Watchers: Between the Sheets, Ch1

This is going to be our safe spot. Mine, GG’s, and Lylah’s place to discuss, dissect, and share the books and authors who have brought us pleasure and pain. Happiness and distress. Satisfaction and unease. Hope you enjoy these reviews, of both authors and books, and maybe find a new favourite of your own.

Well loved - third - copy of my favourite book.

I have always been a very prolific reader. From the first word I ever read, I have been constantly reading. Next to writing, reading has long been a way for me to escape the dysfunctional, sometimes heartless, world I live in.

As a teen, my burgeoning creativity was shaped by the books, and authors, I read. Harlequin romances. Stephen King. Mary Higgins Clark. Maeve Binchy. Marion Zimmer Bradley. Terry Brooks. Anne Rice. And, more than any others, Dean R. Koontz, who dropped the ‘R’ sometime in the 90s.

Dean R. Koontz’s books showed me the possibilities in the world, in my imagination, and gave me the unspoken, yet appreciated, permission and support to let my creativity fly. The two that come to mind first are Strangers and Watchers, but one shines above the others.

Watchers.

First published when I was fourteen, my mother brought a copy home the day it was released. When paperbacks were still less than ten dollars.  She was desperate to read it, but let me read it first. Now that was motherly love, right there. And then, after she read it, I claimed it. My first copy of Watchers. I say first copy because the picture above is of my third copy. I have read the book so many times that I have had two copies fall apart on me.

Yes. I loved it that much.

A simple premise, really. The main male character, Travis, finds and adopts a stray golden retriever, whom he names Einstein, and then they both save Nora from a volatile stalker. Travis and Nora fall in love and live happily ever after. After a whole bunch of other stuff happens.

Ok, it’s not that simple.

Einstein, a product of a laboratory experiment, is on the run from his counterpart, the Outsider, a product of the same laboratory. Where Einstein is sweet, smart, and loving, the Outsider is mean, vicious, and hateful. When Travis adopts Einstein, he must also protect him from the Outsider.

This story shattered my heart and put it all back together again. Every time I read it. And I have read it at least ten times. In fact, I’ve been thinking of reading it again. Soon. I can’t wait.

Dean Koontz weaves a slice of life into this story that fills you with hope for humankind. Written at a time of flux and global insecurity, it holds just as much promise as it did then. In fact, the message is as needed now as it was 38 years ago. Maybe more so now.

Well, dammit, now I feel old. But not too old to reread my all-time favourite book.

So, if you’re looking for a book to read and enjoy psychological, and romantic, thrillers this is the book for you. It will entice you. Enthral you. Make you glad to be alive.

And don’t be surprised if you end up the proud owner of a golden retriever. They’re hard to resist once you meet Einstein.

Oh… just remember that the dog on the couch beside you wasn’t born in a laboratory. You’ll know what I mean when you’ve read the book.

One more thing, loves… do not try to bypass the reading and watch any of the movies advertised in that garish red blob on the cover. Yes, movies. They made my favourite novel into a movie three times, in 1988 (Watchers), 1990 (Watchers II), and 1994 (Watchers III). The best part of these movies is that they are not a series, per se, but three separate retellings of the same story.

And they all sucked. Three different filmmakers tried to immortalize the story and they all failed. Miserably. I remember watching the first film, in the theatre, with my mother and brother. All three of us had read the book and all three of us were horrified at what they did to it. Shared disgusted looks and “What the hell?” comments were shared throughout. A lot.

This is my favourite book, for a lot of different reasons. And a movie I bad mouth constantly. I’d love to hear from you if you read it… and if you see the movie. Just be prepared for my incredulity if you prefer the movie over the book.

Happy reading, my loves.