Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz

Usually I try to read a book before I see a film adaptation of it. Sometimes though, the opposite process can yield some interesting experiences. In this case, my oversight was unintentional. I saw "Odd Thomas" because Netflix kept telling me to watch it and because I have a little crush on Anton Yelchin. I only later found out that it was adapted.

The film got extremely mixed reviews. The problem, as far as I can tell, is that it's too grim to be a comedy and yet the tone of narration is too light to be a thriller. Personally, I liked that about it. There were some admittedly hokey details like a large stainless steel heart (anatomical) necklace and a bizarre chase scene that both seemed out of place. But those things didn't bother me enough to keep me from tracking down the book.

It took me a long time (for me) to get through Odd Thomas. From the time I started in December, it took me 31 days to pick my way through it. The problem wasn't the writing. The narrative tone was the same that I found so engaging in the movies. The problem was that it was such a faithful adaptation that I was too familiar with the events of the book.

As is always true, the movie simplified and reduced the number of characters. I found myself reading for those differences. Koontz created a fascinating backdrop of characters for Odd Thomas to interact with. I loved Koontz's system for the supernatural.

Oh, and those weird hokey moments in the movie? They aren't in the book.