You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.49 AVERAGE
3.49 AVERAGE
3.5 stars
I can't say that I fully "really liked" this book, but the last third of it did go a long way toward redeeming the first two-thirds. The first 15 chapters moved too slowly for me, with too many descriptive passages and not enough action. The story didn't pick up until Chapter 16 (page 304 of 472 in the edition I read). Once I started this chapter, however, I couldn't put the book down, pausing only to fix dinner. Apart from that small break, I read the last 168 pages in one sitting.
I did enjoy how creepy the story was, as it reminded me of my first foray in the worlds of [a:Dean Koontz|9355|Dean Koontz|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1341717803p2/9355.jpg]. That first book of his that I read (I think it was [b:Lightning|32424|Lightning|Dean Koontz|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347659952s/32424.jpg|1396631]) was so creepy that I refused to read it in my home, only reading it while on the way to, on lunch break from, or on the way home from work. In this case, it was because of one of the characters, a janitor that was so creepy that I just didn't want him in my home, even if he was only a character in a book! [b:Winter Moon|268559|Winter Moon|Dean Koontz|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347808490s/268559.jpg|2034554] wasn't creepy in the same way; in this book it was the descriptions of the alien presence that were creepy, even before the alien had appeared "in the flesh."
I loved the dog, Falstaff. I thought he made a great secondary character; I wish he had been introduced sooner, though part of his intense impact comes from being introduced as written. Harlan Moffit, the snowplow driver, was also fun to read about. He was quite a character, what with his belief in stories of aliens in the Enquirer and his determination to help the McGarveys.
I was a little disappointed in the ending, though I'm getting used to such abrupt and dissatisfactory endings from Koontz. The ending itself was a more or less happy one, it just seemed rushed. And I was disappointed that the McGarveys went back "home" to L.A., especially after their enthusiasm over Montana in the beginning. I can understand that their experiences with the alien might have ruined the pleasure of Eagle's Roost for them, but to leave Paul Youngblood and Travis Potter and the hope for a better life without trying to make a second go of it seemed cheap to me. It also seemed odd for them to leave considering Jack and Toby had talked about the fact that the alien might or might not have been fully destroyed. Why didn't they stay to learn for certain one way or the other? Or if they did stay, why did we the readers not get to learn the determination?
So in sum, I more than just "liked it," but I didn't quite "really like it." 168 pages of 472 left a lot of mostly dull pages to slog through, and the abrupt ending diminished a fair share of the enjoyment I got out of those last 168 pages. But please, if the book sounds interesting to you, read it to form your own opinion. You might enjoy it more than I did; I know many people who do/did.
I can't say that I fully "really liked" this book, but the last third of it did go a long way toward redeeming the first two-thirds. The first 15 chapters moved too slowly for me, with too many descriptive passages and not enough action. The story didn't pick up until Chapter 16 (page 304 of 472 in the edition I read). Once I started this chapter, however, I couldn't put the book down, pausing only to fix dinner. Apart from that small break, I read the last 168 pages in one sitting.
I did enjoy how creepy the story was, as it reminded me of my first foray in the worlds of [a:Dean Koontz|9355|Dean Koontz|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1341717803p2/9355.jpg]. That first book of his that I read (I think it was [b:Lightning|32424|Lightning|Dean Koontz|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347659952s/32424.jpg|1396631]) was so creepy that I refused to read it in my home, only reading it while on the way to, on lunch break from, or on the way home from work. In this case, it was because of one of the characters, a janitor that was so creepy that I just didn't want him in my home, even if he was only a character in a book! [b:Winter Moon|268559|Winter Moon|Dean Koontz|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347808490s/268559.jpg|2034554] wasn't creepy in the same way; in this book it was the descriptions of the alien presence that were creepy, even before the alien had appeared "in the flesh."
I loved the dog, Falstaff. I thought he made a great secondary character; I wish he had been introduced sooner, though part of his intense impact comes from being introduced as written. Harlan Moffit, the snowplow driver, was also fun to read about. He was quite a character, what with his belief in stories of aliens in the Enquirer and his determination to help the McGarveys.
I was a little disappointed in the ending, though I'm getting used to such abrupt and dissatisfactory endings from Koontz. The ending itself was a more or less happy one, it just seemed rushed. And I was disappointed that the McGarveys went back "home" to L.A., especially after their enthusiasm over Montana in the beginning. I can understand that their experiences with the alien might have ruined the pleasure of Eagle's Roost for them, but to leave Paul Youngblood and Travis Potter and the hope for a better life without trying to make a second go of it seemed cheap to me. It also seemed odd for them to leave considering Jack and Toby had talked about the fact that the alien might or might not have been fully destroyed. Why didn't they stay to learn for certain one way or the other? Or if they did stay, why did we the readers not get to learn the determination?
So in sum, I more than just "liked it," but I didn't quite "really like it." 168 pages of 472 left a lot of mostly dull pages to slog through, and the abrupt ending diminished a fair share of the enjoyment I got out of those last 168 pages. But please, if the book sounds interesting to you, read it to form your own opinion. You might enjoy it more than I did; I know many people who do/did.
i really enjoyed this book while reading it, but now looking back there were a lot of holes and unnecessary elements added. i thought the beginning was more important than it ended up being, how Koontz stated that “death” was driving the car, i thought it was going to be about the concept of death coming for people that it was their time for? but it ended up just being an alien story. i think it was well written and enjoyable, the two stories were tied together surprisingly well, but overall the book could have been better or gone in a different direction
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Very slow starter, but the last third is great if you can get there.
i really enjoyed this book while reading it, but now looking back there were a lot of holes and unnecessary elements added. i thought the beginning was more important than it ended up being, how Koontz stated that “death” was driving the car, i thought it was going to be about the concept of death coming for people that it was their time for? but it ended up just being an alien story. i think it was well written and enjoyable, the two stories were tied together surprisingly well, but overall the book could have been better or gone in a different direction