Scan barcode
adamrshields's review against another edition
5.0
Short Review: This is the sequel to The Sparrow. These two books really should be thought of as a single large book, because even thought the Sparrow ends, The Children of God picks up almost immediately after.
I think, once I finished, that the combined books are a meditation on Job. The problem of evil is discussed throughout (the author is Jewish but most of the characters are Jesuit priests). The Sparrow is often compared to The Book of Strange New Things, which I really liked. But other than both being about Christian missions to alien worlds and tragedy, they are very different books.
A note on format, because this is a book that has some strong language, discussion of rape and sex and war and death, I moved from audio to kindle for most of the book because I often have little ears running around that pick up more than I want them to. I also think that the kindle edition made it easier to track the story. The format of the book is a lot of jumping back in forth in time and space and the audio makes that harder to track. Also the alien and non-English names are easier for me to handle and track in print than in audio.
My full review, no spoilers, is on my blog at http://bookwi.se/children-of-god/
I think, once I finished, that the combined books are a meditation on Job. The problem of evil is discussed throughout (the author is Jewish but most of the characters are Jesuit priests). The Sparrow is often compared to The Book of Strange New Things, which I really liked. But other than both being about Christian missions to alien worlds and tragedy, they are very different books.
A note on format, because this is a book that has some strong language, discussion of rape and sex and war and death, I moved from audio to kindle for most of the book because I often have little ears running around that pick up more than I want them to. I also think that the kindle edition made it easier to track the story. The format of the book is a lot of jumping back in forth in time and space and the audio makes that harder to track. Also the alien and non-English names are easier for me to handle and track in print than in audio.
My full review, no spoilers, is on my blog at http://bookwi.se/children-of-god/
cclift1114's review against another edition
4.0
This one wasn’t quite as good as the first one, but I knew that was likely going to be the case since a huge part of why I liked the first one so much was because I loved all the characters who were part of the first crew. I was glad to read this one, though, because of the surprises that changed the events of the first book. I will say, though, that this one had a bit too much Rakhat politics for me, especially with trying to follow all the different alien names and remember who was who. But it was still a pretty satisfying story with some interesting arguments to consider with respect to society, race, religion, etc.
greglhoward's review against another edition
1.0
I wanted to like this book, and I was hoping it would add to The Sparrow, but after reading it, I thought it subtracted instead. The plot seemed like a natural continuation, but felt like a sequel to a blockbuster movie: an implausible way to get the gang back together. And the suffering theme that I liked a lot in the first book was undermined. And the lengths the author went to in terms of plot development to set up situations for redemption and peacemaking felt too forced.
callieisreading's review against another edition
4.0
Sweating and nauseated, father Emilio Sandoz sat on the edge of his bed with his head in what was left of his hands...
The follow-up to the wonderfully-done [b:The Sparrow|334176|The Sparrow|Mary Doria Russell|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1230829367s/334176.jpg|3349153], Children of God takes place just after the previous book left off, with Emilio Sandoz trying to live with what had happened on Rakhat. I won't give away what happens to him, only that it is a story of heartbreak, forgiveness and redemption. The story is at times complex, made even more so by the time jumps that happen from section to section, but the end is rewarding.
I highly recommend this book, but I will caution that if it has been some time since you read The Sparrow, some things may seem confusing, or at least they did to me. Russell does do a pretty good job of eventually explaining things that happened previously, but it can take a bit.
The follow-up to the wonderfully-done [b:The Sparrow|334176|The Sparrow|Mary Doria Russell|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1230829367s/334176.jpg|3349153], Children of God takes place just after the previous book left off, with Emilio Sandoz trying to live with what had happened on Rakhat. I won't give away what happens to him, only that it is a story of heartbreak, forgiveness and redemption. The story is at times complex, made even more so by the time jumps that happen from section to section, but the end is rewarding.
I highly recommend this book, but I will caution that if it has been some time since you read The Sparrow, some things may seem confusing, or at least they did to me. Russell does do a pretty good job of eventually explaining things that happened previously, but it can take a bit.
sausome's review against another edition
5.0
A really great book about the lives of these creatures, the Ja'anata and the Runao living on Rhakat, with a healing Emilio Sandoz former Jesuit priest making a second trip from Earth. It sounds spacey, but it's very real and relatable. The author is an anthropologist, and you can just see every bit of how she is creating these people and their society and how it's built and how the politics work, etc. Endlessly fascinating and very wonderful book. Must read! (after finishing "The Sparrow" that is).
rohand0's review
3.0
I think the Sparrow works so well because it's a story about one man's fall from faith. Children of God is about that reverse and honestly it just doesn't have the same hold. You can see how Emilio slowly builds himself back up again in this novel and how his experiences end up shaping him but the faith of how God works isn't really clear as he has the same issue that Anne had in the past book. Why are good things prescribed to God? Why does John's help restore his faith in God and not in his fellow human? Maybe that's just my perspective coming from an agnostic.
The story of the Runa though is the compelling narrative here. How they try to negotiate, how they develop and go beyond their feebleness in the last book. How truly awful their domestication was. It was a compelling story.
The story of the Runa though is the compelling narrative here. How they try to negotiate, how they develop and go beyond their feebleness in the last book. How truly awful their domestication was. It was a compelling story.
janellephant's review against another edition
4.0
The Sparrow is amazing buts its sequel falls somewhat short.
adru's review against another edition
5.0
Selle esimene osa on nii lõikav ja täpne ja valmis ja üks mu üleüldiseid lemmikraamatuid, et kiitustest hoolimata olin teise osa suhtes väga umbusklik ja umbes esimene kolmandik ongi väga hästi kirjutatud seletus ja laiendus esimesele, väga hea, aga mitte tingimata vajalik, ja siis ta võtab kätte ja laieneb nii, et muutub hädavajalikuks.
bigbeardednerd's review against another edition
5.0
The emotionally heart-wrenching sequel to The Sparrow. Whereas The Sparrow is the story of a journey that ends in tragedy, Children of God is the story of one man's return journey to the source of that tragedy, and his confrontation with the loss of faith that resulted from the first trip.
Read them both, you will not be disappointed.
Read them both, you will not be disappointed.