By Carmen Lebar
Content warning: death, ableism, physical violence
Bewilderment by Richard Powers is a moving story about a father wanting the best for his son. After the death of his wife, Theo has to parent his son Robin on his own while tackling his responsibilities as a university professor and astrobiologist. As it becomes clearer that his son may be neurodivergent, he decides to enroll him in an experimental treatment that will draw his son closer to his wife than initially expected. I found this novel to be poignant, heartbreaking, and all around inspiring.
I thoroughly enjoyed the blend of genres in this novel. Theo is an astrobiologist, and often teaches his son different scientific facts and observations. His role as an astrobiologist is to simulate life on other planets. What would the plants be like? What sort of terrain would be there? He goes into detail of the various geographical features all these planets would have. He shares these simulations with his son as stories to calm him and pique his interest in the universe. The stories he weaves of these planets are great tidbits of science fiction in a literary novel. Powers creates these sensational ecosystems that speak volumes about scientific discovery and the importance of Earth’s natural world. (Theo and Robin often spend time in nature to de-stress and bond.) The stories that Theo tells Robin show the importance Theo places on being a father, but also an educator.
As much as this novel touches upon grief and science, it is ultimately a powerful story about parenthood—particularly single parenthood. After the death of his wife Aly, Theo is left to raise Robin by himself while simultaneously grieving. However, that doesn’t stop Theo from doing all he can to raise Robin to be the best version of himself. He nurtures Robin’s creativity—creating art of endangered animals—and wants him to develop his own conclusions about tough situations. Even when he knows that Robin needs extra support, he does whatever he can to keep Robin safe. He keeps him away from doctors who only want to prescribe his son drugs without really understanding Robin’s individual situation. Powers creates a dynamic and complex father-son relationship, while also balancing loss and the importance of the natural world. Theo is an exemplary father, even if he has his flaws. This relationship will be one I will think about often.
Bewilderment is the perfect novel for the science enthusiast who also has a soft spot for literary fiction. It will tug at your heart strings and make you realize what is important to you. The novel explores the themes of loss, parenthood, and science in a perfect blend I didn’t know could exist. The ending shook me to my core and left me thinking about the novel for days after I finished it. I highly recommend Bewilderment by Richard Powers, and I think it will be a modern classic in the years to come.
Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
Please note that Carmen has recently acquired a new position with Penguin Random House Canada. Her thoughts and opinions are her own, but for transparency we'd like to share this detail.