If you choose to read The Wonder just make sure you have enough time set aside you’ll want to get through it as quickly as possible. What can a miracle look like? Is a miracle always for good? At the heart of the story is a deep and formidable Catholic faith and while I’m not Catholic, I felt that Donoghue was largely respectful of both her characters and her readers when dealing with the faith. Donoghue also finds that balance of mystery – what if Anna is telling the truth.
Lib has her secrets to hide and biases to bring to her task and these are slowly revealed as her connection to Anna becomes more and more complicated. The Wonder is immensely readable and Donoghue does an excellent job of bringing place and characters to life. Lib, an atheist, is determined to discover the secret of Anna’s “miracle” but, in true Donoghue fashion, it is much darker and more complex than expected. Anna’s family claims a miracle and Anna is certainly devout enough but others, especially Lib, are skeptical. She learns that she has been hired to observe Anna, a young girl who allegedly has not eaten in four months and yet is perfectly healthy.
Trained by Florence Nightingale herself, Lib is fastidious and cynical, a stranger to this country so close and yet so different from her own. Lib Wright arives in a tiny, rural Irish town, hired from England as a private nurse for exactly two weeks. Although vastly different stories they share a powerful sense of tension and showcase how compelling a writer Donoghue is. Having read Room a few years ago, this is my second read from Emma Donoghue. Especially on the originality scale.The Wonder – Emma Donoghue (Harper Collins, 2016) Could end up on the best of the year lists for some I think. If you enjoy the period piece, drama, thriller type event then go into this one not knowing too much, if that's possible. The acting and slow development of the story keep you engaged and your brain ticking over the possible act III outcomes and payoffs. Together with a nun, they take 8 hour shifts, but as it is the year 1860, science and religious beliefs are quite seperate, but also closely linked. Nurse Wright arrives in small town Ireland hired to 'watch' an 11 year old girl for medical reasons.
You never really quite know what to think or where it will end up, and that was the best part of the writing, directing and editing. It's great to see new and inventive stories and plot points. and I really liked the idea too.! This, as you may have heard, is a slow-burn, but also a very interesting piece. Firstly, the opening title credits were bold (not the font) but as soon as you hit play you will know what I mean. This novel by Emma Donoghue, author of the best-seller Room, follows a nurse sent to confirm that an 11-year-old has survived on water for four months.
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