Koontzland - Dean Koontz discussion

The Funhouse will be featured as our July Group Read (in addition to Saint Odd). Please consider reading or re-reading this Dean Koontz title with us. The Funhouse is available as an audiobook as well.

Reminder: The Funhouse is our July Group Read.
Who is planning to read this book in July?

Not me, busy with important projects. The mom was pretty creepy though.

Charissa wrote: "Not me, busy with important projects. The mom was pretty creepy though."

Thanks Charissa :-) I'll be re-reading this one sometime this month.

I started this book at the beginning of the month but now I forget what I read and have to re-read. That's unusual for me for a Koontz read; once I begin I usually have a hard time putting it down.

Karen B. wrote: "I started this book at the beginning of the month but now I forget what I read and have to re-read. That's unusual for me for a Koontz read; once I begin I usually have a hard time putting it down."

Thanks Karen. I will try to fit The Funhouse into my reading soon :-) It's pretty short.

I own both a paperback & an audiobook of The Funhouse. I've just been giving the items I have borrowed from the library priority because I have them for a limited time.

I'm still waiting for an audiobook of Darkfall from the library (June's Group Read) - still plan to give it a re-read.

I read this book already but will re-read it. This is my first group. I hope I am doing this correctly.

The Funhouse

Michael wrote: "I read this book already but will re-read it. This is my first group. I hope I am doing this correctly.

The Funhouse"


Thanks Michael. I am still planning on reading The Funhouse soon. I am a bit behind on the group reads. I wasn't able to get Darkfall from the library, but I own The Funhouse.

The Funhouse was our July Group Read. 77 Shadow Street is our August Group Read. You can join the discussions anytime & participate any way you want to.

I'll be starting Fun House next week. Running about 2 months behind in life in general

Diane Lynch wrote: "I'll be starting Fun House next week. Running about 2 months behind in life in general"

Great! I'll join you :-)

I started reading The Funhouse today!

In the prologue, I wasn't sure if Ellen was disillusioned or if the baby was really a monster. Later we learn the horrifying truths of both.

If you enjoyed The Funhouse, you might also enjoy Twilight Eyes by Dean Koontz :-)

I had a similar confusion and went back and restarted reading the book and that helped.

"Sick and Twisted"

Some interesting thoughts about family - how traits or disorders are passed down through generations. I believe we all carry parts of the past with us and cycles will continue to some degree unless one person steps up to break the cycle (good or bad).

I agree about cycles. I am seeing the cycles repeated. I think before now some of those things were kept secret and so we didn't know that something in one generation was a part of a cycle.

You mentioned in your review about marriages and the carousel. I liked that part too and wondered if that was unique to the book or is something they really do.

Karen B. wrote: "I agree about cycles. I am seeing the cycles repeated. I think before now some of those things were kept secret and so we didn't know that something in one generation was a part of a cycle."

Yes. I have noticed that in my own family history. I have done research and found things - that is how I have learned.

Karen B. wrote: "You mentioned in your review about marriages and the carousel. I liked that part too and wondered if that was unique to the book or is something they really do."

Good Question. I tried to look it up but I didn't find out any information on Carnival Marriages & Divorces via Carousel.
I found out about a Walt Disney Carousel:
http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume...
and I found a couple who met at age 3 and recreated a carousel photo for their save a date 27 years later :-)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08...

There is also a wedding planner named Carousel. I think I've learned enough about carousels for one day.

I am really enjoying The Funhouse. I might even increase my rating to 5 stars because it's really creepy good fun. I will probably finish the book tomorrow.

As for the carousel wedding/divorce I found it mentioned in a list of carny terms. http://www.goodmagic.com/carny/car_a-...

you have to scroll down a bit and choose
"carny lingo"

Thanks Karen :-)

With your help this thread has had more activity than the previous Funhouse Discussion Thread which hasn't happened much recently - there used to be more participation.

"To Hell With It" Ha Ha :-)

Carny Marriage — Carnies are an unromantic lot, as a rule. According to others, as a sign that a couple intends to be monogamous (or relatively so) for a while, thus keeping the individuals (more or less) from straying and from unwanted romantic advances, they may engage in a carny marriage. The sign that they are "married" in the eyes of their fellows is a ride once around on the carousel or ferris wheel; a divorce is less formal, sometimes with a ride turning in the other direction, but more often at the end of the season or when both parties just say "to hell with it."

I think there is lower participation lately because most of us have read his books and don't care for re-reading books. Me ... Dean Koontz and Harry Potter books. Always up for a re-read.

Karen B. wrote: "I think there is lower participation lately because most of us have read his books and don't care for re-reading books. Me ... Dean Koontz and Harry Potter books. Always up for a re-read."

That's okay :-) Mr. Koontz doesn't seem to be releasing books as quickly as he once was. I don't know of a 2016 release at all. The next book currently slated is Ivy Elgin:
https://www.fantasticfiction.com/k/de...

Karen B. wrote: "I think there is lower participation lately because most of us have read his books and don't care for re-reading books. Me ... Dean Koontz and Harry Potter books. Always up for a re-read."

Since Dean has been such a prolific writer, I don't mind re-reading :-)

I have been thinking of re-reading Harry Potter. I have only read them once. How many times have you read them?

FYI: Our scheduled Group Reads for the next 5 months will be The Frankenstein Series.

Dustin, I really don't know how many times I've read the Harry Potter books. When I was still working I made it a thing to re-read all the books each summer. I re-read them more times than I've re-read Koontz only because Koontz IS such a prolific writer and there are so many of his books out there.