The Sparrow

I found The Sparrow a very unusual read, very satisfying. It takes place in two narratives. In one Emilio Sandoz, Jesuit Priest is introduced as a broken man after having returned from a mission. It is strongly implied that he has endured torture and is under suspicion by some of committing (initially) undisclosed heinous acts. This narrative follows Emilio as he slowly tries to recover emotionally, physically and spiritually from his experiences while at the same time having to endure an inquiry as to the events of his mission.

The second narrative follows a much younger, energetic and mystically devout Sandoz from his earliest days as a priest being sent to places such as war-torn Sudan, helping in medical missions and discovering his talent for languages, later he meets and befriends people who are all coincidentally brought together just as a signal from another star is received - a signal that sounds like choral singing. Emilio realises that miraculously the people present possess all the skills and connections to plan and launch a mission to the world of the Singers. Clearly he believes that this was meant to be: “If you find a turtle on a gatepost, it didn't get there by itself”.

The two narratives continue, slowly converging. I don't want to give anything away, but the style is slow and beautiful, tragedy when it strikes is shocking, but does not feel artificial - just sad, and it's significance appropriately reflected upon. In this it reminds me somewhat of “The Time Traveller's Wife”.

The author, when asked what she wanted readers to get out of the book replied:
“That you can't know the answer to questions of faith but that the questions are worth asking and worth thinking about deeply.”
I think that quotation very much sums the book up for me.