The Sparrow starts with the ending of the story. The outcome of a Jesuit-financed expedition to a nearby planet showing signs of intelligentlife is never in any doubt. The story of why the Jesuits were the first toventure into this unknown territory is complicated, and made even more soby an elaborate interweaving of timelines. Readers have to be attentive tothe timeframe, but their reward is an extended story as tightly organized and crafted as an intricate piece of fair-isle knitting. Threads and motifs crop up at different points in the story.
Characters appear young, then old, then young again.
Assembling the complete story is a satisfying challenge. This fact alone is not a problem, but the associated list of suggestions for discussion at the end of the book struck this reader at least as heavy- handed and intrusive. When our book group meets to discuss this book, we will simply talk among ourselves as usual. This rich story will give us plenty to talk about. When I was growing up in Halifax, Nova Scotia, I used to read the ships' movements in Halifax Harbour that were published daily in the local newspaper.