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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
adventurous
hopeful
fast-paced
I struggled to get through this book. All the characters were flat and boring. While I found myself rooting for Travis and Nora at times, I also found Koontz's portrayal of Nora as often sexist and one dimensional. This story was less suspenseful as it went on and it dragged. The character of the assassin could've been completely eliminated and made the book unnecessarily long. Lastly, the machismo in this book was incredibly annoying.
I highly recommend this book for dude bros who enjoy books about conspiracy theories, one dimensional female characters, handsome/virile ex military heroes, and a touch of the mafia for extra flavor.
I highly recommend this book for dude bros who enjoy books about conspiracy theories, one dimensional female characters, handsome/virile ex military heroes, and a touch of the mafia for extra flavor.
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adventurous
dark
funny
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Having grown up in the 80s with a penchant for novels normally written for adults and all the cheesy horror movies that were hidden in the back of the video store...I remember the Corey Haim led “Watchers.” In it, a creature, who is mentally linked to an adorable golden retriever due to lab experiments, mauls a young Jason Priestley, and then proceeds to follow the dog, leaving a bloody wake. It was an 80s monster, slasher flick that I could watch again and again.
As a Koontz fan from a young age, and now going through some of his library that I’ve read before - I don’t think I ever actually read the book. So, I was amazed at how it is much more than a monster slasher. In the characters of Nora and Travis, who eventually adopt the aforementioned escape dog, the story becomes a nuanced exploration of depression, Love, loss and redemption. As they try to escape from two monsters - one The Outsider from the lab and another a hot man - we are meant to clearly see those who are special will always engender fear. The periphery characters all play a purpose and possess the spark, spirit and villainy of all other Koontz novels. Although the story sprawls over months and years, it never meanders and keeps its laser focus. Likely to wax poetic in this later works, Koontz is still descriptive, but doesn’t go off on too many tangents about human nature.
This story, in a way, also serves as a tribute to the pets in our lives who have enriched them beyond belief. I couldn’t help but empathize with Einstein the dog as much as I did the human characters.
A five star read that could rank among one of Koontz’s and most endearing and touching works.
As a Koontz fan from a young age, and now going through some of his library that I’ve read before - I don’t think I ever actually read the book. So, I was amazed at how it is much more than a monster slasher. In the characters of Nora and Travis, who eventually adopt the aforementioned escape dog, the story becomes a nuanced exploration of depression, Love, loss and redemption. As they try to escape from two monsters - one The Outsider from the lab and another a hot man - we are meant to clearly see those who are special will always engender fear. The periphery characters all play a purpose and possess the spark, spirit and villainy of all other Koontz novels. Although the story sprawls over months and years, it never meanders and keeps its laser focus. Likely to wax poetic in this later works, Koontz is still descriptive, but doesn’t go off on too many tangents about human nature.
This story, in a way, also serves as a tribute to the pets in our lives who have enriched them beyond belief. I couldn’t help but empathize with Einstein the dog as much as I did the human characters.
A five star read that could rank among one of Koontz’s and most endearing and touching works.
I have no idea why this is on so many lists as a classic.
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I really wanted to hate on this book, but I just can't, so I'm giving it a 4.
To me there is no doubt that this book is kinda like the Patrick Swayze movie "Roadhouse", you know when you're reading the book that it's all sorts of dumb, but somehow it's quite enjoyable nonetheless. It's total is much greater than the sum of it's parts.
The writing is ok. There are a lot of plot holes and things that don't make sense. The characters are shallow and cliche. It's a bit silly. It doesn't take a whole lot of thought to read (that's not necessarily bad).
But, did I love the dog? Yes, of course. Was it action packed? From beginning to end. Did it make me emotional? Well, no, but I imagine for some people it might.
I enjoyed it and would read it again, if my TBR list wasn't already so full.
To me there is no doubt that this book is kinda like the Patrick Swayze movie "Roadhouse", you know when you're reading the book that it's all sorts of dumb, but somehow it's quite enjoyable nonetheless. It's total is much greater than the sum of it's parts.
The writing is ok. There are a lot of plot holes and things that don't make sense. The characters are shallow and cliche. It's a bit silly. It doesn't take a whole lot of thought to read (that's not necessarily bad).
But, did I love the dog? Yes, of course. Was it action packed? From beginning to end. Did it make me emotional? Well, no, but I imagine for some people it might.
I enjoyed it and would read it again, if my TBR list wasn't already so full.
Second Review - May 2024. I struggle reading books in print. I always have. This was one of the few books I read before I was 18 and I loved it.
I hadn't read a book in a print in a long, long time. I kind of lost confidence and wondered if I could even do it again. So I decided to see if I could read a book I loved as a teen.
I bought a first edition hardback copy and started at the end of the academic year. I am so happy to say I was able to read it! In 3 days! It have to confess it felt so good.
There's so much in the story to like. And there was some crazy stuff too. But on the whole, it was a great story, told easily and compellingly by Dean Koontz.
A cool thing about it was the location. It takes place mostly in Orange County, CA and many of the locations are within a few miles of my house. It begins in a canyon 10 minutes away and references Chapman Ave in Orange. It turns out Dean Koontz lived in Orange when he wrote it - it was probably his breakout novel. Now that he has published over 140 books, he lives in a more exclusive area in Orange County. But it was fun he got his start while living in Orange!
I am so glad I could rediscover it and get some confidence back that I can still read a novel if it holds my attention.
First Review - August 1988. This was the first Dean Koontz book I ever read. It was by far the best.
I hadn't read a book in a print in a long, long time. I kind of lost confidence and wondered if I could even do it again. So I decided to see if I could read a book I loved as a teen.
I bought a first edition hardback copy and started at the end of the academic year. I am so happy to say I was able to read it! In 3 days! It have to confess it felt so good.
There's so much in the story to like. And there was some crazy stuff too. But on the whole, it was a great story, told easily and compellingly by Dean Koontz.
A cool thing about it was the location. It takes place mostly in Orange County, CA and many of the locations are within a few miles of my house. It begins in a canyon 10 minutes away and references Chapman Ave in Orange. It turns out Dean Koontz lived in Orange when he wrote it - it was probably his breakout novel. Now that he has published over 140 books, he lives in a more exclusive area in Orange County. But it was fun he got his start while living in Orange!
I am so glad I could rediscover it and get some confidence back that I can still read a novel if it holds my attention.
First Review - August 1988. This was the first Dean Koontz book I ever read. It was by far the best.
I liked this book, I was thoroughly entertained and happy with how I was supposed to feel for Einstein and The Outsider. Initially I had some frustrations with the characters particularly Nora’s weakness and Travis’ ability to see through her dumpy wardrobe but not without trying to change her. There were a few dates views particularly between men and women but knowing when this book was written it was easy enough for me to ignore them. I laughed, I cried, I gasped. The second half of the book was much more fast paced and exciting compared to the first half and it was all tied up with a neat bow at the end. Quick read, I was able to read it in small chunks during my lunch breaks so if you really had the time you could probably finish it in an afternoon or two.