This is one of my favorite books. It is so unusual, maybe improbably in parts, but Patchett is a wonderful writer.

The jungle part was luscious and the scenery somewhat captivating, however, the improbable story and dull dialogs were difficult to chew through. I only finished it because my friends liked it and wanted to discuss the book.

Interesting story but it is the quality of the writing that makes this a great read. Luminous and stellar are words that come to mind.

Patchett takes us from Boston to the deepest hidden realms of the Amazon in this layered, haunting tale of biomedical exploration and the search for ourselves. Outstanding writing is Patchett's hallmark in this intricately layered novel. Deep, complex strands of narrative all come together beautifully and characters, both main and incidental are fully explored and brought to life. This is a masterful work.

I loved the plot and the characters all. The story takes unexpected turns and the characters influence each others lives in unexpected ways. It was a delicious page turner for me.

Exactly. Nature can not be fooled. Each age of a human being is specifically designed for specific things. Action in the first half of the book develops slow. But then - very interesting: a lot of fascinating details and descriptions of the Amazons, whether things invented by the author or actually existing.

I found this book unsatisfying and uncritical. LeCarre's "The Constant Gardener" provides a much more realistic and critical picture of the pharmaceutical industry. Over-rated, popular fiction.

I loved this book. It's a story about an almost mythical journey (think Orpheus)and a great character study, and it's full of enticing details about the Amazon. I couldn't put this book down. There was one painful afternoon at work during which I felt like I had one foot in my library and one in the jungle, and I couldn't wait to get back to my book. The ending was very satisfying, too.

If you loved Bel Canto you will love this too. Beuatiful writting, good story.

This is the first novel I've read by Ann Patchett. I enjoyed the plot and most of the relationships. The ending was a surprise. I agree with some of the other readers, however, that it's a slow pace, until the last few pages. Also, there is one romantic encounter that is completely ridiculous and improbable.