“They share a lot, astronomy and childhood. Both are voyages across huge distances. Both search for facts beyond their grasp. Both theorize wildly and let possibilities multiply without limits. Both are humbled every few weeks. Both operate out of ignorance. Both are mystified by time. Both are forever starting out.”

Introduction

Richard Powers relentlessly weaves science with the human experience. Much like his Pulitzer Prize winning novel The Overstory, Bewilderment grapples with the simple state of humanity and how we fit into the larger environment both on earth and cosmically. This story can offer wisdom to all who grapple with the essential questions of life. Why are we here? How should we live our lives? And what does it mean to leave our world better than we found it? 

Synopsis

This 2021 novel by Richard Powers centers around a powerful father-son relationship and the confounding question of whether or not life exists elsewhere in the universe. The father, Theo, works as an astrobiologist at a university studying exoplanets and using computer simulations in order to determine which conditions might have the capacity to sustain life. The son, who begins the novel at nine years old, is passionate, curious, and extremely intelligent, but he struggles with emotional regulation and social situations. The story follows this pair as they navigate life, loss, and science.

Review

Richard Powers has an extremely elegant writing style. He possesses the ability to effortlessly switch from writing about mundane events to reflecting on humanity’s place in the universe. For him, mundane events feed into the broader story of humankind which spurs the reader to cling tighter to every word of this story.

This novel focuses solely on two primary characters. Any other character only serves to inform the reader of an aspect of Theo or Robin’s personality. Thus, the author explores these two characters in beautiful detail and showcases both the strengths and weaknesses of the two. By the end of the novel, I felt as if I knew these two people better than I know some of my friends. I could feel every emotion alongside them, especially the heartache and disappointment that arose throughout the plot. 

This novel effectively explores a few main themes such as neurodiversity, environmental awareness, scientific innovation and wonder, and parenting. Robin’s condition calls readers to be empathetic towards people whose tendencies they might not fully understand. The flow of the plot also reinforces the importance of scientific advancement as the experimental treatment works wonders on Robin’s condition. In so doing, the novel also critiques government budget cuts that reduce funding for important treatments. Richard Powers carefully details Theo’s actions and reactions in order to reinforce themes of parental love and perseverance in the face of uncertainty.  

This novel has a quite unique arrangement with extremely short chapters. At times, especially at the beginning, the arrangement can feel choppy, but as the novel progresses, the chapters tend to flow better. Often, I found that the structure of the chapters reflects Theo’s mental state. When he is stressed, short chapters and disconnected sentences dominate whereas when he is calm, the chapter feels more relaxed. This is a truly helpful tool for the reader to interpret the characters’ emotions and relationship. 

I absolutely loved Powers’ frequent and deep emphasis on important moral issues such as endangered species and environmental preservation. He weaved the story of a young boy and his father seamlessly in with the story of the universe. His frequent allusions to possible exoplanets embedded the story with a sense of awe and wonder reminiscent of a youthful perspective on the world. Reading this book felt much like rediscovering my place in the universe and considering how I fit into the larger cosmic story. 

The only slight weakness I noticed while reading this book was Robin’s extreme maturity for his age. His intelligence and sophistication seem unrealistic even for the most advanced nine year olds. Thus, his character feels slightly distant and unrelatable to the reader.

Anyone who enjoys deep reflection and emotional character arcs will absolutely love this story. The novel feels deeply introspective, as if we are plunging into someone’s private diary without caution and there is something exhilarating about that notion. This book will cause you to think critically about the way in which we live our lives and the way in which we construct our society. 

 I would give this book 📚📚📚📚📚: We can all learn a lot from this book and this author! (5/5)

Love, Ellie 

GFB Ambassador