Dark Rivers of The Heart (Group Read - May 2017)

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

Thanks Mary and Matthew :-)

[Patrick]

Just finished chapter eleven that is one long car chase. I'm putting this on hold to read our second group read sole survivor and when I'm finished that I'll get back to this one.

[Mary]

Dustin Crazy little brown owl wrote: "If you like Dark Rivers, you will likely enjoy The Silent Corner :-) I am reading both books at the same time and I'll come to a part and ask "Didn't I already read about that?" then I will answer ..."

The risk you take when you read two books at one time. Sometimes I come up with some very strange combos.

[Mary]

Well, I finished this book and honestly would not recommend to even die-hard koontz fans. The pace was all over the place but usually too slow. Way too much detail on almost everything in this book. I have never understood why people sometimes referred to Koontz as a writer of horror but now I know. My problem, I know, but it disturbed me that Koontz could write some of this stuff in such realistic detail...especially the finale. But, honestly I think it is probably a testament to his writing skills.
The side story of Devereux and his family and rescue were probably the best part of this book--for me.
Dustin, I think that I have attempted this book before at least once and did not finish.

[Matthew]

Sorry to hear you didn't like it that much, Mary. This is actually a 3rd reading of it for me and I think the reason I like it so much is it's (relatively) realistic and has an ironic sense of humor when it comes to Roy's delusion of being a good guy.

[Mary]

About Roy--yep he was totally delusional...but not or he would have put himself out of his own misery when he was shot and crippled. He was clear minded enough not to want that. :-) Or would have begged Eva to do it for him out of true love.

I am glad that I finished it so thanks for the push. Koontz is a great writer. It was just a little (or a lot) too great and realistic in some places for me.

[Matthew]

Good point about Roy, Mary! Yes, he's your classic authoritarian leader… "strong" on the outside but a weakling when it comes to character. An fyi to you and Koontzland in general…movie rights were just sold for this book so I am VERY curious who gets cast to play this straaaange man.

[Mary]

Matthew wrote: "Good point about Roy, Mary! Yes, he's your classic authoritarian leader… "strong" on the outside but a weakling when it comes to character. An fyi to you and Koontzland in general…movie rights were..."

Wow, some things would have to be fleshed out, I think. Like the secret group of Dragons and pheasants.
Nevermind, I cannot even imagine a movie from this. It would need intermissions and would higher than a pg rating...whatever that is. I am surprised that Koontz would WANT this made into a movie.

[Matthew]

Certain things would have to be left out and certain things would DEFINITELY have to be left out...the "love" scene between Roy and Eve, for instance. That would just be too odd. Believe it or not, movie rights were sold the 1st time wayyyy back in '94 when the book was first published. I BELIEVE a script for a 2 part miniseries (remember those?) was even written but that's as for as it got.

[Mary]

INTENSITY is only $1.99 on amazon kindle today

[Matthew]

NICE! Amazon did that with another Koontz title recently. Sooo I killed my Kindle by not unplugging it when it was done charging. WHOOOPS!

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

Mary wrote: "
INTENSITY is only $1.99 on amazon kindle today"

Nice Timing - we are trying to put together a MINI GROUP READ for INTENSITY, comment in the MINI GROUP READ Thread - anyone who is interested & let's set a start date:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
You'll have to go through several pages of posts or click "Newest" :-)

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

I am still reading Dark Rivers. My internet was out of service Mon-Friday this week. Of course, without the distraction , I have been able to focus more on books & films. Glad to be back online - miss the interaction.

[Bruce]

Mary wrote: "
INTENSITY is only $1.99 on amazon kindle today"

thank you!

[Matthew]

Did ya finish Dark Rivers yet, Mr. Dustin? Curious if you made it through and/or enjoyed it at all on this attempt?

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

I'm still reading. Yes, there was a section around Part Two that I found particularly interesting. I plan to finish this week and start Sole Survivor :-)

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

On the road that I have taken,
one day, walking, I awaken,
amazed to see where I have come,
where I'm going, where I'm from.

This is not the path I thought.
This is not the place I sought.
This is not the dream I bought,
just a fever of fate I've caught.

I'll change highways in a while,
at the crossroads, one more mile.
My path is lit by my own fire.
I'm going only where I desire.

On the road that I have taken,
one day, walking, I awaken.
One day, walking, I awaken,
on the road that I have taken.
- The Book of Counted Sorrows, Dark Rivers of the Heart - Part Two

I found this passage from The Book of Counted Sorrows especially significant .

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

I find interesting that Cedar City, Utah is a significant setting for a good part of this story - that is where my people are from :-) Not much happens there.

[Matthew]

I quite enjoyed Roy's rage in Utah, "WHY UTAH?? WHY UTAH??" And it finally dawned on me in this, my 3rd time through Dark Rivers, the delicious irony of that scene. Roy, who wants to perfect humanity and the world, is outraged at Mormons, who live good clean lives. Roy is one of Koontz's most delusional and entertaining villains IMHO.

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

I just read that part & loved it :-)

[Mary]

I laughed through that part too. His outrage that they kept being "nice" I was picturing Romney as a sheriff and my old love Donny Osmond in uniform bringing coffee and donuts.

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

Mary wrote: "I was picturing Romney as a sheriff and my old love Donny Osmond in uniform bringing coffee and donuts."

Except Donny Osmond doesn't drink coffee :-)

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

I am nearing the end of Dark Rivers now and must admit that this is among the most solid and formidable novels by Dean Koontz. I still don't consider it one of my personal favorites, but I appreciate the work.

In the Koontz Universe, everything is connected & I typically pick up on connections carried between Dean Koontz novels. I can't think of another Dean Koontz novel that is filled with more references & similarities than Dark Rivers - there are shadows of other sagas including Dean's most recent novel THE SILENT CORNER. There are so many novels that connect to Dark Rivers that I shouldn't even attempt to list them, but here are a few: The Silent Corner, Hideaway, The Door to December, Velocity, The Key to Midnight, The Face, The Mask, Dragon Tears, Relentless etc.

Thank you Koontzlanders for choosing DARK RIVERS OF THE HEART. Congratulations to everyone who completed the journey.

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

If you liked Dark Rivers of the Heart, you will likely enjoy THE SILENT CORNER :-)

[Mary]

Dustin Crazy little brown owl wrote: "Mary wrote: "I was picturing Romney as a sheriff and my old love Donny Osmond in uniform bringing coffee and donuts."

Except Donny Osmond doesn't drink coffee :-)"

HA, but he is so NICE he would carry you a cup!

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

He just might. I sure do like his coat of many colors.

[Matthew]

Dustin...contgrats on finishing the book! Despite it not becoming a favorite it def sounds like you got something out of it so that's awesome. I got 3/4 of the way through my rereading but have stopped since Intensity and Silent Corner are on deck. Selu--the villains are a big reason I enjoy DROTH so much. As fascinating as they are creepy.

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

Yes, I have definitely developed a new appreciation for Dark Rivers of The Heart :-) Thanks Matthew.

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

What did you think about Ashley Bell, Selu? Overall, that novel seems to have been very well-received.