2 Bloggers 1 Book - Watchers

 

Stormi reached out to me at the end of September and asked if I would be interested in doing a buddy read with her in October of Watchers by Dean Koontz.  I used to read a lot of Koontz but haven't in years so of course I said yes. I was also pretty sure I had read Watchers when I was a teen but now that I have finished it, I don't think I ever did.  Maybe I was afraid the dog died and I had to confirm he didn't before I picked it up this time around.  So read on for my thoughts and then hop over to Stormi's for hers. 

 

TITLE: Watchers

AUTHOR: Dean Loontz

PUBLISHER: Berkley

PUBLISHING DATE: January 1, 1987

PAGES: 401   

SOURCE: Own library

FROM GOODREADS: A twisted, tangled story about workplace love-affairs, and plants with a taste for human flesh.  

On his thirty-sixth birthday, Travis Cornell hikes into the foothills of the Santa Ana Mountains. But his path is soon blocked by a bedraggled Golden Retriever who will let him go no further into the dark woods. That morning, Travis had been desperate to find some happiness in his lonely, seemingly cursed life. What he finds is a dog of alarming intelligence that soon leads him into a relentless storm of mankind’s darkest creation...

MY THOUGHTS: I have to admit I believe this book started out a bit slow but perhaps because there was so much going on with different characters who had yet to meet and I was getting to know what all was really going on.  However, once it picked up, I adored it and couldn't get enough.  And I will also admit that while I thoroughly enjoyed all aspects of this book, there is no way Einstein would EVER get less that a 5-paw review from me.

Travis is hiking in the woods reminiscing about his early years and all the tragedy he has experienced when he runs into a Golden Retriever.  This dog is terrified of something and seems to be trying to keep Travis safe as well.  Travis and the dog escape the unknown creature in the woods and Travis takes him home with him.  It doesn't take him long to discover the dog isn't your average pooch.  He initially names the dog Einstein and the adventure begins. 

Einstein is the result of a DNA military experience.  A hired killer is methodically silencing everyone who was involved. However, it wasn't just Einstein that escaped.  So did The Other.  Einstein was the success story and The Other, a monstrous creation, was not.  He is not hunting Einstein because he resents him and he doesn't care who he has to kill in the process.

There is so much going on in the book, and I really can't go into it all.  All I can say is read it - go ahead, you know you are curious.  Travis and Einstein meet Nora, who needs rescuing of her own, and together Nora and Travis vow to keep Einstein safe. Luckily, they run into some sympathetic people along the way to help them.  

Finally, there is Einstein - the bestest boy ever!  Einstein is beyond smart and Travis and Nora develop a way to communicate with him.  Let me say, Einstein is smarted than most people in this book.  Einstein wants to remain with his family but knows the law and The Other are hunting him. Also, Einstein's journey is not always a safe one and this book REALLY gave me some anxiety about the last 1/3 of it.  The ending is happy, sad and every emotion in between.  I even found some sympathy for The Other, which I didn't expect.

I hope to go back and read some more Koontz sooner rather than later.  There was a time in my life where he was my second favorite author right behind King. Reading tastes change but reading Watchers reminded me how much I enjoyed Koontz. Now to figure out where to start.

MY RATING: 5 PAWS