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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
I remember loving this book when I read it in middle or high school. I'd like to reread it soon since I don't remember much.
With Dean Koontz, you have to take him as he is. He is a master of his craft but, like Stephen King, his writing about women and sex can be a bit archaic. Other than that, this is a very good read.
This was one of the first books I ever read by the author and I was hooked. He has a way of frightening you witless but not allowing you to put the book down. I HAD to know how it ended. A classic.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
It was a nice read. The subject was very fascinating and I think Kootnz executed it very well. My only issue was that I felt like so much personal propaganda was attempted to be shoved down my throat, not the actual beliefs/views of the characters. Never the less it was a good read.
This is my first Koontz and I'm sad to say I had to DNF around 67%.
I chose this book to be my intro to Koontz because so many recommendations. Koontz himself even touts it as one of his best /favorite works. Having the plot largely focus on a hyper intelligent dog, this seemed like a nice soft open.
Unfortunately I found this story to be largely boring. I felt no suspense what so ever. The "monster" is revealed pretty early on and the rest is just....slow
Characters
Travis is.....fine I guess. I have nothing to say about him at all, he's just neutral. Nora almost had me DNFing at the 30-ish% mark, perhaps one of the worst female character's I've ever read. She's agoraphobic and cripplingly anxious, shy and insecure. Her past was filled with emotional and mental abuse and her story starts in the book gaining a new violent stalker. That Travis saves her from in the knick on time and then all that trauma gets cured by his magic savior D. I couldn't stand her parts in the beginning but after Travis and Einstein enter the picture she become a whole lot more bareable but then it's just as neutral and boring as Travis himself.
Then we have Vince the unnecessary psychopath hit man who exists to, I assume, provide an extra antagonistic presence and explanations. His whole thing felt largely unnecessary.
There is also the agent running around trying to find the Outsider /monster.
I might try this again sometime down the line but I doubt it. I am still going to try more Koontz.
I chose this book to be my intro to Koontz because so many recommendations. Koontz himself even touts it as one of his best /favorite works. Having the plot largely focus on a hyper intelligent dog, this seemed like a nice soft open.
Unfortunately I found this story to be largely boring. I felt no suspense what so ever. The "monster" is revealed pretty early on and the rest is just....slow
Characters
Travis is.....fine I guess. I have nothing to say about him at all, he's just neutral. Nora almost had me DNFing at the 30-ish% mark, perhaps one of the worst female character's I've ever read. She's agoraphobic and cripplingly anxious, shy and insecure. Her past was filled with emotional and mental abuse and her story starts in the book gaining a new violent stalker. That Travis saves her from in the knick on time and then all that trauma gets cured by his magic savior D. I couldn't stand her parts in the beginning but after Travis and Einstein enter the picture she become a whole lot more bareable but then it's just as neutral and boring as Travis himself.
Then we have Vince the unnecessary psychopath hit man who exists to, I assume, provide an extra antagonistic presence and explanations. His whole thing felt largely unnecessary.
There is also the agent running around trying to find the Outsider /monster.
I might try this again sometime down the line but I doubt it. I am still going to try more Koontz.
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
I'm not a Dean Koontz fan. I've only read one other book of his- [b:Intensity|32439|Intensity|Dean Koontz|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1308458213s/32439.jpg|442737]- and it was okay. I'm a Stephen King fan through and through, but sometimes I need to step outside the SK box and try other authors. I know I need to give DK more of a chance since I've only read one book of his, but his latest works have gotten crappy reviews. However, this book continuously popped up in my newsfeed because a group of pals were reading it together for a Buddy Read. I value all of their opinions very highly and I blame my out of control TBR on every one of them. So when I saw that this novel had SO many different ratings- a 4, a 3, a few 2s- I decided to read this one myself and see where I landed.
Overall? Pretty good, all things considered. Looks like I'm on Team Edward- no, not the sparkly candy ass- but the kickass author dude. =) I thought this novel was pretty well laid out and told quite the story. Was it hokey? Of course. It was written and published in the 1980s. The pop culture references are outdated (Dynasty/Dallas. Sweet), and it's a story about a genetically altered golden retriever who likes hot dogs, Mickey Mouse, and reading books. But, it's also the story of a genetic experiment gone horribly wrong that has escaped and is ripping people and animals apart, disemboweling them. This book felt like a long episode of the X-Files.
Mmmmmmmmmmmmm..... oh I'm sorry.... where was I?
Sadly, no Mulder and Scully here. The main characters- Travis and Nora- were very one-dimensional and I found myself not caring whatsoever of their well-being. Especially Nora. Ugh.
But overall? I enjoyed myself and thought it was a good story. I would give this one 3.5 stars. It definitely lost stars for me because of that awful ending.
But I did love the idea of the monster, The Outsider. The description of it and what it did to people was really gross and disturbing. Love it.
I'm still not on the DK bandwagon, but I wouldn't be opposed to reading some of his older stuff. Before he got all dog-happy.
Overall? Pretty good, all things considered. Looks like I'm on Team Edward- no, not the sparkly candy ass- but the kickass author dude. =) I thought this novel was pretty well laid out and told quite the story. Was it hokey? Of course. It was written and published in the 1980s. The pop culture references are outdated (Dynasty/Dallas. Sweet), and it's a story about a genetically altered golden retriever who likes hot dogs, Mickey Mouse, and reading books. But, it's also the story of a genetic experiment gone horribly wrong that has escaped and is ripping people and animals apart, disemboweling them. This book felt like a long episode of the X-Files.
Mmmmmmmmmmmmm..... oh I'm sorry.... where was I?
Sadly, no Mulder and Scully here. The main characters- Travis and Nora- were very one-dimensional and I found myself not caring whatsoever of their well-being. Especially Nora. Ugh.
But overall? I enjoyed myself and thought it was a good story. I would give this one 3.5 stars. It definitely lost stars for me because of that awful ending.
Spoiler
After chasing them the entire book, NO WAY would the feds just shrug their shoulders and leave them alone. Also? The Outsider is bent and determined to find Einstein the dog and kill him. He's been disemboweling people and animals the entire time, and ripping apart their eyes. Yet, when he finally meets up with Einstein, he just throws him against the wall and leaves him there? He doesn't check that he's really dead? He doesn't quickly rip out his eyes? I know that he goes interrupted by Travis but you would think he'd at least go for the dog's face upon getting to him.But I did love the idea of the monster, The Outsider. The description of it and what it did to people was really gross and disturbing. Love it.
Spoiler
But the best part? Was its humanity. Yes it killed. But, it ripped out their eyes so they didn't have to see how ugly it was. It was ashamed of itself and it was internally suffering. I felt bad for it at the end, kind of like Frankenstein's monsterI'm still not on the DK bandwagon, but I wouldn't be opposed to reading some of his older stuff. Before he got all dog-happy.
I finally finished and WOW I was literally on the edge of my seat!! So many spooky fall vibes, and the author does such a good job of giving characters creepy personalities realistically. And the themes in the novel... and the alternating storylines... and the ending. Shook.
Dean Koontz's Watchers was book K in my A-Z of authors. My Mum has always raved about Dean Koontz, despite it not being her normal read. I had attempted to read Strangers but got a bit stuck and had read another thriller-like book.
So I went into this book fairly optimistically. First of all, Koontz is a brilliant writer, he brings characters to life, makes situations seem realistic despite the story involving a genius dog and the dialogue is good. There are tonnes of comparisons between Koontz and Stephen King and I don't think this is a bad thing. I love Stephen King and Koontz displays all the things that I love about his writing. The main character, the dog Einstein is brilliant. There are times I laughed out loud and times I cried reading this book and it's all because of this wonderful dog. I own two dogs myself and if they were as clever as Einstein it would make life a lot easier.
Overall, this book is heart warming, though provoking and at some times horrifying. Einstein makes it all! Some other reviewers have said that it was too long and I agree with this. There were some parts that could have been scrapped and a whole section involving a hitman that I wouldn't have missed at all.
Reading Watchers has given me and Koontz hope and I'm prepared to give Strangers another crack.
So I went into this book fairly optimistically. First of all, Koontz is a brilliant writer, he brings characters to life, makes situations seem realistic despite the story involving a genius dog and the dialogue is good. There are tonnes of comparisons between Koontz and Stephen King and I don't think this is a bad thing. I love Stephen King and Koontz displays all the things that I love about his writing. The main character, the dog Einstein is brilliant. There are times I laughed out loud and times I cried reading this book and it's all because of this wonderful dog. I own two dogs myself and if they were as clever as Einstein it would make life a lot easier.
Overall, this book is heart warming, though provoking and at some times horrifying. Einstein makes it all! Some other reviewers have said that it was too long and I agree with this. There were some parts that could have been scrapped and a whole section involving a hitman that I wouldn't have missed at all.
Reading Watchers has given me and Koontz hope and I'm prepared to give Strangers another crack.