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Andrew Gillsmith's Reviews > The Sparrow
The Sparrow (The Sparrow, #1)
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Hoo-boy, this was brutal. And I mean that in the best possible way.
The Sparrow is a book that has been on my radar for quite some time. I've managed to avoid reading it for years. Why avoid it, you ask? Partly because I write on similar themes (Catholicism, the existence/non-existence and benevolence/non-benevolence of God, the search for meaning, etc) , and I didn't want to be unduly influenced.
But if I'm being truly honest, my resistance to reading this book was more about fear than anything else. I knew it would be, well, brutal. And I knew it would be exceptionally well-written. I thought that if I read it, I might not write my book(s) after all. It terrified me.
It turns out my fear was justified. I'm a bit of a wreck after finishing this incredible story of first contact by a Jesuit priest and his self-selected team of friends.
There are some passages in this of such surpassing beauty and elegance, I was genuinely stunned and had to put the book down.
If you are someone who is interested in the deeper truths of our existence, please do yourself a favor and read this book. It doesn't matter if you are Catholic, Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu, Protestant, agnostic, or atheist. The Sparrow will shake you to your core.
The Sparrow is a book that has been on my radar for quite some time. I've managed to avoid reading it for years. Why avoid it, you ask? Partly because I write on similar themes (Catholicism, the existence/non-existence and benevolence/non-benevolence of God, the search for meaning, etc) , and I didn't want to be unduly influenced.
But if I'm being truly honest, my resistance to reading this book was more about fear than anything else. I knew it would be, well, brutal. And I knew it would be exceptionally well-written. I thought that if I read it, I might not write my book(s) after all. It terrified me.
It turns out my fear was justified. I'm a bit of a wreck after finishing this incredible story of first contact by a Jesuit priest and his self-selected team of friends.
There are some passages in this of such surpassing beauty and elegance, I was genuinely stunned and had to put the book down.
If you are someone who is interested in the deeper truths of our existence, please do yourself a favor and read this book. It doesn't matter if you are Catholic, Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu, Protestant, agnostic, or atheist. The Sparrow will shake you to your core.
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Reading Progress
August 23, 2022
–
Started Reading
August 23, 2022
– Shelved
August 23, 2022
– Shelved as:
speculative-fiction
August 23, 2022
– Shelved as:
science-fiction
September 25, 2022
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-8 of 8 (8 new)
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Julie
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Aug 26, 2022 12:23PM
Years ago I listened to an abridged audio version of this book. I thought it was interesting but oh so heartbreaking at times.
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Yes--I'm about halfway through, and I can tell that it is going to be an emotionally draining experience.
Your review sparked my interest Andrew. Well done.
Laura wrote: "Your review sparked my interest Andrew. Well done."It is truly a great book. One of the best I've ever read, in fact.
Just know going into it that it is going to rattle you.
Nice review, Andrew. I'm more than halfway into this and I've got say that the themes discussed/alluded and the writing has mind blown to bits. I've found a new Author to add to my top 5 favorites. Certainly one of my best reads this year so far.
Wait until you read the sequel!
Even though I tend not to enjoy reading fantasy, you got me to look at the price for this book on Amazon. It's a bit more than I wanted for a Kindle version, and though a used one is cheap, I can't get it cheaply delivered to Taiwan. I'll put it in my Wish List and look to get it the next time I'm in the U.S.
