Sunday, June 17, 2012

It's Monday, What Are You Reading


This weekly round-up is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey. It's a chance to check in with other bookish bloggers and get more fodder for one's ever growing "To Read" list.

I published one review post this week; it includes brief reviews of  In a Perfect World by Laura Kasischke,  The Story Sisters by Alice Hoffman, Triggered by Fletcher Wortmann.


Currently Reading:

The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell
Excerpt: It was predictable, in hindsight. Everything about the history of the Society of Jesus bespoke deft and efficient action, exploration and research. During what Europeans were pleased to call the Age of Discovery, Jesuit priests were never more than a year or two behind the men who made initial contact with previously unknown peoples; indeed, Jesuits were often the vanguard of exploration.

The United Nations required years to come to a decision that the Society of Jesus reached in ten days. In New York, diplomats debated long and hard, with many recesses and tablings of the issue, whether and why human resources should be expended in an attempt to contact the world that would become known as Rakhat when there were so many pressing needs on Earth. In Rome, the questions were not whether or why but how soon the mission could be attempted and whom to send.

The Society asked leave of no temporal government. It acted on its own principles, with its own assets, on Papal authority. The mission to Rakhat was undertaken not so much secretly as privately – a fine distinction but one that the Society felt no compulsion to explain or justify when the news broke several years later.

The Jesuit scientists went to learn, not to proselytize. They went so that they might come to know and love God’s other children. They went for the reason Jesuits have always gone to the furthest frontiers of human exploration. They went ad majorem Dei gloriam: for the greater glory of God.

They meant no harm.
I never would have guessed, off the top of my head, that I would be captivated by a novel about Jesuits in space, Who knew?  But I can't tell you how much I am loving this book. For me, it isn't really a page turner -- it's more of a slow, thoughtful read, combining science fiction with a thoughtful exploration of religion, philosophy, linguistics, faith, grief, suffering, and many other topics and themes. I am looking forward to reviewing this novel.

6 comments:

  1. I agree with you about The Sparrow. A slow, thoughtful read defines it for me too. Happy reading!

    ReplyDelete
  2. The Sparrow looks like an intriguing read, I've added it to my TBR pile :) Have fun reading it! +New Follower :)
    Here's my It's Monday! post :)

    -Kimberly @ Turning The Pages

    ReplyDelete
  3. Wishing you a great reading week!

    Shelleyrae @ Book'd Out

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hmm...never heard of it and it doesn't really look like my cup of tea...but interesting! Have a great week and I hope you get everything that you want accomplished!!

    ReplyDelete

Hello, and thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts -- reader comments make this blogging gig worthwhile. :-) Due to excessive spam, we are now moderating all comments. Like that dude in the Monty Python skit, we just Don't ... Like ... Spam. I will try to post and respond to your comments as quickly as possibly.