I almost couldn't even write a review of this one. It's fine. It's even really good writing; I think Ann Patchett is pretty brilliant. And it's an adventure that does keep you guessing. State of Wonder is a good story.

I think the difficulty in writing the review is the hype that surrounds this book. It hasn't been presented as general adventure fiction, medical thriller, or exploration. It's been pushed and pedaled as something more, hum, literary.

State of Wonder is not a book that speaks to me on that level; a book that challenges my assumptions, says something deeper about humanity either metaphorically or philosophically. It's Grisham or Robin Cook written by somebody with more subtlety and greater skill with the language.