Rating: Summary: Good Read Review: Since so many have given descriptions, I'll skip that. It seems Dean Koontz has been slowly incorporating into his books the mystical and spiritual. "The Face" is evidence of this to a larger degree. Wonderful story line with this one. I loved the guardian angel/dark angel conflict, the boy Fric who seems much older than he actually is, and the tormented Truman. The message this one sends is heartwarming.
Rating: Summary: Koontz takes a different path Review: This is probably my favorite Dean Koontz novel, which is saying a lot since I read almost everything he has ever done. This is definitely a very scary book, but it's more like a psychic mystery suspense novel. The Face, a rich movie star with a son whom he basically ignores, is being stalked by a bizarre, Clive Barker-type, freak serial killer who sends his "idol" the most insane "gifts" I can imagine (apples filled with human eyes, etc.) I won't give away the ending, but it is a cool twist. I think the son, Fric, a magical, intelligent child, is really the most interesting character. I'm not sure that was Koontz's intention, but for me, Fric was the protagonist. The villain, Corey, is second. The Face himself is, for me, very underdeveloped. Perhaps that was intentional, but I don't think so.
Rating: Summary: Uplifting and Enjoyable Review: I've been reading Koontz since he started out... okay, true, I only read the Sci Fi Stuff more recently, but still. I was a big fan. But then his books started getting tiresome in their sameness. This one was different. The gleeful evil of Corky gave us some dark humor and the relationships between the other characters were caring and true. ONe thing that I've become annoyed with in Koontz books is the absolutely having no clue what's going on until the end. This continued here, but the story was good enough not to irritate me too much. I listened to the unabridged audiobook, rather than reading this story and my review includes the information that this edition was an enjoyable listen. The narrator brought life to the characters and delivered the story with skill and at an enjoyable tempo. He got a few pronunciations wrong, but otherwise, it was a great listen. This one was hard to wait for the rest as I arrived home or at work. The story stayed on my mind until I could get back to it. I recommend this one.
Rating: Summary: Good Book Review: This is a better book then the latest Dean Koontz books. The plot is fun and exciting.
Rating: Summary: I didn't like The Face Review: This is my third Dean Koontz read, but had it been my first it probably also would have been my last. There's no question this author can string words into phrases that are stunningly lyrical and insightful. Or that he can capture a readers attention with a fresh, intriguing premise. And even though his characters are so intellectually fleshed out, meticulously revealed through their heads rather than their hearts, they often, ultimately have great soul. But in this book, I was sadly dissappointed in all these areas-except maybe for the initial premise. Soon into this story, I found myself wondering about who was who, what was real or imagined, what was important. I kept having to go back, wondering if I missed something, hoping it would all become clear in the middle or at least in the end. It never did. At least to me. With it's cool title and inside -cover rave reviews I expected something great. But in this case, the juice wasn't worth the squeeze.
Rating: Summary: buckle up, you're in for a ride Review: I have had a love/hate relationship with Koontz's books. There have been a few I liked alot, and a few I couldn't stand, but The Face is one I couldn't put down. I found myself reading it every chance i got. Aelfric Manheim is the son of a famous actor who is loved and adored by many. Fric lives a priveledged life but is starving for the attention all kids desire. He soon gains attention he doesn't want! Without giving any of the story away, I have to say there were moments when I had goosebumps on my arms. I also found I was breathing heavy out of fear. This is the best book Mr. Koontz has ever written. You come to love Fric and find yourself rooting for him. It's like watching a horror film on T.V. and screaming for the hero not to open the door. I was drained by the time I got to the last page. If you are looking for a book to make your heart beat faster and your pulse race, then i highly recommend this book.
Rating: Summary: blockbuster horror Review: Never let it be said that Dean Koontz stints on words or holds back on plot complications, for his legions of readers. This 600-page opus is no exception. Filled with high tech objects and trendy, up-to-the-minute expressions, "The Face" is a gothic tale of horror, a journey into the fringe of the unconscious, that will give you nightmares. It can be read on several levels---even as a simple tale of good v. evil, of redemption after sin. This book will make your airport delays and your long flights seem much shorter, as Dean unwinds his tale of Fric, the bright but unbeautiful son of two extremely attractive, shallow entertainment- industry parents. Fric is placed in peril by sinister forces, but with the help of former cop Ethan, who works for his movie-star father as security chief, he battles through. A word to the wise: Don't answer phone line 24, especially after dark!
Rating: Summary: One of Koontz' best Review: DK has outdone himself here. One can almost forgive him for the disappointment of ODD THOMAS in all its mediocrity. THE FACE is strong in plot, relentless in pacing, and, of course, a fast-paced, thumb-blistering page turner of a novel. The characters are, for the most part, three dimensional, although there are some who exist solely to advance the story and are no more fleshed-out than necessary. My only criticism is that I wish that one character had had one more scene before being deservedly banished from the stage. Highly recommended.
Rating: Summary: a badly cut diamond Review: first point to make: this isn't a work with Koontz at his best (lightning, watchers, phantoms, etc) nor at his worst (from the corner of his eye). It is about half way in between. This means that it's an okay story that could been better served with far less involvement of Dunny Whistler and greater interaction between Ethan and Fric, and Ethan and Hazard. Therein lay the seeds from a memorable Koontz book. Alas they weren't allowed to blossum by the author, to his detriment. Nor was Hazard's independent actions given enough free rein and air time. Good characters doing obvious things don't make for great drama or suspence. Nor does divine intervention! I felt that the supernatural element was layered on for no real purpose and made the story's conclusion VERY predictable. I think this story struggles with what it wants to be, somewhat: a thirller, a ghost story, a guardian angel story? what? I know you can talk about layers and a multifaceted work, but ultimately none of them are well realized. A diamond cut the wrong way just doesn't shine as brightly and this is what has happened here. It had all the ingredients, but they were mixed, not so much poorly, as incorrectly for my liking. Perhaps the most annoying thing about the book is the unneccsary prose and extremly clummsy metaphors (which seem to be getting worse with each book: starting to reaching Dostoyevskian proportions! Next stop...Tolstoy!). I think Koontz has pretentions of being a 'serious writer' (yes we know he can really write...but you don't to turn your porsche into a hangly-dangly third world taxi or royal carriage in today's world, if you know what I mean). He gets extremely florid and verbose at times with his descriptions. Some of them go for three lines to describe a tendril of fog. It's all very baroque, and I have to admit I skim them to get on with the story. It's overtelling the story. I have an imagination! I can visualize without have to decipher a four line metaphor that effectively contributes nothing to the story. Never thought I would be criticising Koontz's work...but there you go! So in conclusion, it is a book that has a disjointed story that is somewhat poorly realized. It's obvious and insipid in parts, brilliant in others. Too many of the former and not enough of the latter damage it. This is one for the fans; one that may cost him some more of his hard core readers. I have to admit that I went close to ditching it a few times (frustration, boredom, tediousness...). And I consider myself a big fan of Koontz. I'm not sure what sort of editorial controls Koontz has over his books but these books nowadays have arched toward to the ordinary while in the past, especially the 80's and early 90's, he was producing brilliant work. This suggests maybe Koontz isn't being edited as well as he once was? Because let's face it (pun intended)...a lot of crap is slipping through. And this is a shame because he has been a fanatastic author in the past. So...an okay read. Maybe if you've got a six+ hour flight and nothing to read? Or maybe a die-hard fan? Not his best work. Not an overly memorable or cutting edge story. Not bad either...just well below Koontz's standards (a disconcerting trend since seize the night...).
Rating: Summary: A fresh Breath Review: This novel was a delightful breath of fresh air! It is different from most stuff that koontz has writen but it was writen VERY well! Wonderful surprises around ever corner. This is a Page turner!
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