If asked to identify myself as either a book or movie person, I would have to say movie. This should not imply I do not like reading, I do, but there is something about a well-designed film that captures my attention. Perhaps aiding this is the advantage film has in diverse creative mediums. Although under the direction of key individuals like the director and producer, the movie is a product of many different artists. Even a poorly written feature has the potential to be enjoyable when say the cinematography or art direction exhibit aesthetic talent.

When I started hosting a movie night with two friends, I was excited at the prospect of seeing movies I may never have watched otherwise. Knowing I may not enjoy every title, I appreciate the fact that there is bound to be some redeeming qualities. Besides the films I picked for screening, most of the selections to date have been good. And as predicted, the few I did not particularly enjoy were at least ridiculous or funny enough to justify the experience.

It was with this same open-mindedness I recently accepted an offer to join a small, private book club of friends. At our first gathering the evening of 15 January 2009, the group of seven discussed some of the parameters such as selection criteria, meeting format, dates and the like. I am far less interested in the rules than in reading books, something I have been wanting to do more of anyway, so I mostly listened and chimed in only to say pretty much that.

For the next seven months, we will each select a book for the group to read and discuss it at a monthly gathering. Likewise, as I committed to producing more content, the Delectation window in the right column will be updated when the next book is selected and I will write a short review of each.

UPDATE: At tonight's meeting to discuss the book, which was widely panned, we read the suggestions for a group name. The winner is Read 'Em If You Got 'Em, a reference to the humorous Rick Moranis line in Spaceballs among other things.

The book selected by the first host Beth is Your Heart Belongs to Me by Dean Koontz. Despite tying for sixth place on the 2008 Forbes Magazine "Top 10 Best-Paid Authors" list and his novels frequently appearing on bestseller lists, this was my first experience with Koontz's work.

In my preferred style, I sat down last night to read the book cover-to-cover. When forced to read material of varying quality in high school, part of the distaste I held for the exercise revolved around the schedule. I do not need an entire evening to read a single chapter. If I intend to read a book, I do it without interruption, something that did not bode well for a daily discussion of minutia perhaps not easily recalled for the purposes of test taking. When I finally cast aside this impediment and read The Great Gatsby in its entirety one night, subsequently receiving a perfect grade on a lengthy research paper, I vowed never to read in chunks again.

Unfamiliar with his material, I cannot say if Heart follows the typical structure or tone of Koontz but I can conclude rather swiftly that, overall, I did not enjoy it much. I was never drawn into the story, which as far as I am concerned did not even begin until at least halfway through the 337-page hardcover (widescreen is to film as hardcover is to book). The first part of the book spends a lot of time with the main character Ryan Perry, a richly successful thirty-four year old software developer and entrepreneur, and his somewhat tenuous relationship with author and girlfriend Samantha Reach. Perry experiences several medical episodes that lead him to discover a critical condition and kick starts a mysterious trip of discovery.

By reputation, Koontz is known for works of suspense, but that is not an adjective I would choose to describe this book. There was a lot of investment in the planting of clues, misdirection and other techniques, but they did not do much to compel my interest nor increase the pace of the story. I may not have predicted the outcome of the plot twists as they came, but their truths were ultimately without the punch I am sure the author intended. I also found the dream sequences and sometimes humdrum prose sections out of place, contributing little to the overall plot.

At times, there was a lot of repetition and recounting of past thoughts and experiences to explain current actions. Perhaps this is to appease those chapter-per-night readers who might forget what has already happened, a novel version of the "last time on…" that precedes part two of a cliffhanger television episode. For me, they served only as filler and as a reminder of how I ultimately fail to connect to Perry.

I did enjoy the attention to detail in terms of the medical portions of the story. If this book's suspense is to revolve around a heart patient, the medical material should help carry things forward without droning on for pages or reading like a surgical handbook. That can be a difficult achievement, but the conversational dialogue style used throughout the book accomplished it well. In a Q&A and essay by Koontz—both show him to be more interesting and funny than this book does—that he in fact researched the subject of transplant surgery thoroughly.

Ironically, Heart spends some time discussing the art of novel writing and the use of subtext, which later becomes a more poignant part of the story. At the same time, I could find very little between the lines and what subtext did exist was rather obvious. There were a few passages I found humorous, but not because they were intended to be, and a few places where I questioned the editorial decision. I also do not understand the book's use of chapters, fifty-six of them in all averaging six pages each, which did not frequently coincide with the beginning of a new scene or thought process.

In the end, I do not regret the experience nor do I feel I really gained much from it. In reading reviews, many written by self-proclaimed Koontz fans, I find my general opinion of the book is not uncommon. Their surprise at the unusual departure in quality leaves me open to the possibility of reading another Koontz work.

If you have any recommendations for a terrific Koontz title, perhaps one that better represents his reputation for mystery and suspense, or if you have read Your Heart Belongs to Me, I would like to read your comments.

The Book Club Series
February 2009
Hosted by Beth

Your Heart Belongs to Me by Koontz, Dean
Mystery/Thrillers      Hardcover      ISBN 9780553807134
Retail $27.00      Paid $8.57 (eBay)
Rating: Did Not Like

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3 Comments on “The Book Club: Book A”

1. Claire
   

   Sadly, you're not a part of my book club, which doesn't require anyone to meet in person. Of course, I did this on purpose because I joined the Tallahassee book club and all their meetings were held at the house of a cat owner and I almost dies. Point being, want to read with us too?

   
   Monday, 23 February 2009, 1438   Hyperlink
2. David July
   

   I appreciate the invitation but I am not sure how many side projects I can commit to at once. Actually, I do which is why I must stick to one book club.

   Besides, the meeting to the discuss the book is the best part. How does it work in your group?

   
   Thursday, 26 February 2009, 1226   Hyperlink
3. pam
   

   Ha! I think the rating of "Did Not Like" is an understatement for me. If I were to give it a rating, it would be "Already traded for a better book". When is your Twilight review going to be completed?

   
   Wednesday, 01 April 2009, 1711   Hyperlink

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