Rating: Summary: Just boring Review: This book had a great plot and ending, but it was so boring. 681 pages. Do not read it.
Rating: Summary: Koontz at his best! Review: This is one of his best books, and one of my favorite all time books.
Rating: Summary: Klassic Koontz Review: Strangers(1986). A Novel By Suspense/Horror Author Dean Koontz.
Dean Koontz. His name is synonymous with things that go bump in the night and keeps the reader on the edge of their seat, and is often compared to the King of Macabre, Stephen King. While his books usually are easily comprehendible and "to-the-point," with 'Strangers', Dean Koontz has produced his "epic". Almost every author has an "epic," or, in the case of Charles Dickens, sometimes 4 or 5. A novel huge in size and thought, with in-depth characters, profound messages and morals, massive and interweaving plots and sub-plots, it's most easily defined as a novel that "makes you think"! 'Strangers', weighing in at 681 pages, is a tale of government intrigue, with a massive cover-up that included brainwashing the memories of over 30 people who stayed at The Tranquility Motel in rural Nevada to make them forget the horrors of July 6th, 1984. After experiencing disturbing nightmares and odd disorders like sleepwalking and phobias, Ginger Weiss, Dominick Corvaisis, Brendan Cronin, Jack Twist, Sandy and Ned Sarver, and Faye and Ernie Block slowly are drawn back to The Tranquility Motel, where fate and destiny awaits... Did I enjoy 'Strangers' or not? Read on to find out!
Plot- As Ginger, Brendan, Dom, Faye, Jack, Ernie, Ned, and Sandy return to The Tranquility Motel, they seem to know each other like friends, even though they've never met. As the character's memory blocks slowly start to disappear, they slowly begin to remember the occurrence on July 6th, yet before they can determine what happen, the government decides to apprehend them and sanction them. Later, Brendan and Dom discover they have supernatural powers, able to lift things at will and heal injured people, and they believe it's related to what happened to them on that night. As miraculous healings and supernatural events begin happening all over the world, the government soon realizes its cover-up is fading, and they must either admit what happened or destroy the evidence and make up something. As the government prepares to wipe out the evidence of the mysterious event, they methodically capture the witnesses to the event and sanction them in a nearby base, Thunder Hill Depository, where the secret lays hundreds of miles underground. As the characters fight for their lives, they will have to learn to band together and help each other, and learn to face the truth of that horrifying night...
Opinions/Writing/Etc.-
Dean Koontz is a writer, who, unlike a large number of his contemporaries(Grisham, Ludlum), thinks up original, suspenseful, and delightful plots with each novel, and he never scrapes the surface of being generic or repetitive. With 'Strangers', Koontz tries his hand at a novel of immense proportions, carefully building up each of his characters personas and developing them throughout the novel, until each character seems like a close friend. This is important, because when the characters are in trouble or in danger, the reader feels and pities them, giving 'Strangers' a stronger depth and emotion. Throughout, Koontz explores many themes such as love, faith, friendship, and determination, and by the novel's end, you will piece together the morals and messages Koontz has interlaid within his writing. 'Strangers' moves along slowly at first, introducing the numerous characters and unearthing the controversial mystery, but as the novel nears its end, you'll be on the edge of your seat and the pages will fly by. Koontz's writing isn't fancy or overly descriptive like most classic novels, yet he's straight-forward and to-the-point, almost as if he's telling the story around a campfire to a group of enrapt listeners. The only thing that hurts the novel is that the "mystery" behind the suspense of 'Strangers' is fairly predictable and lackluster, yet, it's not as bad as it could have been. My opinion? A great novel!
Overall, 'Strangers' is a great thriller, full of mystery and suspense that will keep the reader guessing until the end. The plot is very epic, so, young readers, beware! The sheer amount of characters and plot twists will go right over your head. For those willing to take that extra leap and read 'Strangers', be prepared for an epic novel, full of mystery and hopeful themes that will definitely be a highlight in anyone's bookshelf.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED TO FANS OF SUSPENSE, MYSTERIES, THRILLERS, AND DEAN KOONTZ! I STRESS THAT ONLY ADVANCED READERS, SUCH AS OLDER TEENS AND ADULTS, SHOULD GET 'STRANGERS'!
Also Recommended-
Phantoms- Dean Koontz
The Stand- Stephen King
Ghost Story- Peter Straub
Thanks For Reading!
Rating: Summary: One of his most ambitious thrillers! Review: They are total strangers--Dom, an author; Ginger, a young and talented doctor; Brendan, a priest; Jack, a scam artist; Ernie and Faye, operators of a small Nevada motel. They do not know it, but they have a common past...one that his coming back to terrorize them.
Slowly, they start suffering problems. Dom sleep walks; Ginger has moments of paralyzing fear; Ernie is afraid of the dark; Brendan is losing hsi faith. There is an explanation to all these problems, and it lies in the middle of the Nevada desert, at the Tranquility Motel, where something extraordinary happened to them...and someone very evil is trying to keep them from remembering. Even if it means murder.
"Strangers" is definitely one of Koontz's more ambitious novels. With a length usually achieved by Stephen King, this novel is gripping to the end. It shows us how me just might be connected to the people we pass on the street...and how that connection could be very, very dangerous. Rivetting.
Rating: Summary: Couldn't put it down!! Review: The only times I put this down were suppertime, lunchtime, and bedtime! Well, maybe a few times in between too, but it was hard to stop. You read about each of the characters and the hell they are going through, and he gets you, totally, at the end! This is a must have for your personal library! Spooky, scary,and it gets your heart pounding! I also recommend "Eternal Undying Love" by Brett Keane
Rating: Summary: Way Long, but stick with it! Review: As others have noted, "Strangers" takes a VERY LONG time to get off the ground, and for the first half of the book you may be tempted to put the book down and give up. Stick with it! The endless background information and character development that Koontz provdes is both interesting in itself and relevant to the finale. By the time you get to the last 50-100 pages, he really has you hooked. You've come to know and care about the people, and see how their respective skills and flaws are crucial to the unfolding of the story. "Strangers" is not Koontz's best work -- that would be "Lightning" or "Dark Rivers" -- but it's a well-written thriller.
|