The Sparrow, by Mary Doria Russell

I read this book in college. I guess I should rephrase that – I read part of this book in college (sorry Diane Mowrey!) in a class called “The Problem of Evil”…this was one of the most profound classes I took in four years at Queens; it challenged me to look very skeptically at my view on God. While in the class, I was introduced to many pieces of literature that I now know I should have read long before my Sophomore Year in college – but one of the novels stands out completely in my mind: The Sparrow.

The premise of the class was simple: If there is so much evil in the world and God created everything, then did God create evil? Where is God in violent acts of genocide – the Sudan, the Holocaust, Rwanda? Where is God in war – war is waged in the name of God often by people who perform unspeakable, horrible acts. Where is God then? What about when a woman is raped and then finds herself pregnant and stuck in having to make a decision to keep the baby or not. God allows serial killers to murder innocent people, does he not? God lets bad things happen to good people – so therefore, God is evil…or at least has a capacity for evil, right?

These and so many more topics were discussed during this Spring semester. I know what you’re thinking…same thing my Dad is, “damn Liberal Arts school”…but I walked away from that class with no clear cut answers and probably more confused about my own faith than I had ever been before.

I’ve shuffled the books from that class – and all my classes at Queens – between Savannah, Charlotte, and Atlanta in the seven or so years it has been since I left the dorms…and I’ve never been able to get rid of this particular book. I always knew I’d reread it again.

So a few weeks ago, I’d been thinking of this book a lot…I had packed most of my bookshelf up save several novels for summer reading six months ago when I converted the loft (my “reading room”) into Caroline’s playroom (less for her to play in…more to keep her stuff). I left out this novel in the stack of “Summer Reading” I was already mounting. I also kept out the sequel: Children of God…which was not mine, it was a borrowed book from Diane Mowrey I borrowed when we went to China and never read nor returned…I should probably read it and send it back to her – sorry Diane! Since the book began praying on my mind, I decided to go ahead and start it…405 pages of a novel for fun two weeks before the end of school…I know, I was crazy.

The best way to describe this book is a mixture of politics, religion, & science-fiction…all save politics do I really ever read.

Set in the future, it chronicles a Jesuit mission to another planet from Earth skipping in between Earth time and Alien years…the setting/structure is bizzarre…but it keeps you reading. I found the character development to be real and engaging…even the minor characters were believable. The writing was crisp & clear and 405 pages went by quickly (except with my schedule…it took me a little longer to finish the book than it usually would).

I was, once again, pondering the idea of God and evil…and I know I never finished this book in college (too much beer?) but I did finish it this go round – reading last night until my eyes finally gave out on me and up this morning early to finish the tale.

I don’t have a reaction. Weird, I know. But I just don’t know quite what to say…perhaps I must savor the story’s message a little more – which is to say, continue to ponder if God has a capacity for evil; The Sparrow didn’t answer that question for me – just brought into the forefront the fact that I still struggle with this question/idea/understanding.

I do plan to read the sequel (and then, Diane, I promise I will send you your book back)…perhaps the 2nd book will have more closure and connection to this question. Who knows?

I would recommend this book – but only to persons who want to think…this is not light reading…and at times, it gets a little Star Wars…however, I think the fundamental message that the author is trying to send remains clear: in human nature exists, very clearly, several things: the desire to have some sort of family unit or belonging; the human spirit is only as strong as the belief/faith one puts in God; sometimes, for no reason at all, bad things happen to good people; if you wait long enough, God will eventually appear to you.

I still don’t know why this book has been weighing on me – why these characters have imbedded themselves into my subconscience…but I want to find out…

One other thing – this book made me want to do extensive research on the Jesuits. I find them extremely fascinating and desire to know more.

I might jump right into Children of God…I might take a break and read something different…who knows? I just want to keep my mind as fresh and perky as possible.

~lhw