Forever Odd by Dean KoontzMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Mass Market Paperback, 432 pages
Published
July 1st 2006
by HarperCollins
Source: Own Copy
Synopsis:
'Every so often a
character so captures the hearts and imaginations of readers that he
seems to take on a life of his own long after the final page is turned.
For such a character, one book is not enough-readers must know what
happens next. Now Dean Koontz returns with the novel his fans have been
demanding. With the emotional power and sheer storytelling artistry that
are his trademarks, Koontz takes up once more the story of a unique
young hero and an eccentric little town in a tale that is equal parts
suspense and terror, adventure and mystery-and altogether irresistibly
odd.
We're all a little odd beneath the surface. He's the most unlikely hero you'll ever meet-an ordinary guy with a modest job you might never look at twice. But there's so much more to any of us than meets the eye-and that goes triple for Odd Thomas. For Odd lives always between two worlds in the small desert town of Pico Mundo, where the heroic and the harrowing are everyday events. Odd never asked to communicate with the dead-it's something that just happened. But as the unofficial goodwill ambassador between our world and theirs, he's got a duty to do the right thing. That's the way Odd sees it and that's why he's won hearts on both sides of the divide between life and death.
A childhood friend of Odd's has disappeared. The worst is feared. But as Odd applies his unique talents to the task of finding the missing person, he discovers something worse than a dead body, encounters an enemy of exceptional cunning, and spirals into a vortex of terror. Once again Odd will stand against our worst fears. Around him will gather new allies and old, some living and some not. For in the battle to come, there can be no innocent bystanders, and every sacrifice can tip the balance between despair and hope. Whether you're meeting Odd Thomas for the first time or he's already an old friend, you'll be led on an unforgettable journey through a world of terror, wonder and delight-to a revelation that can change your life. And you can have no better guide than Odd Thomas.'
We're all a little odd beneath the surface. He's the most unlikely hero you'll ever meet-an ordinary guy with a modest job you might never look at twice. But there's so much more to any of us than meets the eye-and that goes triple for Odd Thomas. For Odd lives always between two worlds in the small desert town of Pico Mundo, where the heroic and the harrowing are everyday events. Odd never asked to communicate with the dead-it's something that just happened. But as the unofficial goodwill ambassador between our world and theirs, he's got a duty to do the right thing. That's the way Odd sees it and that's why he's won hearts on both sides of the divide between life and death.
A childhood friend of Odd's has disappeared. The worst is feared. But as Odd applies his unique talents to the task of finding the missing person, he discovers something worse than a dead body, encounters an enemy of exceptional cunning, and spirals into a vortex of terror. Once again Odd will stand against our worst fears. Around him will gather new allies and old, some living and some not. For in the battle to come, there can be no innocent bystanders, and every sacrifice can tip the balance between despair and hope. Whether you're meeting Odd Thomas for the first time or he's already an old friend, you'll be led on an unforgettable journey through a world of terror, wonder and delight-to a revelation that can change your life. And you can have no better guide than Odd Thomas.'
My Thoughts:
I mainly read this as a challenge to myself because I have so many series reads I have started and not finished and I really want to complete at least one this year.
Even though I didn't really enjoy the first book as much as I wanted to because of all the people out there who think Odd is just so great, I went into reading this instalment with an open mind as I have seen a lot of great series start off with a bit of a bland first book but then surprisingly get better and better as they go along. I now have to admit that I am pleased that I persevered as I really enjoyed this instalment much more than I did the first one.
Yes, the story is a little bit far fetched and some of the plot developments are quite handy considering the situation that Odd has himself in, but hey, I don't read books to be reminded of reality, I read them to be entertained and taken away into another world for a little while. Therefore, I found that once Forever Odd really got going around halfway, I almost couldn't out it down.
Personally I think that Odd is a much stronger and interesting character in this book compared to the first one where I found him to be a bit whiney and annoying. I'm hoping that this development within him continues as the series goes along and I'm actually looking forward to starting the next one.
If this is the way the Odd books continue then I can definitely see why they are talked about by so many people and defended by regular Koontz followers everywhere.
Links:
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"I grew up in rural Derbyshire, but my adult life has been spent mostly in London, with long intervals in Norfolk and Deal, all inspiring places. I was educated mostly in convent schools; then studied English and went on to qualify as a solicitor, working for what is now the Crown Prosecution Service, thus learning a bit about murder at second hand. Years later, writing became the real vocation, although the law and its ramifications still haunt me and inform many of my novels.
