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Wow.

This book blew me away with its beauty and its message. In his novel Innocence, Koontz has created a stunning allegory of the darkness in our world. On the surface, this book follows a young man with a disfiguration so unsettling that it provokes immediate violence in anyone who sees his face and a young woman with such an intense social phobia that she cannot bear the slightest touch. Beneath this veneer, this is a story about the evilness of humanity, our wanton destruction of the world, our love of violence and our inhumanity towards each other.

The surface story is interesting in and of itself. The characters are beautifully portrayed, the writing is elegant, and the tragedies are heart-rending. The allegory though is masterfully constructed and woven throughout the story. It carries religious undertones, which typically are a turn-off for me as a staunch atheist, but Koontz's story was so compelling that these did not detract enough for me to even question whether I'd be rating this book 5 stars or not. The themes crafted into this allegory could hardly be more relevant to the present world we live in.

I'm puzzled why this book isn't rated more highly on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ. After reading reviews, it seems clear that some people did not understand the allegory, did not understand what Koontz was doing behind the superficial story of Addison and Gwyneth; this may account for the negative reviews. It's also entirely possible that the allegory provoked a reaction of anger or disgust in some; perhaps it hit too close to home or perhaps they rejected Koontz's pessimism regarding the state of the world we live in. I personally suspect that for many, it was because Koontz alluded to some disconcerting, often painful truths. Of course, opinions regarding books are in large part a matter of personal taste, and some people may have simply not enjoyed the book for other reasons. Still, I think it deserves a higher rating.

The bottom line: this book is a fantastic, deep, rich allegory of our world and of the struggle between good and evil, set against the backdrop of two young people struggling to survive with mysterious conditions. I strongly encourage everyone to give it a try.