Review of A Thirst That Never Ceases
Posted: 23 Dec 2022, 17:00
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "A Thirst That Never Ceases" by Judy Owens.]
In Judy Owens’ novel, A Thirst That Never Ceases, a Christian family faces a challenge as a result of their religious beliefs. They realize that while their religious thought may be adequate for the way the church operates, it does not provide them with the solace they need while going through difficult times. Despite the errors, the family stands with and loves one another. They discover how to put their faith in God and let His word direct their paths, especially during the storm. They discover that knowing God is more than just adhering to the doctrines of a particular faith; it is having a loving relationship with Him.
I liked the lessons this book taught. While reading this book, I got to understand that indoctrination could be harmful. The path to finding God is purer than we imagine. It isn't based on the expectation of others. Also, I liked that this book had the message of hope. It was heartwarming to see this family place their trust in God. This book teaches a lesson that through the storm, God gives peace and safety. The plot and the lessons of this book were commendable. Also, the book cover drew me in. It was very artistic and symbolic. Before reading this book, I was already interested.
One important lesson I learned from this book was that our problems and struggles could be points of transition. For this family, this was the point that helped them distinguish between religion and spirituality. I found this insightful because it is a real-life problem. People are still shackled and constrained by religion. The disheartening part of this is the fact that these people are not always able to draw the line between their spirituality and religion. For some, the struggles they encounter could break them. When religion does not cater to the "human" problems you face, what should you do? The joy in discovering your path to spirituality for yourself is always indescribable.
However, I had some issues with this book. Firstly, I felt like this book had more ‘telling’ and little ‘showing’. I expected more descriptions to spark my imagination. The writing style did not sufficiently paint a picture of the characters or the situation they were in. Also, the structure of the book had me confused. The beginning talked about two people. Later, the focus shifted to another set of people in an abrupt and jarring way. I struggled to find the connection. The sudden movement of the focus of the narrative from one character to another wasn’t pleasant.
Lastly, the characters seemed flat and two-dimensional; they all felt the same. I felt this was because of the stiff dialogue. There appeared to be one voice for all the characters. It looked as though the narrator was still narrating even while the characters were speaking since there was not enough liveliness in the way they spoke.
I rate this book 3 out of 5 stars. I thoroughly enjoyed the lessons I learned. I liked the storyline. However, the execution was a problem for me. Because of this, I am deducting two stars. This book was professionally edited. I barely came across errors in it.
I recommend this book to Christian readers who want to find their spiritual path. If you want to distinguish between religion and spirituality, this book is for you.
******
A Thirst That Never Ceases
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
In Judy Owens’ novel, A Thirst That Never Ceases, a Christian family faces a challenge as a result of their religious beliefs. They realize that while their religious thought may be adequate for the way the church operates, it does not provide them with the solace they need while going through difficult times. Despite the errors, the family stands with and loves one another. They discover how to put their faith in God and let His word direct their paths, especially during the storm. They discover that knowing God is more than just adhering to the doctrines of a particular faith; it is having a loving relationship with Him.
I liked the lessons this book taught. While reading this book, I got to understand that indoctrination could be harmful. The path to finding God is purer than we imagine. It isn't based on the expectation of others. Also, I liked that this book had the message of hope. It was heartwarming to see this family place their trust in God. This book teaches a lesson that through the storm, God gives peace and safety. The plot and the lessons of this book were commendable. Also, the book cover drew me in. It was very artistic and symbolic. Before reading this book, I was already interested.
One important lesson I learned from this book was that our problems and struggles could be points of transition. For this family, this was the point that helped them distinguish between religion and spirituality. I found this insightful because it is a real-life problem. People are still shackled and constrained by religion. The disheartening part of this is the fact that these people are not always able to draw the line between their spirituality and religion. For some, the struggles they encounter could break them. When religion does not cater to the "human" problems you face, what should you do? The joy in discovering your path to spirituality for yourself is always indescribable.
However, I had some issues with this book. Firstly, I felt like this book had more ‘telling’ and little ‘showing’. I expected more descriptions to spark my imagination. The writing style did not sufficiently paint a picture of the characters or the situation they were in. Also, the structure of the book had me confused. The beginning talked about two people. Later, the focus shifted to another set of people in an abrupt and jarring way. I struggled to find the connection. The sudden movement of the focus of the narrative from one character to another wasn’t pleasant.
Lastly, the characters seemed flat and two-dimensional; they all felt the same. I felt this was because of the stiff dialogue. There appeared to be one voice for all the characters. It looked as though the narrator was still narrating even while the characters were speaking since there was not enough liveliness in the way they spoke.
I rate this book 3 out of 5 stars. I thoroughly enjoyed the lessons I learned. I liked the storyline. However, the execution was a problem for me. Because of this, I am deducting two stars. This book was professionally edited. I barely came across errors in it.
I recommend this book to Christian readers who want to find their spiritual path. If you want to distinguish between religion and spirituality, this book is for you.
******
A Thirst That Never Ceases
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon