things cover art
All the Names They Used for God cover art
Euphoria cover art
A Gift of Time cover art

What listeners say about State of Wonder

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    17
  • 4 Stars
    4
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    16
  • 4 Stars
    5
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    16
  • 4 Stars
    4
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

totally transporting , engaging and original

just loved this the more it went on. the characters so real and the ideas so captivating. thought it slightly ran away with itself at the very end but I can forgive that. it was so beautifully read - the only complaint was the awful Aussie accents!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

oustandin

both the story, characters, performance wonderful. I highly recommend and will read more of her books

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

such an original story

great book. brilliantly written interesting concept and informative.good characters, unusual setting. well worth reading.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

I was in the Brazilian rainforest...

Her descriptions are non-pareil. I am still recovering from the 'thing' in the boat. I was riveted by the tension of an operation in primitive conditions. the characters are excellently drawn and change with the story. I could feel the heat, the mosquitos. The reader was great - never got in the way of the story. Probably my favourite contemporary writer

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

State of Wonder

I found this Book an exciting and an unusual read ,and I’m looking forward to reading more from this author.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Such a unique story of adventure and greed and love and…

I am a huge Ann Patchett fan and this certainly was up there with all her greats. It was an unexpected story and I loved it!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Glorious

What a treat! The twists and turns in the plot, and themes and characters in the story make for an absorbing experience. I thought the narration was excellent.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Overwritten

The premise of the novel is wonderful, right up my street, but I returned the title after two chapters. The characters were arid and unengaging, and the protagonist given to seemingly endless psychological maundering. I'm not a fan of storytelling by flashback. It seems mainstream fiction writers have forgotten how to tell rich, interesting stories, and how to hint at their themes without semaphoring. This novel might have been a very good one, given the assistance of an experienced editor.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!