The Mask (Group Read - September 2013)

[Jackie]

I read this a long time ago, when it first came out. I liked it then. To be honest, I don't even remember the end. DK often has suspenseful, thrilling novels with sucky endings.

I don't pick books apart either, I'm in it for the pleasure of an entertaining read.

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

I haven't read The Mask but I also usually just read for enjoyment and don't try to pick things apart...the key word here is Usually :-) Sometimes something will stand out to me and sometimes I will see layered meanings and if something really bothers me me (or impresses me), I like voice my opinion on it... Thank you Goodreads!

[Maciek]

I've read this book years ago but don't remember a word from it. Guess that states it kind of sucked but I gave it three stars to be on the safe side.
On the other hand, might as well reduce it to two just for the fun of it.

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

I enjoy reading Maciek's reviews too!

[Matt R.]

This one is on my bookshelf at home...I'd love to hear other comments of this book from anyone who has read it.

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

Shawnee,
How does it feel to have a discussion thread attached to your name? Are you empowered yet? :-) Thanks for starting a new thread.

[Matt R.]

Yes, I'd love to see some more new threads...keep everyone chatty.

[Jaice]

I think I will nominate this book for October, the first anniversary of our group's monthly group reads program!

[Jaice]

Dustin Crazy wrote: "Shawnee,
How does it feel to have a discussion thread attached to your name? Are you empowered yet? :-) Thanks for starting a new thread."

I encouraged her to do it. :-)

[Maciek]

Thanks Shawnee and Dustin, Ill be sure to review this sometime.

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

Maciek wrote: "Thanks Shawnee and Dustin, Ill be sure to review this sometime."

I can't wait!

[Emily]

This was one of the first Koontz books I read. I liked it, though I agree that the ending seemed rushed. It is a supernatural thriller, and I really like those! Have reread it a few times, but wouldn't mind reading it again if it is chosen for a group read.

[Kelsey]

I just finished this yesterday and I totally agree with the ending. At first I thought my library copy was missing the last few pages. I thought GREAT now I have to go rent another copy just to read the ending.. and then I realized that that was the end. haha The Mask isn't going to make it to my Koontz favorites list but it was a quick and entertaining read:)

[Driftwood]

I just finished today. So suspicious of my cat. lol. I thought it was good. Easy to get through, and I didn't skip through like I do with some of his stuff.

[Kelsey]

Driftwood wrote: "I just finished today. So suspicious of my cat.

Hahaha :) Too funny!

[Jaice]

I just finished this a couple days ago and was not impressed. I consider it among his weakest works that I have read so far, right down there with The Door to December. The plot just seemed silly to me, the ending was incredibly rushed and left me not caring about the story, and several things were left unexplained. ***Spoilers*** I really disliked the whole past lives/reincarnation story line--it is something that seems silly and ridiculous to me. I can swallow psychic abilities, demons, aliens, and a host of other supernatural phenomena much more easily than reincarnation. The poltergeist was also something that annoyed me. Who was the poltergeist and why was it trying to help Paul by making the loud axe-chopping noises? What spirit possessed the cat to perpetuate the cycle of murder between the girl and her mother?

[Maciek]

I enjoyed The Door To December, much thanks tothe grisly scenes. The Mask is very forgettable, and I don't think even many fans of Dean know about it.

[Jackie]

Jason wrote: I consider it among his weakest works that I have read so far, right down there with The Door to December.

Ugh, I hated Door to December. I gave it one star and only because there's no 0 star rating. It sucked, the worst book he ever wrote.

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

:-) We're reading Door to December as our December Group Read :-) Sounds like a good one!

[Jackie]

I know, which is why I'm passing on it. I can only be disappointed once by a book. I'm not a masochist. ;)

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

Jackie wrote: "I know, which is why I'm passing on it. I can only be disappointed once by a book. I'm not a masochist. ;)"

I haven't read it yet so I'm going to give it a try. It's December afterall - gotta be festive.

[Jackie]

It's fitting. I hope you like it. Just because I didn't doesn't mean you won't.

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

Jackie wrote: "It's fitting. I hope you like it. Just because I didn't doesn't mean you won't."

That's true - I'll hope for the best :-)

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

I found The Mask on Audiobook at the library and I'll be reading/listening to it in the very near future. Let me know if anyone's interested in reading along. I'll post in the Mini-Group Read thread also. Thanks.

The Mask by Dean Koontz

[Jackie]

I liked The Mask. It was one of my earliest experiences with Koontz. I lent it out, and of course I never got it back.
I hope you like it, Dustin C.

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

Jackie wrote: "I liked The Mask...I hope you like it, Dustin C."

Thanks, I hope I like it too :-) I'm gonna take a short break from DK after I finish The Door to December today (I'm reading the group read for the John Saul group next and then the newest Kay Scarpetta book by Cornwell) and then I'll be reading The Mask.

[Jackie]

Which John Saul book?
I follow your reviews so I'll look forward to your review of the Scarpetta book.

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

Jackie wrote: "Which John Saul book?
I follow your reviews so I'll look forward to your review of the Scarpetta book."

The House of Reckoning. I read it when it was first released around Halloween 2009 and I wasn't that impressed but it was chosen as the group read in the John Saul group so I'm gonna re-read it and see if I like it any better. We might be reading The Manhattan Hunt Club next month if it wins the poll - that one is worth reading!

Have you read the new Scarpetta book - Port Mortuary?

[Jackie]

No, I pretty much gave up on Cornwell a few years ago. I have a friend who still reads them, so I'm interested in your opinion to compare it to hers. Depending on what you say, I may borrow it from her.

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

Well, at least this one is back in Scarpetta's voice which we haven't seen since The Last Precinct so that's a hopeful sign but her latest ones haven't been all that great unfortunately :-( I did enjoy the one titled "Scarpetta" but I didn't like the last one titled "The Scarpetta Factor" I liked Blowfly but didn't care for Predator or Trace. Blowfly is the one where everything changed and Cornwell hasn't been able to establish the characters again like they were in Virginia... hope she can pull it off in Port Mortuary.

[Jackie]

It would be good to bring Scarpetta back to her original character. I think Predator was the last one I read, maybe Trace.

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

Jackie wrote: "It would be good to bring Scarpetta back to her original character. I think Predator was the last one I read, maybe Trace."

I thought those were both lousy. Book of the Dead was Better, but I think "Scarpetta" was the best since Blowfly :-) just my opinion.

[Jackie]

My friend gives me so many of this type of novel, I only want to read what's really good. My preferred genre is epic fantasy.

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

Finished the Mask last night - I give it 4 stars and agree with Shawnee completely. Here's my review:

This was an interesting story. At first, I was confused how the prologue fit into the main story, but that soon became clear. My only complaint is that Dean would have spent more time on the ending. If you like stories with bad kitties like we saw in The Bad Place, for example, you'll love this book!

I found this amusing (chapter 3):
Every thirty seconds or so, a bleached blonde with a shrill voice repeated the same words of amazement: "I can't believe nobody got killed in all that! I can't believe nobody got killed." Each time she spoke, regardless of where she was in the room, her voice carried over the din and made Paul wince. "I can't believe nobody got killed." She sounded somewhat disappointed.

I listened using the Brilliance audiobook and the narrator did a good job with the different voices.

[Tanya]

If I recall, this was my first Koontz book. I don't remember anything about it, except for the description of a spider being squashed inside someone's clothes.. haha - that's so terrifying it stands out!

[Jen]

This book made me crazy! I've read Koontz for years and don't know how I missed The Mask when it came out. I enjoyed the book, the reincarnation twist was wonderful, but the ending was a rip-off. My husband told me to write my own ending...if only it was that simple ;)

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

Now, two months after reading the book, I can't even remember the ending - was there an ending? refresh my memory about why I didn't like the ending because I have totally forgotten :-) (use spoiler as needed)

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

The Mask has been selected as a September Group Read!

[Misty]

(Spoiler included in message)
Oh my goodness, I just finished reading this book (early for the group read, I know) and I have to agree with everyone about the ending. Does it really end with Carol looking up and wondering about an explanation? I finished that part and thought it was a glitch on my kindle that there was nothing else. I think that's one of the worst endings Koontz has written.

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

looking forward to re-visiting this one :-)

[Jim]

Just read what this one is about. I cannot remember anything about this one. Usu. I can recall something about his old books. I think I am going to start it this weekend.

[Kevinreadstoomuch]

i think i'll read along this month. I know I've said that before, but just wasn't in the mood for the house of thunder last month. However, I really love Dean's old stuff (such as Night Chills, Winter Moon, The Voice of the Night) and am hoping this is a good, non-formulaic read.

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

Kevinreadstoomuch wrote: "i think i'll read along this month. I know I've said that before..."

That's how I feel :-) The month is already 1/3 over but I'm gonna try to do this. Many people have mentioned being disappointed with the ending and I can't even remember how it ended.

[Jim]

Started this yesterday. It is a quick read. Might actually finish it tonite. I like it so far. I am curious how everything works out. I find it funny when reading an old book like this when it shows its age. One character was describing himself as "Not as handsome as Burt Reynolds".

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

I am enjoying The Mask.... creepy :-)
I miss the old Dean Koontz. I hope I like the ending since I can remember the ending from my first time reading this book.

[Jim]

Finished it. I have to agree with the majority and dislike the ending. It was anticlimatic and really took away from the book. I was enjoying the book until the last 5 pages.

[Aaron]

Listened to this one driving to and from Kansas City two weeks ago. Thought it was a pretty solid older Koontz novel. I liked it more than most of his books from that era. It does really show its age at times though. I kind of like the quick endings that are common with older Koontz books.

Far from great, but I did enjoy it. One of the few Koontz books I had not read yet, so I'm happy to knock it off the list.

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

I really like this one. I give it 4 stars. I even like the ending :-) but of course, I am crazy so.......