Bewilderment

Bewilderment was Shortlisted for the Booker Prize 2021. Richard Powers won a Pulitzer Prize in 2019 but this is the first book I've read by him.

Bewilderment tells us the story of Theo, an astrobiologist and recent widower father of Robin, 9 years old neurodivergent kid. Robin is having problems at school and Theo is advised to medicate him in order to control his impulses.

In order to avoid medication, Theo enrols Robbie in an experimental treatment that teaches and trains the brain to reach and manage different emotional states.

This is a touching and powerful story about love, family, grief and acceptance, about innocence, the challenges of parenting, science, our damage to the environment and inevitability. Bewilderment is beautifully written and left me an emotional wreck.

My heart is still overloaded.