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Dean Koontz

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The Funhouse Hardcover – January 1, 1980

by Dean Koontz (Author)

4.2 1,057 ratings

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Language

English
Publisher

Berkeley Books
Publication date

January 1, 1980
ISBN-10

0425142485
ISBN-13

978-0425142486
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Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B000MTRXJ0
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Berkeley Books; 3rd edition (January 1, 1980)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0425142485
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0425142486
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 9.6 ounces

Best Sellers Rank: #10,350,738 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #118,151 in Contemporary Literature & Fiction

Customer Reviews:
4.2 1,057 ratings

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Dean Koontz

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Dean Koontz, the author of many #1 New York Times bestsellers, lives in Southern California with his wife, Gerda, their golden retriever, Elsa, and the enduring spirits of their goldens, Trixie and Anna.

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4.2 out of 5

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Jandy

Good book, ok horror story

Reviewed in the United States on September 4, 2011

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I really like this book. I read it once when I was about 16 and then again 13 years later. I didn't remember much of it from back then- only that I liked it. Reading it again I realize why I liked it so much. The story itself is ok (kind of predictable), but what I really liked was the well developed complexity of the charactors. You have an insight into each of the main charactors minds and thus, the reason for their actions. It's funny, when I read it for the first time I identified with the daughter because of her problems with her mother(although much more extreme than mine), and reading it the second time around I can't help but identify with the mother and actually feel empathy for her. All in all, a good book. More so for the actual story-telling aspect than the shock value. Who knows, I might pick it up again in another 10 years. And I personally think that if you still want to re-read and re-purcahse the same book more than once, that really means something. It must be good.

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TGoltz

Suspenseful and eerie

Reviewed in the United States on October 9, 2023

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I enjoyed this book. It was slightly predictable but I enjoyed the setting and characters, especially since I read it during the Halloween season. I did not understand what happened to the main villan (Conrad) at the end of the book.

Reviewed in the United States on October 27, 2023

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It was delivered quickly and in great condition

One person found this helpful

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Frank Donnelly

An Interesting Horror Story

Reviewed in the United States on June 15, 2017

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This is a horror story, which was based on a screenplay written by and ther writer. As Mr. Koontz explains a screenplay had been written and a movie planned. Mr. Koontz was authorized to compose a corresponding novel. This process is known as "novelization". As such, the storyline is not completely the product of Mr. Koontz's intellectual process. Apparently the movie did not do well, at least at first and neither did the novel. As a novelization apparently the fate of the novel is linked to the movie to some extent.

I do not intend to write in a way that spoils the story. The story is set in the early 1980s in America. In that this a horror story, there are some very gruesome situations that occur between human beings. As a retired police detective, I felt there was no way I would have failed to "connect some of the dots" and therefore have had an ensuing avenue of investigation. In that context, I found the storyline a bit weak.

Generally I have read relatively few modern horror stories. I seldom go to such movies. Therefore I am not in a position to compare this novel to other modern horror novels. The writing is OK. Obviously there is much dark content. As a parent, I was dismayed about some very dark exchanges between parents and their children. Perhaps this is common in modern horror stories. I did not like this aspect of the novel. According to some research I did, Mr. Koontz may have been the victim of emotional abuse by a parent. Obviously he may have a base of knowledge that makes his writing realistic. I would not want my children to read this book until adulthood. I do not intend to recommend this novel to them.

Although a horror story, there is a "morality tale" aspect tomthis story. I did like that. Mr. Koontz is originally from Pennsylvania, as am I. I enjoy reading authors from Pennsylvania. I wish to study his work further and have already purchased another novel, "Whispers". I wish to read a novel by Mr. Koontz that is fully his own intellectual product. I will not read it immediately. I sort of need a break.

12 people found this helpful

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Angie Pittman

Really good story

Reviewed in the United States on June 2, 2023

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I really enjoyed the unexpected plot twists in the book. It had some paranormal aspects but wasn’t just totally out there and I relatable…kinda makes you wonder if there’s stuff going on in the world and beyond that we just don’t see or are aware of…

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Kindle Customer

So it isn't a Pulitzer Prize winner...

Reviewed in the United States on April 19, 2013

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I almost didn't buy this to read because of all of the less flattering reviews of it, but then I had to remember all of the critical reviews of 77 Shadow Street, which, to me, wasn't as bad as everyone said it was. People were downright trashing it and, granted, there were some hard to understand aspects to the book, but I still think it was an entertaining read.

And I say the same for this one. After having read The Funhouse myself and reading all of the negative reviews, I think people are being hard on Mr. Koontz. Again, as I've said in other reviews, I defend a person's right to have an opinion, negative or positive, but people are forgetting that this was the novelization of a screenplay. If the plot seemed undeveloped, it's only because the movie itself was.

It couldn't have been easy for him to create a backstory for the characters. I heard some people saying that he never explained why Gunther was the way he was and that's something I would have liked to know as well. But was an explanation really necessary? I didn't think so. I mean, how do you explain how someone sires a demonic (or whatever he was) offspring not once, but twice? Conrad worshipped Satan - what other explanation was needed?

In the end, the people giving this book bad reviews was taking this story too serious. This book was meant to be fun and entertaining like an 80's slasher flick. You're glad to see the potheads and slutty friend get what's coming to them and the innocent, God-fearing kids escape. It won't win any Pulitzer Prizes, but so what! If you want a memoir, go read one. If you want a good read without all of the rhetoric and fancy word play, well - here you go.

19 people found this helpful

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Michael D. Brenner

Collector’s piece

Reviewed in the United States on August 22, 2023

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So glad to have this as a big fan of the film. Koontz under a pseudonym is awesome! And great price too.

Reviewed in the United States on March 14, 2023

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This book of 'revenge' is a fun book to read. In many ways, this book reminds Me of another book of Koontz's that I highly recommend and that is Twight Eyes. This is a RECOMMENDED READ for a Dean Koontz reader.

One person found this helpful

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lorraine

Awesome

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 29, 2020

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This guy is my favourite writer ever! This book is spine chilling.
It had me thinking something else was the killer all along untill the very end!
What a twist!
Recommended to anyone who wants a read that's full of action and fast paced!

One person found this helpful