ODD THOMAS (Group Read - December 2015)

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

Odd Thomas, Book One in the Odd Thomas Series, has been selected as our December Group Read (in addition to the new release, Ashley Bell). This is a brand new clean thread for December's Discussion. There is also an older thread which you are welcome to visit.

Please consider reading or re-reading this popular novel with us in December :-)

[Shastina , Koontzland Social Media Moderator]

I've been really procrastinating and putting off reading. I've been having trouble concentrating, but I'm trying to get back into it. This seems like a good book to start with.

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

Shastina (Sassy) wrote: "This seems like a good book to start with."

Yes it does. Start at the very beginning, a very good place to start.

[Dena]

can someone give me the list from beginning to the end ..for the Odd Thomas Books? Im worried I have missed one...

[Diane Lynch]

Dena :
Odd Thomas. 2003
Forever Odd. 2005
Brother Odd. 2006
Odd Hours. 2008
Odd Interlude #1, #2, #3. 2012
Odd Apocalypse. 2012
Deeply Odd. 2013
You Are Destined To Be Together Forever 2014
Saint Odd. 2015

Graphic Novels
In Odd We Trust. 2008
Odd is On Our Side 2010
House of Odd. 2012

This is from a free Kindle Book:
Dean Koontz Series Reading Order

[Diane Lynch]

Dena :
Odd Thomas. 2003
Forever Odd. 2005
Brother Odd. 2006
Odd Hours. 2008
Odd Interlude #1, #2, #3. 2012
Odd Apocalypse. 2012
Deeply Odd. 2013
You Are Destined To Be Together Forever 2014
Saint Odd. 2015

Graphic Novels
In Odd We Trust. 2008
Odd is On Our Side 2010
House of Odd. 2012

This is from a free Kindle Book:
Dean Koontz Series Reading Order

[Diane Lynch]

Dena :
Odd Thomas. 2003
Forever Odd. 2005
Brother Odd. 2006
Odd Hours. 2008
Odd Interlude #1, #2, #3. 2012
Odd Apocalypse. 2012
Deeply Odd. 2013
You Are Destined To Be Together Forever 2014
Saint Odd. 2015

Graphic Novels
In Odd We Trust. 2008
Odd is On Our Side 2010
House of Odd. 2012

This is from a free Kindle Book:
Dean Koontz Series Reading Order

[Karen B.]

Has anyone here read the graphic novels? If so are they different from the Odd books?

[Diane Lynch]

It's still a novel written in comic strip form. Their's pictures showing some pieces of the story. Still same characters but in a different form, I think I read In Odd We Trust. When downloading sometimes it takes a lot more room than a regular book because of pictures.

[Diane Lynch]

It's still a novel written in comic strip form. Their's pictures showing some pieces of the story. Still same characters but in a different form, I think I read In Odd We Trust. When downloading sometimes it takes a lot more room than a regular book because of pictures.

[Karen B.]

Diane, so none of the content is different? Is it not worth getting?

[Diane Lynch]

It's absolutely worth getting. Just has illustrations. Same story line and characters. If DK removed the illustrations it would be in the regular list.

[Karen B.]

Well maybe it's not worth it for just the pictures. I have all the books.

[Diane Lynch]

Different books to read

[Karen B.]

So the content is different? Will I read different things about Odd?

[Diane Lynch]

It's a long comic book story. Or a short DK story. It's a new story written with illustrations with the story written with the illustration. Like a comic book but it's an actual DK story. It's different is all I can say. I was never a comic book fan but I am an Odd Thomas fan. I think you would already need some Odd books finished first but it does explain everything. It's a different presentation. Is it worth it? IDK. Some people like them. I prefer a regular novel style but I also like everything Odd. If you want to be well rounded I would read 1. Easy read. Grown up comic book.

[Karen B.]

Thanks Diane. I was able to get a sample for my Kindle Fire and I didn't care for it at all. I didn't care for the illustrations.

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

Karen B. wrote: "Has anyone here read the graphic novels? If so are they different from the Odd books?"

The stories are different. I think I've read them all. They are enjoyable but do not keep with the storylines of the novels.

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

Karen B. wrote: "So the content is different? Will I read different things about Odd?"

Yes. Different adventures (view spoiler)[ In the Graphic novels Stormy is not dead and is along with Odd on his adventures (hide spoiler)]

[Charissa]

Well, Odd Thomas was good...can't wait for the discussion.

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

Charissa wrote: "Well, Odd Thomas was good...can't wait for the discussion."

Finished Already? I'll be reading Odd Thomas next week :-)

[Charissa]

Birthday novel, that was a good four months ago. :)

[Angelique]

I've been wanting to read this series. I purchased the first three books months ago. Just finished acquiring the whole series. Ready to meet Thomas!

[Karen B.]

Angelique hope you like him. He's probably my favorite Koontz character

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

Angelique wrote: "I've been wanting to read this series. I purchased the first three books months ago. Just finished acquiring the whole series. Ready to meet Thomas!"

Well, this is going to be fun :-)

[Diane Lynch]

Dustin Crazy little brown owl wrote: "Angelique wrote: "I've been wanting to read this series. I purchased the first three books months ago. Just finished acquiring the whole series. Ready to meet Thomas!"

Well, this is going to be fu..."

Odd.

[Angelique]

Just started reading Odd Thomas and I already love it!

[Karen B.]

If you are like me, maybe you love re-reading Koontz books but find "re-discussing" a little difficult. For me, I knew I loved Odd right from the first 10 pages or so. A question for you, what do you find in the beginning that makes him so lovable?

[Diane Lynch]

Karen B. wrote: "If you are like me, maybe you love re-reading Koontz books but find "re-discussing" a little difficult. For me, I knew I loved Odd right from the first 10 pages or so. A question for you, what do y..."

His oh shucks ordinance

[Karen B.]

I may have made the question too limited as I meant the about the first 10 percent. I agree Diane, his humility was cute. I liked his caring for both the living and the dead. The fact that he checked on Mrs. Sanchez every morning and didn't try to to point out her mistaken beliefs. He just accepts her as she is.

[Karen B.]

What about Odd's reaction to Viola's dream? She doesn't accept that he can't "read" her or interpret her dream. Was he justified in lying to her to say she'd live a long life or does this go against the character of Odd that we know? Should he have kept insisting that he couldn't tell her?

[Matthew]

I'm new to this group and a book group in general. Do we just read at our own pace or is there a schedule we follow? I just want to keep pace. My biggest problem has been not setting aside time to read.

[Karen B.]

Matthew, hi I hope you enjoy this group. I'm a big mouth here but that's to keep me on task as in on reading and delving into the book. I'll let Dustin, our moderator explain about pacing. My personal suggestion is to set an amount to read per day for yourself. I don't have to do that with Koontz books. I devour them and if anything need to slow my pace to better savor.

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

Matthew wrote: "I'm new to this group and a book group in general. Do we just read at our own pace or is there a schedule we follow? I just want to keep pace. My biggest problem has been not setting aside time to ..."

We are not that structured in the group read - read at your own pace and participate in the discussion as much as you are comfortable with. As a courtesy to fellow readers, use a spoiler alert as needed.

Thanks for joining us in Koontzland!

[Angelique]

I just finished reading Odd Thomas and I am heartbroken.

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

Angelique wrote: "I just finished reading Odd Thomas and I am heartbroken. "

A good book takes some time to recover from.

[Karen B.]

Dustin Crazy little brown owl wrote: "Angelique wrote: "I just finished reading Odd Thomas and I am heartbroken. "

A good book takes some time to recover from."

Well said, Dustin. Because I've read it so many times, each time I just delight in Odd. I wish he were a real person I could meet. LOL

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

I got distracted with another book. I am listening to an audiobook for The Lonely Polygamistwhich is narrated by David Aaron Baker. I had to get my senses about me - took me a while not to think I was in an Odd Thomas Adventure. I will be visiting Odd Thomas next. Everything is connected.

[Karen B.]

How is The Lonely Polygamist

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

Karen B. wrote: "How is The Lonely Polygamist "

Spectacular :-) Very Funny!

[Diane Lynch]

Dustin Crazy little brown owl wrote: "I got distracted with another book. I am listening to an audiobook for The Lonely Polygamistwhich is narrated by David Aaron Baker. I had to get my senses about me - took me a while ..."

I await your review Dustin before I decide to read this one. No pressure.

[Tricia]

I loved this book and the whole series. Odd and Stormy are one of my fave literary couples.

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

I am currently reading Odd Thomas. This is my third time reading the book :-) The first time I read Odd Thomas was 2005, the second time was 2009. It's been a while.

I think it will be good to re-read the books close together and see the connections. Please consider re-reading the series with us during the first part of 2016.

[Karen B.]

Dustin, that is what I am going to do. In fact, wanted to do that before we decided as a group to do so. Often I let long periods go by between the books when I do re-read them or re-read them out of order. I want to see what tie-ins I find from one to the next while the previous one is still fresh in my mind.

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

Yes!!!!
I am a little behind on the group reads because we have so many going on right now. I will catch up in January hopefully.

Happy New Year Koontzlanders!!!!

[Karen B.]

Dustin, that is one of the things I love about this group. We teased you a lot in November, but I'm sure you knew it was just teasing ... but we can go at our own pace without pressure.

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

Thank you. I knew you were teasing :-) It is just my busy season at the chocolate factory.

Reading Odd Thomas now.

This story began on Tuesday.

For you, that is the day after Monday. For me, it is a day that, like the other six, brims with the potential for mystery, adventure, and terror.

You should not take this to mean that my life is romantic and magical. Too much mystery is merely an annoyance. Too much adventure is exhausting. And a little terror goes a long way.

-Odd Thomas, Chapter One

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

Diane Lynch wrote: "I await your review Dustin before I decide to read this one. No pressure.

Hi Diane. My review of The Lonely Polygamist is now available to aid in your decision :-)

[Heather]

I joined the group at the end of last month and even though I read Odd Thomas before, I decided to re-read the series. I'm currently about 7/8 of the way through the book and I don't want to read anymore.... I don't want to read what comes next even though I know. HUMBUG! I suppose I must plod on as I need to catch up with the other odd novels....

I know I will get over it, but man, why did he (Koontz) have to do this to us?!

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

Thanks Heather :-) I am currently reading the 3 Odd Thomas Graphic Novels. I'm thinking these take place before the events of the first novel, either that or in a parallel Odd Thomas Universe. You might enjoy the adventures of Odd and Stormy in these.