Reviews tagging 'Genocide'

The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell

11 reviews

sarahschwehn's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad 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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Torture, Sexual violence, and Death

Moderate: Child abuse, Pregnancy, Blood, Pedophilia, Grief, Torture, and Trafficking

Minor: Slavery, Vomit, War, Violence, Abandonment, Cancer, Genocide, Gun violence, and Infertility

jedore's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional informative mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

“You know what’s the most terrifying thing about admitting that you’re in love?…You are just naked. You put yourself in harm’s way and you lay down all your defenses. No clothes, no weapons. Nowhere to hide. Completely vulnerable. The only thing that makes it tolerable is to believe the other person loves you back and that you can trust him not to hurt you.”

This is a captivating science fiction novel that intertwines deep themes, like love, faith, humanity, and the unknown. The story follows a Jesuit priest, Emilio Sandoz, and his eclectic team of scientists and scholars on a mission to make first contact with an alien civilization on the planet Rakhat. The narrative is structured in two timelines, one detailing the mission’s hopeful beginnings and the other unraveling the tragic aftermath, which keeps readers engaged and chomping at the bit to understand the full picture.

This may very well be my very first true science fiction book! I’m not typically a fan of sci-fi, but I found myself thoroughly enjoying this one. The blend of speculative fiction with profound philosophical questions made it a compelling read.

I was initially apprehensive about the religious aspect of the book, given its heavy focus on Jesuit priests. However, Mary Doria Russell handles the religious themes objectively and the story remains balanced by her inclusion of both non-religious and Jewish characters who are integral to the plot. The religious characters are portrayed as complex humans, not as dogmatic zealots trying to convert others, which I very much appreciated. This approach made the interactions between religious and non-religious characters feel authentic and respectful.

There were so many fascinating facets to this story. The book delves into Catholicism, linguistics, alien culture, interpersonal relationships, sanctioned body mutilation, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Boredom is never an option! 

Character development is fantastic. Each character is given a distinct voice and personality, making them feel real and relatable. The description of the alien species is really well-done. Russell’s vivid imagery allowed me to easily visualize the aliens and their environment.

I highly recommend "The Sparrow" to anyone interested in an intelligent and multifaceted story…whether you're a fan of science fiction or not!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Death, Grief, Medical content, Slavery, Colonisation, Confinement, Dysphoria, Body horror, Torture, Genocide, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Cannibalism, Abandonment, Child death, Chronic illness, Forced institutionalization, Rape, and Terminal illness

Minor: Drug use, Police brutality, and Gore

reenelou's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

I wanted it to be more gorey. 

There was so much exposition at the begining and it felt like the last part of the book was rushed, the horror element was more implied than gratuitous and gd I wanted to witness the true horror of the surgery, hasta'akala, emillo underwent. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Slavery, Violence, Vomit, Medical trauma, Murder, Mental illness, Genocide, Domestic abuse, Animal cruelty, Rape, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Child death, Sexual violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Child abuse, Cannibalism, Blood, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Colonisation, Animal death, and Torture

decapode's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Murder, Sexual assault, Genocide, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Rape, and Slavery

piripiw's review against another edition

3.0

I liked Russell's writing and found the story compelling and the characters' companionship heart warming.

However in the end it felt to me like all the suffering (and along with the comradeship, there is a lot of suffering!) was all in service to a philosophical/ theological thought experiment. The character who bears the worst of it is a man (a mixed race man who grew up in poverty in Puerto Rico), but it nevertheless put me in mind of those Lars von Trier films which ultimately feel voyeuristic on one woman's intense suffering.

Its also a *very* generous take on the motivations and conduct of religious organisations. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Genocide, Cannibalism, and Rape

Further trigger warnings that don't exist as tags: Christianity, Catholicism missionaries, colonisation

hayoho's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective 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? It's complicated

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Medical trauma, Rape, Suicide, Injury/Injury detail, Genocide, and Trafficking

Moderate: Murder

fauxpunk's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny reflective sad tense 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? No

5.0

I will never be ok again

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape and Genocide

blnktdnstrs's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective 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? Yes

4.5

This book is full of humanity, compassion, wonder, and tragedy, and it took my breath away. The last third of the book seemed lacking compared to the rest, but it was still stunning and I would gladly read it again. Now I need to find the sequel.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Genocide, Slavery, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Body horror

cocacolor's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.75

I can't tell whether this book both falls into a well-known sci-fi trap of evil alien species and is incredibly hostile toward

victims of sexual violence

or one of the most deeply empathetic novels I've ever read, so I knocked off half a star. This is absolutely not going to be for everyone. Whether this book becomes an all-time favorite is going to depend on whether you're willing to give the author the benefit of the doubt and assume compassion.

ETA. Its sequel, CHILDREN OF GOD, makes clearer the author & narrative's ethical positions and I believe this book is coming from a place of compassion.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Slavery, Medical content, Rape, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Cannibalism, War, Genocide, Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, Child death, and Self harm

Minor: Pregnancy

conqueringsquid's review against another edition

challenging dark sad medium-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Trafficking, Cannibalism, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Sexual violence, Violence, Vomit, Rape, Blood, Chronic illness, Genocide, Grief, Murder, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, and Terminal illness