Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussion of illness and racism.

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. How did Patchett’s vivid depiction of the Amazon rainforest affect your reading experience? If you’ve read other works by Patchett—e.g., Bel Canto or Tom Lake—how does her use of setting in this novel compare?

2. What aspects of Dr. Swenson’s character did you find most compelling or troubling? How did your perception of her evolve throughout the novel?

3. How does State of Wonder compare to other novels about expeditions into remote locations, such as Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness? What parallels do you see between Marina’s journey down the Amazon and Marlow’s journey down the Congo?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Marina’s relationship with her absent father shapes many of her adult behaviors and choices, including her attraction to older men like Mr. Fox. Do you think family relationships inevitably influence one’s professional paths or personal relationships? Why or why not?

2. The novel explores the conflict between professional ambition and personal ethics.