Rating: Summary: This is Koontz Review: You can always count on Koontz to tell a great story and this book is no exception. I didn't think the characters were as strong as they could have been, but the story makes up for it.
Rating: Summary: Long Book But Adds Up Review: Though it's 600 pages it is a reasonably good book. It's in 3 parts and doesn't really get moving untill the ending of part 2. Eventually it all adds up making the ending better than this classic ending.
Rating: Summary: Not his best Review: Strangers is not Koontz' best work. Koontz creates an interesting opening to the story, but several problems stand in the way of its becoming a genuinely good book. First, the characters are so numerous and so spread out that it is difficult to sense any real development of their depth. There are at least nine central characters (two of whom, Dom Corvaisis and Ginger Weiss, pop up more often than the others), none of whom Koontz develops very well. Moreover, all of the characters lack flaws beyond their debilitating mental disorders that arose as a result of an as yet unknown problem in their past. Reading the book, you get the sense that the characters should all be candidates for hosts of Sesame street, Mr. Roger's Neighborhood, or some other such show. They are none too bright (the reader should figure out what's going on before it even occurs to the characters), and they're all too nice. Another trouble is the plot. I'm not going to spoil it for anyone, but the ending is hollow, and incredibly cliched. As is his habit, Koontz leaves us with an ending that does not live up to the expectations he gives us at the start of the book. Add to this the long, repetitious, arduous, drawn out development in which all the characters meet each other, and you have a book that may hold your attention at page two hundred, but by page four hundred you will wish you had never picked it up. Strangers could be worse, but it's difficult to imagine how. A book like this would never have been published for a first time writer. The only way it sold at all was Koontz' already growing fame at the time of its publication.
Rating: Summary: Don't waste your money Review: I am a huge fan of Dean Koontz, but this book is horrible. It goes on, and on, and on and on--I don't expect non-stop action, but you can only take so much of these people in the book talking about their situation and trying to figure out what had happened to them--and you get 5-6 versions of it! It was terrible--by the time I'd made it through 3/4 of the book, I didn't care what had happened to the characters anymore and gave up reading it. Knowing what kind of awesome books Dean Koontz puts out, it was even worse because I was expecting his usual stuff.
Rating: Summary: not too bad Review: for once i am not nauseated by koontz characters. don't really know why. perhaps because the events were more important than usually or perhaps because the plot doesn't focus on one person. the personality changes and events the characters go through are actually an ok read, but too much when all put together. well, at least it is somewhat relevant, which is not always the case with this author. the ending is disappointing. seems like koontz just gave up giving us a climax. a detail surronding the ending actually disgusted me philosophically, logically, almost religiously. i'll just say: godlike healing. either you understand, or you don't.
Rating: Summary: Far Too Long for What You Get Review: OK - the book kept me going long after I was annoyed and tired of repetition. Koontz has always had a knack for a good setup but he continues to create one note characters...you know - the good are all good and flawless and the evil are just plain evil. Many have complained about the ending and I agree but with a twist. Frankly, the ending would have beenm a good start for the book. Actually, the entire book could have been edited to 1/3 it's length and then taken the ending as a start for part two. It just seems that Koontz has a few really good ideas but has never learned to make complex and really interesting characters. An example of how to do this would be John Sandford's "Lucas Davenport." Here's a hero that is flawed without feeling contrived. I'd love to see what would come if Koontz gave Sandford his outline and let Sandford write the book.
Rating: Summary: Pretty bad Dean Koontz Review: In my opinion this is one of Koontz worst. I wasnt expecting a sci-fi ending so I was very disappointed. In my opinion you read this long book and think its something important and then you find this unbelievable reason out. Its just a long book with a bad ending. I will continue to read Koontz however.
Rating: Summary: Very Good Review: This is the fifth or sixth book I have read by this author and I am glad I did. The book starts out great with mysterious occurances making you guess what is really going on with a group of people. Koontz spends a lot of the time developing the characters individually and enabling the reader to really get to know them. The suspense keeps you all the way through. Although the ending was great, I did find it a little unbelievable. It is not because of the way it ended, but because of the things certain characters said and behaved (possible spoiler ahead). They all held the same thoughts regarding the "secret". If this occured to me, I do not think I would have felt the way these characters did, or said certain things. I felt there should have been some conflict or disagreement among some of the characters in the end. Yet, overall it was a great and entertaining read. I also recommend his latest novel BY Light of the Moon (although the ending there I thought was bit off too).
Rating: Summary: Never fails to please! Review: Dean did it again! He wrapped me up in a world of wonderful detail, delightful characters and intriguing plot! It never ceases to amazing me how upset I am to come to the end of a Dean Koontz book. Out of the few that I've read, this is one of my favorites!
Rating: Summary: Another bad ending Review: I'm not sure how so many reviewers give this a 5 star rating! The book was "OK" until the ending, and that ending just ruined everything. It was almost as bad as the ending on "From the Corner of His Eye". I am now weary on buying any more books from Koontz.
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