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alice_digest 's review for:
The Strain
by Guillermo del Toro, Chuck Hogan
This is one of those books I'd been vaguely aware of for a while, but I read it on the recommendation of Boyfriend. I took it on holiday with me, which in hindsight was not a great idea as the whole things kicks off of an airplane! It took quite a long time to get going, but it was an entertaining read although a strange one when you're sunbathing in baking hot bright sunshine!
A plane lands at JFK airport being losing all power and going completely dark. Dr Ephraim Goodweather and his Canary Project rapid response CDC team go in to investigate. There are only four survivors on board, with no obvious cause of death for the other passengers, plus there is a mysterious and unaccounted for coffin like box in the hold. Discredited professor turned pawn broker, and Holocaust survivor, Abraham Setrakian knowing something about what is happening and must convince Eph of the truth before the vampire virus takes over New York.
I did enjoy this book, I barely put it down over three days but it did take a very long time for the action to get going. I found it frustrating because it was so obvious where the story was going to go but we were plodding along. It wasn't until about 75% through that the really good interesting stuff started to happen. I suspect that the sequel might be better now we've gotten through all the set up hopefully it'll contain the juicier stuff!
I liked Eph well enough although he was a bundle of clichéd drinking problem and divorce. In fact every singe character neatly slides into a TV Trope! Setrakian (wise old man) was definitely the most interesting character, I mean the guy is a Holocaust surviving Vampire hunter! He has a badass sword in his walking stick. I liked the exterminator Vaz too although he isn't in it much until the end. The vast chunk of this book is told from male perspectives, in point of view chapters. There are only two female characters: Nora and Kelly. Eph's CDC partner and love interest, and Eph's (slightly nagging, opponent in custody battle) ex-wife. Nora is capable, brave and clever, but largely defined by her relationship to Eph and you only get to know her from his perspective. I'd much more have preferred some point of view from her, but I have a suspicious that I'd then be annoyed at how that well written. Kelly has a some passages where she must decide whether or not to run away with her son, as Eph pleads with her too. Again she's torn between her new and old lovers. How will she convince her new partner to run on the advice of the old one he is jealous of? Seriously lady take your son and run, screw that guy and his man feelings if he won't listen! Then she just becomes a plot device to fuel some of Eph's man pain. So.. not a very good book when it comes to the development of female characters! (Or any, but the representation of the women is shocking).
I've not read much in this genre, but I liked the way that the vampirism is described more scientifically as a virus. The white worms in the blood which spread it was a particularly icky idea. Plus the weird tongue with a little mouth on it was cool and disgusting! The science stuff is still mixed up with more traditional vampire lore and mythology stuff although I did get a bit muddled on that. There were seven original ancient beings; three in the Old Word and three in the New World and the one who is a big of a dick and wants everything. This guy is The Master, the one who has started spreading the virus and by coming to the USA has presumably started up some kind of ancient vampire turf war for the next book.
It's more of a 3.5 than a solid 4 stars. I went for 4 because I did read it all very quickly and couldn't put it down at times. It kept be gripped when I was sitting waiting in the airport and on the plane. It's not one I'll rave about, and I did I think over all enjoyed The Passage more (the only other book I've read in this genre, although that's pretty flawed too). The writing of The Strain was not great.. there were a few lines that nearly made me laugh out loud they were so contrite and cheesy. I wish I'd highlighted them on my Kindle!
So it's just kind of Alright. Not amazing but not bad. If you like these kind of vampire horror books give it a go, it'll pass the time! Although if you are easily annoyed by clichés maybe give it a miss. I'm not sure how well it'll translate in the a TV series, which apparently they've just done. I'll have to check it out, I'm interested to see what changes they make. I'll also borrow The Fall, and see if thing get any better for the sequel!
A plane lands at JFK airport being losing all power and going completely dark. Dr Ephraim Goodweather and his Canary Project rapid response CDC team go in to investigate. There are only four survivors on board, with no obvious cause of death for the other passengers, plus there is a mysterious and unaccounted for coffin like box in the hold. Discredited professor turned pawn broker, and Holocaust survivor, Abraham Setrakian knowing something about what is happening and must convince Eph of the truth before the vampire virus takes over New York.
I did enjoy this book, I barely put it down over three days but it did take a very long time for the action to get going. I found it frustrating because it was so obvious where the story was going to go but we were plodding along. It wasn't until about 75% through that the really good interesting stuff started to happen. I suspect that the sequel might be better now we've gotten through all the set up hopefully it'll contain the juicier stuff!
I liked Eph well enough although he was a bundle of clichéd drinking problem and divorce. In fact every singe character neatly slides into a TV Trope! Setrakian (wise old man) was definitely the most interesting character, I mean the guy is a Holocaust surviving Vampire hunter! He has a badass sword in his walking stick. I liked the exterminator Vaz too although he isn't in it much until the end. The vast chunk of this book is told from male perspectives, in point of view chapters. There are only two female characters: Nora and Kelly. Eph's CDC partner and love interest, and Eph's (slightly nagging, opponent in custody battle) ex-wife. Nora is capable, brave and clever, but largely defined by her relationship to Eph and you only get to know her from his perspective. I'd much more have preferred some point of view from her, but I have a suspicious that I'd then be annoyed at how that well written. Kelly has a some passages where she must decide whether or not to run away with her son, as Eph pleads with her too. Again she's torn between her new and old lovers. How will she convince her new partner to run on the advice of the old one he is jealous of? Seriously lady take your son and run, screw that guy and his man feelings if he won't listen! Then she just becomes a plot device to fuel some of Eph's man pain. So.. not a very good book when it comes to the development of female characters! (Or any, but the representation of the women is shocking).
I've not read much in this genre, but I liked the way that the vampirism is described more scientifically as a virus. The white worms in the blood which spread it was a particularly icky idea. Plus the weird tongue with a little mouth on it was cool and disgusting! The science stuff is still mixed up with more traditional vampire lore and mythology stuff although I did get a bit muddled on that. There were seven original ancient beings; three in the Old Word and three in the New World and the one who is a big of a dick and wants everything. This guy is The Master, the one who has started spreading the virus and by coming to the USA has presumably started up some kind of ancient vampire turf war for the next book.
It's more of a 3.5 than a solid 4 stars. I went for 4 because I did read it all very quickly and couldn't put it down at times. It kept be gripped when I was sitting waiting in the airport and on the plane. It's not one I'll rave about, and I did I think over all enjoyed The Passage more (the only other book I've read in this genre, although that's pretty flawed too). The writing of The Strain was not great.. there were a few lines that nearly made me laugh out loud they were so contrite and cheesy. I wish I'd highlighted them on my Kindle!
So it's just kind of Alright. Not amazing but not bad. If you like these kind of vampire horror books give it a go, it'll pass the time! Although if you are easily annoyed by clichés maybe give it a miss. I'm not sure how well it'll translate in the a TV series, which apparently they've just done. I'll have to check it out, I'm interested to see what changes they make. I'll also borrow The Fall, and see if thing get any better for the sequel!