Reviews

The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell

samsamsam's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Sexual content, and Rape

Moderate: Child death and Child abuse

dcunitz's review against another edition

4.0

"As many as thirty or as few as ten years later, lying exhausted and still, eyes open in the dark long after the three suns of Rakhat had set, no longer bleeding, past the vomiting, enough beyond the shock to think again, it would occur to Emilio Sandoz to wonder if perhaps that day in the Sudan was really only part of the set up for a punchline a lifetime in the making."

wgadd's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

1.5

zuomiriam's review against another edition

4.0

A bit slow at the beginning, but the ending comes as a horrifying, astounding crash; beautifully written and emotionally powerful, especially in the last 40 pages or so.

grack21's review against another edition

5.0

That was ...unsettling? Im going to be thinking about this one for a long time.

rwalshtaza's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad

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

4.5

emilyb_chicago's review against another edition

4.0

I was so pleasantly surprised by this book. The characters were great, the science was very plausible for a 15-20 year future and the method of story telling was compelling. I usually am not a fan of telling stories along multiple time threads, but this was deftly done. I really enjoyed the book.

Highly recommend for adult readers.

firiel_earth_maiden's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Child death, and Sexual violence

tehstone's review against another edition

challenging dark

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.25

all_piss_and_vinegar's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative sad tense medium-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

5.0

Truly some of the best writing I’ve had the pleasure to read in a very long time. The characters are so well written you feel like you know them/love them/hate them, almost immediately. 
As a staunch atheist I found the religious aspects of this book hard to deal with at times but the theology was presented well.

Can’t recommend this book enough to any science fiction fans or fans of great writing