odd thomas dean koontz

Odd Thomas even has his own MySpace page. Odd.

I’ve been keeping an eye out for this at my secondhand bookstore because I heard once that the main character in this book is awesome/great/original/lovable/unique/etc.

Let me lay it out flat to dry: I tried reading a Dean Koontz book way back.  Couldn’t get through it.  I would have to say nearly 20 years later, I still don’t enjoy his writing style.  Yes, I know he has a ton’o'fans.  I’m not one.


Here are my reasons:

  • His paragraphs are far too short.  They contain one or two sentences.  Tops!  I ran across a paragraph near the end of the book that had four sentences.  I almost died.  This single bullet point has six sentences.  It’s a bullet point! (Okay, I’m up to eight now).
  • He writes like I think.  Jumpy.  Disconnected.  Fragmented (see short paragraphs).  Sure, it’s funny and casual but whoo, I can’t follow along if I’m tired.
  • The characters are one-dimensional with a one-plot storyline.  There are no sub-plots here. One story, linear, that’s all to see, folks.

Okay, I did like Odd Thomas.  I’m not sure that I’d react so well if someone introduced themselves to me as Odd.  But, I guess, the book characters are used to him.  He sees dead people.  I know what you’re thinking…and you’d be pretty right about it.  Sixth Sense all over again, Odd tries to solve the cases of people with unresolved issues who just happen to be dead.  Of course the dead don’t talk.  They seem to hear alright, though, funny.

Gist of the Story (spoilers ahead):

Odd sees a bunch of bodachs (cool word for evil spirit thingies) following around this suspicious-looking guy.  Odd breaks into suspicious guy’s house.  Finds a time portal that has nothing to do with any other part of the entire story.  Tries to find out why this guy has bodachs following him around besides the fact he’s suspicious.   Can’t really find anything out besides it looks something may happen the following day.  Suspicious guy ends up dead at Odd’s apartment.  Odd, of course, hides the body.  Odd has other magical powers besides seeing dead people and can foretell the future now, too.  Except what’s going to happen exactly.  We just know it’s ‘bad.’  Odd single-handedly saves the whole town from the bad guys, even though suspicious guy is dead.  Odd’s girlfriend/fiance Stormy Llewelyn..well, I’m not spoiling that.  It’s the only part of the story that was sweet and made sense.  Which means you’ll have to read to the last chapter.

I read a review of Koontz and how the reviewer really enjoyed the “emotional connection” she made with “each and every character.”  Huh?  While I liked the characters, I

odd thomas dean koontz elvis presley

Odd Thomas doesn't mind driving around the late Elvis Presley. Odd.

thought they were characters, for certain.  I didn’t understand why the back-story on Odd’s screwed-up parents.  I didn’t really care because if you’re going to write a one-plot story, write a one-plot story.  I didn’t enjoy these glimpses into Odd’s past because the reader didn’t get to enjoy Odd coming out of a swamp with two dead men chained to his ankles.  Like whaaa?  Where’d that come from?  One sentence from the beyond….

I did like Odd.  Sadly, I don’t like him more than I dislike reading Koontz’s writing so won’t be continuing the saga.  Farewell Odd Thomas – hope the deal with M. Night Shalyman goes through.

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