Koontzland - Dean Koontz discussion
This topic is about
Intensity
Stand Alone Novels 1991-1999
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Intensity (Group Read - September 2015)
way to go Jen!I used to read faster when I was younger. One thing I like about listening while reading is that it keeps my pace up. Actually I did read a whole Koontz book yesterday ... but true confession it was a short one. ... Oddkins.
One thing strikes me about this book... If Chyna had a cell phone, the plot would have fallen apart!
Tony wrote: "One thing strikes me about this book... If Chyna had a cell phone, the plot would have fallen apart!"I agree. Our technology today would destroy many books written in the past.
well you could have a dead battery in the phone or else vess could find it and destroy it.
It's terrible to be a writer these days... Have to break cell phones so often it becomes a cliche!
Tony wrote: "One thing strikes me about this book... If Chyna had a cell phone, the plot would have fallen apart!"I had the same thought. lol ;-)
Karen B. wrote: "way to go Jen!I used to read faster when I was younger. One thing I like about listening while reading is that it keeps my pace up. Actually I did read a whole Koontz book yesterday ... but true c..."
Thanks, Karen. :-) I've been wondering these last few years if the reason I have trouble reading a book in a day is because I'm older. I once read a book a day for an entire year while working full-time. I have no idea how I did it, as these days it's all I can do to finish a book in a day. And when I do finish a book in a day, it's a major accomplishment. (And nowadays I can't work because I'm disabled! So how in the world was I able to read a book a day when working full-time but I can't now that I'm pretty much home all day and could - and sometimes do! - read all the time???)
It's a mystery. ;-)
One thing I just remembered... Did anyone else think it odd that cell phones do exist in the time of the book, but the gas station clerk (view spoiler) That was almost too happy an occurrence to believe.I had to believe it, since that's how the story was written. But would someone really have done that? I know I wouldn't have.
Jen wrote: "One thing I just remembered... Did anyone else think it odd that cell phones do exist in the time of the book, but the gas station clerk [spoilers removed] That was almost too happy an occurrence t..."It's common in some areas to leave your keys in the car. This was a very rural area that wasn't near anything. Vehicles just came and went. No it's not odd here. These guys were also on the young side and probably was overly trusting.
Cell phones may existed the year Dean Koontz wrote this book but they did not exist within the stories time. That's why it's fiction.
Diane wrote: "...Cell phones may existed the year Dean Koontz wrote this book but they did not exist within the stories time. That's why it's fiction."Cell phones did too exist within the story. They're mentioned on page 97 of the edition I read (in the second section of Chapter 5):
...she quickly searched the immediate interior of the car in hopes of finding a cellular telephone. She was pessimistic about the chances that a night clerk at a service station would have a portable phone, but on the other hand, half the world seemed to have them now...
Jen wrote: "Diane wrote: "...Cell phones may existed the year Dean Koontz wrote this book but they did not exist within the stories time. That's why it's fiction."Cell phones did too exist within the story. ..."
That didn't register when I read it. It is true. How is it that no one had a cell phone then? Chyna crossed paths with 5 dead people up to that point. Given the demographics of these people at least one should have had a cell phone.
Diane wrote: "...How is it that no one had a cell phone then? Chyna crossed paths with 5 dead people up to that point. Given the demographics of these people at least one should have had a cell phone."I had the exact same thought when I read that quote. I find it especially strange that Laura, at least, didn't own one. Young and from a prosperous family? I'd have thought she'd be among the first to get one.
Intensity was published in 1987(!), cell phones certainly weren't around much back then. I don't remember seeing one until mid 90s...Since the book doesn't have a year specified, it could be even earlier.
Tony wrote: "Intensity was published in 1987(!), cell phones certainly weren't around much back then. I don't remember seeing one until mid 90s...Since the book doesn't have a year specified, it could be even..."
Wikipedia has an article on the history of the mobile phone that has lots of sources and says they became widespread in the mid-1980s.
Though I personally don't recall seeing one until the mid-1990s. In the mid-'80s, pagers were what most people would have had, I'd have thought (my father had a pager around that time).
Putting this info together: cell phones did exist but they were not rhe common thing to have in this book. Pagers were more the norm. Chyna's statement about finding a cell phone was more wishful thinking rather than true expectation. That makes sense now.
This is one of my favorites...read it in one day the first time...just couldn't put it down! Definitely worth reading again.
80's mobile phones were not the pocket sized cell phones of today. They were as big as a brick, and yes they were produced and bought but it wasn't the "teen/pop culture" thing that it became in the 90's. Business people, possibly younger people with disposable income, etc had them. Pagers were the thing to have.
And Intensity has one of the best dog attack scenes I can remember. #justsayin
I reread this book for the first time this month. Even though I knew what was going to happen it still captured me as much as the first time.
Slightly - well, very much - off topic, but in the James Bond book Moonraker, Bond has a similar problem to Chyna: He can't stop following the bad guy to find a phone.
thanks Tony. I might try it. I know I saw the movie when it first came out but I don't remember anything about it.
Started reading today, have owned and been meaning to read it for ages! It is very intense all right...
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A little late aren't you, Dustin?
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Better late than never :-)
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This book is for Florence Koontz.
My mother. Long lost. My guardian
message 79:
by
Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado
(last edited Sep 27, 2015 08:38AM)
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Hope is the destination that we seek.
Love is the road that leads to hope.
Courage is the motor that drives us.
We travel out of darkness into faith.
- THE BOOK OF COUNTED SORROWS
Are you done yet, Dustin? You're right, better late than never.
How about now Dustin? Finished yet? You've had another 20 minutes.
Charissa and Diane, Well he still has one more day to meet our deadline.
I was kidding. LOL
Diane wrote: "I was kidding. LOL"Me too!
Karen B. wrote: "Diane wrote: "I was kidding. LOL"Me too!"
I guess Dustin is still reading since he hasn't chimed in. Good that he has another day as you pointed out.
Now tomorrow night we can really start nagging him!
Tony wrote: "For those who are on a re-read..Didn't know that Tony, poor Dean, that adds another perspective doesn't it, and yes intensely personal...
Dustin still has time to finish it! Lol...
Have you guys noticed just how clean and organised Dean Koontz's characters are? They are always prepared for anything with neatly organised resources on hand...
Of course Terry. Oh, and Dustin, time's a-drindling, are you even close yet?
Sharon wrote: "Tony wrote: "For those who are on a re-read..Didn't know that Tony, poor Dean, that adds another perspective doesn't it, and yes intensely personal...
Dustin still has time to finish it! Lol......"
Sharon these characters are ready for anything because of the lives they led prior to this. I would call them hardened rather than clean.
Jen wrote: "Tony wrote: "For those who are on a re-read..."Thanks for the spoiler tag! Much appreciated. I'll check it out once I've read the book. :-)"
Much like method actors preparing for a part.
Vess was very clean, also hardened like you said Diane. Dean Koontz's books always inspire me to get more organised but not till I've finished reading my book!
Sharon. LOL. You're already Koontz organized if that's your mentality. Finishing the DK book is the priority.
Mod
Please do Dustin. We were all getting very concerned about your progress. We were left all alone. It was the equivalent to running with scissors. So much fun was had by all. Done yet? LOL
Dustin...it's been 17 minutes since the last post...no pressure or anything. ;-)
Are you anywhere near done yet? Maybe you should think about writing suspense, keeping us all waiting and wondering....
Good one Charissa! Dustin will say he has until tomorrow night. Suspense would keep us interested. Dustin is more of a sleeper. Nothing is happening.
Someone give Diane a knock...I think she's stuck. :-)
Yes it appears that way. I don't know why this happens. Do you? Fixed now.
Koontzland - Dean Koontz
Books mentioned in this topic
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lol Yep. I generally could read a book a day, but life has a way of interfering with my reading time. ;-)
I found that this book was a quick read, though, especially once I got into it. :-)