Shop Blog > Recommendation > Breathless: A Novel
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Breathless: A Novel
- Bantam
- 2009-11-24
- 37Rank
- $28.00
- See details at Amazon
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Could Have Been a More Profound Read
It's been some time since I'd last read a novel by Dean Koontz. And as for previous work by him, this novel was written in the usual Koontz fashion. The novel follows multiple characters, the upright moral ones, the seedy ones with struggling consciences, the deranged antagonist impeding on the protagonists' trail, and the various other characters that add flavor to the plot of the story. Even though the story has its formulaic tendencies, it does have entertainment value and offers an optimistic view of the future of humankind. The story builds up to centrally focus on the existence of two exceptional beings--such as to suggest that humanity is on the brink of a new era. The novel deals with this concept in a skilled manner--though way too late. The first half of the book seems a bit trivial, to the point of bringing me to near boredom. The storyline of the deranged antagonists, one a twin brother with grotesque intentions and the other a demented wanderer--doesn't seem to really add anything to the story. It wasn't until I was over halfway through the book that the there was edge and suspense to keep me reading. I was left wishing that the book could have developed more of the storyline dealing with the veterinarian Cammy and her friend Grady, who ultimately befriend and protect the beings, who we learn a little too late, are the central characters in the story. Despite the shortcomings of the book, late development and frivolous storylines, the last quarter of the book makes worthwhile reading. There's a sense of enlightenment with the characters, which would have been more profound, had the storyline been developed much more sooner in the book. And the storyline didn't tend to grab me till near the end. I couldn't say I would recommend this book at its full price but perhaps it would be a good read at a bargain price.









