Rating:  Summary: A good read, but not as good as he's been! Review: I love Dean Koontz, and have for many years, and I count the days until his newest arrivals. This book was good, and had interesting fully-fleshed-out characters and a decent pace.But, it's not nearly as good as some of his early work, and even his more recent books featuring Christopher Snow. Dean has been shifting focus over the past 10 years, and featuring differently-abled lead characters and lacking in the suspense I came to love in my childhood. My all-time favorite is Twilight Eyes, and there hasn't been as good a book since. I introduced my wife to Koontz with that book, and she actually cried while reading it. Lately, I haven't even been able to get her to read his books. It's a shame, because I really do enjoy his writing style, and I still look forward to his books, if only for the rich character development. The books don't "pop", and the lead characters don't end up happily in love, and I'm getting kind of sick of kids and smart dogs and evil government conspiracies. Give me a "Dark Rivers of the Heart" any day.
Rating:  Summary: "The World is Full of Broken People......" Review: .....This is the way Dean Koontz' latest thriller begins. And, indeed, this one is chock full of broken folks. Leilani Klonk is a precocious 9 year old, with a leg brace and a deformed hand, who tries the power of positive thinking to grow " a good set of breasts", but is saddled with a drugged out mom and a serial killer stepfather who killed her brother and plans on doing her in by her tenth birthday. Micky Bellsong, is a recovering alcoholic and former victim of child molestation at the hands of her mother's strange boyfriends, and lives with her Aunt Gen, whose head wound can't help her distinguish between what happened to her in real life and what happened in the movie "Mildred Pierce". There is the boy who is "being Curtis Hammond" , a boy who isn't quite what he seems, but turns out to be much more. And what would a Dean Koontz novel be without a dog, and here we have Old Yeller, who does turn into more than he - or she, in this case, - could ever dream of becoming. Leilani, Micky, Aunt Gen. and Curtis, get aid from Noah Farrell, the private dick with a heart of gold, as well as from Polly and Cass, a couple of gun-totting, ex-Las Vegas showgirls who are also UFO experts. All of these folks are caught in a UFO connected merry-go-round that more resembles Kurt Vonnegut than Mulder and Scully or Agents Doggett and Reyes. As in "From the Corner of His Eye", Koontz presents a villian, Preston Maddoc, Leilani's stepfather, a villian of unspeakable evil. To counterbalance this evil, as he did in "Corner", Koontz introduces a character of good, "Curtis Hammond", whose wide eye innocence has him believing that Nun's Lake, Idaho, will be populated by bikini wearing, habit-donned nuns, water skiiing to their hearts delight as if in some Buzzy Berkeley 1930's musical. Koontz adnits that, as in "Corner", he wrote this book while listening to music by Isaac Kamakawiwo'ole. What influence that might have had, I don't know, but I found a much more emotional Koontz in these two books. For example, as Micky comes to Leilani's rescue, Koontz writes, "Sensing a presence, Leilani looked over her shoulder, and her expression at the sight of a faithful friend was a joy that Micky would never forget if she lived to be 500 and if God chose to take all other memories from her in old age. All other memories, He could have if that day came, but she would never give Him the sight of Leilani's face at this moment, for this alone would sustain her even in the hour of her death." Wow! Religious overtones abound in this UFO adventure, and that may disturb some. But, I liked this book because I think that Koontz wrote it for all those folks who have despair in their lives. He tells us that for all those who have loneliness or lack purpose in life, you can find ones who will give you hope. In this book, Koontz shows it through the dreams of a dog, believe it or not, but also tries to show us that we can all achieve it. And once we do, it shall leave us all one door away from heaven, indeed.
Rating:  Summary: Disappointing Review: I have always found Dean Koontz's storyline and writing style compelling. Unfortunately, with the past few novels he's written, it seems he has begun the path of self-absorbtion displayed by Steven King. The story is interesting, if a bit undigestable and the style of writing wordy and distracting. Please go back to the clear, compelling storylines, Mr. Koontz, you have an amazing talent which I have followed since 1978. I miss getting lost in your books. To be honest, I will still look forward to your new creations, in the hopes that you will return to your original method. With much respect.
Rating:  Summary: Lame, boring, very poor result Review: I used to be a big Koontz fan. But most of his novels these days seem to be the result of an attempt to be profound. Lots of meta-physical mumbo jumbo. Bring back the action! What a waste of my money.
Rating:  Summary: Good, but he has better. Review: Although I enjoyed this book, it is not one of Koontz's greatest. That honor would have to go to Watchers and Strangers. Still, all in all this was a very good book, with interesting characters and a great plot.
Rating:  Summary: im glad im not alone Review: I really enjoyed From the Corner of His Eye so i was sorely disapointed in this most recent endeavor by Dean Koontz. I read to the middle of the book and just couldnt continue. It was so drawn out and mind bendingly boring I just had to put it aside. Out of curiosity I checked other reviews and found that other readers shared my opinion. Bester luck next time Dean
Rating:  Summary: What is one door away from heaven? Review: What is one door away from heaven? More classic Dean Koontz! This is an exciting book with a lot of out of-this-world fun and action. Even for a reader who doesn't believe in extraterrestrial life, I was immediately captured by the wide variety of colorful characters and their adventures. Mr. Koontz does a fantastic job of creating completely different characters that come together in unusual and creative circumstances. This book was not as good as "False Memory", but just as exciting as "Mr. Murder". I can't wait for more Koontz in 2002!
Rating:  Summary: Rates as one of my favorite Koontz novels. Review: I hesitate to have a "favorite" Dean Koontz novel. I have read them all and enjoyed some more than others. This is Koontz's first novel since "Fear Nothing" that I felt bonded to the characters. They have become family and I want to follow them further in their lives, and as much as I read this is amazing. Others have written detailed reviews of the story, don't spoil your enjoyment, read and then draw your own conclusions and let the story suprise you page by page. You will care, you will remember, and perhaps look at your companions in a different way. The book is exciting, funny, unique, more than anyone has a right to expect from a novel. I've changed my mind, I will name favorite Koontz books....they are "Watchers", "Fear Nothing" and now "One Door away from Heaven".
Rating:  Summary: Disappointed Review: I loved his early novels. I started this one and gave up. The characters were not appealing. In fact, I found two of the main characters annoying. Three or more similes and metaphors on a page is ridiculous, especially when many come across as contrived. I wish Mr. Koontz would return to his early writing style.
Rating:  Summary: A well-produced audio version... Review: I've alternately read and listened to several Koontz' books (depending on how much driving I have to do) and this one played out very well on tape. The narrator, Anne Twomey, has a mellow-toned contralto voice, with near perfect diction, and an ability to convey character nuances without distracting the listener. Her work was cut out for her, as Koontz certainly has an exhaustive vocabulary and an encyclopedic knowlege of some of the quirkier subjects this universe has to offer. I find his frame of reference is so endearingly American, particularly western American, that it's no mystery his novels are best sellers. As a writer, I'm continually amazed at the supreme freedom his imagination displays. If I could just be the piece of paper he writes on, or maybe his pen for a day... There are just a couple of things, really. What is the deal with all dogs ruling, and all cats sucking? I'm a multi-species lover, and would place my spiritual bond with my cats right up there with any homo/caninus exaltation. The feline in me bristles every time it reads or infers inflamatory, anti-cat language or imagery. Also, I never thought I'd say it, but I simply <ache> to read a nice, hot-but-not-cruel-or-kinky love scene in a Koontz novel. The characters (and I'm talking about the grownup ones here) are usually so damaged or otherwise in emotional hiding, they are positively anti-sexual. The book I read that came close to what I seek was probably "Dark Rivers of the Heart." In all other ways, this book was a fine adventure, amusing to see our culture sifted through the senses of a "visitor." It reminded me in some wonderful ways of Heinlein's "Stranger in a Strange Land"...uh, without the sex of course.
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