PYL Book Club (Feb 2022): Bewilderment by Richard Powers

Bewilderment by Richard Powers

I really enjoyed this book so much so that as soon as I finished it, I reread it. I had been confused by the stories the father told his son and was hoping that by rereading it, I might get clarity. I didn’t but that was fine.

The stories were sci-fi, and I am generally not interested in anything sci-fi with very few exceptions.

This is not a sci-fi book. This is a story of a father and a son and how they navigate the challenges of everyday life after a terrible loss (the wife/mom had died) and a child with severe behavioral challenges.

I loved that the book was told from the father’s perspective and went into detail regarding how difficult it was to balance his job as a professor at the University of Wisconsin in Madison and a son with demanding needs.

I loved the father’s dedication to his son and the lengths he went to in order to try to make things better for him. We often see this with moms but rarely with fathers.

I loved that the father was portrayed as a loving and compassionate father, close to falling apart at times, who often didn’t get it right.

Typically I offer up questions to provoke thought but not this time. I want you to simply read and enjoy the book.

Spoiler alert: the ending is devastating but necessary and well worth the journey.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on the book. Drop me a line at pilotingyourlife@gmail.com or add a comment to this post.

Remember to buy local and support women owned bookstores.

Piloting Your Life author Terri Hanson Mead started the PYL book club in September 2020 to provide a place to learn and talk about new books. Read more about the book club here.

Piloting Your Life ,Terri’s debut book, is ‘an inspiring, well-researched beach read’ inspiring women to design and live a life of their own creation’. Available in paperback, ebook, and audiobook on Amazon and other online retail outlets.

Terri is exploring more about her midlife (and being a tiara wearing, champagne drinking troublemaker) on her YouTube channel.

Follow Terri and Piloting Your Life on Instagram.