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I just finished reading Odd Thomas for the second time last night, and enjoyed it. I read enough truly dark books that it is refreshing to read one with such likeable characters, where the lines between good and bad don't have many blurred areas. Perhaps not the greatest book ever written, but for me, it's good, escapist reading.

Susan, this is gonna sound really bad, but I'm gonna mention it anyway :-)
Both of the times that I've read Odd Thomas and it gets to the part of where Odd goes to meet his mother - I really felt I could relate. Of course, there were some significant differences, but the manipulation is very similar to the way I feel about my own mother - which is why I have distanced myself from her.

Even though the Odd Thomas books are not my favorite of Dean's - I find myself relating to the the character of Odd Thomas :-) No, I don't see dead people :-)

I'm glad you don't see dead people -- I think that would not be a particularly fun talent to have, but am sorry about your relationship with your mother. As sad as it is, sometimes it is necessary to distance yourself, for you and your own family.

I felt badly for Odd Thomas having parents like he did, but also felt a bit sorry for his mother, who threw away all the good things in life out of fear & selfishness.

Odd's mother was a very sick woman, and it appears, dangerous if you got on her wrong side. It's hard to be around someone who is that ill and I would like to think that perhaps someone with enough love could get through to her (by enough love I mean someone like the Dalai Lama...more love than I have)...but then maybe it's not necessary. I have the feeling that if Odd were to visit her again she would act like nothing happened.

BTW, I've been meaning to ask...when he referred to the bodachs later, he said that she ran with them...I thought that the two were incompatible, human and bodach...could he have meant that figuratively?

Yes, she was sick and sounds like it would be hard for anyone to love her for long. Odd's father probably did for awhile in his own way until the moodiness that he was attracted to became to much. Poor Odd didn't stand much of a chance!

My interpretation is that Odd's mother running with the bodachs was figurative, but who knows?

Carol and Susan,
I never noticed the mention of Odd's mother running with the bodachs. I own a copy of Odd Thomas so if you can tell me what chapter it's in, I'll look it up :-)Thanks

Sorry, I got my copy from the library and have taken it back so can't tell you. If was towards the end though, IIRC.

I still have my library copy, so I will look for it tonight...it was just an offhand comment tacked onto a paragraph about the bodachs, just one sentence.

I loved the Odd Thomas Series. Odd Thomas was my first Koontz read and I was hooked. I love series books so that could be a very good reason why I liked this book. I could read dozens of Odd books. The character is immediately endearing, and the suspense and adventures were great.

Dustin Crazy wrote: "Actually, I just checked and I only gave Odd Thomas 3 stars. I'm going to openly admit, I'm not a huge Odd Thomas Fan. My favorite of the series so far,is Brother Odd."

See alot of people dislike him because they feel he isnt anything special but i think because he is this very normal guy from this small town, a fry cook, who has elvis following him around, is what makes him so special. It is like this picture yourself in this situation, your normal but live a fantastical life...slow progressing maybe but its the first in a series...Brother Odd is beautiful.

Dustin how much did you love the villian??

Jenna wrote: "Dustin how much did you love the villian??"

Oh, very much!!! Which villain are we talking about again? :-)

haha either...either the ice crsytal type Villian or the one controlling it.

Jenna wrote: "haha either...either the ice crsytal type Villian or the one controlling it."


Loved it all. Still my favorite Odd Thomas book. Odd Hours is still my second favorite.

I, too, loved the description of the creature in Brother Odd. I was curious at the time as to how it would be depicted in film, should anyone decide to transfer that book to the Big Screen. I envisioned it as tiny bone-shaped pieces held together by something that resembled fine wires, but I think it was also stated that they rearranged themselves periodically into other configurations, rather fluidly. Fascinating to try to envision. I also was thinking that something so beautiful should be benign and not evil, but I guess the creature's actions rather belied that. Now that I think of it, I think it was mentioned that it resembled DNA strands, coiled helix-style (?)

Dustin Crazy wrote: "Jenna wrote: "haha either...either the ice crsytal type Villian or the one controlling it."


Loved it all. Still my favorite Odd Thomas book. Odd Hours is still my second favorite."

Ditto.

Carol wrote: "I, too, loved the description of the creature in Brother Odd. I was curious at the time as to how it would be depicted in film, should anyone decide to transfer that book to the Big Screen. I env..."

Would love to see a movie of Brother Odd :-) and with all the computer graphics they use now - it could be done quite well. Your descriptions are very good btw

The ODD series is worth revisiting...wah...I have so many TBR's though! I almost wish for illness, so I can have some down-time to read...lol

Carol wrote: "I almost wish for illness, so I can have some down-time to read...lol"

Be careful what you wish for :-)

Dustin Crazy wrote: "Carol wrote: "I almost wish for illness, so I can have some down-time to read...lol"

Be careful what you wish for :-)"

ditto. thats not something to wish for.

I don't mean I WANT to get sick, but when I do I just realize that it's my body's way of telling me something, and I give myself permission to relax and take it easy, maybe stay home from work if I don't feel up to going in, and just rest...and since it doesn't take a lot of energy to hold a book and move my eyes...well....

I finally started the series and recently finished the first book in the series, Odd Thomas. Much to my surprise, I really enjoyed this one. I thought for sure that the "I see dead people" shtick would ruin it for me, but it was not the main focus of the story; rather, the focus was on developing the characters and portraying a battle between good and evil (the latter not being surprising for a Koontz novel). I think Koontz had the best character development in this novel than in any other, with the only possible exceptions being Fear Nothing and/or Seize the Night (and perhaps From the Corner of His Eye). Speaking of those first two books, I found some major similarities between the characters in this book and several of those from the Moonlight Bay series, particularly between Odd Thomas himself and Chris Snow. I was especially intrigued by the bodocks in this book. I hope Dean reveals more about them in the coming books of the series, such as whether Odd's theory put forth at the end of the book about what they are is correct. ***Spoiler*** When the chief of police was shot, I predicted that Stormy would die at some point in the book; however, I got tricked by the unreliable narration into thinking she actually had survived when she was there to visit Odd in the hospital and she spoke to him (we later discover that she never spoke, but that Odd was speaking for her based on what he thought she would say, which I find deceptive and pretty low). I was genuinely heartbroken for Odd when he was forced by his friends to face the reality of her death. In fact, I nearly cried myself. I look forward to seeing where Odd's future adventures will lead him and, vicariously, me.

Wow! Jason, that's a lot of thought to chew on that you've shared here :-) I think Odd Thomas and Watchers are Dean's most popular books.

Dustin Crazy wrote: "Wow! Jason, that's a lot of thought to chew on that you've shared here :-) I think Odd Thomas and Watchers are Dean's most popular books."

My Koontzophilic aunt told me last night that Brother Odd is her favorite, like it is yours. I'm glad I saved the Odd Thomas series for close to last, because it is making up for some of the lower quality Koontz books I've been reading over this past year. Too bad I still have Your Heart Belongs to Me to read, as I'm predicting that will be more of a chore than a pleasure, based on what I've heard. :-/

Jason "plasborgma" wrote: "My Koontzophilic aunt told me last night that Brother Odd is her favorite, like it is yours. I'm glad I saved the Odd Thomas series for close to last, because it is making up for some of the lower quality Koontz books I've been reading over this past year. Too bad I still have Your Heart Belongs to Me to read, as I'm predicting that will be more of a chore than a pleasure, based on what I've heard. :-/ "

You can safely skip that one, it's atrocious. I've read all the books in the Odd series, and the first one is definitely the best - and it's not good. I was annoyed by the characters, the writing and the glacial pace, but the plot was interesting enough to keep me reading, only to be disappointed at the end. The rest of the series are nowhere near comparable. Brother Odd in particular irritated me, because it was pointless and had no plot. It was just a series of random happenings, poorly tied together.

Maciek wrote: "...I've read all the books in the Odd series, and the first one is definitely the best - and it's not good. I was annoyed by the characters, the writing and the glacial pace, but the plot was interesting enough to keep me reading, only to be disappointed at the end...."

Just the same, Mac, I'll give them all a try. Why did the characters annoy you? I found them colorful and likable.

Jason will probably like Brother Odd because there is a scientist in it...wait maybe not - I forgot how Dean uses scientists in his books. Nevermind. Anyway, I loved Brother Odd and my second favorite is Odd Hours. I didn't care for the first two books - I guess I'm kinda "odd" myself :-)

I forgot to mention that I pictured Odd Thomas's likeness as Maciek's primary profile photo. :-) They seem to me to have somewhat similar personalities. I told him that while I was reading it, but thought I ought to share that with everyone.

Dustin Crazy wrote: "Jason will probably like Brother Odd because there is a scientist in it...wait maybe not - I forgot how Dean uses scientists in his books...."

I'm strongly considering writing to Koontz this summer and that would be the thesis of my letter.

Jason "plasborgma" wrote: "Just the same, Mac, I'll give them all a try. Why did the characters annoy you? I found them colorful and likable. "

If you enjoyed this one, you'll probably enjoy the rest, though in my opinion they get progressively worse.

As for the characters, well...what annoyed me was the fact that Odd was in fact Dean Koontz and Stormy was Dean's idea of an attractive, perfect girlfriend. The author's voice was so strong in this novel that it drastically limited my enjoyment, because he acted and sounded like a 20 year old written by a 50something year old.

Besides, there is no real struggle, no real conflict in this book. Everyone loves Odd, and the only people who don't are the bad guys. The identity of the bad guys was a particular disappointment, too. The overall simplicity of everything in this book made me think that perhaps it was written for younger readers.

Jason "plasborgma" wrote: "Dustin Crazy wrote: "Jason will probably like Brother Odd because there is a scientist in it...wait maybe not - I forgot how Dean uses scientists in his books...."

I'm strongly considering writing..."

I advise you to wait and see for yourself. The scientist character was one of the reasons why I didn't like that book.

Plus, I can't forget the incredible stupidity of spoiling the denouement of the book in the beginning by revealing the method of the unreliable narrator. It's supposed to be a secret - but Koontz must have thought we're too stupid to understand that, so he explained to us how it works. Now, that wouldn't be so bad if he didn't add the example of the famous Agatha Christie novel and reveal the murderer in that work. I just can't comprehend how this man thinks; his makes his characters use words "sussuration", "obfuscatory" in normal conversation yet thinks his reader is too stupid to grasp a plot device. The man explains EVERYTHING to the reader. There is no room for doubt, or surprise.

Maciek wrote: "Plus, I can't forget the incredible stupidity of spoiling the denouement of the book in the beginning by revealing the method of the unreliable narrator. It's supposed to be a secret - but Koontz m..."

I had never heard of the unreliable narrator literary device before this book, so I appreciated the explanation, though wish he had saved it for the end, as you say. I don't care for the device, finding it to be a cheap trick. I remember how annoyed you were when he spoiled the Christie novel by revealing its killer's identity and agree that it was completely unnecessary.

Jason "plasborgma" wrote: "I'm strongly considering writing to Koontz this summer and that would be the thesis of my letter."

:-) Do it! He'll respond.

Maciek wrote: "I just can't comprehend how this man thinks"

:-) I think Dean is Awesome! His way with words is Amazing & he's such and interesting person :-) I love the titles he chooses for his books too. I think I'm going to get "BY THE LIGHT OF THE MOON" tattooed on my right arm and "ONE DOOR AWAY FROM HEAVEN" on my left arm.

Jason "plasborgma" wrote: "I had never heard of the unreliable narrator literary device before this book, so I appreciated the explanation, though wish he had saved it for the end, as you say. I don't care for the device, finding it to be a cheap trick. I remember how annoyed you were when he spoiled the Christie novel by revealing its killer's identity and agree that it was completely unnecessary. ."

You might not have heard of it, but I'm sure you've seen it in action, be it a movie or a book. It's not something that the author/director gives to the reader beforehand, because it ruins the whole thing. Thankfully I've read that Christie novel before reading Odd Thomas. I'd be pissed off if I didn't.

Dustin Crazy wrote: ":-) I think Dean is Awesome! His way with words is Amazing & he's such and interesting person :-) I love the titles he chooses for his books too. I think I'm going to get "BY THE LIGHT OF THE MOON" tattooed on my right arm and "ONE DOOR AWAY FROM HEAVEN" on my left arm. "

Actually, I agree. I enjoy watching interviews with him, because he's a funny and likable guy. It's when he starts to write the problems arise. I can't stand his Born Again attitude and simplistic morality. I liked a lot of his older thrillers, but his newer ones are really, really bad.

I never read a book by Agatha Christie.

You're missing out. There's a reason she's called the queen of crime. I'd recommend my favorite, And Then There Were None.

Maciek wrote: "I liked a lot of his older thrillers, but his newer ones are really, really bad.
"

I like most of his newer books with a few exceptions :-) I also have liked a lot of his older books but I think I actually like his newer stuff better. I like the humor he's been using in recent years, even if it can be rather "corny".

Maciek wrote: "You're missing out. There's a reason she's called the queen of crime. I'd recommend my favorite, And Then There Were None."

Well, I might have to give her a try. I just thought she'd be too old-fashioned for my liking. I like anything that is similar to Dean Koontz - current, featuring Hershey bars, clowns, clones - that kind of thing. I thought Agatha Christie would be too boring for me. I now work in a movie theater so I'll use a movie comparison - I really preferred Hanna to Jane Eyre. I see Agatha as Jane Eyre and Dean as Hanna.

I've liked most up to 97. Then it seems that Dean Koontz has rediscovered religion and decided to include it in his books, and started moralizing his reader at every occasion. His morals are pretty simple, though. Love each other, liberals are bad and dogs are cool. From the petty jabs at Hollywood and modern art to the idiotic attack at evolution, I decided that I don't need to read Dean Koontz novels anymore.

Dustin Crazy wrote: "Well, I might have to give her a try. I just thought she'd be too old-fashioned for my liking. I like anything that is similar to Dean Koontz - current, featuring Hershey bars, clowns, clones - that kind of thing. I thought Agatha Christie would be too boring for me. I now work in a movie theater so I'll use a movie comparison - I really preferred Hanna to Jane Eyre. I see Agatha as Jane Eyre and Dean as Hanna. "

Actually, it's anything but. The book opens with 10 people being invited to a mysterious island, which they soon find has been cut off from the mainland. One after another, they are killed just like in an old, childish rhyme. the tension just mounts and mounts and mounts to the shocking end. This is a classic of a grand scale, and has suspense and characters that Dean Koontz can only dream of developing. It's also very slim - my copy is under 200 pages, if I remember correctly.

Okay, you've convinced me - I will give And Then There Were None a try sometime.

Maciek wrote: "...I decided that I don't need to read Dean Koontz novels anymore."

When did you decide that. You made a post to the contrary a few months ago.

Ha. This is what I keep telling myself. I keep thinking that I shouldn't, but I end up reading them anyway. Koontz has been one of my biggest guilty pleasures last year and it's hard to break the habit.

Maciek wrote: "Ha. This is what I keep telling myself. I keep thinking that I shouldn't, but I end up reading them anyway. Koontz has been one of my biggest guilty pleasures last year and it's hard to break the h..."

Why have his books been a guilty pleasure for you?

Maciek wrote: "Ha. This is what I keep telling myself. I keep thinking that I shouldn't, but I end up reading them anyway. Koontz has been one of my biggest guilty pleasures last year and it's hard to break the habit."

Jason "plasborgma" wrote: "Why have his books been a guilty pleasure for you? "

Maciek enjoys picking apart Dean's great works of literature and I must admit Maciek does have a talent for providing keen insights.
Maciek clearly has a Koontz addiction and just can't quit.

Jason "plasborgma" wrote: "Why have his books been a guilty pleasure for you? "

Because they're not really very good. The plots and characters are mostly recycled, and if you read 3 or 4 after each other you get confused which one was which.

Dustin Crazy wrote: "Maciek enjoys picking apart Dean's great works of literature and I must admit Maciek does have a talent for providing keen insights.
Maciek clearly has a Koontz addiction and just can't quit. "

Thank you, Dustin. You speak an absolute truth, as do all brown owls.

Maciek wrote: "Thank you, Dustin. You speak an absolute truth, as do all brown owls."

Thank You! brown owls are very wise and awesome!

"Because they're not really very good. The plots and characters are mostly recycled, and if you read 3 or 4 after each other you get confused which one was which."

Maciek, I understand...but I keep reading Koontz. It's like he has become part of my family, not always perfect, but I love him.

That's great, Jen. I'm happy you feel like that. With prolific authors who write throughout the decades it's possible to maintain a special relationship. You grow up reading their novels, and hope they will be always there with a new book each year or two.