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Lauren 's Reviews > The Sparrow
The Sparrow (The Sparrow, #1)
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Lauren 's review
bookshelves: fiction, scifi-speculative, favorites-fiction, 1990s-fiction
Jul 09, 2009
bookshelves: fiction, scifi-speculative, favorites-fiction, 1990s-fiction
One of the most profoundly moving books I have read in years - the only other one that comes to mind of this magnitude was As a Driven Leaf by Milton Steinberg (yet, it was historical fiction, not sci-fi). This book was so well done; my first foray in to anything resembling science fiction, and it was so worth it. I am definitely glad I stuck with it - I usually give a book 50 pages, and it was around that time when I finally began to understand what was happening. I was impatient for the story to get moving, and once it did, I couldn't put it down... when I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about it.
This book was so unique in the way that it was told in two dimensions and time periods - but I found both of them utterly compelling. This book left me in a contemplative mood, thinking much about the events in the book and how they led to the end result. It is not the perfect novel, no - I wanted more development in the characters and more rationale as to what was actually happening on Rakhat... but in the end, it is okay that I didn't get those answers. Some things seemed a little rushed or struck me as a huge surprise (not a good surprise, either) but this book gets 5 stars because it made me *feel* so deeply. It brought those emotions through type on a page. That is a work of art.
I am very much looking forward to the sequel... I already placed it on hold at the library. ...and now I am wondering if there is possibly other SF that I turned aside that would have this same effect. Suggestions, anyone?
This book was so unique in the way that it was told in two dimensions and time periods - but I found both of them utterly compelling. This book left me in a contemplative mood, thinking much about the events in the book and how they led to the end result. It is not the perfect novel, no - I wanted more development in the characters and more rationale as to what was actually happening on Rakhat... but in the end, it is okay that I didn't get those answers. Some things seemed a little rushed or struck me as a huge surprise (not a good surprise, either) but this book gets 5 stars because it made me *feel* so deeply. It brought those emotions through type on a page. That is a work of art.
I am very much looking forward to the sequel... I already placed it on hold at the library. ...and now I am wondering if there is possibly other SF that I turned aside that would have this same effect. Suggestions, anyone?
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Reading Progress
July 9, 2009
– Shelved
July 9, 2009
– Shelved as:
fiction
August 9, 2009
–
31.03%
"I was a little lost in the first 50 pages, but I am so glad I stuck with it. This book is very intriguing."
page
130
Started Reading
August 12, 2009
–
Finished Reading
January 6, 2016
– Shelved as:
scifi-speculative
February 17, 2016
– Shelved as:
favorites-fiction
April 10, 2016
– Shelved as:
1990s-fiction
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by
Betsie
(new)
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rated it 5 stars
Aug 13, 2009 08:10PM
Have you read the Outlander series? I just finished the second book in the series and I am hooked. It's not exactly SF, but maybe a mix of SF and fantasy? I highly recommend them.
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a very good review that i completely agree with! this book is pretty unique in scifi in that it really is a character study rather than a "world creation" scifi. yes, you do get a good feel for rakhat, the ship that they travel to rakhat in, and all the alieness that they encounter, but it's more about sandoz and his progression in the story, right?anyway, if you like this maybe you should try the "rama" series by arthur c. clarke. the first book is really fascinating and sets up the world in which all 4 books in the series will reside. the following 3 books are more about the characters interacting with that world (and that is more like the elements in "the sparrow" that you love.) i loved every book in the rama series and have read them multiple times.
and you should definitely read the uglies series! it's YA scifi so definitely not as profound as "the sparrow" but very fun and thought-provoking with great characters and concepts.
oh! (sorry this is long, btw) i also HIGHLY recommend the ender series by orson scott card. even if you just only read "ender's game" it will totally change the way you think about war and conflict. i learned sooooo much about myself and the human condition from reading that book. card is an amazing writer!
Do you know about Dreamers of the Day? It was my introduction to Russell, and I really enjoyed it for the most part.
