Review of In Lieu of Flowers
Posted: 18 Oct 2024, 10:52
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "In Lieu of Flowers" by Keith Steinbaum.]
In Lieu of Flowers by Keith Steinbaum unfolds over several decades and touches on love, loss, faith, and people’s connection to and understanding of the unknown. The book builds these themes on a foundation of historical fiction and mysterious supernatural elements.
I did not know what to expect before reading the book because the book’s blurb does not reveal much about the plot or who the characters are. After some research, I learned that “in lieu of flowers” means that a family wants people to give something meaningful for a funeral instead of flowers. I’m always interested in why an author chooses a specific title for their book and how it connects to the story. The connection between the title’s meaning and the story was simple yet intriguing. I recommend that the author add a brief explanation of the phrase at the start of the book. Adding this information will help people unfamiliar with this phrase understand its relevance as the plot develops.
The story begins in 1920 in Bucharest, Romania, where the paths of some Jewish and Romani people intersect with something powerful and sinister. The events of this time are the foundation for things to come. Decades later, Terrence Covington, an elderly African-American man, works at Evergreen Cemetery in Los Angeles. His work at the cemetery puts him near two unsettled souls still tethered to the world of the living. One of these souls has a dark destiny.
The book contains a lot of religious lore and speculation about the nature of God, demonic forces, and the afterlife. It covers these topics in ways I have never read before. Additionally, the story touches on ethnic and religious discrimination and tensions. I was surprised to find these topics since a cemetery is the story’s focal point. These topics are brought up very early in the book, and the author did a good job intertwining these topics with the historical and supernatural aspects of the story.
I enjoyed that the book explores the cultural impact of different forms of prejudice and persecution, such as anti-Semitism and racism, on many communities and also the relationship between these communities.
The book includes tense or suspenseful scenes, but there are also many instances where it is simply about the characters’ daily lives, emotions, and internal struggles with various issues. It is not fast-paced or action-packed, and there isn’t an abundance of horror or thriller elements; though, there are a few instances where violent acts are detailed. Anyone who appreciates gradual character growth and introspection will enjoy the writing style. If not, they may become bored with the writing during parts of the story. I think the writing was well-balanced; others may have a different opinion based on their preferences.
I appreciated that the story included the points of view of multiple characters. The characters came from diverse backgrounds, each having unique worldviews, experiences, and struggles, some of which provoked deep thought. The author did an excellent job covering the life stories of many of the characters, such that they did not bog down the story but still were impactful.
Even though I am not religious, I enjoyed reading a story that explores new concepts about God and the Devil, good versus evil, the afterlife, and the impact of prejudice. I recommend this book to people who like historical fiction with supernatural elements, character-driven stories, and themes like the ones I just listed. I noticed a few minor grammatical errors, but they did not affect how much I enjoyed the story. I don’t have any reason to remove a star from the rating; I thoroughly enjoyed the book. Because of this, I give In Lieu of Flowers a perfect 5 out of 5 stars.
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In Lieu of Flowers
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes | on Smashwords
In Lieu of Flowers by Keith Steinbaum unfolds over several decades and touches on love, loss, faith, and people’s connection to and understanding of the unknown. The book builds these themes on a foundation of historical fiction and mysterious supernatural elements.
I did not know what to expect before reading the book because the book’s blurb does not reveal much about the plot or who the characters are. After some research, I learned that “in lieu of flowers” means that a family wants people to give something meaningful for a funeral instead of flowers. I’m always interested in why an author chooses a specific title for their book and how it connects to the story. The connection between the title’s meaning and the story was simple yet intriguing. I recommend that the author add a brief explanation of the phrase at the start of the book. Adding this information will help people unfamiliar with this phrase understand its relevance as the plot develops.
The story begins in 1920 in Bucharest, Romania, where the paths of some Jewish and Romani people intersect with something powerful and sinister. The events of this time are the foundation for things to come. Decades later, Terrence Covington, an elderly African-American man, works at Evergreen Cemetery in Los Angeles. His work at the cemetery puts him near two unsettled souls still tethered to the world of the living. One of these souls has a dark destiny.
The book contains a lot of religious lore and speculation about the nature of God, demonic forces, and the afterlife. It covers these topics in ways I have never read before. Additionally, the story touches on ethnic and religious discrimination and tensions. I was surprised to find these topics since a cemetery is the story’s focal point. These topics are brought up very early in the book, and the author did a good job intertwining these topics with the historical and supernatural aspects of the story.
I enjoyed that the book explores the cultural impact of different forms of prejudice and persecution, such as anti-Semitism and racism, on many communities and also the relationship between these communities.
The book includes tense or suspenseful scenes, but there are also many instances where it is simply about the characters’ daily lives, emotions, and internal struggles with various issues. It is not fast-paced or action-packed, and there isn’t an abundance of horror or thriller elements; though, there are a few instances where violent acts are detailed. Anyone who appreciates gradual character growth and introspection will enjoy the writing style. If not, they may become bored with the writing during parts of the story. I think the writing was well-balanced; others may have a different opinion based on their preferences.
I appreciated that the story included the points of view of multiple characters. The characters came from diverse backgrounds, each having unique worldviews, experiences, and struggles, some of which provoked deep thought. The author did an excellent job covering the life stories of many of the characters, such that they did not bog down the story but still were impactful.
Even though I am not religious, I enjoyed reading a story that explores new concepts about God and the Devil, good versus evil, the afterlife, and the impact of prejudice. I recommend this book to people who like historical fiction with supernatural elements, character-driven stories, and themes like the ones I just listed. I noticed a few minor grammatical errors, but they did not affect how much I enjoyed the story. I don’t have any reason to remove a star from the rating; I thoroughly enjoyed the book. Because of this, I give In Lieu of Flowers a perfect 5 out of 5 stars.
******
In Lieu of Flowers
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes | on Smashwords