A review by larawalden
The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell

4.0

3.5 stars

I forget how I came across The Sparrow, and am surprised I didn't find it sooner as the elements are right up my alley - science fiction with a good touch of religion mixed in.

The story is told in both present and as flashbacks, gradually progressing until both threads converge. It took me a while to settle into this structure, and I was reminded why it can be so annoying - you know the outcomes for certain characters but not the reasons, so you're filled with dread anticipating the Horrible Events.

Still, I like the added layer that Sandoz and the other Jesuits add to the story, and I wish that I could have enjoyed the rest of the Stella Maris crew without wondering if the next time I turned the page was the time Something Happened.