Koontzland - Dean Koontz discussion

The Face has been selected as our February Group Read in addition to Brother Odd (Odd Thomas, Book 3).

There is an older discussion thread for The Face, which can be found in the discussion folder called Koontz's Many Stand-Alone Novels.

This is the new 2016 discussion thread for The Face. As a reminder, the new release, Ashley Bell, will continue to be featured as a group read through February 8th.

Happy New Year Koontzlanders! Much happy reading wishes for you in 2016 :-)

This was a pretty good pick. I enjoyed it.

I didn't care for this the first time I read it. But it's been so long ago I am anxious to give it another try.

I've had a hard time with The Face also. I think I've read it twice before. Maybe it will click this time :-)

Dustin Crazy little brown owl wrote: "I've had a hard time with The Face also. I think I've read it twice before. Maybe it will click this time :-)"

Well Dustin, here's hoping for both of us. I see it as a challenge. I won't start it though till I am finished with Forever Odd which is dragging a bit.

oops made a mistake ... I am starting Dragon Tears when I am finished with with Forever Odd. Got confused because another book on my TBR pile is Faceless by another author. Mea Culpa

:-) Easy to Confuse since Dean has also written a book called The Face of Fear.
I'm not sure which book I'm reading next - Forever Odd or Dragon Tears - it all depends on which audiobook I get first .

Dustin Crazy little brown owl wrote: ":-) Easy to Confuse since Dean has also written a book called The Face of Fear.
I'm not sure which book I'm reading next - Forever Odd or Dragon Tears - it all depends on which audiobook I get fir..."

Dustin, I am curious ... is there a particular time you listen to your audio books? I used to be in a group where everyone listened to their audiobooks while commuting. I find when I listen to audio books at regular speed, I read slower than if I read them just in my Kindle. If I read with audio and print using immersion reading, I speed the audio version and read faster than either.

I live alone and I typically listen to my books in the morning while eating breakfast and in the evening doing chores like washing the dishes. Yesterday I listened my audiobook while hiking to and from the library. It's like I have someone in my ear telling me stories all the time.

We all read at different speeds. I am a slow reader so audiobooks help me get through books quicker. Of course there are some books I read with my own two eyes because they are not available as audiobooks. It takes me longer to get through those books because I'm not able to do two things at once like walking & chores.

I have added to my list to re-read this book in February 2016's group read. thanks, Fred

Dustin, your comments are good when I can read a book, I listen to it at the same time as it gives the character emotions. When I cannot read, I do try to complete with just the audiobook. Thanks.

I will be reading The Face in February :-) Ashley Bell and Dragon Tears are next in line for me.

I have a thing with this group, I don't start to read the month's book or books until the first of the month, so I too will be reading The Face and Brother Odd in February.

See you soon!

Reminder: The Face is a February Group Read (in addition to Brother Odd)

I started it today (Feb 1). I thought I had read this and disliked it but none of it seems familiar to me.

Karen B. wrote: "I started it today (Feb 1). I thought I had read this and disliked it but none of it seems familiar to me."

Good Luck!

The book starts with ,"Fric" Manheim (10) chased/haunted by a sick killer/kidnapper, Vladimir "Corky" Laputa. Ethan Truman (x-cop) & Hazard Yancy (homicide) enter to find "Corky"?

This has always been a strange book for me. I don't remember a lot of details except a rotting apple, a worm and a wine cellar I think..

Oh, Corky--or as I prefer, dirtbag-- will really irk you if your tastes are anywhere near mine.

Charissa wrote: "Oh, Corky--or as I prefer, dirtbag-- will really irk you if your tastes are anywhere near mine."

Looking forward to it :-)

Corky really does irk me. Just some of the senseless things he does. It really got to me when he threw poisonous biscuits to the dogs. In fact I was surprised that Dean included that being the dog lover he is. There are so many cruel things he does, whereas some villains seem to be centered on a particular thing ... he just loves spreading his chaos and that annoys me. Dirtbag is a good name for him.

Has anyone determined the significance of the 6 "BlackBoxes"? Lady Bugs, Snails, Scrabble Tiles, Foreskins, Guide Dog Book and "The Eye in the Apple"?

Not until the end. Sorry, it's just difficult to figure out on your own, unless you're as nuts as dirtbag.

I think near the end it's explained. Each one was an obscure clue. I remember the last one was that Fric was "the apple of his father's eye" But definitely Corky had a significance to each one.

I am currently reading THE FACE and finding some similarities to What The Night Knows such as in the case of the magic mirror.

Is Corky Laputa a male prostitute?

The word puta means ‘prostitute’ or ‘whore’ in Spanish, but it has stronger connotations than the equivalent in English does. It also combines to form some common and potentially offensive phrases, so it’s a word you must know if you’re going to master Spanish.

For cultural reasons puta can be a very offensive word, though of course its register depends on how and with whom you use it.
source: http://www.languagerealm.com/spanish/...

Karen B. wrote: "I didn't care for this the first time I read it. But it's been so long ago I am anxious to give it another try."

Now you give it 5 Amazing Stars? Sounds like the book had a better connection with you this time around.

oh yes it was a true Koontz book. I think I had it mixed up with another (the title) because it wasn't what I expected and I'm glad I read it.

You were probably thinking of The Face of Fear - an earlier Koontz novel, writing as Brian Coffey :-)

I just finished this book. I loved it!

I know this is an older discussion thread, but I just finished this book. I felt like it really dragged on about 3/4 through the book. I don't if the book became unfocused or if I did. I enjoyed the ending enough and the story overall to rate it 4 stars though. Anyone else feel like they were grinding through part of it?

Melissa wrote: "I know this is an older discussion thread, but I just finished this book. I felt like it really dragged on about 3/4 through the book. I don't if the book became unfocused or if I did. I enjoyed th..."

Yes. The Face is certainly not among my favorites.