I just finished this book and I am frustrated. How dare she leave the story unfinished! What happens to Dr. Swenson, to Easter, is she pregnant, does Anders readjust to life in Minnesota, and does Marina ever get together with Mr. Fox? These are all questions I have and am frustrated that I do not have answers. I think there must be a sequel to this.
I thought a book about a corporate person going off to the Amazon in search of answers to questions about the death of a colleague, about the use of funds for medical research, about so many things sounded like a Michael Crichton story that it piqued my interest. I started reading it a few pages at a time while I slaved away on the treadmill at the gym and then yesterday found I couldn't wait to finish it. I read some more last night, more today at the gym and then had to finish it this afternoon instead of stretching it out to keep me from being bored at the gym.
Dr Swenson is an interesting character who is committed to her research, a tough teacher and the ultimate professional. She is Marina's professor. I was not surprised when she continued this instruction in the jungle after reading about how Marina listened so intently to her lectures at Johns Hopkins. The consummate researcher, I was still a bit surprised when I found out she was pregnant at age 73. I don't know if it is a statement about the eternal search for the fountain youth or not, but I liked that Patchett has her question the wisdom of having a child so late in life when one lacks the ability to care for it. Dr. Swenson points out that the Lakashi give their babies over to the younger women to raise, not trying to accomplish that themselves at advanced ages.
Marina proved to be a very in depth character. Her nightmares regarding her father ceased once she grew in her own confidence. I think they were more related to her tragic accident early in her career than the Lariam. Fighting that anaconda alone would give me nightmares for centuries and the thought of being in a jungle where you did not know what was crawling about is no place I want to be at this stage in my life. Still, she fell into the experience with an open, albeit torn, mindset that enables her to grow as a person and a professional.
Easter is the quite interesting. I think the author must have included him as a means not only for Marina to develop to her full potential but also to give Dr Swenson a gentler side. He enabled Marina to grow in ways she never dreamed possible: fighting to save a young person, helping him overcome his own fears, teaching him as he teaches her about life in the jungle. Was he actually returned to his parents or was he sacrificed to get Anders out of his captivity? Would he have understood the abandonment? Did he return as Dr Swenson said he would?
Many other questions are left to my imagination to be answered. Here is how I prefer to do it! Marina returns to the Amazon, marries Milton. She then takes over the research and life among the Lakashi from Dr. Swenson. Anders and Karen travel with their sons to the area to visit and to show his family where he died and was reborn. Mr. Fox loses out all around for not being willing to commit. Easter does return to the village and lives with Marina and Milton. Their continued research finds a drug that will reverse, partially, the damage done to his ears and he is able to learn to speak a bit--enough to communicate with the researchers.
Another good book selection. I think it only appropriate that I finished the book drinking a wonderful glass of Willowcroft Cold Steel Chardonay!
