Rating: 
Summary: not well written
Review: This book is not very good. The first 100 pages plod along. It's supposed to take place in the future, but the language and references are all 1990s and sooner. The author tries too hard to show how intelligent she is. The peppering of Spanish, often without translation, is annoying.
Rating: 
Summary: An author whose reach exceeds her grasp
Review: Four and five star reviews to the contrary, this is not a well-written book. Mary Doria Russell has the germ of a good idea but lacks the skills to pull it off; perhaps, as some have said, this is her masterpiece--but it not *A* masterpiece. The prose style is mediocre, on a par with Danielle Steele, John Grisham, or Tom Clancy--all of whom at least know how to pull their readers into a ripping good yarn (if you like their subject matter). The dialog and character development are, respectively, shallow and flat: you could switch the "he saids" and "she saids" around and it would make little difference to much of the story. Where the author runs out of ideas or interest or a clue what to do next, she simply leaps to the next section of the plot outline, leaving her readers to fill in the gaps as best they can. A story like this depends on the reader's "willing suspension of disbelief" and my disbelief rared up and refused to suspend itself again when the characters hatched the bright idea to charter an asteroid to Alpha Centauri (shades of Mickey & Judy and "Hey, let's put on a show!"). Much is made of Emilio Sandoz's mutilated hands, right from the beginning of the story, and the agony of the medical treatments he was forced to endure, and I couldn't figure out why they didn't amputate and fit him with good prostheses? Just wondering... (If you're good at reading between lines and don't want to read a spoiler, skip the next paragraph.) And then there's the revelation at the end of the story of precisely what Sandoz was forced to endure on Rakhat. Is it just me, or did anyone else notice the outraged-feminist flavor to the twist at the end? Victimization, rage, shame...one could almost see the author patting herself on the back for her clever plot twist, except it's more heavy-handed and preachy than clever. I'm another reader who endured this book only because it was selected by my book club. I guess it rates one star if only because it's better than pulp romance and sci-fi, but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. I need an antidote after this--a book that is intriguing AND beautifully written AND challenges my mind AND explores questions of who and what we are AND takes me to another place (without forcing me to take notes so I don't get confused). I think I'll re-read "The English Patient."
Rating: 
Summary: Enthralling
Review: The way the author incorprates biology into a great story makes it fascinating to read. The details of one culture causing drastic changes in another, when no harm was meant is very interesting. Reminds me of missionary work that christians have done throughout the world.
Rating:
Summary: ho hum
Review: I expected to love this book, but instead I am working hard to muster up civil feelings. There are *spoilers* to follow, so read accordingly... The science, or lack thereof, really bothered me, which would not have been a problem had the writing of the other elements given me a compelling reason to "buy in."... The characters, as many others have pointed out, are basically just one quasi-personality which is sometimes spirited (or annoying), sometimes angst-ridden (or, again, just annoying), and always a GENIUS. Yet, despite their brain power (IQ in the quadruple digits for the group, per a line in the book), they do virtually nothing with an iota of forethought and, of course, they pay dearly for it. ... [A] linguist is not just someone who learns a language; a linguist learns a culture. Yet, despite Emilio's revered skill as a linguist, he doesn't learn a damn thing until it's too late and the (extensive) damage is done. ...The aliens are, as the characters all agree, rather boring. The differences between Earth cultures and alien are quite minor. Anthropologically and physiologically, they are also a bit too much like us (sexually dimorphic hunter-gatherer bipeds - but with TAILS!). Perhaps one might forgive this since the point of the book seems to be a discussion of the nature of god, rather than the introduction of a new, rich, imaginary world. However, what's the point of going to all the trouble of sending characters to another planet if you're not really interested in it? Describing The religious/spiritual ideas presented are immature and frequently offered up in a smug manner.... As a non-religious person, I found the simplifications and logic gaps rather offensive, and I'm surprised to see that so many self-proclaimed religious people have liked this book. It's not horrible, and it would be fun to discuss in a group, but it's not the amazing piece of capital-L Literature that it's purported to be. It's a sci-fi book that attempts to address religious issues and is marginally successful in this regard(i.e., it was published and people talk about it). Truthfully, I think that the heaped praise and seemingly universal warm feelings for this story are tempering my feelings - I am trying to muster up more respect for the book than I feel it deserves since it obviously has meant a great deal to so many people.
Rating:
Summary: The Sparrow - Hope for Humanity
Review: The Sparrow is a magnificant novel. The plot is so compelling. The message of the novel, one of ultimate hope, is of utter importance. The novel started when the author, an anthropologist, began to ponder the historical treatment of Colombus and the other discovers of the New World. She wondered if man would do any better today. She presented this through a Jesuit mission to Rakhat, an alien planet. Russell explores this issue of mixing such vastly different cultures thoroughly, but she moves on to a much more compelling concern. The novel primarily concerns Emilio Sandoz, the Jesuit priet who first proposed the mission to Rakhat. Sandoz is the only member of the crew to return to Earth alive. His experiences on Rakhat have been almost unimaginably cruel. Sandoz has been thrown in a terrible situation. In his sufferings, he has not exactly lost his faith, but worse, he has come to hate God. That is the topic that Russell explores. How is it possible to believe in, and love, a God in a world where man must undergo such pain and suffering? Russell's answer to that question packs an amazing blow, and offers such a message of hope to humanity. The title of the novel refers to that message as "spero" in Latin means "I hoped." The Sparrow is such an amazing read on so many levels. It entertains and more importantly, leaves the reader enlightened on the nature of God. The Sparrow could go down as a classic.
Rating: 
Summary: A parable for humanity
Review: Finding the writing at times amateurish, I was half-bored laboring through the story. But I fell in love with Emilio's character enough to care about and wonder what really happened to him. I'm glad I finished the book because the ending really delivers the punch. What person hasn't been in Emilio's shoes? While his experience is beyond brutal, it still serves as an analogy for every idealistic man who has felt victimized and isolated on some personal level. I wept for Emilio and found that I was weeping for myself -- for my own experiences with loss, disappointment and isolation. It goes deeper I think by retelling the story of Christ the man who was victimized despite his living embodiment of a man with god-like qualities. Did Christ deserve to be nailed to a cross and left to die? No. His death was as brutal and senseless as Emilio's experience in Rakhat. The story of Christ's 'resurrection' is possibly symbolic of one's ability to restore his faith in the goodness of man despite the lot that life deals you. Emilio may not have died in the literal sense of the word, but a part of him did die. This presents his ultimate challenge of faith. Does he have the courage to 'resurrect' his faith in goodness and resume a loving spiritual life? Or has his experience consumed him to the point that he remains 'dead'? This, ultimately, is a story of hope.
Rating:
Summary: Interminable and painfully cloying
Review: Imagine a teenager who believes herself to be Dorothy Parker - now imagine being forced to sit with that teenager and her friends for hours upon hours as they "banter". This author actually has her characters quote lines from movies to one another as a clubby indication of wit. Like those people we all know who can recite Monty Python verbatim but never actually say anything funny of their own accord. Similarly, the author imagines characters of sophisticated taste using words like "superb" to describe a 17th Century table. The characters are unbearable but the author is clearly enchanted with them.
With the single exception of the main question that the ending raises - all the theological and spiritual issues are pretty adolescent. Putting some of her legitimate but theologically youthful issues into the mouths of priests the author demands that the reader imagine these men never actually went through seminary. The also author seems to equate morality and spirituality with late 20th Century American liberalism. On the positive side, I have to confess that the last 50 pages are laugh out loud funny. The "shocker" ending - is genuinely surprising. Overall I actually liked the ending but getting there was like spending hours reading a teenager's poetry journal - or having twelve inch steel spikes driven through your eyes - which ever seems more painful to you.
Rating:
Summary: A journey into one man's psyche
Review: A first novel, The Sparrow tells the story of an ill-fated mission to the newly discovered planet Rakhat. With no support from any government, the Jesuits send an eight person team to investigate the planet and it's people. Only one, a priest by the name of Emilo Sandoz, returns. This book is his story, and that of the seven others on the mission. But it's also the story of his Jesuit superiors who 'welcome' Emilo back to earth nearly half a century later. Written in a challenging double-narrative style Doria examines both the mission to Rakhat, what and how it went wrong; and in the second narrative, examines the return of Emilo to his society. In this future, the Father General of the Jesuits, and his hand picked associates must face the grueling process of both understanding Emilo's experiences and failings as well as those of the others in the mission. They must also help the priest come to acceptance and forgiveness both toward himself and God. Though following both narratives can be confusing, and difficult at first, it is well worth the attempt. The first narrative, describing the discovery of the planet, the planning and execution of the trip, and everything that happened on Rakhat will satisfy science fiction fans in it's creativity and suspense. The second, with the stronger characterizations is thought provoking and provacative. As Emilio examines his faith in God with both the support and the pressure from his fellow priests, he forced to look at his horrific experiences in light of his earlier beliefs that God's Hand was evident in every aspect of the mission. As he comes to new understanding, and a more mature faith in his Creator, the reader is invited to examine their own beliefs and understandings.
Rating:
Summary: Not worth the time
Review: Ok, this book has a very good and intreguing idea and plot. The thought of two clashing worldviews from two entirely different planets is very good (and also over used, but that's ok). However, this book is very wordy and detailed. Details are good because one can truely understand the character. These details do not prove helpful in this book, but rather bog down the reading useless facts. The ending is rather disturbing, but is a good finishing point of the book. If you don't have a lot of time to waste, then don't read it. Find another book.
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting right up to the end...but then it disappoints.
Review: This novel has a compelling story that captivated me throughout. Unfortunately, the nature of the story makes it difficult to discuss in anything but the most broad generalisations. I shall, however, still attempt to do so. The book has a fair amount of minor first-time fiction author mistakes that aren't important enough to quibble over, save the pacing. The book takes too long in the build-up to its climax, and then the climax the reader has waited so long to experience is rushed. I would have much appreciated a shorter build-up in order to spend more time exploring the hows and whys of the climax. On the other hand, the shifts in perspective are brilliant and handled well, adding a very interesting dimension to the story. The actions of the central character, the only survivor of a Jesuit mission to make first contact with an alien civilisation, are strange and inexplicable at first but understandable once the reasons why the mission failed so disastrously are revealed. Thus, despite the minor mistakes and the lopsided pacing, this novel was a four-star or possibly even five-star work until I reached the resolution. The climax is interesting and sensible--a believable and logical explanation of many of the story's mysteries--but what comes after it is not. I shall endeavour not to give too much away, as the primary interest of the novel is unravelling the mystery of what happened on the alien world. I gave the book three stars because in the resolution, the only character whom I liked and with whom I truly empathised transforms suddenly from a three-dimensional, interesting character into a cardboard villain. The author's explanation for this change is weak and contrived; the real reason is that the character's motivations and traits are sacrificed for the requirements of the plot. The foreshadowing that gave this plot twist away about fifty pages before it occurs didn't make it any more welcome. I kept hoping the foreshadowing was a red herring, but it wasn't. This is the first novel I've ever read in which the story was engaging throughout, the suspense enduring and the climax shocking yet believable and satisfying, which is then totally ruined by a confusing and frustrating resolution. Ms Russell goes to the admirable trouble of creating an engaging and enjoyable character and then crushes everything likable about that character with the sledgehammer of Plot. The result is that I hate the plot for destroying the character.
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