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hannah_g44's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, and Cannibalism
ericaburns1's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
My favorite book. I think about it all the time. DW Yarbrough is my best friend. ”the Good Lord decided to make DW Yarbrough a Catholic, a liberal, ugly and gay and a fair poet, and then had him born in Waco, Texas. Now I ask you, is the work a serious Deity?” the greatest sentence written in all of literature. BUT THE SPARROW STILL FALLS. I think about that all the time. This book has shaped me. It is horrific, moving, funny, devastating. Religious tones and discussions but done from all sorts of perspectives: catholic, jewish, agnostic, atheistic.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, and Injury/Injury detail
rsoccer70's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
I read this novel for the first time more than 20 years ago, but I didn't really get the deep and challenging exploration of the essential theological question of why does God allow suffering? As an older and wiser man, I understand and resonate much more now with this struggle. The novel is structured with a mystery at it's heart-what happened on a distant planet to cause to entire crew to perish and why is the lone survivor physically and spiritually shattered? The answers unfold as the story proceeds to a gripping and gut-wrenching resolution of the mystery. I listened to the expertly read audiobook and it greatly enhanced my experience of the story. Be warned that the narrator of the sequel - "Children of God" isn't the same person - and is one I found so difficult to listen to that I immediately turned it off and picked up the book to read rather then to listen to it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
captain_will's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Trafficking, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Medical trauma and Murder
sincetheflood's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
holy fuck. holy fucking shit. easily one of the best books i've ever read and also one of the hardest to get through. especially those last 50 pages. good fucking lord
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Rape, Sexual assault, and Vomit
Moderate: Child death, Violence, Cannibalism, and Colonisation
Minor: Pregnancy
keearnest's review
challenging
dark
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is one of those books for me where, as soon as I finished reading it, I know that it’s one that has deeply impacted my life, in ways that will continue to unfold. To anyone who might read this book- it’s an incredibly written, deeply moving story, but it contains some heavy content, traumatic experiences, and deep considerations and reflections regarding faith and spirituality, so be prepared for a heavy read (but I considered it to be worth it).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, and Grief
zapal's review
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Sexual assault
decapode's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Genocide, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and Murder
feelsattack's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
The last chapter was emotionally brutal. Holy crap. Mary Doria Russell slayed, 4.5/5 stars. How is she simultaneously so funny but also manages to hurt me so much.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence