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The Sparrow
March 2022: Classics
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The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell - 5 stars
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Wonderful review. This is my favorite book of all time - at the moment. It could be replaced if I find one better. I was delighted by all the love expressed in the book - the children to the priest, the people who cared for the damaged priest when he was back in the UA, etc. Russell is a wonderful writer. Thanks for the review and the memories. Makes me want to go back for a reread. peace, janz
Peacejanz wrote: "Wonderful review. This is my favorite book of all time - at the moment. It could be replaced if I find one better. I was delighted by all the love expressed in the book - the children to the priest..."Thank you, Janz. I agree with your review that this is not your typical Sci Fi. It is more literary fiction that comments on the nature of humankind.
I know it is early in the year, but this book is very likely to make my top 10 list.
I love her work and she has a sequel which I consider a must read if you read this, Children of God.She has her doctorate and was a professor in anthropology and her books always reflect that knowledge.
I have read 2 of her books - Doc and The Women of Copper Country and enjoyed both. I own a copy of Children of God and plan to read it sometime this year (hopefully sooner than later if she makes the WPF Round of 32).I did not know about her doctorate, but it makes sense, especially in The Sparrow.
This is one of my favorite books of all time! I read it a few years back and I still think about it regularly. I remember the author admits in a note that a lot of the book had to do with her working through her relationship with Catholicism. I was raised Catholic and the themes felt very relatable to my own experience. I especially loved that the clergy featured so prominently but were not disparaged by the narrative (I feel like a lot of modern lit has a pretty anti-religious bent and I appreciated this book grappled with faith but didn't try to say something too pat like "all religion is bad").I have been meaning to read the sequel for ages. Maybe it's time...
Heather Reads Books wrote: "TI appreciated this book grappled with faith but didn't try to say something too pat like "all religion is bad"..."I agree! That's one of the elements I appreciated too. In the afterword she states that she wrote it while she was coming back to religion after years of being away from it. She had been raised Catholic and ended up converting to Judaism.
Great review Joy. This book has been on my tbr for some time, and I was hoping to fit it in this month too. I read A Thread of Grace and liked it very much. I worked with many modern Jesuits, and I find that angle quite interesting, though I don't know much about their historical work. It makes perfect sense to me that an anthropologist would have an interest in a first contact story, even if it was in space.
One of my all-time favorite books. I agree, it is brilliant. And I concur with Fran's advice ... read the sequel!
I also loved this - definitely one of my all-time favorites as well!
It's great to see so much mutual love for this book!
Joy, thank you for the thoughtful review. I have not read "Children of God," and if you decide to read it later, I would be interested in picking it up, and it sounds as if others might be as well.
Yes, it might be a good candidate for a buddy read.
Steven wrote: "Joy, thank you for the thoughtful review. I have not read "Children of God," and if you decide to read it later, I would be interested in picking it up, and it sounds as if others might be as well."I agree, I would do a Children of God good read any day. peace, janz
Is anyone else planning to read it this month? I just bought it from an unannounced sale at audible.
I can start it any time, since I own a copy.
I have quite a bit on my plate at the moment. Could we move back till say, first of April?
That timing would work for me, Steven. NancyJ, what do you think?Heather? Janz? Anyone else?
Just found a copy of The Sparrow at the library. It's been on my TBR for a while but this review and thread have motivated me to move it up sooner. Hopefully I will be ready to join the BR for the second book in April too.
Yay! Good to hear, Jen.
I am in for a buddy read of Children of God any time. The benefit of retirement. And I would do a buddy read of The Sparrow (how many times have I read it? - always see something new). Someone take responsibility for setting the dates, the book, whatever. I am in. peace, janz
Janz, it looks like April unless anyone has a conflict. I will setup a Buddy Read thread under Footnotes as we get closer to the start date.
I'm good with April. For Children of God or Sparrow? Have to get my copy of Sparrow back if that is what we are doing. Have my Children of God in the stack by my bed. Thanks for doing this, JoyD. peace, janz
Not sure I can make it for a buddy read in April; things are still very precarious in my personal life. However if I can make it work I will try to join you!
It's for Children of God, Janz. Sounds good, Heather!
I'm here for April Children of God. It is at the top of my book stack by the bed. Thanks for doing this - I really have never done a buddy read before but I am trusting you to tell me when I am to read and when to discuss. Thanks and peace, janz
Booknblues wrote: "I love her work and she has a sequel which I consider a must read if you read this, Children of God.She has her doctorate and was a professor in anthropology and her books always re..."
I agree--Children of God is a must read if you read this.
I didn't like this one, but really liked the sequel at a full 4 stars.
Oops. I was asking about The Sparrow. Is anyone else planning to read/discuss The Sparrow in late March or April?
NancyJ wrote: "Oops. I was asking about The Sparrow. Is anyone else planning to read/discuss The Sparrow in late March or April?"@NancyJ, I will be! I have it now and hope to finish by the end of March if possible.
I definitely need to read Children of God while I still remember all the Sparrow details.
Was wondering if there is still interest in reading "Children of God?"
Yes JoyD is going to coordinate it - April. Don't know when it starts - dust off your copy. I eagerly await instructions. peace, janz
I am ready to start any time. I thought I'd open the buddy read thread on April 1st. I am traveling so it might not be until the 2nd or 3rd depending on internet service.
This sounds great - thank you.
Bingo. peace, janzSafe travel.
Here's a link to the Buddy Read for Children of God discussion thread - anyone interested is welcome to join in!https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
I figured I'd set it up now while I have internet access, but I will not be starting the book until I return home later this week. Feel free to start the discussion any time.
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Children of God (other topics)The Sparrow (other topics)
Children of God (other topics)
The Sparrow (other topics)
The Society of Jesus sends a mission of priests and laypeople to Rakhat, a planet discovered by hearing broadcasts of their music across space. One part of the story is set in 2019-2020, where Father Emilio Sandoz is traveling the world, performing his duties as a linguist. He meets Sofia Mendez, an indentured consultant assigned to transfer his methodology into an artificial intelligence program. The other part of the story is set in 2059-2060, where it is obvious that something has gone terribly wrong during the mission. In a remote location in Italy, the Jesuits are inquiring into what happened.
The two strands of the storyline are brilliantly woven together by the author, providing the reader partial glimpses of key elements of the story, and spurring the reader’s interest to continue reading to find out the larger picture. It certainly kept my interest as I set aside everything I was reading to concentrate on this book. It is a wonderful example of a complex story with well-developed interesting characters and thought-provoking material.
It is a creative mix of space opera, historical references, and religious allusions. Father Emilio Sandoz represents extremes of religious thinking. He is portrayed as both a prospective saint and a debauched sinner at various points in the narrative. He believes his mission was divinely ordained but suffers a severe crisis of faith.
The author does not provide answers but examines theological questions through Emilio’s travails. The reader’s own perspective will heavily influence the assessment of the storyline. It defies a unilateral explanation. Just when I thought I had it figured out, something new is inserted that muddies the waters, and I am fairly certain this is intentional on Russell’s part. The reader may experience dissonance from the blending of two very different interpretations of the mission.
It should be no surprise that this book becomes very dark and disturbing. It is apparent from the start that Emilio has suffered horrible disfigurations and is in a fragile mental state from whatever happened on Rakhat. The narrative arc takes the form of a gradual revealing of the crew’s experiences. The disturbing parts form only a small portion of the full story, thankfully. The mood is lightened periodically through humorous interactions among the crew members – their camaraderie is skillfully written.
There are surely parallels between this mission to a planet and the Jesuit missions of earlier centuries. I am not going to try to parse them, but they are referenced. I appreciated the linguistic details of the languages spoken on the planet, their ideas about balance, and the sociological and biological analyses that the author has formulated into a coherent and believable planetary whole. I found it absolutely brilliant.