The Sparrow

The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book was a huge surprise for me. A friend had loaned it to me, along with several other books, and I was looking for books to read on my annual go-to-a-cabin-on-the-beach-and-read-and-sleep vacation, so I threw this one into my bag. The premise sounds intriguing - first contact of humans with an alien species, and the team sent to the planet is comprised of 4 Jesuit priests, a doctor, an engineer, an astronomer and an AI specialist. It was the Jesuit priest idea that piqued my interest - and I'm a sucker for "first contact" books, too.

So, I started reading, expecting an interesting, but normal, such story. Imagine my surprise and delight when I got that plus a whole lot more! This is not just a first contact sci-fi story - it's an exploration of God, faith, prayer, predistination and the problem of pain (as CS Lewis deals with in The Problem of Pain) disguised as science fiction.

The story is told in alternating chapters of the present (2059) and the past (several years earlier). We first meet the only surviving member of the team, Emilio Sandoz, who is emotionallly and physically broken. Between chapters of the Jesuits trying to help (and debrief) him, we get chapters introducing the characters and how the first contact happened and how the mission came about. So, you're immediately set to wondering about what happened, and how did Emilio get in such a state? As you read further and further, the feeling of dread really starts hanging over you. This is not necessarily an easy book to read, because of the story and the themes - it's not a "they lived happily ever after" kind of book! But, it has jumped to my list of top 10 books I've ever read!

I was utterly captivated by the book - the style of the writing, the construction of the book, and, of course, the overall theme: if God is a loving God, and we are "doing his will" why do HORRIBLE things happen to us? Did God allow it? Did God send it? Does God not care about the pain? These are questions I have struggled with my whole life. This book doesn't answer any questions, but it certainly presents the problem in a very powerful way. Don't get me wrong - this isn't some boring theological treatise - this is a rip-roaring sci-fi tale, with a VERY interesting and original alien planet, and can be enjoyed just for that. But, I think most readers will also be touched by the theme of the book, and will be left pondering some very heavy ideas...

Celebrating Ada Lovelace Day - "The Difference Engine"

Today, March 24, is Ada Lovelace Day. Who is Ada Lovelace, you say? She is generally attributed to be the first computer programmer, working with Charles Babbage on his Difference Engine and Analytical Engine (early mechanical computers) in the early 1800's. You can read more about her on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ada_lovelace. Being a computer programmer, and a woman, myself, Ada has always been something of an icon for me (along with Grace Hopper).

But this is a book blog, right? Yes! When I heard about ALD, and the effort to have bloggers worldwide recognize her, I took the opportunity to re-read a most interesting book The Difference Engine by William Gibson and Bruce Sterling. This book is one of the first 'Steampunk' books - certainly one that brought the genre into the general public realm. The Difference Engine supposes that Babbage and Lovelace's work actually became viable and spawned 'the computer age' (including hackers - or 'clackers' as they're know in the novel), though not silicon/electronic computers, but computers made with gears that run on steam (hence, "steampunk"). Ada, herself, is a character in this book, which is why I thought it would be a good book to read in honor of this day.

I don't think this book is Gibson or Sterling's best work, but it's a really interesting 'alternate history' book, and they very realistically extrapolate as to the impact computers would have on society at that time. Though, I do think, at times, the authors were trying a bit too hard to be "clever", and the story tends to wander a bit. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the book, and would recommend it to anyone interested in learning about steampunk. (I don't think it's the best reference book about Ada, herself, but it is a good story, overall, and a good example of the genre.)

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
Even though this is a 'young adult' novel, I found it very touching. It is the story of young Arnold, a Native American living on 'the rez' in NE Washington. He is bright, and is encouraged by a teacher to go to the 'white' high school in nearby Reardan. There, of course, he doesn't fit it, but now that he's not going to school on the rez, he's also ostracized by many of former friends.

This is a moving coming-of-age story, which manages to show us the poverty and struggles of life on the rez without being maudlin. It has a similar, boyhood-friend feeling as Stephen Kings' Stand By Me, and even though it is set against the backdrop of life on the rez, this is a story that anyone, male or female, white or Native American, can enjoy. I laughed more than I cried, but I did cry.

I also had the pleasure of hearing Alexie speak twice in the past 2 months. Once at the Port Townsend Film Festival, where he introduced a film, and most recently as part of the "Spokane Is Reading" event, where he read from this book. (Ahem, and it was my copy he read from!) If you ever get a chance to hear him speak - GO!

Catching Up!

I've been reading - but not writing! ;-) Here's a partial list of my most recent reads:
Beggars in Spain by Nancy Kress


rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was a very interesting 'soft' science fiction. Set in the near future, where some people are genetically engineered to need no sleep (and for hyper intelligence), it is an interesting study of prejudice...
My review



Watchmen by Alan Moore


rating: 4 of 5 stars
Groundbreaking graphic novel, and I can see why! I'd like to read it again in a few months - it deserves a 2nd look (literally and figuratively).
My review



Falling Free by Lois McMaster Bujold


rating: 3 of 5 stars
Another fun book from Bujold! Fairly lightweight story of an engineer on a space station, which is primarily 'manned' by children who have been genetcially engineered for zero-G life...
My review




Ellen Foster by Kaye Gibbons


rating: 2 of 5 stars
I was underwhelmed by this. I expected something as gripping as The Secret Life of Bees or To Kill a Mockingbird. Sadly, this wasn't close. In fact, having read it abotut 6 months ago, I hardly remember a thing about it...
My review


View all my reviews.

Belle Ruin by Martha Grimes


rating: 1 of 5 stars
This is a mystery novel, set in the south. The heroine is 12-year old Emma. She is interesting enough, as are the characters and the town, but rule #1 of mysteries is SOLVE THE MYSTERY AT THE END OF THE NOVEL!!! ...
My review




Born on a Blue Day: Inside the Extraordinary Mind of an Autistic Savant by Daniel Tammet


rating: 5 of 5 stars
This was a FABULOUS book! Written by an autistic man, it chronicles his life, from childhood through the present-day. He is a funny and sardonic writer, able to see himself as others might - an amazing feat for an autistic person...
My review




The Lady and the Unicorn by Tracy Chevalier


rating: 2 of 5 stars
If you're into weaving/tapestry, you will probably enjoy this book. As historical fiction, it was interesting, but I didn't like any of the characters, and felt they were all a little one-dimensional. A mildy good story...
My review




Snow Flower and the Secret Fan: A Novel by Lisa See


rating: 4 of 5 stars
I liked this book, even though the story wasn't what I expected. But it is an amazing look into Chinese society 100 years ago, especially around the life of women...
My review


View all my reviews at Goodreads.com.