retharogo25 's review for:

The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell
3.0

This book sucked me in from the first pages. It is science fiction in that it deals with a mission to meet life on another planet sometime in the future. However, the real topic is the nature of faith, in particular, faith in god.

The characters are rich and believable. Their story is haunting. As an atheist, I was very interested in the faith angle, since it was juxtaposed with atheism and agnosticism in a very respectful and honest way. This novel asks what are the best things about humanity and how do we honor them?

I admit, I was disappointed a bit by the end. To explain would necessitate a spoiler. Instead, if you've read it and want to discuss, contact me.

I was extremely moved and emotional during the latter half of the book.