Synopsis:
Marina and Mr. Fox learn about Anders' death from a letter sent from Brazil by Dr. Swenson. Anders' was in Brazil to convince Dr. Swenson to return to Vogel (the pharmaceutical company that the three work) and stop her experimental drug research in the Amazon Jungle. Marina and Mr. Fox then go to Karen's (Anders' wife) house to inform her of her husbands death. She is distraught.
After reading the first twenty, or so pages of Ann Patchett's State of Wonder I've found myself becoming interested in this intelligent novel's story, style, and characters. The interest peaking focus on the death of our main character Marina's colleague is enhanced by Patchett's writing style. Her pages are riddled with professionally constructed metaphors and similes that allow Patchett to accurately convey her ideas about the burden of death simultaneously hinting at the development of a guilt driven theme. Although Patchett hands her readers a plethora of metaphors and similes she doesn't fail to weave other literary devices, such as irony and symbolism into the pages of her novel. Although the book has barely begun, one can already begin to take note of important aspects of this novel. Patchett is constantly mentioning the weather, specifically rain and snow, and various birds, which has lead me compile a list of possible motifs of unknown meaning. My favorite line from the novel so far greatly sums up my initial impression of Patchett's style.
"The crocuses she had seen only that morning, their yellow and purple heads straight up from the dirt were now frozen as solid as a carp in a lake."
(page 9)
This single line involves so many elements. Crocuses which after research I learned symbolize cheerfulness and happiness are frozen solid from the snow. Snow is representing coldness, and negativity, which now covers the crocuses which symbolize happiness and positivity. This is a great representation of the way our characters collectively react to Anders' death. Marina, Mr. Fox, and Karen all hold nothing but happiness in regards to Anders but after they hear of his death immediately they are covered by sadness. On a less critical note her use of simile is an example of the style in which Patchett writes.
I look forward to delving deeper into the novel to become more comfortable and knowledgeable about Patchett's style, characters, and meaning of her work as a whole.
