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3.67 AVERAGE
3.67 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This was a fun idea for a book and was relatively enjoyable although it did meander a bit. I think it would have been better as a shorter book with some of the 'adventures' saved for a series as it really did seem to be setting one up although it appears no sequels have materialised yet.
At times the action scenes, which became more frequent as the book reached its climax, were a bit too frenetic and I had to rewind my audiobook to picture what exactly was going on. Perhaps this is a book that I should have read rather than listened to.
I will not comment too much on the representation of autism in this book as the ASD spectrum is broad and everyone's experience is different. However, I will say that Shep was rather infantalised by the other characters and that did irk me somewhat.
Overall this was a fun adventure story but not one that I will probably remember.
At times the action scenes, which became more frequent as the book reached its climax, were a bit too frenetic and I had to rewind my audiobook to picture what exactly was going on. Perhaps this is a book that I should have read rather than listened to.
I will not comment too much on the representation of autism in this book as the ASD spectrum is broad and everyone's experience is different. However, I will say that Shep was rather infantalised by the other characters and that did irk me somewhat.
Overall this was a fun adventure story but not one that I will probably remember.
This was my first Dean Koontz book. I had a hard time getting into it at first, but once the action picked up, it had me turning the pages and I got through it rather quickly. The ending was kind of lame though... I found it too neat and tidy and convenient. I also didn't care for the female character who I found overly annoying at times. However, her pet plant Fred... now there was a character I quite liked! Overall as I reflect back, I realize this book has left me wanting to read more of Dean Koontz' material for easy reading.
I am reading it for the bloggers book club my friends and I started. Anyway,so far,it is not like any other DK books I have read. I think he is actually trying to be a bit funny in this one,so far only on chapter 5 so I will see how I like it. For more info on the Blogger Book club, you can read about it on my Blog www.sk1265.wordpress.com.
*** Update *** I have finished it and I liked it fairly well,as with most of his books it was a page turner once I figured out what was going on,not too sure about the last chapter but it fits sooooo........ I guess I will just go with that . :)
*** Update *** I have finished it and I liked it fairly well,as with most of his books it was a page turner once I figured out what was going on,not too sure about the last chapter but it fits sooooo........ I guess I will just go with that . :)
I wish it was longer, or had a sequel, but I really enjoyed this book.
Dylan O'Connor is an artist, he travels the country with his autistic brother Shepherd. On this night they are staying in a motel and Dylan decides to go across the street and get dinner. On his way back he is attacked by a needle wielding maniac and injected with something.
At the same time Jillian Jackson is traveling across the country as a stand-up comedian. She is staying in the same hotel. On her way back from the vending machine she is attacked and shot up with a needle.
They meet up in the parking lot and take off from whoever is chasing the man that gave them the shots. Soon after leaving they see Jillian's car blow up with the man inside. They are now on the run and they all 3 begin having strange things happen.
Dylan can touch things and know what is going to happen to the person who has most recently touched it. Jillian is having visions. Shepherd is able to fold time and space and go from one place to the other with a touch.
As they begin to learn about the man that and the people searching are circling closer, they become closer.
At the same time Jillian Jackson is traveling across the country as a stand-up comedian. She is staying in the same hotel. On her way back from the vending machine she is attacked and shot up with a needle.
They meet up in the parking lot and take off from whoever is chasing the man that gave them the shots. Soon after leaving they see Jillian's car blow up with the man inside. They are now on the run and they all 3 begin having strange things happen.
Dylan can touch things and know what is going to happen to the person who has most recently touched it. Jillian is having visions. Shepherd is able to fold time and space and go from one place to the other with a touch.
As they begin to learn about the man that and the people searching are circling closer, they become closer.
4 1/2 stars. Two strangers, Jilly and Dylan, become linked when a mad scientist knocks them out and injects them with a strange serum while mumbling about the fact that they'll either go mad or be very much improved by his "stuff". He warns them that sinister killers will soon be after them if they don't hit the road asap. When Jilly discovers that her car, stolen by "Frankenstein" (as they dub him), has been torched with "Frankenstein" still inside she begins to take the dire warnings seriously. Dylan, an artist traveling around the country with his autistic brother Shephard, advises Jilly to join them on a mad ride away from the ominous, as yet unseen, baddies. And thus begins their life altering road trip.
The book, although a suspenseful road trip into the darkest corners of hell, shines because of its characters. Thirty year old Dylan has been the sole caretaker of his younger autistic brother Shep ever since their mother died tragically ten years earlier. Dylan is a kind soul who is eternally patient with his sometimes difficult brother and loves him unconditionally. His life has been shaped around caring for Shep and initially he's almost too good, too patient, and too kind to be believed but as the book progresses he becomes less of a saint. His transformation will change him in ways that shock, appall and amaze him. I found his character the most emotionally compelling. Jilly is a quirky comedian whose good humor hides a dark past. She travels with a houseplant named Fred (I kid you not) in lieu of a man. She and Fred have many enjoyable one-sided conversations and Jilly prefers his company to that of a real man. And then Dylan, a panicked and very bossy Dylan, comes into her life and instantly gets on her last nerve. Their initial sparring adds a bit of lightness to the tense plot but once they realize they've been altered by the "serum" and that they're truly on the run for their lives they learn to get along (and begin to like and respect each other) and the plot takes on a much more somber tone.
The story takes place over the span of what I believe is little more than 24 hours. But in that short time span these three characters lives will forever be changed. The "serum" gives them strange, awe and fear inspiring abilities and forces Dylan and Shep to face a very dark moment in their past that they've done their best to put behind them. It's creepy, and moving and continually takes unexpected twists into dark corners. The pace is fast though Koontz has a tendency to be a little too long winded and overly descriptive but I've come to expect this when I pick up a Koontz novel and it's sort of comical and comforting all at the same time.
I read this as an unabridged audiobook and the actor did a fine job. He had a strong, compelling voice that didn't set me to snoozing and he didn't do any of those cringe-worthy falsetto female voice performances that grate on my nerves. I always knew when Jilly or Dylan or Shep were speaking. The only downer? There's no famous Koontz dog character here! Instead we get Fred the plant. And Fred has about as much personality as, well, a houseplant. About halfway thru the story he's stuffed in the trunk never to be heard from again. Poor Fred, we hardly knew ye.
By the Light of the Moon was interesting, suspenseful and filled with characters I enjoyed and it made my stressful ride to work something I *almost* looked forward to.
The book, although a suspenseful road trip into the darkest corners of hell, shines because of its characters. Thirty year old Dylan has been the sole caretaker of his younger autistic brother Shep ever since their mother died tragically ten years earlier. Dylan is a kind soul who is eternally patient with his sometimes difficult brother and loves him unconditionally. His life has been shaped around caring for Shep and initially he's almost too good, too patient, and too kind to be believed but as the book progresses he becomes less of a saint. His transformation will change him in ways that shock, appall and amaze him. I found his character the most emotionally compelling. Jilly is a quirky comedian whose good humor hides a dark past. She travels with a houseplant named Fred (I kid you not) in lieu of a man. She and Fred have many enjoyable one-sided conversations and Jilly prefers his company to that of a real man. And then Dylan, a panicked and very bossy Dylan, comes into her life and instantly gets on her last nerve. Their initial sparring adds a bit of lightness to the tense plot but once they realize they've been altered by the "serum" and that they're truly on the run for their lives they learn to get along (and begin to like and respect each other) and the plot takes on a much more somber tone.
The story takes place over the span of what I believe is little more than 24 hours. But in that short time span these three characters lives will forever be changed. The "serum" gives them strange, awe and fear inspiring abilities and forces Dylan and Shep to face a very dark moment in their past that they've done their best to put behind them. It's creepy, and moving and continually takes unexpected twists into dark corners. The pace is fast though Koontz has a tendency to be a little too long winded and overly descriptive but I've come to expect this when I pick up a Koontz novel and it's sort of comical and comforting all at the same time.
I read this as an unabridged audiobook and the actor did a fine job. He had a strong, compelling voice that didn't set me to snoozing and he didn't do any of those cringe-worthy falsetto female voice performances that grate on my nerves. I always knew when Jilly or Dylan or Shep were speaking. The only downer? There's no famous Koontz dog character here! Instead we get Fred the plant. And Fred has about as much personality as, well, a houseplant. About halfway thru the story he's stuffed in the trunk never to be heard from again. Poor Fred, we hardly knew ye.
By the Light of the Moon was interesting, suspenseful and filled with characters I enjoyed and it made my stressful ride to work something I *almost* looked forward to.