The Sparrow (The Sparrow #1)[June 10, 2024]

[Yanique, Thread Master]

This is a Buddy Read for The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell starting on June 10, 2024.


Happy Reading!

[Nirkatze]

Thank you!

1. The Sparrow (June 10)
2. Children of God (July 27) [linkTBD]

Audio: No free/subscription copies I can find.
Ebook: ditto

[Barry]

Oh daman, u guys are in for a treat! One if the best SF I’ve ever read. Briliant! Might join if I have some free time.

[Tonari no Emily]

Making sure I don't miss it! :)

[Felina]

I may take an audible credit for this. We’ll see.

[Nirkatze]

Starting! My book club is tomorrow, so time to get cracking on this... My best friend just started reading and she informed me she already hated it... the religious setup at the beginning "The world doesn't know what to do so the Church stepped in and did it better" is kind of pissing her off. I let her know that it doesn't stay that way... there is dark stuff coming... death, torture, questioning of one's life... and she was like "yeah, that doesn't make it sound any better" lol. Content warnings, FYI! I honestly didn't realize how dark the book gets before I had that conversation with her... for some reason it just didn't hit me that way. So I'm looking forward to the reread... starting.... now!

[Nirkatze]

Prologue--(view spoiler)[I really like how the Prologue sets it up as "not to proselytize, but to learn," and with the last lines here... "They meant no harm." Sends a chill down my spine. Ominous foreshadowing, is it not? (hide spoiler)]

[Nirkatze]

LOL Quote: Title bestowed upon handsome Catholic priests by girls throughout time: "Father What-a-waste"

[Nirkatze]

Through Chapter 5 (view spoiler)[I love the introduction of the cast--Santos, Sophia, Jamie, George & Anne. Anne especially--I love her sense of humor. Also John Condotti, working with Santos in the future--one of his first interactions to suggest gloves which would give back to Santos some autonomy.

I also find it interesting that the "future" is only about 15 years from now... and the technology isn't that far off. (hide spoiler)]

[Nirkatze]

Chapter 11 (view spoiler)[And the first hit! Jaime finds the signal... and the found-family group start planning. What coincidence (or providence?) that they have each skill needed for this mission (religious or scientific? asks George. Yes, says Santos) right in the room... (hide spoiler)]

[Nirkatze]

Not sure what chapter, but up to planetfall. (view spoiler)[There are several scenes during the voyage which have stuck with me--the "take care of it" discussion between Santos & Jamie, and Anne's quote: "I've been married at least four times to four different men. And they have all been named George Edwards."--I actually used that quote in a speech when I officiated over two of my friends' marriage. (hide spoiler)]

[Nirkatze]

Chapter 32 (view spoiler)[It's so interesting how fast everything goes to hell... less than a 1/4 left in the book, and we finally devolve into horror, and so swiftly...

The way the Father General forces Santos to say out loud that he was raped... makes me think of the early conversation about culpability and responsibility... The first step to hopefully not blaming himself for everything...

Title drop:
"Not one sparrow can fall to the ground without God knowing."
"But the sparrow still falls." (hide spoiler)]

[Nirkatze]

Dang, I didn't realize that was the end of the book already...

[Nirkatze]

Peaches Melba. Totally unrelated... Anne makes this at some point... And now I understand why Amos calls Clarissa "Peaches" in the Expanse...

[Tonari no Emily]

A bit late, but I started! It took me a while to acclimate to what's happening.. Seems like two timelines? Predominantly in the past to where I am now in Chapter 15. I'm enjoying the very character-centric writing. I find it easiest to get into writing that deep dives into what a character's thinking..

[Tonari no Emily]

Nirkatze wrote: "Through Chapter 5 .."

Re Technology (view spoiler)[ RIght? I found it jarring the bits about AI.. I feel like that has just absolutely exploded lately so its weird looking at fiction speculating on the possibilities of it from a few years ago... (hide spoiler)]

[Nirkatze]

Oh, so true... it was weird, while reading... thinking of how perceptive she was, seeing what the future would be like in some ways, but completely missing in others... I believe this was early 90s when this came out... and the "past" storyline is set around 2016, "future" in 2060 or so, I think...

I really like how though there's futuristic technology, most of it is within reason--outside of the obvious. But it's a realistic glimpse of the future... one that has mostly come to pass...

[Tonari no Emily]

Nirkatze wrote: "Peaches Melba. Totally unrelated... Anne makes this at some point... And now I understand why Amos calls Clarissa "Peaches" in the Expanse..."

Yeah that never made sense to me, but I never bothered to look it up lol

[Tonari no Emily]

Nirkatze wrote: "Not sure what chapter, but up to planetfall. [spoilers removed]"

Hah just read about the "Take care of it" (view spoiler)[ and also George and Anne trying to do it in zero g. Loved everyone's different reactions to that.. And the duct tape hand off 😂

I love that they are calling the alpha centaurians "singers"... The "future" storyline is making me very anxious to find out what happened there! (hide spoiler)]

[Nirkatze]

LOL That was a hilarious scene!! (view spoiler)[George & Anne--especially Anne--are my favorites... I love their banter...

And the Future storyline totally builds all the tension and worry... you know something bad happened. You know that Emilio is (supposedly) the only survivor. So it keeps you wondering... how long until this idyllic story goes bottoms up? It's easier to reread than first read, I think... I know how it all ends... (hide spoiler)]

[Tonari no Emily]

Just finished and now I have to work after this total devestation??? This was really good.

[Nirkatze]

So... want to read book two?

[Tonari no Emily]

Definitely!

[Tonari no Emily]

Trying to scrounge up some comments from when I finished this... Yesterday? (view spoiler)[ The way Santos had his faith totally destroyed... He had a bit of "come to Jesus" moment after questioning his faith about meeting the new alien and then was fucking raped. UGH. This author is so NOT kind to her characters.

It was crazy how rapid things went to shit too... We were going right along.. George and Mark take a trip to the city (an amusing one at that with the drug candy things)... then BAM DW and Anne are both killed off scene.. And shortly after that the massacre... I just.. damn. THe way this was written was brilliant too. With the "future" setting up hints and giving little clues as to what happened.. And if you go back an think about what Santos said after knowing exactly what happened its just so fucking tragic... I don't think I would have been alive still if I was Santos...

(hide spoiler)]

Is the next book about the second expidition?

[Nirkatze]

Yes--and it also picks up on Rakhat after (view spoiler)[Emilio gets captured--you find out what actually happened to everyone... so we have two timelines again. (hide spoiler)]

Same time next month? July 10? Later works fine for me too--whatever you think it'd fit for you.

[Nirkatze]

@Emily--any thoughts on timing for the next book?

[Tonari no Emily]

Shoot, I thought I responded... How's later in July for you?

[Nirkatze]

That's fine! Like 17th late or 27th late?

[Tonari no Emily]

27th?

[Nirkatze]

Request made for 27th!

[Tonari no Emily]

Thanks! <3