MARION HILL

Book Review 34: The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell

by | Jan 14, 2013 | 2012 Book Reviews, Book Reviews, Marion's Favorite Books | 8 comments

the sparrow

Have you ever read a book that you knew instantly you should have read years ago?

I knew it after reading the first chapter of The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell.

I was working at a mom-and-pop bookstore in Santa Fe, NM in 1996 when this novel was published. I remembered the sales rep from Random House promoting The Sparrow at that bookstore and how he believed that readers would be talking about this book long after they read it.

Of course, it was the sales rep’s job to promote their publisher’s books and their objectivity could be questioned as the sales reps were more concerned about the bottom line then the quality of the novel they were selling to these small independent bookstores. Nevertheless, I’ve came to this novel a decade and half later (better late than never) and realized that sales rep was right in his prediction.

The Sparrow tells the story of Emilio Sandoz, a Jesuit priest, who leads a first contact mission to the Planet Rakhat. However, he returns to Earth as the only survivor and is blamed for the mission’s failure. The priest reveals his side of what happened on the mission to his father superiors of the Catholic Church in Rome and undergoes a crisis of faith that becomes more apparent by the end of the novel.

The characters are what makes The Sparrow a great novel. Russell creates real, three-dimensional characters that will remain with you long after the story is finished.  Actually, my favorite characters of the novel were Anne and George Edwards. They were liberal, agnostic, and Emilio’s best friends. Their relationship develops throughout the story and shows how the author did an excellent job of not sugarcoating their differences with the Edwardses’ non-belief in God and Sandoz’s belief in God.

There is a scene in the novel where Anne, a doctor, wants to blame God for letting one of their comrades (another priest) on the mission die while she did everything she could to save his life. That scene was raw and unforgettable as anything I’ve read in contemporary fiction.

The only issue where I could be critical of the novel is in the density in explaining the trip to Rahkat. I could see for non science-fiction readers it might be a bit boring and seem like a “info-dump” in which that genre is known for.  However, Russell does an excellent job of not letting that density slow the pace of the novel.  It is woven into the plot very well and doesn’t take away from the rest of the novel’s strengths.

This is a thoughtful, moral work of fiction and proclaims itself being just as effective as a book of theology or a run-of-the-mill sermon at your local church in showing how faith can be shaken under difficult circumstances.

I haven’t been excited and saddened by a novel like this in a long time. Excited by having read it and saddened by finishing it and wanting to read more.

I will give The Sparrow my highest recommendation to be read by all serious readers. Also, I will add it to my favorite novels list.

Welcome aboard…….The Sparrow!

8 Comments

    • kammbia1

      Thanks Lelia!

      I guess from your post it was a not favorite of yours. It happens.

      Marion

      Reply
  1. Karen A. Wyle

    This has long been one of my very favorite novels. Better late than never, indeed!

    Reply
    • kammbia1

      Karen,

      Thanks for your comments. Yeah…better late than never! LOL!

      Marion

      Reply
  2. Allyson

    Did you know Russell wrote a sequel? It’s called “The Children of God” and picks up the story of Emilio.

    Reply
    • kammbia1

      Allyson,

      Yes I do know about the sequel. I have it on my bookshelf and is a part of my 2013 TBR List. I’m looking forward to reading it.

      Thanks for your comments,
      Marion

      Reply
  3. Lisa Godfrees

    Hey, Marion. The book does sound interesting. I’m interested to hear what you think of the sequel as well. (Is your TBR list as big as mine?) I checked at it’s $11.99 for the kindle edition on amazon. I ordered a used paperback copy for $3.99. Just because you liked it so much. 🙂 Thanks for the recommendation!

    Reply
    • kammbia1

      You are very welcome, Lisa.

      I have given 6 copies of The Sparrow to co-workers at my day job. I heard from three of them saying they loved it. I hope you will as well.

      Yes, my TBR List is large. I just added The Cuckoo’s Calling by JK Rowling because of the pseudonym controversy. I’m taking it with me on vacation today. I have never read any of her books before but I’ve read a couple of good reviews….so I will add my review to the blog when I finish.

      Marion

      Reply

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