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3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
Huzzah! Finally vampires make a return to form as something other than brooding sparklers or tortured souls. It is so refreshing and wonderful to read a book about bloodsuckers that has some bite to it. I also find it fantastic that they are so alien and terrifying. A welcome change I would say.
I'm really surprised this book has gotten such glowing reviews from so many different critics. The truth is, its not that great. I absolutely love the films of Guillermo Del Toro but "The Strain" just didn't do it for me. The prose in particular stuck out to me as obviously haven been written by someone who is not a natural English speaker. The dialogue was cheesy and painfully cliche on the occasion, the story and characters were lackluster as well. I do think it could potentially make an interesting film, or series of films given Del Toro's superb directorial talent, but overall this book was plagued by a definite sense of "been-there-done-that". Some elements came dangerously close to Dan Simmon's "Carrion Comfort", a superior novel GT is known to have praised in the past.
A classic horror novel with a modern day setting, I really enjoyed this book and could not put it down.
Combining zombie apocalype lore with cliche vampire romp, Hogan and Del Toro introduce The Strain trilogy.
Our main cast should be somewhat familair - Eph a brilliant doctor with family to lose, Abraham - an older fellow who knows everything there is know about the mysterious Strain, and a Rat exterminator who we don't need to know anything about because he's mostly comic relief.
As mentioned the plot is a fairly seemless combo of zombie and vampire cliche, Eph struggles to contact The plague-like Strain, while Abraham reveals the background of vampires.
There isn't much new or orignila to find in this novel, the prose is mostly visual is strength, and verges on the melodramatic at times - nonetheless this is a decent read, essentially the novel equivalent of a mindless action flick.
Our main cast should be somewhat familair - Eph a brilliant doctor with family to lose, Abraham - an older fellow who knows everything there is know about the mysterious Strain, and a Rat exterminator who we don't need to know anything about because he's mostly comic relief.
As mentioned the plot is a fairly seemless combo of zombie and vampire cliche, Eph struggles to contact The plague-like Strain, while Abraham reveals the background of vampires.
There isn't much new or orignila to find in this novel, the prose is mostly visual is strength, and verges on the melodramatic at times - nonetheless this is a decent read, essentially the novel equivalent of a mindless action flick.
I like how it read somewhat similar to Dracula for the first half, but the second half just wasn't hitting to be honest. It just felt like a cheesy action novel that threw barely developed characters at us in the third act. It was a good read though. The prose was quite good and gave this novel a cinematic feel to it, which I kinda appreciated it while reading. I also liked what was done with the vampires in the story.
I appreciate what del Toro is trying to do here. His vampires aren't rock 'n roll stars, nor are they dreamy. They're scary and bad-ass. But the oh-so-slow pacing puts a stake in the heart of any enjoyment I might've gotten out of this book. I won't be reading the other two in the trilogy (like we need another vampire trilogy). Even worse - I listened to the the audiobook. Ron Perlman is a horrible, horrible narrator.
This was an intense and terrifying read. I was terrified reading this, and had to soon abandon it to "daytime reading" only after it was reccommended to me by a colleague who felt the same way. It's pace was slow in the beginning, but after the first three parts, it picks up immensely.
It was certainly written like it was a movie, and I could visulize the vampires described in this book, which to me, were the most terrifying vamps out there in today's literture. Just imagine you are cuddling with one of those sparkly vampires from "Twlight," and all of a sudden, this vampire rips your throat open with a stinger.
Guillermo, thank you for making vampires SCARY again!!
It was certainly written like it was a movie, and I could visulize the vampires described in this book, which to me, were the most terrifying vamps out there in today's literture. Just imagine you are cuddling with one of those sparkly vampires from "Twlight," and all of a sudden, this vampire rips your throat open with a stinger.
Guillermo, thank you for making vampires SCARY again!!
I never read anything by Guillermo Del Toro. Actually, never knew he was author until I saw this book. Now, after reading "The Strain", I'm a huge fan.
The book was suggested by Chris & Ashley. They were enthusiastic about the triology, yet I am content with the first book. The ending does leave an opening but I am not curious enough about these vampires to move forward with the series.