Anne Patchett - three books




I bought “The Magician’s Assistant” because the title reminded me of “The Time Traveler’s Wife,” a wonderful vacation read I happily stumbled across, (there is something so intriguing about time travel*.)

This was my first Anne Patchett book.  The story was about a recently deceased magician whose wife discovers his unknown family.  She’d believed his family had died long ago. Patchett paints her main characters very one-dimensional initially (read that as dull) then as the story progresses she slowly fleshes out their character and temperament into fully dimensional and likeable characters.  I’ve tried to recall this technique used in other books but haven’t identified one yet.  It’s very effective.  Thumbs up for this one.


Then there was “Bel Canto” set in a politically tumultuous tropical country.  It’s the story of a world-renowned opera singer, among others, taken hostage, and the relationship between the captives and captors.  It explores motivation on both sides, kinda Stockholm syndrome-ish.  We’re supposed to suspend belief and go with the flow, but the improbability of one of the captors having a fledging yet world class voice, another having never seen the game played yet mastering chess in record time, and yet another with an ear for languages, was just so annoying.  The ending was the most plausible thing about the story.  Skip that one.

Finally there was “State of Wonder” the tale of a scientist journeying to a remote area in South America to locate her company’s experimental lab that is close to developing a cure for malaria.  The cure has an unexpected side affect, also very marketable, and a fascinating idea.  Patchett’s descriptions of plant and animal life were very effective, (yes I recoiled at all the nasty and deadly snakes. Wimp.)  Maybe I was in a bad mood when I read Bel Canto but I didn’t have a problem suspending belief with this one.  Or maybe I just like the idea of curing major human diseases with remedies produced from nature, particularly big old tropical rain forests.  Go figure. Thumbs up.

*No problems here suspending belief in time travel stories!

Comments

Catherine said…
I've only read 'State of Wonder' which I loved. The unexpected side effect ... thanks, but no thanks. I should read the others ... I'll add to my list.
Tue Jan 15, 09:34:00 AM
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