From the Corner of His Eye (Random House Large Print)

Rating:
Summary: A 600-page sleeping pill
Review: First of all, let me say that I don't usually review books unless I feel strongly about them (i.e. they're super horrid or super great). You can look to the rating to see where this one falls on my list.

Halfway through the book I could tell that it was going nowhere, wasting my time. The brothers who remember accidents would be a nice touch if their recitation of events didn't seem so superflous. As it stands, it comes off as a vain attempt at "I know more than you do" by Mr. Koontz; it seems to have nothing to do with the main plot. The introduction of so many characters created a vortex of forgetfullness in my mind into which fell at some point: Celestina, her mother, Dr. Lipscomb, Victoria, Naomi, and everyone who wasnn't Junior, Vanadium, Agnes, her brothers, Barty or Angel. Less characters please!

The story is that a boy and girl are born "into destiny" as it were, and have to take on a maniac serial killer who thinks he's Don Juan with a bullet.

I did feel creeped out by the mystical reappearing quarters, and thought that Thomas Vanadium and Junior Cain were great characters. But the complicated and overwrought style drags all these highpoints through the mud of unconventional structure, overly long sentences and at times, esoteric medical terminology that boggles the mind.

If this book had been accomplished in say, 300 pages or less, I would give it a better rating. Believe it or not, it actually takes more skill not to run off at the mouth than to write as if anything goes.

The only reason I finished this book is because I believe in finishing what I start, no matter how much of a pain in the butt it becomes.

Rating:
Summary: A gem in paperback
Review: I always enjoy Koontz, but his latest books have shown a maturity and depth of characterization that his earlier works lacked. You've already read about the characters and plot twists in earlier reviews, so I'd just like to encourage you to read this book for it's humor and elegant (in places) writing style. Koontz is becoming less like Stephen King and more like Peter Straub in his description and character development. If you enjoy irony and occasional laugh-out loud humor, you'll appreciate this treatment. The poor antagonist Junior - is so utterly narcissistic that you almost feel pity for his predicament. The protagonist Barty - is so good that you wish he had a bad habit or two to balance out his pristine personality. At any rate, I enjoyed reading this latest Koontz effort and I'm guessing that devotees of this genre will too.

Rating:
Summary: I don't know about you, but I don't like being jerked around
Review: When I think of Dean Koontz, two things come to mind: great characters, horrible endings. Well, "From The Corner Of His Eye" doesn't stray from that formula. The characters Koontz creates, and especially in this book, are complex, intriguing people. Enoch Cain is the quite possibly the most fascinating villian I have ever had read.

Most of the book is spent focusing on them instead of the main plot, which is a little unusual, and eventually disappointing. Very little of the book is spent dealing with the mysticism that entwines these people's lives, and the ending gives no clear explanation for the events that took place, which is really a let down. The majority of the book has a feeling that something spectacular will happen to the characters in the end. I laugh at that thought now.

There is no major plot action until the VERY end of the book, and the climax is so ridiculous that I had to reread it to make sure I wasn't daydreaming. I wasn't. The climax was only one paragraph long. The rest of the book was utterly useless, and everything seemed to be a little too convenient. I lost count how many characters got married by the last ten pages.

I would reccomend this book for people who can create their own endings, because at least they can come up with something that is in the least bit satisfying.