Koontzland - Dean Koontz discussion

Odd Thomas is back! First Published in 2003, Odd Thomas quickly became a fan favorite character and one of Dean's most popular novels (Einstein/Watchers being the closest competition). From this novel came 6 more full-length novels, ebooks, graphic novels and a feature film.

Over the next 8 months, we'll be re-reading the entire series, featuring one book each month (including Odd Interlude). For supplemental reading the following are recommended, but will not be featured directly:

* Odd Thomas Film starring Anton Yelchin
* ebook prequel Odd Thomas: You Are Destined To Be Together Forever
* Graphic Novels (keep in mind these storylines are different from the novels)
1. In Odd We Trust
2. Odd Is on Our Side
3. House of Odd

Get ready to re-read the entire Odd Thomas Series. Beginning in July one book from the series will be featured each month for 8 months.

The series order with 2020 - 2021 Group Reading Schedule:
1. Odd Thomas JULY
2. Forever Odd AUGUST
3. Brother Odd SEPTEMBER
4. Odd Hours OCTOBER
4.5 Odd Interlude NOVEMBER
5. Odd Apocalypse DECEMBER
6. Deeply Odd JANUARY
7. Saint Odd FEBRUARY

Sounds like fun.

It sounds fun, indeed. Here's a quick game we all can play before (or while) we're reading our Odd books…how would you all rank these in terms of enjoyment? For me it's 1. Brother Odd 2. Odd Thomas 3. Odd Apocalypse 4. Deeply Odd 5. Odd Interlude 6. Odd Hours 7. Saint Odd 8. Forever Odd

Nice! I love Odd Thomas.

Matthew wrote: "It sounds fun, indeed. Here's a quick game we all can play before (or while) we're reading our Odd books…how would you all rank these in terms of enjoyment? For me it's 1. Brother Odd 2. Odd Thomas..."

I'll have to remember to let you know next year :-)

For those participating in our Monthly Group Read Program -
I'm curious how interested you are in having other titles featured during this Odd Thomas Series Group Read.
Do you want a stand-alone novel also featured each month or maybe less often?
We'll feature Dean's new release, Elsewhere this Fall for two months, which we always do for a new release.

Feel free to give your opinion on featuring stand alone novels now through February.
FYI: Dragon Tears is our June Group Read.
Thank you kindly :-)

Bless me, but Koontzland reading is not the only list I read from each month. I have two book clubs and a couple reader review promises plus BookishFirst, not to mention Goodreads wins. I'm behind now. Only one Koontzland read a month, please.

Thank you Susan :-)

I believe the movie is still on Netflix, and I enjoyed it. It does the book justice in my opinion, although books are always better. Anton Yelchin (R.I.P) was a wonderful Odd Thomas!

Movie's not on Netflix but is on Amazon Prime for free. And it's good despite the director making the tone perhaps a bit TOO light.

I thought the movie was pretty good. The books are always better.

Matthew wrote: "It sounds fun, indeed. Here's a quick game we all can play before (or while) we're reading our Odd books…how would you all rank these in terms of enjoyment? For me it's 1. Brother Odd 2. Odd Thomas..."

Saint Odd?
It has been so long...

Dustin Crazy little brown owl wrote: "For those participating in our Monthly Group Read Program -
I'm curious how interested you are in having other titles featured during this Odd Thomas Series Group Read.
Do you want a stand-alone n..."

I'd want every other month so I won't feel so constantly behind! :-)

Mary wrote: "Matthew wrote: "It sounds fun, indeed. Here's a quick game we all can play before (or while) we're reading our Odd books…how would you all rank these in terms of enjoyment? For me it's 1. Brother O..."

OOPS...oh yeah, I forgot Saint!! But I managed to include Interlude, the side-story. *face-palm* PS I fixed my original post.

Matthew wrote: "Mary wrote: "Matthew wrote: "It sounds fun, indeed. Here's a quick game we all can play before (or while) we're reading our Odd books…how would you all rank these in terms of enjoyment? For me it's..."

I only remember Odd Thomas, Brother Odd, Deeply Odd, and Saint Odd. So, I'm glad of an excuse to spend the money on kindle books and read them all again.
Good idea to rate them.

Took my copy (it's a little worn) of Odd Thomas off the bookshelf this morning. It's on my night stand ready to go. But...
I've started a reread of A Game of Thrones. Let's see how July works itself out. Happy reading everyone.

I'm still reading Devoted!! About 1/3 of the way through and am actually enjoying it. It's basically "Dean's Greatest Hits" with the highly intelligent genetically enhanced doggies, the genetically enhanced sociopathic (and devolving) villain, the autistic child (whose point of view actually feels like that of a child-something Dean sometimes struggles with) but, despite being derivative, I think it's very entertaining. Hopefully I'll finish it sometime in the next few weeks and then start Odd.

Matthew wrote: "I'm still reading Devoted!! About 1/3 of the way through and am actually enjoying it. It's basically "Dean's Greatest Hits" with the highly intelligent genetically enhanced doggies, the genetically..."

I'm finally going to read DEVOTED in JULY :-) I hope I like it as much as you do.

Elizabeth wrote: "Took my copy (it's a little worn) of Odd Thomas off the bookshelf this morning. It's on my night stand ready to go. But...
I've started a reread of A Game of Thrones. Let's see how July works itsel..."

I'm glad so many people are excited about the ODD THOMAS GROUP READ!

Karen wrote: "I thought the movie was pretty good. The books are always better."

I own the DVD. Will re-watch after I read the original ODD THOMAS novel. As far as Koontz adapted books to film, Odd Thomas is one of the better ones with a great leading star. Odd Thomas and Phantoms are the best I think, with well-known actors in leading roles.

Mary wrote: "I'd want every other month so I won't feel so constantly behind! :-)"

Susan wrote: "Bless me, but Koontzland reading is not the only list I read from each month ..."

For now, the only Group Reads set up are the Odd Thomas Series which will run through February 2021, one book each month.

Dean's new release, Elsewhere, will be featured this Fall for two months.

If anyone needs more Koontz, a Mini Group Read can be set up. Get 3 people interested in the same title and agree on a start date and it'll be featured for one month.
Here is the link to the long-running Mini Group Read Thread:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

First time reading Odd Thomas. Have to say, that was quite good (finished last night). Well written and well finished, the twist was a brilliant touch (even had me tearing up). There was one thing though I think I missed and am still wondering...

I am not very far in yet but am enjoying the re-read so far (the Elvis snot part not so much). I am curious how this one will hold up. I don't really remember much of it.

Kirstin, not fair to throw that teaser out there...haha. I am losing sleep wondering...

I had forgotten that Odd Thomas moved out on his own at age 16.

Kirstin wrote: "There was one thing though I think I missed and am still wondering..."

Do you know how to use GR spoiler format if it's a spoiler? I'm curious to know what that one thing is your wondering about.
I haven't finished, I'm about half way through, but this is my fourth time reading the book.
If you don't know how to create one of these (view spoiler)[ See (some html is ok) in upper right of comment box, putting the word "spoiler" between brackets <> , with /spoiler inside brackets to end etc. Goodreads is not always the most user friendly (hide spoiler)]
you can always just put something like below with all caps and **

**SPOILER ALERT**

Im halfway through my third reading and ya know what I have never quite understood...why did Oddie meet with his mother? The part with his Dad I think I got but not Mom. Don't tell me yet since I havent reread either scene yet but if I remain confused afterwards I will let you all know. Heh

Matthew wrote: "Im halfway through my third reading and ya know what I have never quite understood...why did Oddie meet with his mother? The part with his Dad I think I got but not Mom. Don't tell me yet since I h..."

Sometimes it's hard to close a door on the past. I think sometimes we revisit bad places or situations to see if maybe we read things wrong. Usually, it confirms that we made the right decision, but there's always the possibility of a change in perception or that that place or person has improved. Maybe he was trying to give her another chance. Odd Thomas is wisdom and caring personified.

I haven't got to that part yet this time around either :-)

I do believe that Odd talks about why he did...
I can definitely try to do that with the spoiler alert...

Just made start - think I read this years ago, but excited to pick it up again.

There are many reasons why I love Dean Koontz, and his writing. As I read Odd Thomas (again), here's one of them: on pages 286 & 287 of my paperback - "Don't be afraid", I told her. "You weren't a monster in this life, were you? Just lonely, lost, confused, broken- like all of us who pass this way".
"Maybe you were weak, and foolish, but many are. So am I."
"So am I" I repeated. "But when I die, I will move on, and so should you, without fear."
"I've no idea what it's like, but I know a better life awaits you, beyond the miseries you've known here, a place where you'll belong and where you'll be truly loved."

I don't think this qualifies as a spoiler, but...

**Spoiler Alert**

This is my 3rd or 4th reread (I forget) and every time I go through this book again I'm struck by how MUCH foreshadowing for the gut-punch ending this book has. But even better than foreshadowing...Mr. Koontz does some misleading as well. He lets the reader know something awful WILL happen...but not to who ya might think. Very clever.

Elizabeth wrote: "There are many reasons why I love Dean Koontz, and his writing. As I read Odd Thomas (again), here's one of them: on pages 286 & 287 of my paperback - "Don't be afraid", I told her. "You weren't a ..."

I'm right at that part now :-)

Finished it now. Really enjoyed it. Odd is a great character and the first person narrative works great. Looking forward to the others and seeing what other people think about them.

Bill wrote: "Finished it now. Really enjoyed it. Odd is a great character and the first person narrative works great. Looking forward to the others and seeing what other people think about them."

Thanks Bill! :-)

Matthew wrote: "This is my 3rd or 4th reread (I forget) and every time I go through this book again I'm struck by how MUCH foreshadowing for the gut-punch ending this book has. But even better than foreshadowing....."

I've been noticing the same thing this time around :-)

Odd Thomas volume 1 has been...COMPLETED. Wasn't sure if I was gonna go on the whole Odd Thomas journey for 7 months but I'm hooked. Will def give Forever Odd a go. I remember not loving the death of the villain in that one because it felt VERY deus ex machina to me so will be on the lookout to see if my opinion changes. Happy reading, all!

I'm glad you will be continuing aboard the ODD Train and I hope you enjoy Forever Odd better this time.

I think this is my most enjoyable Odd Thomas re-read. It seems I have explored parts of the book more fully, I opened doors to the Odd House that I had forgotten existed.

There is a rose drawing on the title page before the novel starts which seems to prelude a meeting Odd has with his mother in her rose garden. His mother gives him a rose.

Saw the film too - thought it was pretty good and they handled the ending well

*******SPOILER******SPOILER********SPOILER********

"Minutes after he spoke the word bodach in my presence, he was crushed to death between a runaway truck and a concrete-block wall." (Book)

The actor, Anton Yelchin, died at age 27 when he was fatally pinned by his car after it rolled down the steep driveway of his L.A. home. He was found crushed in between his brick mailbox and security fence early Sunday morning.

Sad and so strange too. Not sure that I should write this but has stuck in my mind for days.

*******SPOILER********SPOILER*********SPOILER

Wow. I had never thought of that connection Mary. Yikes!
I'm going to start watching the Odd Thomas film tonight.

Yikes, chilling, good catch Mary!

Maybe it's just me but I noticed most of my favorite Koontz books begin with a quote from the Book of Counted Sorrows but this one begins with

sorry posted before finish this one begins with a quote from the Book of Counted Pleasures

Karen B. wrote: "sorry posted before finish this one begins with a quote from the Book of Counted Pleasures"

Boy, he definitely was in a different mindset when he wrote this! Thanks for noticing it I have read this before and glided right past that and this time too.. I guess I see what I expect to see...

I finished this last night. It was not the book that I remember in so many ways. My first read, Mr. Fungus had a small part --- I wish Mr. Fungis had stayed small in my mind as well as the descriptions of the bodache creatures. This time they nauseated me so much I had to skip in places.

Then there were evil characters that I hated so much that I read every word, soaking it in. The mother and the mall were the horrors that I can read and admire the writing. The other always seems like pure chaos to me.

This read (second or third) was my favorite. I liked most of the characters that were a part of Odd's life. Some I had forgotten or maybe it took the third read for them to soak in.
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SPOILER ALERT
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I did not know what was being talked about with the mother and a rose so I read that part carefully. Woah, pure evil! Finally, I understand his aversion to guns!

Others stood out for me more this time...Porter, the deputy, Elvis, Ozzie, Viola, and her daughters, Tes, Sanchez, Dr. Jessup and his son. And of course, Stormy

The ending and before broke my heart.

Now, for the movie if I can find it.

Elizabeth wrote: "There are many reasons why I love Dean Koontz, and his writing. As I read Odd Thomas (again), here's one of them: on pages 286 & 287 of my paperback - "Don't be afraid", I told her. "You weren't a ..."

Lordie, Elizabeth, I just read this (finished last night) and can't remember who this was spoken to. I can guess but I might be wrong...one of two people come to mind. (V or S?)

Elizabeth wrote: "There are many reasons why I love Dean Koontz, and his writing. As I read Odd Thomas (again), here's one of them: on pages 286 & 287 of my paperback - "Don't be afraid", I told her. "You weren't a ..."

I just finished this and loved your quote but am confused as who he was speaking to...I'll try to sneak in the question of who...V--S--Y P in D? Help?

Mary wrote: "I finished this last night. It was not the book that I remember in so many ways. My first read, Mr. Fungus had a small part --- I wish Mr. Fungis had stayed small in my mind as well as the descript..."

Miss Mary--the movie is for sure on Amazon Prime video if you've got it. Also, totally agree with you about the scene between Odd and his mother…always compelling and scary.

Mary wrote: "Elizabeth wrote: "There are many reasons why I love Dean Koontz, and his writing. As I read Odd Thomas (again), here's one of them: on pages 286 & 287 of my paperback - "Don't be afraid", I told he..."

Odd doesnt say those words to a character with a name but rather to the anonymous ghost of the young prostitute Odd sees at Church of Whispering Comet.

Matthew wrote: "Mary wrote: "Elizabeth wrote: "There are many reasons why I love Dean Koontz, and his writing. As I read Odd Thomas (again), here's one of them: on pages 286 & 287 of my paperback - "Don't be afrai..."

Yes, I was trying to be cryptic...Young Prostitute in the Desert. :-)