State of Wonder discussion

Am I the only one that got the impression at the very very end of the book that Marina was pregnant with Anders' child? The morning after they make love she awakes and despite previously planning to go out and chew the bark one more time the idea disgusts her. Earlier in the novel one of the characters had explained to Marina that the women stop chewing the bark when they're pregnant and actually seem kind of grossed out by it?

I did catch that and wondered the same thing. I was expecting that Marina would get pregnant with Mr.Fox's child.

I got the impression that she was pregnant with Anders child as well. I don't think she continues the relationship with Mr. Fox. I like that the author has left it up to the reader to determine the rest of the story for Marina, Ander's and his family.

Lisa wrote: "I got the impression that she was pregnant with Anders child as well. I don't think she continues the relationship with Mr. Fox. I like that the author has left it up to the reader to determine the..."

Yes, I too agree that Marina was pregnant with Anders child. We discussed this at length in my bookclub and we all agreed. Mr. Fox was definitely not Marina's soulmate. We thought that a sequel would be wonderful! Maybe it will happen.

Allyson wrote: "Am I the only one that got the impression at the very very end of the book that Marina was pregnant with Anders' child? The morning after they make love she awakes and despite previously planning ..."

Wow! I didn't get that! Thanks for bringing this point to my attention. That adds to the wonderful possiblities with which this book ends.

Yes, I felt cheated that I didn't know the outcome of this sexual tryst. I would have written the story to have her become pregnant, perhaps still be in relationship with her boyfriend, but never get around to checking the genetics on her baby who has a round face and blonde hair.

I thought of that but then I hoped that was not the case as I felt it really would not be fair to Karen! For the sake of my well being I'm going on the assumption that the whole experience had disgusted her by then and there was too much loss to make all that was happening worthwhile...and I will live happily ever after

To me the fact that they had sex seemed quite believable given the circumstance and all they've been through together; and the last scene when they come home and he runs to his family, forgetting about Marina, was very realistic too, in my opinion. I think the relationship of Marina and Anders have more shape and flavor than her relationship with mr Fox. I had a hard time picturing scenes where they were together.

I was never thrilled of the idea that Marina was in love with Fox. It did seem to lean more to the idea that she had grown very close to Andres. I could believe that she had gotten pg from the one night with Andres, but unless there is a second book it is all up to the imagination of the reader. Makes the story that much more enjoyable!

The lovemaking of Anders and Marina seemed to me part and parcel of that last, intense adventure they had just experienced together. Here were two rather inarticulate people who had just been through probably the most intense enotional and most harrowing experience of their lives. How better to express the feelings that were still coursing through their veins (and what better way to get release from all that adrenalin?) than lovemaking. I think Patchett got it just right!

I was left with a lot of unanswered questions after finishing the book, and was sure that Marina's pregnancy was one of them. I'm also thinking that a sequel in which she returns to the Amazon to finish Dr. Swenson's project would make sense. I believe that Dr. Swenson predicted her return to the jungle as well.

Yes, I think she will go back to the Amazon as well. How could life in a Minnesota lab begin to comapre with the richnes of her experiences with the primitive people on the River?

Yes, I definitely thought that Marina's revulsion about taking bark back with her was due to being pregnant. She had been priming herself with the bark and it had been previously pointed out that pregnant women lost their desire for it. I was wondering if that was a teaser for the sequel, too. I also felt that she realized she loved Anders, and since they'd both been through hell and back, this seemed like a fitting experience in the moment. But the theme for Marina is that she is never valued by the men she loves -- her father, Mr. Fox, and now Anders -- who all leave her. At least it seems fitting she may have gotten a love child to care for, since Easter was awakening her maternal instincts.

My book club debated this issue just last night. About half of us thought Marina was pregnant, but the other half didn't. We were also split on whether the one night with Anders was appropriate, or whether it added to the story. It made for good discussion.

I personally was disappointed by the ending in general - in the fling, and the many unanswered questions. Perhaps there will be a sequel, but otherwise I would have like some more closure on at least some of the open questions - What happens with the fertility drug and research? The malaria research? Will Marina return? What happens with Mr. Fox? (I assume that it ends), What happens to Easter? How well do they adjust back into their normal lives? The Marina/Anders/Karen triad and obvious tension that would arise from their night together... and so on. I don't mind some questions left to the reader, but this was more than I like. Interesting was the club was split on this also - some felt like I did and others felt there was good wrap-up and closure.

I'm hoping for a second novel that will fill in the gaps. I see her going back to the Amazon.

And yes, I feel she was pregnant as well. I think she will continue the research and raise her child in the Amazon.

I enjoyed the book!

Marina's being pregnant hadn't occurred to me, but it makes sense. The hint that she was repelled by the bark, her growing love of Easter, all point to a growing and change in her life.

I also think that research will not be enough for her anymore. I can see her going back to obstetrics. The only reason she left was because she felt like a failure in front of her mentor. She's also grown beyond needing her former professor's approval on what to do with her life. There's no way she's going back to the Amazon.

Completely agree - I thought she was pregnant at the end of the book as well. I was left wondering what direction her life would take. Will she go back to obstetrics and go back to the amazon - how has this experienced changed how she is going to feel about life in general? I like to think she will go back because it has become a part of her and I am not sure her old life will be enough anymore.

Thanks Penny = my experience, too.

Dee wrote: "The lovemaking of Anders and Marina seemed to me part and parcel of that last, intense adventure they had just experienced together. Here were two rather inarticulate people who had just been thro..."

Absolutely agree with you Dee

My question: who fathered Dr. Swenson's baby? Was that ever addressed? Must admit, I did some scanning because the book didn't really work well for me.

Hi Nora,

I didn't find an answer to that, either. I remember that Dr. Swenson dismissed the question, and I don't recall that it was ever answered. I was curious, too.

Hmmm. Little bit of unfinished business here? Even if the reader is to be kept in the dark, surely one or more of the characters would have wondered.

Penny, I buy her leaving Easter simply because, as Anders said, there wasn't any other option. She and he could both die or remain captive, but not escape without that exchange. But I can only imagine the rest of her life being haunted by that act.

Suppose Easter did steal a boat and go back "home." Would that be better for him?

Allyson wrote: "Am I the only one that got the impression at the very very end of the book that Marina was pregnant with Anders' child? The morning after they make love she awakes and despite previously planning ..."

I so did not catch that she could be pregnant. I am glad I read this blog. It makes me look at the ending in a very diffrent way.

It occurred to me, but I didn't get any sense of commitment one way or the other from the author. Was she too subtle, or too non-commital?

I thought Marina was going to get pregnant by Anders as soon as they lay down together. And I expected to hear it confirmed in an epilogue...but was disappointed.

The end made me want to scream! Yes, I definately thought she was pregnant and the author ruined the whole book! I lost all respect for those two characters. And I didn't think it made sense. Here is a man who is obviously so in love with his wife and family. Karen sustained him though everything he went through in the jungle and then he turns to Mariana, just because she is there?! I thought of him of a man of much better character than that and was so disapointed! I hope there is not a sequel, if there is, I don't think I'll read it because how can you turn such a disloyal act by those two into a good book? I think a sequel is a bad idea.

Niki wrote: "The end made me want to scream! Yes, I definately thought she was pregnant and the author ruined the whole book! I lost all respect for those two characters. And I didn't think it made sense. Her..."

I still really liked the book, but I absolutely agree. I thought it was really clear the author was building toward Marina getting pregnant with the discussions of her regrets about not having children, about Mr. Fox being too old to have a kid with her and about how she would like to have taken Easter home with her. And of course she started eating the bark. I could tell it was coming. But why didn't the author work in a way for Marina to have the fling with Milton? That would have made more sense.

Boy, did I miss that! Frankly, I wouldn't care one way or the other. The story of Marina and Dr. Swenson filled the book for me. I thought the sex with Anders with Anders was totally real and him running to his family real also.

I loved this book and when it ended, I just said "wow" to myself and sat in my chair, feeling in awe. I LOVED how Marina evolved in this book. At first she so disliked the whole environment of Brazil, hated being there, almost went home before even going to the lab site. By the end, she had completely changed through her growth and all the learning she did. She was in tune withe the jungle and could calmly hold someone back on the trail to keep him from stepping on a snake. She never could have done that in the beginning. Her feelings for all the people around her evolved, also. I hated that she was with Mr. Fox, and was so happy when she grew out of that relationship (implied). I loved the unsure ending. It's just like life. Things go on, we often don't know what happens to people we meet... I just thought it was a fabulous book all the way around. A sequel would ruin it for me.

I read the book but I completely overlooked the possibility that Marina could be pregnant with Anders' child. In fact, I really didn't like the scene where they make love and thought it was just their reaction to having survived such a harrowing ordeal. I wondered why the author decided to put that scene in. It does make more sense if a pregnancy resulted from their lovemaking. Marina had a lot of respect for Anders and he would have made an excellent partner for her if he hadn't been married already. Anders was a good husband and father, but he cheated on his loyal wife who refused to give up hope. The ending kind of blew it for me.

Thank you to everyone for the insightful comments on the book in general and specifically the ending. I had some strong opinions about how things wrapped up especially since I did like the bulk of the story so much. As a feminist I could not bring myself to love this novel (only like it. Iam glad to see others opinions in line and different from mine to further my thinking and interest.

Since the book is a send-up of Conrad's Heart of Darkness, I was looking for moments where Marina confronted the very worst we can be as humans. She participates in that evil in a way that you don't see in the original. I found her an awful, but compelling, character.

I, too, right away thought that that Marina was pregnant with Anders' child and I felt that this part of the ending was predictable and contrived. Overall, I was disappointed in this novel.

Yes, I think she was pregnant. I think this book ended preparing for the next book and that is all that was in the ending. It doesn't even seem to matter if there actually will be another book. What Marina did to that little boy was horrific. I hated it.

I'll bet Patchett struggled with the ending and like some of those who commented on this question, she also may have doubts about how she handled it. I was bothered more by Marina's having found Anders living amongst a tribe of supposed cannibals than by the necessity of returning Easter to the tribe. In terms of the one-night stand, I thought it was just that and that if Marina became pregnant she would have to abort due to her friendship with and respect for Karen, not to mention how it would impact her relationship with Jim Fox.

I missed this, too, but after reading this chain the idea of Marina being pregnant makes some sense to me. No one in my book group liked the ending (although most of us liked the book overall). The ending felt as though everything had been wrapped up hastily, but with a lot of loose ends.

Well, the sequel (or at least one of them) has to be called EASTER, now doesn't it???!!! Annick predicts Easter will be home the following day. Remember that Easter is a tangling of the word TEASER just as Lariam (a real drug---google about it and see for yourself) is a scrambling of Malaria.

I have no doubts that Patchett loves Easter as much as Marina and all of us do. My thoughts are that Anders may find Karen in poor health and that more uses for Martin Bark will be found--think TAXOL?? And that some sort of blended family is in the making here. I can't wait!!!

P.S. Other seeds (foreshadowings) have been sown for sequel(s)...Easter is a Messianic literary figure who may have a destiny in RETURNING to his people, the Hummocca, and Marina has also played a role in casting bread (Rapp spores) on Humoccan waters and that in turn may have applications in altering the Violence streak of that culture (and others). Also interesting clues/hints in the outcome of Annick's pregnancy.

I didn't see a "fling" or "one night stand" here - I saw two adults having sex at a time of extreme emotional intensity. Entirely different than sex for fun.

Yes! I thought that for sure! The fact that women who eat the bark are fertile for weeks at a time too. I hope she continues this story.

Scarlett wrote: "Hi Nora,

I didn't find an answer to that, either. I remember that Dr. Swenson dismissed the question, and I don't recall that it was ever answered. I was curious, too."

The father of Annick's baby was Rapp. When Marina ask who the man is, Annick refers to the photo or Rapp in her tent and tells Marina not to ask questions when she knows the answer. Since they had a freezer I presume that Annick froze his sperm and inseminated herself.

Thanks for all your insights above. I read it too quickly to gather up all these clues! Rapp being the father makes sense...symbolically, also, as Annick is the inheritor of his research, and maybe Marina, the inheritor of Annick's research. The clues about the bark eating, the 7 year long 'office' relationship Marina had with Anders, the fact that she sacrificed so much to search for him, the intensity of having to give up Easter, her symbolic child, for Anders, her 'symbolic' husband, leads one to the same conclusion as some of you....she is with child, and it's possibly his. Maybe in one's fantasy of a sequel, Milton will become the protector of them both....

Chris wrote: "Niki wrote: "The end made me want to scream! Yes, I definately thought she was pregnant and the author ruined the whole book! I lost all respect for those two characters. And I didn't think it ma..."

Emily wrote: "Thanks for all your insights above. I read it too quickly to gather up all these clues! Rapp being the father makes sense...symbolically, also, as Annick is the inheritor of his research, and maybe..."

Peter wrote: "I'll bet Patchett struggled with the ending and like some of those who commented on this question, she also may have doubts about how she handled it. I was bothered more by Marina's having found A..."

Dee wrote: "The lovemaking of Anders and Marina seemed to me part and parcel of that last, intense adventure they had just experienced together. Here were two rather inarticulate people who had just been thro..."

I agree with Dee. I think the intimacy shared by Anders and Marina made total sense. They both had experienced so much and now together with a person with a shared history in Minn., they sought a closeness they didn't have with anyone else in that isolated jungle. I was not disappointed nor did I think it was contrived. That said, I have to comment that I thought the ending developed so quickly that I was totally caught off-guard, but I was not disappointed. The beauty of the ending is that each of us can imagine whatever we choose. Ms. Patchett is truly a gifted writer with a story that transported me to the Amazon and made me feel as if I too was in that jungle.

I see what you are saying but as many times as I return to this feed the questions remain. I think that means the characters were just plain old out of touch with us and each other. I think the ending felt rushed because it just plain old was rushed. I felt like I spent the time and money on the book and the author should have respected this book and not just rushed with a thin set up of another book. I think most people agree that is what happened. No fair. I had a thought about the affair - maybe their lives were so consumed by conception they just didn't think very much about it. Ewwww. Anyway, like I said. I want the author to be a participant in the story line.

I figured she was pregnant with Anders's baby and honestly, that pissed me off. His poor wife and boys!!! I also thought there is no way Marina should or would go back to Mr. Fox. The age difference does not bother me, but I hate all that sneaking around. They are grown-ups, for goodness sake!

So true. It is possible to read a book where people make mistakes and as a reader you can have compassion or at least understand. That was not the case in this book. I was not asked for or provided any insight into the motivations of Marina who we were suppose to like. The whole thing lacked a level of respect that made it aggravating.

I also agree that Marina is pregnent with Anders' baby, considering what they had experienced, I don't blame them for their shared moments. I was dumbfounded when they had to leave Easter behind, to me that was worse then the intimate moments
between Marina and Anders. I do have a question about the two Dr Saturns, why isn't Mrs Dr Saturn pregnant?

I think having Marina pregnant at the end was a brilliant move. It allows the readers to know, without being told, that she will go back to the Amazon.

The author says that Anders & Marina will never talk about their night together in the future. That means Marina goes back to the Amazon because there is no way that they could avoid talking about it when she is suddenly pregnant, especially given that she wants a child. Clearly the relationship w/ Mr. Fox is going no where and Marina's place is in the Amazon.

But it is still speculation. We are left speculating. And after what happened with Easter I am not at all enthusiastic about Marina having a child.