From the Bookshelf of Bound Together…

Bewilderment

Richard Powers

Start date: May 27, 2021

Finish date: June 9, 2021

Discussion: A Sneak Peek~Under the Covers

Discussion leader: Diane S ☔

Why we're reading this: Under the Covers
Publishing 9/21/21
May 27th thru June 9th
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Publishing 9/21/21
May 27th thru June 9th

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May 28, 2021 Diane S ☔ rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Robin is nine years old. His father is an astrobiologist, teaching and participating in research at the University in Madison, Wisconsin. His mother was killed in a vehicle accident when Robin was seven. He is a different boy, strongly empathetic, unable to control his emotions. He has been diagnosed with various labels, but his father doesn't want to use drugs to change, control his son. So in a last ditch attempt he turns to something that is still being researched, Neuro feedback, using brain ...more

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Oct 24, 2021 Kats rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: audio, contemporary, american, man-booker-nominee, grief, family, 2021

The enjoyment of reading this short but impactful novel was hugely enhanced by listening to Edoardo Ballerini narrating the audiobook. He is one of my favourite narrators, and I've never listened to a book performed by him that I didn't like. In the case of Bewilderment it took up the overall rating from 3 to 4 thanks to his lending such a good voice to Theo Byrne, the actual narrator of the novel.

Theo is an astrobiologist researcher and lecturer at a university. He is also the recently widowed The enjoyment of reading this short but impactful novel was hugely enhanced by listening to Edoardo Ballerini narrating the audiobook. He is one of my favourite narrators, and I've never listened to a book performed by him that I didn't like. In the case of Bewilderment it took up the overall rating from 3 to 4 thanks to his lending such a good voice to Theo Byrne, the actual narrator of the novel.

Theo is an astrobiologist researcher and lecturer at a university. He is also the recently widowed Dad of 9 year old Robin whose beloved mother died in a car accident a couple of years (I think) before we meet this unusual father and son duo. Robin has some undiagnosed behavioural and possibly cognitive issues that make it difficult for him to find his way in a normal school with all the normal shenanigans that go on in such a place. When he is suspended for hitting his friend, Robin decides that he wants to be home-schooled by his Dad who, after all, teaches for a living anyway (his reasoning, not mine). Personally, I struggled to buy into some of the parenting decisions that Theo took. After almost 18 years of parenting, I have learned not to judge other parents (especially given that I won't be winning any prizes for my efforts!), but I still question even the plausibility of what went on here, however, this could also be a US vs European perspective. In most European countries you can not decide to pull your child out of school and subject them to home-schooling on a whim. Equally, with paediatricians, school social workers and teachers all strongly recommending testing in search of a diagnosis (that is supposed to help everyone, especially the child) and an appropriate treatment (not necessarily psychoactive drugs which is what Theo is afraid of), I can't think of any real-life parents who would decide to let their child struggle with an unknown condition that makes life so difficult for them, in and out of school. Theo eventually takes an unorthodox, untried approach in order to help Robin develop a coping mechanism. This is where the novel takes us into VR/AI territory that was both fascinating and unbelievable and at times felt like 'speculative fiction' for want of a better term.
Some of the scientific banter, especially the astrology sections but also the neurology and biology talk may send the curious reader down some rabbit holes, and I believe that Powers' research will have been thorough in preparation of this novel. What I did not understand is that he brings up real-life characters like Greta Thunberg or Donald Trump, both of whose words and actions have great impact on Robin and Theo, but gives them different names. Is this to avoid any potential legal issues? It feels very contrived at any rate.
The strength of this novel for me was the balance between dry scientific facts and unpredictable, raw and heartfelt emotions, and how the two characters' lives were dominated by both. And isn't that the truth for all humanity? ...more

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Feb 17, 2023 Meera rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: literary-fiction, audiobook, bought23

I bought this because of the synopsis and the cover. It was not a bad book but I never felt invested in the main character or in his son. It should have been an emotional book but I didn't feel it. I am not sure why because it was not badly written. I found the science experiment and the views on the planets interesting though. I do wish there had been less foreshadowing because the ending was not surprising at all. ...more

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Jan 26, 2023 Bucket rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: literary, nature-the-outdoors, psychology, communication, reviewed, technology, life-and-death, fantasy-science-fiction, diversity, love

This started out very clunky. Heavy-handed thematically, which it remains throughout, but also just poorly written. Odd motivations, plot conveniences, flat or tell-not-show characterization. But by the time I got halfway through, most of those problems had fallen away. I don't know if Powers hit his stride or I fell in love with the story. Probably both.

The metaphors and themes are not remotely subtle. The descriptions of planets tie directly to what's occupying or happening to Theo and Robin. ...more

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