DWD's Reviews

Originally published in 2003 Coke vs. Pepsi. Kleenex vs. Puffs. McDonald's vs. Burger King. Stephen King vs. Dean Koontz.  There is a "name brand" that defines almost every field. Let's face it, in the literary world, Stephen King is the master of the horror field. Dean Koontz is clearly the second place guy, but he is second place. I have followed that pattern in my own reading. I have easily read two dozen Stephen King books and perhaps ten Dean Koontz books. Nothing wrong with Dean Koontz, just like there's nothing wrong with Pepsi, Puffs or Burger King. I was aware of the Odd Thomas series - they're in all of the book stores and the name certainly gets your attention. But, I never was tempted to pick the first one up and get started until last week. Odd Thomas is a twenty year old resident of Pico Mundo, a suburban town in the Southern California desert. Odd (yes, that's his real name) certainly lives up to his name. He is a gentle soul th...

Not very complicated plot, lots of info about rescue dogs I have not read a Koontz book for over five years but a relative passed this one off to me in an informal family book exchange. What did I think? Having just added a rescue dog to our family the week I started reading this book I had some interest in one of the over-arching theme of the book: the tragedy of wasting the lives that fills our world, especially those of our pets. Koontz hits his other basic themes such as good vs. evil and the good cannot flee evil - they must confront it. But, was it a good book? Yes and no. I read it quickly - Koontz's writing style remains breezy and easy to digest. But, the evil sociopaths were so over the top that I felt that they weren't even interesting. Their prisoner is so saintly that she is equally over the top. Dean Koontz The extended lecture on the need for adopting dogs gets old after a bit. Maybe it's a preaching to the choir thing, but I was alread...