Odd Thomas is the first book in a series by author Dean Koontz. Koontz is a prolific author, having written dozens of books over the years. This series, and the main character, Odd Thomas, are indeed “odd”. I’m not even sure what drew me to these books in the first place. I was just perusing the aisles in the library and came upon the Koontz section. I grabbed three of the books in the series, Odd Thomas, Forever Odd and Odd Hours. The first few pages of the book, for me at least, were bizarre. I wasn’t sure if I was going to keep reading the book, but the more I read, the more I liked the plot and the style. His description of characters and scenes is very colorful and detailed. I’ve never read a book with this style of writing. Koontz has a different sense of humor from most authors I’ve read. The main character, Odd Thomas, is a short-order cook at a grille in the little town of Pico Mundo, a desert town in California. One of Odd’s special gifts is his ability to see dead people. Koontz spins a tale laced with interesting characters, humor and spirituality. I think what I liked about the book was the refreshing style and undertone of good versus evil.
If you’re looking for a book that provides a unique and different approach to novel writing, this is a book for you. I found the humor and colorful storytelling a most welcome change from your typical novel. I highly recommend it.
The Glass Castle is a memoir written by Jeannette Walls chronicling her childhood and early adult life. To say she had a very hard and unusual upbringing would be an understatement, to say the least. As I read it, there were times when it was almost too incredible to believe. I did wonder if there was any embellishment on the author’s part to spice up the book. In the end, I have to believe that wasn’t the case because you would think her siblings or mother could easily dispute the veracity of the content. Some of the events in her childhood bordered on the bizarre. Some were downright awful, some were humorous and some were, in my humble opinion, child abuse/neglect. Her parents definitely had some issues. It made me laugh, it made me sad and it made me appreciate the relatively easy childhood I had. Considering all she went through, it’s an amazing journey and a clear example of what the human spirit can endure. Her writing style is engaging and she has weaved her story in a way that, for the most part, is very nonjudgmental when you consider the circumstances and events she endured.
