Reviews tagging 'Grief'

Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz

5 reviews

rachelmcg2004's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Vomit, War, Drug use, Torture, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Forced institutionalization, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Physical abuse, Abandonment, Mass/school shootings, Emotional abuse, Violence, Gun violence, Medical trauma, and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Pedophilia, Sexual content, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Racism, Sexism, and Adult/minor relationship

lay_kone's review

dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Death, Mass/school shootings, and Gun violence

Moderate: Blood, Child abuse, Suicide attempt, and Mental illness

Minor: Body horror and Grief

quasinaut's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

My coworker recommended this book when I asked for something outside my standard fare (mostly romance novels of late), and I'm glad I went in without knowing too much. I adored experiencing Odd's perspective as he travels through life. 

Fascinatingly written, with touches of foreshadowing throughout. I tend to turn off the predict-what-happens part of my brain while reading and just let the story wash over me, but there were a few times when I put the book down for a day or two because I feared what might happen to Odd and his friends, his chosen family. While there were some tense moments and devastating consequences, I'm glad I kept reading.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Death, Gun violence, and Murder

Moderate: Medical content, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, and Body horror

Minor: Child death, Terminal illness, Pedophilia, Child abuse, Mass/school shootings, Sexual violence, and Grief

kermit_the_wrong's review

adventurous dark funny mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Mass/school shootings, Violence, Suicide attempt, Gun violence, Child abuse, Murder, Mental illness, Grief, and Death

Moderate: Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, Child death, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Abortion

revengesrose's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

This book was an enjoyable light read. The character of Odd Thomas is endearingly innocent despite his dark gift. Some might (and have) argue that he is disbelievable as a young man of twenty but I think that the idea is that he has become an old soul because of his ability to see the dead and his "parental" relationships.His friends are also quiet and gentle which actualizes the setting of the sleepy little town. 

The conflict in this novel I found interesting for something with a supernatural theme. Koontz builds the story around a young man who can see the dead and these other creepy ethereal creatures but in the end it's human violence and fanaticism that come to fruition. 

My only complaint, that is not a complaint more of an outraged emotional reaction, is the ending after Odd is released from the hospital. I literally shouted and cried, throwing the book down on the bed. The injustice of the ending was upsetting but honestly excellent and unexpected.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness

Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Mass/school shootings, Murder, Grief, Toxic relationship, and Gun violence