The Sparrow
10 journalers for this copy...
This is a truly fabulous book. The characters are evocative and seem to breathe. And cry. I found it to sad and frustrating to finish because I identified with the characters too much. I'm thinking about releasing it, but first I'm going to check the wish list site.
It's arrived! Many thanks huntersmith!
Journal Entry 3 by Flambard from Horsham, West Sussex United Kingdom on Saturday, September 11, 2004
An incredibly good story! A "must read" if ever there was one. Wonderful characters and a thread of suspense which waxed and waned through surprises and consolidations. I loved Anne ("I really resent the idea that the only reason someone might be good or moral is because they're religious. I do what I do...without hope of reward or fear of punishment. I do not require heaven or hell to bribe or scare me into acting decently, thank you very much." "What sticks in my throat is that God gets the credit but never the blame. I just can't swallow that kind of theological candy. Either God's in charge or he's not. What did you do when the babies died, Emilio?") and the echoes which resonated back and forth through the story were just breathtaking. The narrative called for "God" rather than "coincidence" (the author's "turtles on fenceposts", a true deus ex machina) but though I squirmed, it didn't detract from the story. One for believers and atheists alike! READ THIS BOOK! (And many thanks again to Huntersmith!)
New bookray for The Sparrow:jessyjames13 (U.S.A.)
Aceofhearts (Canada)
GoryDetails (U.S.A)
BlossomU (Portugal)
Sherlockfan (N.Z.)<<<< here now!
Released 19 yrs ago (9/21/2004 UTC) at
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES: As part of the bookray - to jessyjames13
I just got this book in the mail today...Many thanks flambard! I just started to read a new book, but I am going to put this one at the top of my TBR list, and finish it first. After my initial looksie at the book, I noticed a reader's guide at the back of the book...so hopefully we will be able to discuss this book...I'll include more in this entry when I finish it...and the way I read it should be sometime before Thursday/Friday! October 17-Sorry it took me so long to get a journal entry, but I had to read the book twice to make sure about it. Well I loved this book. I would like to own it so I could read it over and over. Even the whole "religon" thing didn't bother me at all. I really liked the look into humanity and its failings. After reading this book, I can't wait to read her next book! I'm going to PM AceofHearts to find out where to send this book. Although it breaks me heart to have to give up this book. Oh well, at least others will hopefully get the same enjoyment out of it that I did!!! Well finally on election day I am going to send this book out to Aceofhearts! Bye bye sparrow!!!
rec'd today
I must admit tht I haven't read Sci-Fi for a while. The book was to put it mildly disturbing in its concept. However,it was very well written and the characters were well developed. The Sparrow did what good books are meant to do and that is to make you think. I really don't know how I feel about the book as I think I got too involved with the characters
Mailed today
Mailed today
The Sparrow arrived safely in today's mail, along with a handsome bookmark from Flambard and a wintry Toronto postcard from AceOfHearts; many thanks! Will start it tonight...
Wow! This was a very involving story, with a premise that was intriguing and a bit humorous: a motley group of friends and colleagues happens to be on the scene when the first verified evidence of life on another planet is received, and - in a "let's put on a show!" kind of way - they decide to see if they can pay that planet a visit. Oh, they do take several years to get things moving, and they get funding from the Jesuit order which helps. I loved the concept, and could easily imagine the shock and horror that the military and government agencies would express when they discovered that a handful of civilians and priests were going to be the first ambassadors to a new civilization...
The story is told in two time-streams: the past (from 2019 through the trip to Rakhat), and the present (from 2059 on), in which the sole survivor of the expedition, Jesuit priest Emilio Sandoz, has returned to Earth and is being debriefed by his superiors - or at least, they're trying to debrief him, but his fragile physical and emotional state prevents this. Since we discover within the first few pages that Sandoz has been brutally maimed, that none of the rest of his party survived, and that he was discovered by members of the follow-up mission under circumstances that have apparently been interpreted as - and broadcast to the world as - scandalous and vile in the extreme, it means that for the reader the majority of the book is "how did things get to that state?". It also means that every lovely little exchange between the group of friends has a tragic note: yes, they're laughing now, they're having a wonderful time now, they're falling in love now, but some appalling doom awaits them... Made reading the book very stressful, I can tell you.
And I did love the characters. What a wonderful group... bright, good-hearted, able to accept each other's limitations and biases with understanding - and yet with just enough flaws that they don't seem too good to be true. I wanted them to succeed, to find happiness, and I dreaded finding out just how each of them was going to fall.
The book as a whole was an excellent read, and could inspire all manner of fascinating discussion topics - from the role of religion in interspecies contact to the "prime directive" [in "Star Trek"-speak] and whether it's even possible to visit another planet without violating that directive in some way. But when I reached the end I felt a bit cheated... [Spoilers follow: select the blank area to see the text.] It seemed clear to me from the very first description of the circumstances in which Sandoz was found that he'd been grossly victimized and abused, and while the details weren't obvious until he finally recounted them himself, I found it hard to believe that so many of his fellow Jesuits seemed to have bought the initial interpretation - the incredibly unlikely scenario that he had chosen to become a prostitute and was wallowing in iniquity. Shouldn't his physical condition alone have tipped them off? Between his crippled hands (the description of what was done to his hands will linger in my nightmares forever; {shudder!}) and the signs of violence to his body - signs so severe that the physicians on Earth could still tell how savagely he'd been used, even after he'd had months and months to heal - it should have been apparent to anyone that he was the victim, yet many of his inquisitors and, apparently, the world press, had been given the story that he was a criminal and a fallen priest... I did appreciate that the author explained Sandoz' reluctance to speak; his pride and unwillingness to ask for help was mentioned on many occasions, in both time-streams, so it was clear that a man of his background and nature would find it very difficult to admit to having been raped. But even without his admissions, the other evidence should have left plenty of room for doubt; I just didn't believe that so many people would have demonized him like that.
That, and the fact that so many of the radio reports had apparently been suppressed, struck me as sour notes in an otherwise tight story. Oh, and one other thing: given that the team had been attracted to the planet because of the beauty of the songs, I found it very odd that they waited so long and so patiently to find the singers. It made sense to introduce themselves gradually, sure, but they seemed to settle in to a bucolic life too easily, and never even questioned why the locals hated music while the ones who had broadcast the songs obviously loved it. Even after they made contact with the other race on Rakhat, and were allowed to visit a city, they did not pursue the songs. If only they'd worked harder to translate the music and realized just what was being sung about, things might have gone very differently - although from the moment they arrived they were already triggering major change on the planet. [One of the most poignant moments came near the end, when Sandoz said that some of the more recent songs from Rakhat "are about me"...]
While I can't say that I found all these actions or omissions unbelievable - there are plenty of examples of people making odd decisions, ignoring evidence, and choosing to believe in scandal rather than wait for the facts - I did think that, as presented, with the characters as described, I thought it went a bit too far; basically, plotholes. [End of spoilers.]
Despite those issues I found the book engrossing and utterly memorable. Thanks for sharing this one! [Update: I'd also recommend the sequel, Children of God.]
Controlled release: on the 21st I put the book in the mail to BlossumU in Portugal. Hope you enjoy it!
The story is told in two time-streams: the past (from 2019 through the trip to Rakhat), and the present (from 2059 on), in which the sole survivor of the expedition, Jesuit priest Emilio Sandoz, has returned to Earth and is being debriefed by his superiors - or at least, they're trying to debrief him, but his fragile physical and emotional state prevents this. Since we discover within the first few pages that Sandoz has been brutally maimed, that none of the rest of his party survived, and that he was discovered by members of the follow-up mission under circumstances that have apparently been interpreted as - and broadcast to the world as - scandalous and vile in the extreme, it means that for the reader the majority of the book is "how did things get to that state?". It also means that every lovely little exchange between the group of friends has a tragic note: yes, they're laughing now, they're having a wonderful time now, they're falling in love now, but some appalling doom awaits them... Made reading the book very stressful, I can tell you.
And I did love the characters. What a wonderful group... bright, good-hearted, able to accept each other's limitations and biases with understanding - and yet with just enough flaws that they don't seem too good to be true. I wanted them to succeed, to find happiness, and I dreaded finding out just how each of them was going to fall.
The book as a whole was an excellent read, and could inspire all manner of fascinating discussion topics - from the role of religion in interspecies contact to the "prime directive" [in "Star Trek"-speak] and whether it's even possible to visit another planet without violating that directive in some way. But when I reached the end I felt a bit cheated... [Spoilers follow: select the blank area to see the text.] It seemed clear to me from the very first description of the circumstances in which Sandoz was found that he'd been grossly victimized and abused, and while the details weren't obvious until he finally recounted them himself, I found it hard to believe that so many of his fellow Jesuits seemed to have bought the initial interpretation - the incredibly unlikely scenario that he had chosen to become a prostitute and was wallowing in iniquity. Shouldn't his physical condition alone have tipped them off? Between his crippled hands (the description of what was done to his hands will linger in my nightmares forever; {shudder!}) and the signs of violence to his body - signs so severe that the physicians on Earth could still tell how savagely he'd been used, even after he'd had months and months to heal - it should have been apparent to anyone that he was the victim, yet many of his inquisitors and, apparently, the world press, had been given the story that he was a criminal and a fallen priest... I did appreciate that the author explained Sandoz' reluctance to speak; his pride and unwillingness to ask for help was mentioned on many occasions, in both time-streams, so it was clear that a man of his background and nature would find it very difficult to admit to having been raped. But even without his admissions, the other evidence should have left plenty of room for doubt; I just didn't believe that so many people would have demonized him like that.
That, and the fact that so many of the radio reports had apparently been suppressed, struck me as sour notes in an otherwise tight story. Oh, and one other thing: given that the team had been attracted to the planet because of the beauty of the songs, I found it very odd that they waited so long and so patiently to find the singers. It made sense to introduce themselves gradually, sure, but they seemed to settle in to a bucolic life too easily, and never even questioned why the locals hated music while the ones who had broadcast the songs obviously loved it. Even after they made contact with the other race on Rakhat, and were allowed to visit a city, they did not pursue the songs. If only they'd worked harder to translate the music and realized just what was being sung about, things might have gone very differently - although from the moment they arrived they were already triggering major change on the planet. [One of the most poignant moments came near the end, when Sandoz said that some of the more recent songs from Rakhat "are about me"...]
While I can't say that I found all these actions or omissions unbelievable - there are plenty of examples of people making odd decisions, ignoring evidence, and choosing to believe in scandal rather than wait for the facts - I did think that, as presented, with the characters as described, I thought it went a bit too far; basically, plotholes. [End of spoilers.]
Despite those issues I found the book engrossing and utterly memorable. Thanks for sharing this one! [Update: I'd also recommend the sequel, Children of God.]
Controlled release: on the 21st I put the book in the mail to BlossumU in Portugal. Hope you enjoy it!
Book has just arrived, my first book ( and bookring) of 2005, thanks! I will be starting it at once, new JE when I finish it.
Finally read, I had some problems getting into this book. I am afraid I did not enjoy it as much as most of you, maybe my problem was that I read sf, and had some problems believing in this novel - stuff like physics ( I did not check the relativity equations, will take the author´s word for it, but things like details on orbit and ionizations) or biology, up to more Earth-related details, the reactions of society as a whole ( her extrapolations of 2015 seem way off to me), plus some plot events seem contrived ( I mean during years, E does not make that one decision, but then when he does the first person he finds is A? Pfh). I am afraid this book did not really work for me. But I did want to read it, having heard lots of praise for it, so big thanks for the bookray.
Update February 21st, post Sherlockfan entry - while I read SF I do not read *just* SF or even *mostly* SF, nor am I unfamiliar with cross-genre books. To each its own taste, please.
Update February 21st, post Sherlockfan entry - while I read SF I do not read *just* SF or even *mostly* SF, nor am I unfamiliar with cross-genre books. To each its own taste, please.
Journal Entry 13 by Sherlockfan from Upper Hutt, Wellington Province New Zealand on Wednesday, February 2, 2005
Well I think that was pretty quick movement from Portugal to NZ in about 10 days, at economy rates too. From UK to NA can take months. What would happen if it was fast rate I wonder? Package arrived Feb 3rd. Must say that I think some postage rates in our country are weird eg to Aussie $7.50 for economy - $8+ for fast post. The difference seems minimal and one wonders on what basis the figures are set.
I should be able to get onto this book fairly quickly. Currently reading "The Kitchen God's Wife" by Amy Tan. I imagine the contrast will be quite remarkable. This is a superb book.
I've not read the Spoilers on GoryDetails posting yet just in case they spoil it for me. I'm not familiar with these things - is that what they do, spoil things? Maybe all will be revealed in due course.
Should it go to anyone in particular after I finish it or back to huntersmith?
I should be able to get onto this book fairly quickly. Currently reading "The Kitchen God's Wife" by Amy Tan. I imagine the contrast will be quite remarkable. This is a superb book.
I've not read the Spoilers on GoryDetails posting yet just in case they spoil it for me. I'm not familiar with these things - is that what they do, spoil things? Maybe all will be revealed in due course.
Should it go to anyone in particular after I finish it or back to huntersmith?
Journal Entry 14 by Sherlockfan from Upper Hutt, Wellington Province New Zealand on Monday, February 21, 2005
I took this book on holiday with me to Sydney. My trip was to celebrate the 1st birthday of Sarah, one of 10 beloved grandchildren but too far away for regular contact. It was a wonderful joyful visit and how appropriate to have a superb book with me.
Have re-read the previous journal entries and now the spoiler from Gorydetails & I feel rather humble and that so much good comment has been said that there is no real need for me to add to it.
I was delighted to find that there is a sequal because I was really sad to finish "The Sparrow" and am so looking forward to "Children of God".
I found the descriptions of the characters and particularly their interactions were excellent. Thoroughly enjoyed the air of suspense all through the book even though knowing from the beginning that almost all the characters are doomed. Poor Emilio...so much was asked of him by his God.
Anne, a stalwart with so much strength of character, was my favourite person, with dependable George in the background. So many of the questions that she poses to the clerics are ones I have asked myself, and still do. Will we ever really know the answers?
It seems sad that BlossomU (or anyone for that matter) did not like the book - perhaps as a reader of SF she found this book more or less crosses between genre so was neither one thing nor the other. After trying Ray Bradbury decades ago I decided that this genre was not for me and that hasn't changed. This book seemed so 100% believable that it didn't seem like sf at all. Naive perhaps but no matter.
I would like to devote more time to the discussions initiated at the back but have three BC books arrived recently so can't do that just yet. As far as I can see there is no one waiting for this so I'd like to keep it on hand for a while, re-read it and have time for some more serious thinking. On the way through I was so keen on page turning and "what happens next" that I didn't think as deeply as I would have liked.
In summary, one of the most haunting books I've read and I very much appreciate being part of this bookring/ray. I am marking it as reserved until I hear otherwise, or if someone is desperately waiting for it. In that case I might have to buy my own copy.
Have re-read the previous journal entries and now the spoiler from Gorydetails & I feel rather humble and that so much good comment has been said that there is no real need for me to add to it.
I was delighted to find that there is a sequal because I was really sad to finish "The Sparrow" and am so looking forward to "Children of God".
I found the descriptions of the characters and particularly their interactions were excellent. Thoroughly enjoyed the air of suspense all through the book even though knowing from the beginning that almost all the characters are doomed. Poor Emilio...so much was asked of him by his God.
Anne, a stalwart with so much strength of character, was my favourite person, with dependable George in the background. So many of the questions that she poses to the clerics are ones I have asked myself, and still do. Will we ever really know the answers?
It seems sad that BlossomU (or anyone for that matter) did not like the book - perhaps as a reader of SF she found this book more or less crosses between genre so was neither one thing nor the other. After trying Ray Bradbury decades ago I decided that this genre was not for me and that hasn't changed. This book seemed so 100% believable that it didn't seem like sf at all. Naive perhaps but no matter.
I would like to devote more time to the discussions initiated at the back but have three BC books arrived recently so can't do that just yet. As far as I can see there is no one waiting for this so I'd like to keep it on hand for a while, re-read it and have time for some more serious thinking. On the way through I was so keen on page turning and "what happens next" that I didn't think as deeply as I would have liked.
In summary, one of the most haunting books I've read and I very much appreciate being part of this bookring/ray. I am marking it as reserved until I hear otherwise, or if someone is desperately waiting for it. In that case I might have to buy my own copy.
Journal Entry 15 by Sherlockfan from Upper Hutt, Wellington Province New Zealand on Wednesday, April 6, 2005
RELEASE NOTE
Much as I loved this book I decided that it is just too good to sit around waiting for someone to ask for it.
I've sent it to Boreal (6 April) who first introduced me to Bookcrossing.
I think it is a special book and will be waiting to see what Boreal thinks of it.
Travel safely dear book.
Much as I loved this book I decided that it is just too good to sit around waiting for someone to ask for it.
I've sent it to Boreal (6 April) who first introduced me to Bookcrossing.
I think it is a special book and will be waiting to see what Boreal thinks of it.
Travel safely dear book.
What a great surprise!! Actually I have read this before when it was first published, I had heard a rave review on the radio and rushed out to put my name down for it at the library but everyone else must have heard the reveiw also as there was a very long waiting list, so since hubby's birthday was coming up, guess what he got for a present :-) Anyway I read it and loved it, as did my husband; we loaned to my sister and you guessed it when we asked for it back she had loaned it to a friend who no longer had it, this was pre bookcrossing of course! Then just a few weeks ago I bought the sequel to this "Children of God" at a school fair and thought to myself I must read The Sparrow again to refresh my memory -was thinking of getting it from the library, but now I won't have to, so thanks Sherlockfan!!! I am really looking forward to reading this again and see if my son would like to read it also as I am sure it would be something he would enjoy.
This was just as good the second time around and I think I got much more out of it this time, the first time I tended to read it for the story alone, this time I managed to slow myself down and read it more deeply. It's a book that certainly makes you think and question your beliefs. After all that has been said in the comprehensive reviews above I can't really add any more -I agree on the whole with all of your analysis. I did enjoy the interview with the author at the back of the book, it helped my understanding of certain parts of the book.
I am now looking forward to reading the sequel, I am going to start it as soon as I have written this.
My son is undecided on whether to read this or not but if he decided not to, I am sure I will find another reader for it.
I am now looking forward to reading the sequel, I am going to start it as soon as I have written this.
My son is undecided on whether to read this or not but if he decided not to, I am sure I will find another reader for it.
Released 18 yrs ago (7/17/2005 UTC) at
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
Posted to Gwilk in Christchurch on Monday, along with its sequel "Children of God".
I think Libragirl is interested in reading them when you are done.
Enjoy!!
Posted to Gwilk in Christchurch on Monday, along with its sequel "Children of God".
I think Libragirl is interested in reading them when you are done.
Enjoy!!
Arrived in the mail yesterday along with Children of God, thanks boreal.
Way different to my usual science-fiction fare! The characterisations make this book more of a novel than what I think of for sci-fi. It also challenges my thinking on faith.
I tend to agree with GoryDetail's spoiler notes now that I have read them but I don't think it detracts from the essential story. The theme of first contact and its perils is beautifully handled, in my opinion.
The only bit of sci-fi that did not gel for me was the description of artificial intelligence. I do not think that you could ever talk to someone and figure out how they think. It is my belief that most "lines of reasoning" that people claim to follow are made up retrospectively after they found the answer. This is of course IMHO and does not detract from the plot since it is not a central issue.
I am really looking forward to reading The Children of God.
I tend to agree with GoryDetail's spoiler notes now that I have read them but I don't think it detracts from the essential story. The theme of first contact and its perils is beautifully handled, in my opinion.
The only bit of sci-fi that did not gel for me was the description of artificial intelligence. I do not think that you could ever talk to someone and figure out how they think. It is my belief that most "lines of reasoning" that people claim to follow are made up retrospectively after they found the answer. This is of course IMHO and does not detract from the plot since it is not a central issue.
I am really looking forward to reading The Children of God.
Posted yesterday to libragirl along with Children of God.
Journal Entry 22 by libragirl from Christchurch, Canterbury New Zealand on Wednesday, October 19, 2005
Received this book a few days ago, thanks. I
Well after many many month on the bookshelf I started this book around Christmas time. Then I had to put it down at Chapter 25 to take up some other reading for bookrings I had joined. I am now finding it difficult to pick up the story after such a break. Do I continue? The comments from others encourage me even though I rarely read SF. I still have Children of God. This post is just to assure those who have read these before me that they are in safe hands. If you know of anyone wishing to read them, then please let me know.
