Odd Hours (Group Read - March 2016)

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

Odd Hours is a March Group Read in addition to The Door to December. Some Koontzlanders are re-reading The Odd Thomas Series in 2016. Odd Thomas was featured as a Group Read in December, Forever Odd in January, Brother Odd in February.

Are you reading the Odd Thomas Series?

This is a new thread for 2016 Discussion of Odd Hours. You can find the old thread for this title in the Odd Thomas Folder.

[Karen B.]

I read Odd Hours on the tail of reading The Door to December which gave me an interesting perspective seeing one of his earlier books and one of his newer books.
This is not my favorite Odd book, but the character is delightful. For some reason, the opening didn't grab me like it usually does with the whole scene on the Pier and Odd trying to get away. It does serve to introduce some of the players though.
But Odd's wit is at its best in this book. His puzzlement over Annamaria and what she says and his smart mouthing the police chief were just wonderful. By this novel we really know that Odd "makes it up as he goes along"; one of the things I find endearing about him. I loved his comparing himself to Matt Damon in the Bourne movies. He is just such a simple fry cook but definitely a whole lot more.

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

Thank you Karen :-)

[Karen B.]

Dustin, could you please check that my Odd books are showing up for the Odd Challenge? Thank you.

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

Karen B. wrote: "Dustin, could you please check that my Odd books are showing up for the Odd Challenge? Thank you."

Checked. Looks Good :-)

[Christopher]

Look forward to skimming some of my favorite parts from this one. =)

[Karen B.]

Christopher, yes, please tell us about some of your favorite parts.

[Christopher]

My memory is bad enough, that I might need a full re-read. But toward the end of the book there is this funny exchange:

"I need those nukes. I need them. I need them right now."

Odd: "I don't want to be an enabler, sir. I'd rather get you into a twelve-step program to help you break this addiction."

[Karen B.]

Oh yeah. I remember Odd saying that. That's what I love about Odd's sense of humor.

[Barbara]

Oddisms.....priceless

[Tracy]

I finished and I think I'm going to skip to start this one. BO wasn't my favorite.

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

Thanks Tracy :-)

[Heather]

I do plan on reading this. But since I joined this group at the end of February, I'm a little behind. I'm trying to decide whether to start over at the beginning of the series or not..... Decisions, decisions.

[Karen B.]

you can always catch up.

[Heather]

I'm half way through the book and Odd delights me as always. Though I will say his worse case scenario imagination is getting more and more out there. LOL!

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

I am reading the last 50 pages. Things are getting interesting here. I like "The Hall of What Would Jesus Do?" I remember liking that the first time I read the book. I also remember liking & still do - the character of The Happy Monster and her cottage.

To me, it seems the silliness & goofiness have really been dialed up in Odd's conversations & interactions. Annamaria - personally her mysterious ways are rather annoying to me. I've had people get frustrated with me because I won't give them a definite answer - answering them with questions or vagueness - maybe this is how they feel.

[Angelique]

This is my first time reading the Odd Thomas series and I am thoroughly enjoying him. I am a little confused as to what is the next book?

[Heather]

Odd Apocalypse is the next book in the series

[Angelique]

Thanks!

[Heather]

You're welcome! Hope you continue to enjoy Odd! He's a pretty neat character :)

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

Angelique wrote: "This is my first time reading the Odd Thomas series and I am thoroughly enjoying him. I am a little confused as to what is the next book?"

Odd Hours is Book Four. Odd Apocalypse is Book Five. You would think it'd be that simple, but not in the Dean Koontz Universe.

There is actually a small book called Odd Interlude (originally published as 3 ebook novellas).
Odd Interlude has become Book 4.5 :-)
I highly recommend reading Odd Interlude. Odd Interlude is also our April Group Read.

[Heather]

I'm glad you mentioned that DC! I forgot about the 4.5 book!

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

Heather wrote: "I'm glad you mentioned that DC! I forgot about the 4.5 book!"

Looks like it's being categorized as book (4.1 - 4.3) on Goodreads.
I think 4.5 is a better way to categorize it :-)

It's a good adventure.

[Heather]

I finished Odd Hours a little over a week ago and forgot to come over here and discuss it.

I really enjoyed this book, and unlike most of the other Odd books I was on the verge of biting my nails a few times! Wowzer, (view spoiler)[ those are some bad guys! I'm not so sure about Annamaria, her vagueness drives me bonkers! (hide spoiler)]

(view spoiler)[I love the fact the golden retriever adopted Odd and Annamaria! When he originally came into the story I was wondering why, even a golden retriever, would be so quick to leave his family and run with Odd. Well, the ended explained it and I was grinning ear to ear when I read he was going with them :) (hide spoiler)]

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

Annamaria is a very mysterious character, but her riddles often annoyed me. I have had people tell me I do this to them. Like Annamaria, I sometimes answer questions with another question or give a vague response.

[Heather]

I have a friend that does that, but it's usually in a way to make you think. It's usually what she does instead of giving advice, kind of like making you figure out your problem on your own. I think it's the 'all in good time' thing that drives me nuts about Annamaria. It's not an accident that she's evasive, she knows darn well she is! LOL!!

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

So about Annamaria : (view spoiler)[ When I read Saint Odd last year, which was supposed to give us answers - we were still left with too many unanswered questions. I will be re-reading Saint Odd this Summer and hopefully some things will click this time around, but I don't have high expectations for that to magically happen.

Do you think Annamaria is Mary, Mother of Jesus, perpetually pregnant? Is this who "The Lady of the Bell" is supposed to represent? I know this is a good vs. evil thriller, but is this really what Dean is going for? Is there something I'm missing? (hide spoiler)]

[Heather]

I'll keep your thoughts in mind as I continue to read! I'll get back to you on my thought process :)

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

Good Luck in your search for understanding :-)