shawna_reads's Reviews (471)

My fiancé recommended this book to me so I searched and searched Chapters and couldn't find it. Last week, I went to a used bookstore in my neighbourhood and FINALLY found the book. I'm surprised at how difficult it was to find considering the fact that this book was absolutely great! Just when you're pulled into the story and predicting what's going to happen next, then BAM! Dean Koontz throws in plot twists that you were not expecting AT ALL.

The story is written as an autobiography of Jimmy Tock's life. On the day he was born, his grandfather predicted the time of Jimmy's birth, his weight, and the fact that he was going to be born with syndactyly. However, he also predicts 5 terrible days that are going to occur in Jimmy’s life, as well as his wife, Lorrie, whom he meets on the first terrible day. Despite the intense and near death situations Jimmy and Lorrie find themselves in, they use humour to get through it all.

One thing we don’t know from the synopsis is that there is a feud between the Beezos and the Vivacementes that affects Jimmy’s life. Konrad Beezo and his son, Punchinello Beezo, are clowns and Virgilio Vivacemente is an aerialist, as well as Konrad’s father-in-law. Konrad was at the same hospital where Jimmy was born, he tries to steal Lorrie’s unborn son, Punchinello holds Jimmy and Lorrie hostage, and Virgilio tries to buy Lorrie’s son. At the end, we find out that there is a deeper meaning between all of the characters’ relationships.

Life Expectancy is filled with so many twists and turns that it keeps you reading. I definitely loved it and look forward to reading more from Dean Koontz!

I thought the book was good! I am guilty of comparing each novel to the first one because Odd Thomas is my favourite out of the series so far, even though each book has a different setting and new characters. I find it interesting that Odd’s companion changes from the spirit of Elvis Presley to Frank Sinatra. Odd encouraged Elvis to move on to the other side instead of continuing to linger in the in between. Once he crosses over to the other side, Frank Sinatra randomly appears on his journey to Magic Beach. I am still unaware of the significance of these musical icons other than the fact that they are “stuck” and need Odd’s word of encouragement in order to move on. Maybe their whole purpose is to accompany Odd on his adventures. Who knows?!

The part that bothered me was Annamaria. She says a number of men want to kill her and has Odd promise to die for her, but that’s it. Her character is mysterious, which is crucial to the story, but she provides very little information when Odd probes her. We don’t know her last name, who the baby’s father is, where she comes from, and why bad men are after her. She seems to know a lot of things about Odd, even things only Stormy knows (his girlfriend in the first novel who died). Clearly, Annamaria has some kind of gift or ability similar to Odd, but Dean Koontz leaves it to our imagination to put the pieces of the puzzle together. There’s something about her that I just don’t like!

I really enjoyed this novel because I learned quite a bit more about monks and monasteries. I like the fact that every time I was introduced to a new character, Dean Koontz gives insight into what their lives were like prior to becoming a monk.

I also enjoy the fact that there is a lot of humour in this series. Despite getting injured and experiencing near death situations, Odd still makes certain situations humourous and I actually laugh out loud (ask my fiancé and he will tell you that I randomly giggle from time to time while reading