Patchett, Ann - State of Wonder - February 13th 2012

[Lisarenee]

Sounds a little like what they do with cloning. Don't they inject the DNA into an egg after first removing the inside? I know I'm really not good at the technical naming.

[Lisa Kay]

I'm really not sure about cloning, but that sounds right. With what the Sweds are doing, though, if I did that I would get a child with my DNA not the person's whose outer egg lining was used.

[Lisarenee]

That's what I thought you were saying. So it's the outer shell, in effect, that determines the health of the child or is it just to give it a better chance at not having any defects? Would they ask for another person to carry the child or implant it back into the genetic mother?

[Lisa Kay]

That is an excellent question. If I remember correctly, the outer lining needs to be in good shape to receive the sperm and it deteriorates first. I could be wrong; it has been awhile since I read-up on it. As far ask who carries the child, that would depend on the health of the "genetic mother". For all I know, they could have a third person do it. Talk about making it more complex! Because not matter what you say, feelings and emotions come into play. Oh, and hormones. ☺

[Lisa Kay]

Talk about microscopic surgery!

[Lisarenee]

It is pretty incredible what they can do these days.

[Lisarenee]

Rachel, Gah! You were right. Just finished listening to the audio book. I read the hard copy, but somehow missed the part where they said Marina never went back to the Martins and didn't end up packing up any branches. I think I was too upset about her and Anders and it didn't sink in. That worries me that I could miss so much. I think so much happened at the end not everything sunk in. My thoughts on what Marina would do is:

1) Her and Mr. Fox will never work out. They break up - I suspect this will be his doing.

2) She and Anders will both give their notices.

3) I'd like to believe she'd go back and get more training in becoming a surgeon like she originally planned when she did her residency.

4) The drug will never see daylight but I think at one point Dr. Swenson did say she developed it, but could have been a lie, which Swenson is good at. Mr. Fox will be ruined.

5) I think Swenson pulls through. I don't think Marina was really needed any more. I think Swenson was just trying to guilt Marina into staying. She knew how to push her buttons.

[Rachel]

Lisarenee wrote: "I guess I expect the unbelievable and make allowances in books labeled fantasy that I find questionable. Out of curiosity, what would you label this book as? I was leaning toward Realistic fiction ..."

I labeled it as realistic. Even though 70 year old woman might never be able to have healthy, defect free babies (although, I wouldn't be surprised if one we get really close to it) everything else was realistic enough for me. All the medical equipment was legit as well as the setting, boats, people, tribe, etc. It would all come down to personal preference in this case, I would say.

[Sashana]

A 70+ year old woman had a baby a few years ago, Rachel. I googled 'oldest woman to give birth.'

[Rachel]

I would hope Marina would begin again and do want she always wanted to do. I think her and (whoever the guy was that picked her up at the airport when she arrived in Manaus, took her to his brother's store, was with the Bovenders and Mr.Fox at the end...I can't remember his name!) could get together somehow, sometime, some where. They seemed to like each other quite a bit.

[Rachel]

Sashana wrote: "A 70+ year old woman had a baby a few years ago, Rachel. I googled 'oldest woman to give birth.'"

Was that with or without medical intervention (or did it say)?

I was talking more about postmenopausal women having babies without in vitro, intervention, etc. More like what the Lakashi's did. Even though they had to eat the bark occasionally they didn't need a fertility clinic.

Can you imagine how much something like that would cost in pill form? Wow! Or not even that...how many more people there would be if all it took was some bark and moth poop? Lol.

[Sashana]

She had IVF but that's still amazing! Some younger women can't even have babies with IVF. I'll try to research the oldest woman to have a baby without medical help.

Imagine what it would do to the Brazillan jungle/rainforest. You'd have scientist and people trying get rich cutting down trees and harming animals left and right. I think drugs like this would only benefit a small percentage of people (the rich) because it would be really expensive like you said Rachel.

[Lisarenee]

"I would hope Marina would begin again and do want she always wanted to do. I think her and (whoever the guy was that picked her up at the airport when she arrived in Manaus, took her to his brother's store, was with the Bovenders and Mr.Fox at the end...I can't remember his name!) could get together somehow, sometime, some where. They seemed to like each other quite a bit. "

That would be Milton. :)

[Rachel]

That's it! :)

[Lisarenee]

Why does his name make me smile? lol

[Sashana]

Mhhh, does Lisa have a book crush?

[Rachel]

I like the name too. And I found he was pretty much the most likeable character in this book.

[Lisarenee]

Not truly a book crush, but the name just makes me smile for some reason. I agree Milton and Easter were my favorite two characters. The best characters of the bunch.

[Laura]

They were my favorite characters too.

[Sonia]

And she gave Easter away.

[Lisarenee]

I know. The majority of us did not give this a high rating.