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What Members Thought
I have to thank the book club again for this one. I don't know if I ever would have picked up this book on my own but I am glad I read it. It is such an interesting look at the nature of God or a higher power as well as our purpose in life. Plus there is another planet, aliens, a Sephardic Jew and a whole host of Jesuits. I mean come on, a story that makes all these characters work together has to be at least a little awesome.
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I'm not entirely sure how I feel about this novel. I do know that I couldn't stop thinking about it for days after finishing it.
My experience of reading this was very similar to what I felt watching the play Sweat - a mixture of intense curiosity and mounting dread. Like the play, this story is told out of order, alternating before and after a pivotal confrontation: in this case, not a bar fight, but a Jesuit-led mission from Earth to the planet Rakhat. We know something awful happened, but the ...more
My experience of reading this was very similar to what I felt watching the play Sweat - a mixture of intense curiosity and mounting dread. Like the play, this story is told out of order, alternating before and after a pivotal confrontation: in this case, not a bar fight, but a Jesuit-led mission from Earth to the planet Rakhat. We know something awful happened, but the ...more
Fabulous combination of sci-fi and theology. Left me wanting me -- fortunately, I discovered the sequel, "Children of God"!
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3.5. It took awhile to get into and I felt that the ending was rushed, but it gave me a lot to think about, and I found it much less plot-driven than the (relatively few) other science fiction I've read.
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This is an amazing book. It is gripping and definitely has very difficult and unsettling images, but it is a beautiful and amazing exploration of faith and science and what would happen if we encountered an alien species. Just a really powerful, really well written book.
Slow at the beginning, but really picked up as it sped to the ominous end foretold in the "current day" chapters. Not my favorite by a long shot but glad to have read this modern classic. Plenty to ponder with regard to religion, society, and compassion.
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A very interesting take on faith and exploration. Both the achievements and limitations of the two and their sacrifices and sufferings.
Compelling story. It dragged in the middle a bit, at least for me, but I loved the two storylines and the characters.
Mar 18, 2009
Ching-In
marked it as to-read
Aug 04, 2010
Chelsea
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Sep 06, 2010
Crowinator
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Feb 08, 2011
Alisa
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Jul 26, 2014
Lauren
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Jul 30, 2014
Tiffany
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Aug 27, 2014
Maya
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Mar 20, 2015
Grace
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May 14, 2015
Melissa
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Jun 08, 2015
molly
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Jul 15, 2015
Jenny
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Jul 18, 2016
Elizabeth
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Jul 28, 2018
gremlinkitten
marked it as to-read
