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What Members Thought
I found this book interesting, but did not love it. For two reasons:
1. No one talks like these characters. Seriously, I do not believe there is a group of people anywhere on earth that is collectively this witty, smart, funny, ironic, endearing, amusing, charming, etc.
2. Part of Russell's premise, if I understand correctly, is showing that Jesuit involvement in European colonialism was a product of its time--that it was no more inherently evil than what we'd come up with today. Hence the sendin ...more
1. No one talks like these characters. Seriously, I do not believe there is a group of people anywhere on earth that is collectively this witty, smart, funny, ironic, endearing, amusing, charming, etc.
2. Part of Russell's premise, if I understand correctly, is showing that Jesuit involvement in European colonialism was a product of its time--that it was no more inherently evil than what we'd come up with today. Hence the sendin ...more
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 can't say I loved this book, but I've certainly never forgotten it--it ended up being pretty disturbing. Plus I liked the concept. Of course missionaries would be the first to visit a planet discovered to have sentient life--haven't they always been first-responders in unchartered areas on Earth? I went to a Jesuit high school and college, and, although I would never wish on anyone the fate Father Sandoz suffered in the book, I had a few teachers I would have gladly seen launched into space.
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May 12, 2007
Becca
marked it as to-read
Sep 28, 2007
Windy
marked it as to-read
Mar 18, 2009
Ching-In
marked it as to-read
Apr 15, 2010
Ali
marked it as to-read
Aug 23, 2011
erin
marked it as to-read
Jan 09, 2013
Sam
marked it as to-read
Mar 25, 2015
Sarah
marked it as wishlist
Mar 28, 2015
Jocelyn
marked it as to-read
May 23, 2018
Julie
marked it as to-read
Jun 10, 2018
Annika
marked it as to-read
Jun 20, 2018
Janet Whalen
marked it as to-read
Jan 01, 2019
Colleen Chi-Girl
marked it as to-read
