Why was Anders not killed by Hummocca

[Wendy]

I wondered about that too...except that when you read that the Hummocas had years before brought Easter to the doctors to be cured, the idea could be that they wanted to keep one of the doctors for their tribe. Also, the author described the tribal leader and the woman's look of joy and disbelief when they saw Easter as being the same as when Marina saw Anders. The author is leading us to believe that they must be his parents and that they had been told he was dead and now were being reunited with their son. How Easter fares in such a primitive tribe compared to what he was being brought up in is the question. Also, whether he comes to know his parents and then decides to reconnect with those who had saved his life and were raising him is another good question...
Dr. Swenson's role in all of this is certainly up for debate. Her decisions were all made based on what she believed was the right thing to do at the time. Whether they were morally right or wrong given Easter's condition when his tribe came back for him and the circumstances surrounding Anders disappearance are open to discussion. There could easily be a sequel to this book if the author so chooses...

[Allyson]

I actually disagree that Dr Swenson's decisions were made based on what she believed was right. Unless you had "for her" to the end of the sentence. I felt that her decision to keep Easter was sefish and not her decision to make...

[Brenda]

I have to agree with the thought that the Hummocca wanted a doctor for their tribe so spared Anders. As for Dr. Swenson's decisions it was all for her best interest wrapped up in the procetion of the tribe and area.

[Nancy]

Perhaps they thought that Dr. Anders was a trade from a local tribe . . . also, he was ill when he arrived (not good eating!) . . . they thought he might be helpful later as collateral? Yes, it is puzzling (like seeing Jack's dad wandering on the island on *Lost*!)?

[Lynne]

I was so, so upset at the abandonment of Easter to the tribe. Even if those folks were his parents, he might as well have been kidnapped for all he knows of them. It felt like a complete ethical mistake leaving him there without explanation, his plan to escape, or any other information about him. One of my biggest gripes about this book.

[Nancy]

Although there were several points that bothered me about the plot, I suppose that the author's ability to engage me in the storyline enough to complain meant that she did a good job (overall) of writing her book!

[Carol]

Dr. Swenson tells Marina that Easter will find a way to come back, and I think we can believe that. She also tells Marina that she belongs there, and I think Marina will come back, too.

One thing--after reading Bel Canto, I was prepared for a surprise ending. I wasn't disappointed. It's like the author is saying, "life doesn't always turn out like you think."

[Sas]

Lynne wrote: "I was so, so upset at the abandonment of Easter to the tribe. Even if those folks were his parents, he might as well have been kidnapped for all he knows of them. It felt like a complete ethical mi..."
I agree Lynne. I was horrified by that moment in the book. While we do have to infer that the people who take Easter are his parents and that they will love him, I couldn't get passed the idea that Easter was abandoned by the two people HE loved most in the world. And because he was deaf, there was no ability to explain that moment to him. I was struck by his fear and his inability to comprehend and it destroyed the book for me.

[Erin]

I agree that they probably kept Anders alive for the medical benefit of the group. As I was reading the section where Easter was given to the tribe I kept expecting to read "but then they got him back..." in some way or another. It was horrifying, and I could easily visualize his face when he looked at Marina. As much as it would have felt better to the reader to have it not turn out that way, it was probably much more "reality-based" that it did.
I am hoping he finds his way back (yes, I know the book ended) but also wonder whether he would feel so betrayed he may not want to come back, assuming he comes to find peace with his biological parents. I did find some peace in reading that Dr Swenson basically abducted him in the first place, it wasn't that his family didn't care for him.

[Carol]

Does anyone find a similarity in this book and Bel Canto? I read that ages ago, but I remember being surprised that things did not work out the way I wanted them to.

[Julia]

I agree with Julie. The whole scene of rescuing Anders was disappointing and way too far-fetched.

[Andrea]

Allyson wrote: "I actually disagree that Dr Swenson's decisions were made based on what she believed was right. Unless you had "for her" to the end of the sentence. I felt that her decision to keep Easter was se..."
Agree. Dr. Swenson misleads Marina and the readers many times in the book and so it's not unlikely that she exaggerated the Hummocca as cannibals. At one point Dr. Swenson argues that as outsiders they shouldn't "interfere", Marina is the one who actually lets that play out by letting the Hummocca reclaim Easter.

[Nadine]

Dr. Swenson is totally self absorbed and does nothing that isn't in her own interest. She was keeping Easter as a pet. It was Anders that taught him about eating with a knife and fork.

While it was heartbreaking to have to make the exchange of Easter for Anders, what would become of Easter once Dr. Swenson died? The woman is in her 70's, and the other doctors didn't appear to be as invested in him as much as the Bovenders.

Easter will grow up knowing his biological family. We don't know how much interaction any of these tribes have with each other, and he may be able to keep in touch with people from Dr. Swenson's camp. We only have Dr. Swenson's word that each group is isolated. And the woman lied all over the place.

[Lynne]

@Nadine, you make some seriously good points about the outcome of Easter, and the relationship Dr. Swenson has with him and others in the novel. While it does seem to fit with some of the "jungle ethics" found in the novel, emotionally it felt like it came out of nowhere and left me feeling completely disconnected from our main characters - not a great way to end a fiction experience.

[Nadine]

I admit I also felt badly about Easter's treatment, but I think those scientists were emotionally disconnected from the people they were studying. Maybe that's what a scientist is supposed to do, but you have a point that Easter's abandoment was heartless.

I really really didn't like those scientists at all at the end. I'm hoping Marina goes off and does something totally different with her life.

[Chris]

Lynne wrote: "I was so, so upset at the abandonment of Easter to the tribe. Even if those folks were his parents, he might as well have been kidnapped for all he knows of them. It felt like a complete ethical mi..."

I couldn't agree more. Supposedly, here were three people who all wanted to be Easter's parents (Dr. Swenson, Marina and Anders), and they all just passively accepted his sacrifice for their own safety. (Marina says she'd only go into hell once, and that's to get Anders.) I'd like to think most moms would die before they'd let their child's hands be pried off them by stangers, and it's particularly ironic because Marina's worst fear and recurring nightmare is being disconnected from her own parent.

[Danielle]

I couldn't decide last night what I thought of the book or the ending. I may be giving Ann Patchett too much credit, but now my theory is as follows:
* Dr. Swenson makes a big deal about not interfering with the Lakashi, no medical intervention, etc.
* Dr. Swenson believes Marina will come back to the Amazon eventually - in some ways she must see herself in Marina.
* By returning Easter to his own tribe and Anders to his own home Marina is restoring the natural order to things, much the way Dr. Swenson said it should be (but not what she actually did -- since she took Easter).
* I'm still unsure how Marina feels about Dr. Swenson and returning to the Amazon at the end of the book. Are they friends? Do they understand each other? Does Marina realize that perhaps Dr. Swenson is actually human? Is she going to return?

[Patty]

I was not at all surprised by Easter's fate. I felt a lot of sympathy for him because none of the doctors who "loved" him really tried to see who he really was. I thought they all, to greater or lesser degrees, projected their own need onto him and never even tried to find out what HE wanted. Only Anders even tried to teach him to communicate!!! My hope is that he will do better now that he is reunited with his birth family.

[Carol]

I am with Patty... not surprised by Easter's fate. It is a VERY COMMON experience of deaf people everywhere. (I am a sign language interpreter.) Many deaf adults will tell you of being driven to the school for the deaf at age 5 and just dropped off there and having NO idea where they were or why their family dumped them there. I have to hope that Easter realizes he is with family; his mother certainly was filled with joy to see him again. Hopefully she will work with him on communicating, and he'll adapt. I felt so disappointed with everyone's lack of attempts to communicate with him except in very rudimentary ways. Only Anders went the extra mile.

[Reader50]

Carol wrote: "Does anyone find a similarity in this book and Bel Canto? I read that ages ago, but I remember being surprised that things did not work out the way I wanted them to."

[Nadine]

Patty wrote: "I was not at all surprised by Easter's fate. I felt a lot of sympathy for him because none of the doctors who "loved" him really tried to see who he really was. I thought they all, to greater or ..."

I agree. He was treated more like a pet than a boy.