A review by snarf137
Calculating God by Robert J. Sawyer

adventurous emotional informative reflective medium-paced

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

2.5

This was not that good. The skeleton of something good was here, no doubt, but I was left wishing it was written by a different author. And this goes beyond what I assume is the Canadian automatic reflex to decry any smacks too much of local life. From the trite spiritualisms and philisophisms, the very aged digs at Ontario politician Mike Harris in nearly every chapter, the bizarre side plot about the abortion clinic bombers, the corniness of it all, the inoffensive but equally bland writing, and the forced ending, this just wasn't really for me.

What redeemed this slightly was that I resonated with the main character's personal and health struggles outside of the main plot: him coming to terms with his own mortality was probably the most interesting and engaging part.  Overall, though, this venture into over-intellectualizing the divine felt more like a theological misfire than a revelation.