The Echo Maker

THE ECHO MAKER

by Richard Powers

 

Award: National Book Winner 2006

 

Nominations: Dublin Longlist 2008, Pulitzer Finalist 2007

 

Date Read: May 4, 2021

 

The brain is a majestic and complicated instrument, completely ruling how we perceive ourselves, others and the world around us. In essence, the body is simply a life support for the brain. When that brain goes awry, every perception we believe to be valid and real can be called into question, absolutely disrupting our relationships and lives.

 

And so it goes with Mark, a man who one night gets into a serious accident and suffers brain trauma. He spends the better part of two years attempting to manage the fallout. His greatest support system is his sister, who he doesn’t believe is actually his real sister but an imposter part of a larger scheme to get Mark out of the way.

 

This intense look at the brain and its functioning clearly took a great deal of research and understanding on the part of Powers and I am duly impressed. He clearly had excellent advisors and research under his belt in order to accomplish this superb tale. 

 

The lives of those surrounding Mark are forever changed by his ordeal, realizing that they too are possibly imposters in their own lives. No one is spared – from Marks “fake” sister Karen, to the brain researcher who attempts to help, to the long-term care worker that attempts to atone for her own involvement, to the bird sanctuary activist who is involved with Karen. Everyone is impacted with rippling effects. Much like the cranes that the Nebraska area is attempting to preserve, every small move or change has lasting consequences.

 

Much like all humans and the diversity of human brain functioning (a topic particularly close to my heart as I take care of my sister-in-law who is mentally disabled due to hypoxic asphyxiation), everyone is incredibly unique. As many doctors as Mark has on his team, an exact diagnosis of what ails him and his new perceptions is elusive and specialized. Finding a cure proves even harder.

 

Mark’s new circumstances present like a conspiracy or a puzzle that must be solved with many moving parts. He is left a cryptic note that he doesn’t understand and tries all means at his disposal to find the author. His beloved trailer sits on coveted land that a developer is eyeing to exploit the tourism spurred by the migrating cranes that flock to that area to mate. Even his best friends are under scrutiny for their potential role in the events of Mark’s near-fatal night. All of this add up to a page-turner with the brain science, at least for me, serving as the driving force.

 

I have a lot more Powers on the agenda and I absolutely cannot wait. Four stars.

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