Reviews

The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell

anndempsey's review against another edition

5.0

Jesuits in outer space! I remember having really weird, vivid dreams while reading this book.

danielcantread's review against another edition

dark slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

labufadora44's review against another edition

5.0

One of my favorite books that I keep coming back to and keep recommending to people. Deep, introspective, theological, and fascinating to boot. A must read.

kliaw's review against another edition

adventurous challenging mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Really interesting read. The cultural aspects of the various aliens and religious aspects of the Jesuit (and non religious) characters were really well done, and they made the book feel quite unique among standard sci fi. The quasi-mystery given by the nonlinear narrative was engaging and suspenseful.

I do think there was very slow start, but once they get to space the story is quite fast paced.

They do say the title! (In an emotionally fraught time where the title represents something depressing, but it still made me irrationally excited)

clairechum's review against another edition

4.0

The Sparrow is not a light-hearted book, by any means. A great read that challenges many ideologies and practices of the Jesuit Catholic Church, but difficult content nonetheless. Difficult in terms of keeping track of the neologisms created by Russell within her creation of another planet and species and also difficult in terms of the seriousness of topics and horrific events that occur within the story. I read this book for an entry-level Theology class in college and it brought up many intense yet thoughtful conversations so I would recommend reading along with someone else that you can talk through it with.

jessakon's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

3.5

xander045's review against another edition

0.25

The science and the fiction in this book are awful so it infuriates me that this is considered a Sci Fi classic. The theology in it is also surface level, when you’d expect a book featuring a monk astronaut with a title referencing a biblical verse would have SOMETHING interesting to say about how the existence of aliens impacts our understanding of god. No one in this book acts like a human being. Nothing in this book is a reflection on reality or the human condition. None of these characters had unique character traits. Not a slow burn;it was slow the entire time. 

marie_fury's review against another edition

adventurous emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

jpbarberis's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Torture, Trafficking, Religious bigotry, Rape, and Vomit

tmrvn's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

Slow at times but very powerful character development. I thought that the way the story was written (jumping from past to present) gave made the book interesting with an ending that left me hooked and mildly disturbed.