Odd Thomas - Dean R. Koontz
Amazon:
Once in a very great while, an author does everything right-as Koontz has in this marvelous novel. Odd Thomas, who narrates, is odd indeed: only 20, he works contentedly as a fry cook in a small fictional California town, despite a talent for writing. The reason for his lack of ambition? A much rarer talent: Odd sees and converses with ghosts, the lingering dead who have yet to pass on, a secret he has kept from nearly everyone but his girlfriend, an eccentric author friend and the local police chief, whom he occasionally helps solve terrible crimes. Odd also has the ability to see bodachs, malevolent spirits that feast on pain and whose presence signifies a likelihood of imminent violence. The proximity of bodachs to a weird-looking stranger in town, whom Odd dubs "Fungus Man," alerts Odd that trouble is brewing; breaking into Fungus Man's house, Odd discovers not only hundreds of bodachs but a shrine to serial killers that helps him deduce that somehow Fungus Man will wreak widespread havoc very soon-so Odd is caught in a classic race against time to deter catastrophe. As with Koontz's best novels, this one features electrifying tension and suspense, plus a few walloping surprises. But Koontz fans know that the author has recently added humor to his arsenal of effects, and this thriller also stands out for its brilliant tightrope walk between the amusing and the macabre; one of the dead with whom Odd interacts frequently, for instance, is Elvis, still pining for his long-dead mother, Gladys. Above all, the story, like most great stories, runs on character-and here Koontz has created a hero whose honest, humble voice will resonate with many. In some recent books, Koontz has tended to overwrite, but not here: the narrative is as simple and clear as a newborn's gaze. This is Koontz working at his pinnacle, providing terrific entertainment that deals seriously with some of the deepest themes of human existence: the nature of evil, the grip of fate and the power of love.
Eigene Meinung
Das Buch ist etwas anders als die typischen Koontz-Bücher der letzten Jahre. Es ist zwar spannend, aber es gibt keine Verfolgungsjagd, bei der man mitfiebert und nicht mehr aufhören kann zu lesen. Das Buch ist über weite Strecken langsamer und langatmiger. Anfangs ist es also kein Buch, das einen fesselt. Aber ab ca. der Hälfte wird es richtig gut und auch spannend.
Der Schluss war für mich vollkommen unerwartet und hat mich doch überrascht.
Anfangs ist Koontz' English gewöhnungsbedürftig. Er beschreibt Situationen sehr wortgewandt, was dazu führt, dass es nicht ganz so einfach ist, das Buch zu lesen. Aber man gewöhnt sich daran und kann dann schnell differenzieren, welches Wort man nachschlagen sollte und welches man überlesen kann.
Ein nettes Buch, das zum Schluss hin wirklch toll wird.
Edit: Ich habe nachträglich die englische ISBN gegen die deutsche ISBN ausgetauscht und den deutschen Titel in der Überschrift ergänzt, damit man das Buch unter dem deutschen Titel im Rezensionsindex wiederfinden kann. LG Wolke
Ich habe sie notiert, "Brandzeichen" unterstrichen, weil das ja öfters gefallen ist.
