March 10th, 2009
I just (literally) finished reading Dean Koontz’s book Your Heart Belongs to Me .
It is a story of a rich, 34 year old Internet multi-millionaire who has everything: a perfect house, a perfect girlfriend, a perfect job. After an episode while surfing, which he passes off as an anxiety attack and a result of aging, and another in his room while sleeping- he finds out he has a heart problem, and only about 1 year to live. He is told by his doctor that he only has about one year left to live, and his only hope is a heart transplant.
Before the transplant, he is plagued by a whirlwind of paranoia and distrust that leads him on a journey of truth, in which he thinks someone or someones are out to kill him. Believing himself poisoned, he cuts himself off from everyone, and begins investigating everyone around him. He even pulls away from the doctors he has trusted, and puts his care in another well-reputed surgeon.
After only four months on the organ transplant waiting list, he is miraculously called in with a match for him. Sparing no expense, he flies out for surgery, despite growing anxiety and “signs” that something is not right.
A year after the transplant, things are going well for him. He has all-new employees at his home, and although his relationship with his girlfriend has passed, she is becoming very successful, and he is happy for her. Then, a woman appears out his window in the rain, watching the house, he finds candy and trinkets in his locked bedroom, and so the chase for truth begins, with a mind-altering conclusion.
The story line I felt was compelling, but the story seemed confusing, The narrative spoke much of subtext and subtleties, and this book definitely had some of those. It seemed to chase itself a bit, and I felt the ending a bit lacking. While it gave closure to the main theme, it left many questions unanswered. It was a compelling enough read that I finished it within a couple of days.