Forever Odd (Odd Thomas, No 2)
by Dean Koontz
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Book Reviews of Forever Odd (Odd Thomas, No 2)
Book Review: Forever Odd, Forever a Koontz Fan
Summary: 5 Stars
Not long after Odd Thomas became a hero in the town of Pico Mundo by taking down a sniper at the local mall with plans of blowing it sky-high, Odd finds himself once again helping out both the living and dead.
His best friend, Danny, who suffers from brittle bone disease, is missing from his home where he lived with his adoptive father, Dr. Wilbur Jessup. Dr. Jessup had only minutes before arrived at Odd's apartment seeming to appeal for help--he was, like so many people who drift in and out of Odd's life--no longer alive in the real world. He had been murdered, and now Danny is missing.
Odd sets off to find his missing friend, using his "physic magnetism", as he calls it, and finds a woman who is so desperate to experience supernatural activities that she'll use Danny as a pawn to get what she wants.
With the same cast of characters from Odd Thomas--Ollie, the overweight novelist; Terri, Odd's employer and friend; Chief Porter, the town's police head; Terrible Chester, Ollie's cat; and the ghost of Elvis--Odd is set upon another adventure that contains murder, mayhem, and one bad-a** evil woman.
This continuation of one of Koontz's best characters is a true winner. I read the book in one day, and I'm left with wanting to know where Odd will go from here. After the death of his beloved fiancee, Stormy, the previous August, Odd has been slightly adrift--and at the end of FOREVER ODD, we get some indication of where his life is leading, but not a clear-cut picture.
Definitely another winner by the incomparable Mr. Koontz, FOREVER ODD is not a story to be missed.
Book Review: Odd Thomas Rocks!
Summary: 4 Stars
In this second book featuring Odd Thomas, we follow Odd's life after losing his beloved Stormy, the love of his life. Odd has a strange life. He can see, feel, and talk to the dead, although they can't talk back to him. Elvis is one of his regulars. As Odd tries to put his life back together, he is pulled into another tragic event when his friend's adopted father shows up at Odd's door, in ghostly form, of course. Odd follows the ghost back to his former home to discover his murdered body. Odd also discovers that the dead man's son, Danny, is missing. Danny and Odd are best friends and Danny is afflicted with a horrible disease that makes his bones extremely brittle and easy to break. Odd gets a phone call from a woman who has abducted Danny and Odd must go rescue his friend. The woman is a freak who wants to use Odd to see and talk to the dead. That is the basics, now on to what is so wonderful about this book.
Odd is a lovable character, he is warm, loving, everyone's best friend. He is a white knight without the ego. I defy anyone to not wish they had an Odd in their life. Dean Koontz uses a wonderful blend of suspense, horror, mystery, and humor to capture the reader and hold their attention. The villians are a bit ridiculous, but they are also fun and different. I admire Mr. Koontz for having the guts to break the mold and use his imagination to it's fullest.
If you are looking for the next great who-done-it or the next great hair-standing-on-end horror, this is not the book for you. If you are looking for a great, enjoyable, fun adventure, you will love this one.
Book Review: Really Odd "Odd"
Summary: 3 Stars
At first, I was inclined to agree with the reviewers who were disappointed with this follow-up to Odd Thomas, but I believe this book is neither better nor worse than any other in the series. The real key to the popularity of Odd Thomas really isn't the plots, it's the characterization and in this installment, Odd's every bit as endearingly off-center as he was in the first book, or would be in the third.
Some improbable plot twists? Well sure, but what's new in this series? Koontz creates a wonderful villainess, but you have to wonder why after the first couple of conversations with Odd she's still convinced he is a true master of the mystic/diabolic arts. I won't give away her fate, but it is, shall we say an improbable one. Then again, there is an animal motif running through several books - recall the coyotes in the first outing and Odd Thomas has enough of the surreal that you're never quite sure what is supposed to be literally true and what is allegorical. Just to point out one more of many: it seems very unlikely the villains could've forced Danny that many miles on foot given his medical condition. Most of the plot elements are telegraphed well ahead of resolution.
These are really minor points. The real pleasure of these books is simply going along for the ride with Odd. This ride's a bumpy one, and it's one with a rather...odd...ending, but no more so that the end of the first book, or for that matter the third.
When book four comes out, I'll be one of the first to scoop it up.
Book Review: A Regular Thriller With Odd Thomas Thrown In
Summary: 3 Stars
I will start off by saying I loved Odd Thomas. It was one of the best books I have ever read. It evoked almost every emotion a man can feel out of me. It was just incredible in every way. Unfortunately, with a book that great, the expectations are high for the next one and they just weren't met, not nearly.
Forever Odd is an entertaining thriller at best. It was suspenseful at parts, interesting, but it seemed the character of Odd Thomas was just thrown in so it could be an Odd Thomas novel.
First of all, almost the entire book takes place at the same spot, which got incredibly boring.
In the first book I felt extremely connected to Odd's relationship with Stormy, and Wyatt Porter. The relationships are what made the first book. In this novel however, I did not feel any of that. Apparently, Odd is supposed to be best friends with the kid that was kidnapped, but there wasn't nearly enough explanation in the book so that I could feel connected to the kid.
Also, I just wasn't afraid of the antagonist in this novel. She was uninspired, and again, I didn't feel anything towards her.
As I said before, this was a good thriller, but compared to the first Odd Thomas, this fails in comparison. I just didn't care about any of the characters. I know it is hard to live up to a great novel, and Odd Thomas actually refers to this near the end of the story, but this was not even close.
Book Review: I Hate Puns BUT This Book is Just ODD!
Summary: 3 Stars
I really do get tired of puns but Odd is the only word I can think to describe my experience reading this book. Of course, I really enjoyed the first Odd Thomas book or I wouldn't have gone after the 2nd. Actually, I bought the 3rd thinking it was the 2nd but that is a whole other story, luckily I only read 10 pages before I realized my mistake.
But anyway, this Odd Thomas book feels like the wrong cheese in the middle of your sandwich. You have a good first book and from what I read (and hear) about the third, a good conclusion coming but you have to somehow get to that conclusion--hence--Forever Odd (which let's face it the title itself is a bit cheesy!)
Odd's voice and actions are forced. I understand the intent is that this is Odd (who is not a writer) writing about his "adventures" but it comes across as muddled. I like the character of his friend Danny and the initial crime that opens the book but the reason for the crime etc seem very forced.
I am still going to read the final book but I am glad I am done w/ this one. I try to give the author's I read one bleh book so I'll chaulk this one up for Koontz. Don't give ma 2nd one please like King did!!! Now I can't read him!
If you like the first book don't expect too much but I'm sure it is a must read unless you want to be stumbling through the third wondering how odd ended up where he is.