I was completely wrong! The further I read, the more complex the plot became with regard to culture, theology, and relationships. I thought the plot would be simple, and ( had already jotted down with disdain what I thought would happen. The further I read, the more I wanted to know what would happen.and what was the real story behind the main character Emilio Sandoz's crippling hand surgery with whch he returned to Earth. There were two time frames, and I wanted to know what would happen when they would conversge. I began to get bored with the story as it went into excruciating detail about the lives of the characters. Then I discovered that, on this mission, were also an avowed atheist and a Sephardic Jew! Hmm?! I wondered how they fit into this story. It turns out that this was the story of a mission to a distant planet sponsored by members of the Church of Jesus (Jesuits).

I read the first few chapters and found things I didn't like, but the story seemed interesting.

I saved it for years and then gave it a chance because of a reading challenge in which I participated. I was skepitcal of reading it at first because I thought it would read like an allegory (not a genre I like). Wow! This was a book that I had a hard time getting into. “ Russell shows herself to be a skillful storyteller who subtly and expertly builds suspense.” - USA Today Read more Wells, with a dash of Ray Bradbury for good measure.” - The Dallas Morning News The Sparrow tackles a difficult subject with grace and intelligence.” - San Francisco Chronicle The Sparrow is one of them.” - Entertainment Weekly “Important novels leave deep cracks in our beliefs, our prejudices, and our blinders. “A startling, engrossing, and moral work of fiction.” - The New York Times Book Review The mission begins in faith, hope, and beauty, but a series of small misunderstandings brings it to a catastrophic end.

A visionary work that combines speculative fiction with deep philosophical inquiry, The Sparrow tells the story of a charismatic Jesuit priest and linguist, Emilio Sandoz, who leads a scientific mission entrusted with a profound task: to make first contact with intelligent extraterrestrial life.

The sparrow mary doria russell summary