Book Review: Watchers
One of my Top 10 favorite fiction books of all time. I can't explain why, but I just love this story. Call it a guilty pleasure read if you want, but it just connects to me.
Book: "Watchers"
Author: Dean R. Koontz
Available: In paperback or hardback at most online bookstores.
Background: In 1986 or so, and was one of Dean Koontz's earlier works, before he began steadily hitting the New York Times Bestseller List. The tone is different than his present works and much less complex.
Summary: A lonely man, Travis Cornell, is moving through life with out purpose or without hope, when he finds an intelligent dog in the woods and he and the dog are nearly attacked by an unseen threat. Through a series of events, Travis and his new dog, Einstein, come into Nora Devon's circle of influence and three develop a bond that gives each of them new purpose. The twist? The dog, Einstein, is a product of recombinant DNA testing and has had his intelligence boosted to human levels of understanding and awareness. The trio then proceeds on a wild ride of adventure, dodging the dog's "step-brother" named The Outsider that also escaped from the Biogenetics laboratory, a professional hitman bent on snatching the dog, and the government agents after both the dog and The Outsider.
Mad Parts:
+ When Travis and the dog first meet and are stalked by The Outsider. Great writing and a suspenseful tone make you never want to go camping again!
+ When Travis, Nora and Einstein (the dog) are attacked in their new home by The Outsider and Einstein is "killed" by The Outsider. Travis' reactions pulled all the right emotional cords.
+ When Travis finally kills The Outsider. Tears came to my eyes. For real. Okay, not for real, but tears could have come to my eyes if I cried really easy.
Mad Props:
+ For a strong, large cast of compelling characters that evoked emotions in readers.
+ For having interesting central characters that I could cheer for.
+ How cool is a dog that can think like we can, anywayz? Way mad.
+ For coming up with a genetic manipulation story like this before we could actually do it.
+ For having the two main characters wait 'til marriage to have sex! Way uncommon in today's sex-crazed media!
Mad Slops:
+ For a lot of cursing! Way too much. It comes from the "Bad Guys," but still. The story would have been just as good without it. Trust me.
+ For the grisly nature of some of the murders. And there were lots.
Mad Minister's Verdict: I can't explain why this novel is a favorite of mine, in spite of its many, many flaws. For some reason I just like it. It's pretty much one of those "guilty pleasure" books… you know, the type that have zero impact on anything, but that you just read for relaxation when you don't need to think or interact? Yeah, that kinda' book. Otherwise, I couldn't really recommend it to anyone unless you're tied down, given a copy and someone volunteers to sit there and turn the pages for you, one by one. And even then, I would recommend trying to find a way out of it.
Mad Points: 2 outta' 5.