Official Review: Where They Graze Without Flowers

Renu G · Post by **Renu G** » 23 Aug 2019, 05:05

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Where They Graze Without Flowers" by R. Joseph.]

4 out of 4 stars

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Where They Graze Without Flowers is a novel written by R. Joseph. Rev. Kin is the protagonist. He is the pastor of a church in Texas but moves out to serve as a chaplain elsewhere. One is left wondering whether he is trying to escape something, or he is feeling attracted to something deeper and more valuable. Sal is his close friend. Caroline is Lee’s widow, and their suffering as a couple is heart-wrenching. It is connected with Jason, a “Tent Preacher.” Boat enters the scene after the middle of the book and is an interesting personality.

Rev. Kin is my favorite personality in the novel. He seems to struggle with his personal experiences and faith life. I feel as if the stories of various characters converge towards a focal point by moving away from organized religion towards a deeper spiritual life. There is a parallel geographical movement taking them along with the reader from one city to another, over two decades. This gives the author enough space and time to develop the characters with distinct personality traits. They either evolve or mutate as the years go by. Something or someone motivates them to move on in life after every crisis. In this scenario, the tension between religion and spirituality becomes more apparent.

The suffering of these individuals is poignant, and their reactions are thought-provoking because they sound sensational but absurd. The book is entertaining and includes elements of excitement, thrill, suspense, humor, shock, romance, and more. Overall, the read is a good pastime. This novel includes the repeated occurrence of homicide that is either deliberate or unintended. I am astonished at the varied reactions of the murderers after committing the crime. Questions linger in the reader’s mind long after completing the book.

I’ve mentioned appealing aspects of Where They Graze Without Flowers. However, I do have some constructive criticism. It is said that one should never judge a book by its cover. This seems to be true if applied to this novel. I doubt whether potential readers will be attracted by its cover page. I did not like the title and picture because they are vague and do not give any hint about the book’s contents. Their connection with the stories within the story is not obvious even after reading it. Additionally, the description of every setting seems to be too detailed and somewhat annoying, although this may be intended to make the scenes more vivid.

For all the reasons mentioned above, I wish to give Where They Graze Without Flowers a rating of 3.5 stars. However, since this is not possible, I rate it 4 out of 4 stars. I did not give a lower rating because this novel has a unique philosophy and is different from other novels. It seems to be professionally edited, and I found only a few typos. I am pleased to recommend it to adults interested in stories that stimulate reflection on the meaning of death and life. It may also appeal to those who want an entertaining novel. I do not recommend it to children because they may feel disturbed by the scenes that involve violence.

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Where They Graze Without Flowers
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Brendan Donaghy · Post by **Brendan Donaghy** » 25 Aug 2019, 08:34

I agree that neither the title nor the cover of this book give the reader any clue about the contents of the book itself. Great review!

Hellofeen · Post by **Hellofeen** » 26 Aug 2019, 05:56

Where they grave without flower - I thought it was a novel that base on mistakes (doing the right thing at the wrong place). From the review, the novel looks different from its title. If the review is true, then the storyline should be a great one. Kudos to the reviewer.

Ddennis88 · Post by **Ddennis88** » 27 Aug 2019, 09:01

I agree, based on your description, that the title and cover of this book do not match. However, I do find them intriguing. I would have guessed that this was more about finding happiness in a place that seems bleak. Maybe that's just it, though. "One is left wondering whether he is trying to escape something, or he is feeling attracted to something deeper and more valuable." Based on this thought from you, maybe the title is how the Pastor is feeling about life in general. I find it thought provoking, if nothing else. Great review!

Magnify3 · Post by **Magnify3** » 28 Aug 2019, 03:26

I too agree that the title and cover do not agree with the contents of the book. One would not tell that there is a story about spirituality by looking at the cover.

MatereF · Post by **MatereF** » 29 Aug 2019, 02:45

Ddennis88 wrote: ↑27 Aug 2019, 09:01 I agree, based on your description, that the title and cover of this book do not match. However, I do find them intriguing. I would have guessed that this was more about finding happiness in a place that seems bleak. Maybe that's just it, though. "One is left wondering whether he is trying to escape something, or he is feeling attracted to something deeper and more valuable." Based on this thought from you, maybe the title is how the Pastor is feeling about life in general. I find it thought provoking, if nothing else. Great review!

My thoughts exactly.