Customer Reviews

The Mask

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(17)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

I did enjoy THE MASK alot, this was a good eerie novel dealing with reincarnation, it seemed obvious in the beginning, but like any Koontz novel the obvious lies within the unobvious, and when we are finally allowed to look outside the box, we are shown a bigger picture than originally thought. I did enjoy the supernatural element, but The Mask did have a few flaws that kept it from greatness: One being, that Koontz, never really explains the supernatural element that was tipping off the main charactors; were the spirits good or bad? Also, the book ended too abruptly,It was wrapped up in 10 pages. We never know the fate of the charactors, did they live happily ever after? But over all I'll try to stay positive and The Mask is a good early novel for Koontz.

I would have to say as an avid Dean Koontz novel enthusiast, I would have to say that this novel is not one of Dean Koontz's best works. In the previous novels by Koontz you are indulged in the book as soon as you begin to read it. It took me a while to get into this book but as soon as the book started to pick up and get exciting it was a good book overall. However just as the book was starting to get exciting the book came to an abrupt end which was very disappointing.
The Mask begins with a couple in an adoption agency and they are discussing the possibility of adopting a child. The story drags on for the first 50 pages of the dialouge exchanged between the couple and the agent for the adopting agency. This is the point however that Dean Koontz is able to work his magic just as you are about to put the book down due to boredom the action begins. Just as they were about to leave the agency lighting strikes through the window causing mass confusion and excitement. I'm not going to further elaboarate on this scene due to the fact I don't want to spoil the surprise.
As the Tracys continue to live their lives after the adoption agency incident strange things begin to happen. Their once normal house is all of the sudden hampered by a constant hammering sound as if someone is trying to knock their house down. Also they see a suspicious I guess it could be described as an aporition that has frequented their back yard.
The real trouble begins when Carol is driving to work one day and when out of nowhere a girl walks out in front of Carol and Carol hits her with her car sending her flying into a ditch and what Carol beleives to be a permanent state of amnesia

I thought that this was one of the best books that I ever read! That is saying a lot for me since I am so picky! This book was a real page turner, and I read it in like three days. The couple grabs your attention right away, I mean who picks up a child on the side of the road? You have to admit, that part is a little creepy to begin with! I read this book back in H.S. so it's hard to remeber a lot of the plot. After reading this book you may never look at hitch hiker's the same way again! If you believe in the idea of past lives, or if you like psychological thrillers than this book is for you!

I'm a Koontz fan...I can't claim to have read EVERY book of his, but I have read quite a few, and this was far from his best.

The concept was brilliant - a girl with no memory essentially falling into the lap of a couple trying to adopt a child, yet beneath the surface of the girl lurks something malignant and totally out of character with what everyone normally sees.

The execution of the book was somewhat poor, and the tension was, for the most part lacking. Perhaps more noticeable for those more familiar with his more recent novels was the lack of depth of his characters. In, say, By The Light Of The Moon or The Face, you really understand and come to care about the characters. In this book, however, they seem more like cardboard cutouts that are moved around to facilitate the author's needs. The ending was pretty abrupt also, and given how he had dragged everything else out, the incomplete and sudden end was sadly disappointing.

I don't want to give you the impression that it was the worst book ever written, but if you're wanting to read Koontz for the first time, I'd suggest a better one (such as the two I mentioned earlier).

The plot was weak - the writing was good. I haven't read a lot of his work, but I am impressed with his skills. If you like koontz, read some of his other stuff first.

I love Dean Koontz' books, they are great but "The Mask" was just boring! I have read a few of his books and I have not found another like this... happens even in the best families!

I love Dean Koontz, and recommend many of his novels without reservation. THE MASK, however, is pretty bad. It's slow paced and lacks the fine character development that Koontz displays in his later work. The two main leads are "goody two shoe" type characters and possess almost no flaws. I didn't find them particularly believable or interesting.

The final 50 pages of THE MASK are relatively action-packed, but you have to slow through 250 pages of boring setup to reach that excitement. The ending is limp and inconclusive, which made me feel like the whole book was a waste of time. This was one of those stories where I felt the underlying concept had enormous potential, but the execution was lacking.

THE MASK was an early Koontz novel, written in 1980 under the name Owen West. My advice is to skip this minor effort, and focus on Koontz' stronger work, such as PHANTOMS, WATCHERS, LIGHTNING, INTENSITY and ODD THOMAS.

THis was a little disapointing for me, i could not get into the book, usually i am hooked on the first page but it took me over 70 pages to get into it.
I am sorry Koontz but this was not ur best work, but i still love you. I love Koontz work to much to put lower than 3.

I don't know what some of the people who reviewed this book read? 1 or 2-stars?

Granted, it wasn't DK's BEST book, but it was still an enjoyable read about REINCARNATION? Who expects a horror novel (okay maybe it's psychological horror)to be realistic? U read to get away for a while and forget the "REAL WORLD."

This was a very good DK book that I gobbled up. It is quite good, but I'll agree not his best. However, it is a well told story and has sympathetic characters!!

One of his earlier works!! A MUST-READ for "Koontz-ite's."

Very Close! I'm very glad this was one of the last two books I had to read in the available collection. It was predictable (and I'm not one who even tries to figure out mysteries), and the lack of closure at the end was dissapointing. On the bright side it wasn't overly long and it was better than Demon Seed!