Flight of the Sparrows

Flight of the Sparrows
Laura Baumbach
Aspen Mountain Press
ISBN: 1-60168-005-8
Fiction, Political Thriller
Reviewed by Rocky Reichman

Exquisite writing and good description dominate this book. Baumbach creates strong characters, with interesting personalities that any reader can relate to. The story is fluid. The words flow together well, melding to make an inspiring story. Flight of the Sparrows has a plot thick with intrigue, adventure and unexpected twists. The author easily melts character analysis together with action-packed prose.
But the most fascinating trait to attribute to Baumbach’s writing is her vocabulary. She has perfect knowledge of the meanings of words and semantics of language. Her lexicon is bigger than the average writer. It almost reaches to heights as awe-inspiring as Michael Chabon’s use of the English language.
Like every book, criticisms abound. No matter how well a story is crafted, there are always holes. Holes in the ship that have to be plugged up quickly to keep the vessel afloat. Sporadic actions and frequent verbiage contribute to a lack of interest readers may encounter once past the first few chapters of the story. Characters are dropped and added too often (nothing to be ashamed of: even Christopher Paolini, best-selling author of Eragon, has received the same criticism). Too often, the writer explains the obvious to the reader.
The book has a very good overall theme. It is mixed with action and love, a pair of emotions rarely hammered together. Baumbach is as much of a teacher as she is a writer. Her book includes good lessons about things readers can relate to. Things people encounter in everyday life in the real world. Flight of the Sparrows has an interesting beginning and a heartwarming end. It’s lively and lovely, both at the same time. Most important of all, however, is Baumbach’s uncanny ability to write a rare kind of story. To write a book that is both a literary gem and a blockbuster novel.