24 posts tagged “read_in_2009”
What if Vampires ruled 1960s London? That is the thought that must have inspired Mark Ricketts when he came up with the idea for Night Trippers, a graphic novel with sex, drugs, rock & roll, and vampires.
Dorothy (Dot, for short) is a nurse at a hospital and one night when she is making the rounds, a mysterious man appears and attacks on of the patients with a wooden stake. The patient disappears in a cloud of dust, and the attacker flees. Little does Dot know, she is now a part of an undead subculture that has been manipulating swinging London for the past decade.
I heard about this graphic novel when I was read "Graphic Grown Up" in the August issue of Library Journal. It included a list of comics and graphic novels to recommend to adults that want to try out the format. This one caught my eye because of the colorful cover.
The art style is very different from any other graphic novel I have read. The characters all seem to have very sharp edges, be it in their facial features or their Twiggy-style bodies. But it worked for a story about fanged villians. And for some reason, the "hero" of the story immediately made me think of Johnny Depp...might just be because one of his first lines sounded like something Jack Sparrow would say.
The story pokes a lot of fun at 60s culture and it would help the reader if they are familiar with the time period, especially the music. I had a good time reading it, and even though Ricketts wraps most of the plot up by the last page, he leaves enough open that he could return to these characters later on.
3.5 out of 5 - If you're in need of a graphic novel with vampires and a sense of humor about itself, Night Trippers is a great place to start.
Official Night Trippers website here with preview images from the graphic novel!
Dorothy (Dot, for short) is a nurse at a hospital and one night when she is making the rounds, a mysterious man appears and attacks on of the patients with a wooden stake. The patient disappears in a cloud of dust, and the attacker flees. Little does Dot know, she is now a part of an undead subculture that has been manipulating swinging London for the past decade.
I heard about this graphic novel when I was read "Graphic Grown Up" in the August issue of Library Journal. It included a list of comics and graphic novels to recommend to adults that want to try out the format. This one caught my eye because of the colorful cover.
The art style is very different from any other graphic novel I have read. The characters all seem to have very sharp edges, be it in their facial features or their Twiggy-style bodies. But it worked for a story about fanged villians. And for some reason, the "hero" of the story immediately made me think of Johnny Depp...might just be because one of his first lines sounded like something Jack Sparrow would say.
The story pokes a lot of fun at 60s culture and it would help the reader if they are familiar with the time period, especially the music. I had a good time reading it, and even though Ricketts wraps most of the plot up by the last page, he leaves enough open that he could return to these characters later on.
3.5 out of 5 - If you're in need of a graphic novel with vampires and a sense of humor about itself, Night Trippers is a great place to start.
Official Night Trippers website here with preview images from the graphic novel!
It's very rare that I pick up an adult book, but I had heard rumblings about this book for awhile so I decided to give it a try. All of the print copies were checked out of the library at the time, but the audiobook was available, so I took that.
I'm so glad I did.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson is an involved mystery with a huge cast of characters. The two main characters are Mikael Blomkvist - a journalist who has been found guilty of libel against a multimillionaire - and Lisbeth Salander - a slightly unstable young woman with a knack for finding information, even if it means breaking a few laws. We spend about half of the book waiting to see what twist of fate will bring these two people together. And once they team up, we spend the rest of the book wondering how they will solve this 40 year old crime.
I'll re-emphasize that this is an adult novel. It's complex and has some very disturbing scenes and themes (let me put it this way - the original title in Swedish translates to "Men Who Hate Women"). The book is well written. The characters full formed. The story engrossing.
Simon Vance reads the audiobook and I was blown away by his performance. This book has a cast of probably 20 some characters and Vance manages to give them all their own unique voice. Blomkvist sounds like a British Sam Spade; Lisbeth manages to sound like a girl and a bad ass at the same time; Henrik Vanger sounds like Richard Harris...I never found myself confused about who was speaking and my mind never wandered as I was sucked into this story of a reporter, a rich family, a delinquent woman, and a missing girl.
5 out of 5 for the audiobook version - Fantastic story, AMAZING performance.
I'm so glad I did.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson is an involved mystery with a huge cast of characters. The two main characters are Mikael Blomkvist - a journalist who has been found guilty of libel against a multimillionaire - and Lisbeth Salander - a slightly unstable young woman with a knack for finding information, even if it means breaking a few laws. We spend about half of the book waiting to see what twist of fate will bring these two people together. And once they team up, we spend the rest of the book wondering how they will solve this 40 year old crime.
I'll re-emphasize that this is an adult novel. It's complex and has some very disturbing scenes and themes (let me put it this way - the original title in Swedish translates to "Men Who Hate Women"). The book is well written. The characters full formed. The story engrossing.
Simon Vance reads the audiobook and I was blown away by his performance. This book has a cast of probably 20 some characters and Vance manages to give them all their own unique voice. Blomkvist sounds like a British Sam Spade; Lisbeth manages to sound like a girl and a bad ass at the same time; Henrik Vanger sounds like Richard Harris...I never found myself confused about who was speaking and my mind never wandered as I was sucked into this story of a reporter, a rich family, a delinquent woman, and a missing girl.
5 out of 5 for the audiobook version - Fantastic story, AMAZING performance.
If the artwork on the cover of Stitches seems familiar to you, it's probably because you've seen David Small's illustrations in such classic children's picture books - like Imogene's Antlers. But Stitches is not for kids...
Imagine you are 11 years old. Imagine you go into the doctor's office, thinking you're just going to have a growth removed from your neck. When you wake up, half of your vocal chords have been removed, along with your thyroid and the only sound you can make is a pathetic "Ack" noise.
This happened to David Small when he was growing up, and this event, along with the general dysfunctional-ness of his family, is the story he tells us in Stitches, a memoir told in graphic novel format.
This format works perfectly for his story - The book opens with all the way the family "speaks" to each other without actually saying anything - his mother slams the cupboard doors shut in the kitchen while cleaning up, his brother bangs on his drum set - the images explain it all, text is unnecessary.
David is a shy child, too shy speak up and the wordless panels reflect this solitude. He lives in his head, with the cartoons he draws, the characters he reads about. His main way of getting attention from family was to let himself get sick so his parents would take care of him. When the operation occurs and he loses the ability to speak, the wordless panels take on a sense of frustration because now there are so many things he wants to say.
The story of the operation is just a small part of Small's memoir, though this event effects the rest of his life. Growing up in the 1950s, you just didn't talk about certain things, and the poor kid stumbles through life, discovering things at all the wrong times.
Small's art is simple and expressive. It's as though he has been working all these years on children's books to hone his skill enough to create this book. Considering what he has become today, the book is both disturbing and inspiring.
5 out of 5 stars, best graphic novel I have read all year.
Imagine you are 11 years old. Imagine you go into the doctor's office, thinking you're just going to have a growth removed from your neck. When you wake up, half of your vocal chords have been removed, along with your thyroid and the only sound you can make is a pathetic "Ack" noise.
This happened to David Small when he was growing up, and this event, along with the general dysfunctional-ness of his family, is the story he tells us in Stitches, a memoir told in graphic novel format.
This format works perfectly for his story - The book opens with all the way the family "speaks" to each other without actually saying anything - his mother slams the cupboard doors shut in the kitchen while cleaning up, his brother bangs on his drum set - the images explain it all, text is unnecessary.
David is a shy child, too shy speak up and the wordless panels reflect this solitude. He lives in his head, with the cartoons he draws, the characters he reads about. His main way of getting attention from family was to let himself get sick so his parents would take care of him. When the operation occurs and he loses the ability to speak, the wordless panels take on a sense of frustration because now there are so many things he wants to say.
The story of the operation is just a small part of Small's memoir, though this event effects the rest of his life. Growing up in the 1950s, you just didn't talk about certain things, and the poor kid stumbles through life, discovering things at all the wrong times.
Small's art is simple and expressive. It's as though he has been working all these years on children's books to hone his skill enough to create this book. Considering what he has become today, the book is both disturbing and inspiring.
5 out of 5 stars, best graphic novel I have read all year.
Noyes, D. The Restless Dead
Candlewick Press, 2007. 256 pages.
$16.99 ISBN: 978-0-76362-906-9
Ghosts, ghouls, tell-tale hearts, and vampires. This collection of short stories has something for everyone that is a fan of supernatural tales, all written by some very well known young adult authors.
As I've heard other readers mention, the problem with short stories is that they either tend to feel formulaic, as the writer tries to craft a tale to fit a certain length (and in this case, genre) OR the other extreme - they are too short and you would rather sit down with the characters for a full length novel.
I found several of the stories in this collection hit or miss. A few of them felt like the authors were just doing an assignment: write a short story that incorporates something supernatural. But there were a few stand-outs for me. Ones that went beyond the basic retelling of a classic eerie story and really tried to make it their own.
If I hadn't been assigned to read this book for "Books for the Beast", I probably would have skipped over a few of the tales that I felt moved too slowly or were too predictable. None of the stories are particularly keep-you-awake-at-night scary, but several of them have moments that will give you a chill.
If you're craving some short stories to read while you gear up for Halloween, this might be a good place to start. It's also a nice way to get a taste of several different writing styles. I know I jotted down a couple of the authors' names so I could look into their full length works. And there are a few I might avoid after reading this book as well.
2.5 stars
Candlewick Press, 2007. 256 pages.
$16.99 ISBN: 978-0-76362-906-9
Ghosts, ghouls, tell-tale hearts, and vampires. This collection of short stories has something for everyone that is a fan of supernatural tales, all written by some very well known young adult authors.
As I've heard other readers mention, the problem with short stories is that they either tend to feel formulaic, as the writer tries to craft a tale to fit a certain length (and in this case, genre) OR the other extreme - they are too short and you would rather sit down with the characters for a full length novel.
I found several of the stories in this collection hit or miss. A few of them felt like the authors were just doing an assignment: write a short story that incorporates something supernatural. But there were a few stand-outs for me. Ones that went beyond the basic retelling of a classic eerie story and really tried to make it their own.
If I hadn't been assigned to read this book for "Books for the Beast", I probably would have skipped over a few of the tales that I felt moved too slowly or were too predictable. None of the stories are particularly keep-you-awake-at-night scary, but several of them have moments that will give you a chill.
If you're craving some short stories to read while you gear up for Halloween, this might be a good place to start. It's also a nice way to get a taste of several different writing styles. I know I jotted down a couple of the authors' names so I could look into their full length works. And there are a few I might avoid after reading this book as well.
2.5 stars
Bachorz, P. Candor
Egmont, 2009. 249 pages.
$16.95 ISBN 978-1-60684-012-2
Respectful space in every place.
Academics are the key to success.
Never keep secrets from your parents.
These phrases sound like something the average teen would hear on a regular basis as adults try to influence their behavior. While children may not immediately obey these words, they do listen. But what if they had no choice but to listen? What if these messages were not coming from their parents' mouths, but instead being delivered subliminally, every second of every day?
In the town of Candor, that is exactly what life is like. Well-to-do families move in, hoping that the messages will help mold their children into something "better". It only takes a matter of days before the child starts to spout these phrases. Once cherished items, like skateboards, art supplies, and M&Ms, are thrown in the garbage by their owners. The town is quiet, safe, and seemingly perfect since all of its citizens must obey the Messages.
Oscar Banks is the son of Candor's creator. As the Messages will tell you, he is a superior person. He does well in school, participates in extracurricular activities, and even has a perfect girlfriend, Mandi. But no one knows the real Oscar. He was in Candor from the start, and he's managed to figure out how the Messages work. He can't avoid them completely, but he has created a set of special messages just for himself, to help him remember who he really is. He also creates messages for kids that are willing and able to pay his high fee to get out. He has managed to build his own little world inside right under his father's nose, and no one knows about it but him.
Then one night, Oscar meets a mysterious girl. She's clearly new in town, still wearing her dark clothes and a collection of earrings. She's also snuck in a can of orange spray paint. He is amazed by the spirit this girl possesses and is drawn to her. He slips her a music CD, filled with special Messages to keep her from changing into a brainwashed Candor teen. He doesn't tell her that, of course. Who would believe that they were being controlled by subliminal Messages? Plus, he hasn't quite figured out what he wants to do with her - should he smuggle her out of Candor and out of his life? Or should he keep her in the town so they can be friends...or more?
Pam Bachorz's Candor is a society that feels eerily plausible. Oscar Banks narrates the story in a natural voice, explaining to the reader how the Messages and the town work as a whole. Oscar starts out somewhat self-centered (as anyone in his situation might be, since he is the only teen not repeating the Messages) but as the story goes on, he begins to realize a bit more about himself, Candor, and the what the world outside must be like. He starts to see how much of a personality can really be suppressed by the Messages, and how far his father will go to keep the town safe and sterile.
Candor would be a fitting book suggestion for a fan of Scott Westerfeld's Uglies series - the bubbly Pretties and the Candor teens have a lot in common. But even if they are not familiar with that series, readers will enjoy this well-written, fast-paced (and other hyphenated words) story.
Egmont, 2009. 249 pages.
$16.95 ISBN 978-1-60684-012-2
Respectful space in every place.
Academics are the key to success.
Never keep secrets from your parents.
These phrases sound like something the average teen would hear on a regular basis as adults try to influence their behavior. While children may not immediately obey these words, they do listen. But what if they had no choice but to listen? What if these messages were not coming from their parents' mouths, but instead being delivered subliminally, every second of every day?
In the town of Candor, that is exactly what life is like. Well-to-do families move in, hoping that the messages will help mold their children into something "better". It only takes a matter of days before the child starts to spout these phrases. Once cherished items, like skateboards, art supplies, and M&Ms, are thrown in the garbage by their owners. The town is quiet, safe, and seemingly perfect since all of its citizens must obey the Messages.
Oscar Banks is the son of Candor's creator. As the Messages will tell you, he is a superior person. He does well in school, participates in extracurricular activities, and even has a perfect girlfriend, Mandi. But no one knows the real Oscar. He was in Candor from the start, and he's managed to figure out how the Messages work. He can't avoid them completely, but he has created a set of special messages just for himself, to help him remember who he really is. He also creates messages for kids that are willing and able to pay his high fee to get out. He has managed to build his own little world inside right under his father's nose, and no one knows about it but him.
Then one night, Oscar meets a mysterious girl. She's clearly new in town, still wearing her dark clothes and a collection of earrings. She's also snuck in a can of orange spray paint. He is amazed by the spirit this girl possesses and is drawn to her. He slips her a music CD, filled with special Messages to keep her from changing into a brainwashed Candor teen. He doesn't tell her that, of course. Who would believe that they were being controlled by subliminal Messages? Plus, he hasn't quite figured out what he wants to do with her - should he smuggle her out of Candor and out of his life? Or should he keep her in the town so they can be friends...or more?
Pam Bachorz's Candor is a society that feels eerily plausible. Oscar Banks narrates the story in a natural voice, explaining to the reader how the Messages and the town work as a whole. Oscar starts out somewhat self-centered (as anyone in his situation might be, since he is the only teen not repeating the Messages) but as the story goes on, he begins to realize a bit more about himself, Candor, and the what the world outside must be like. He starts to see how much of a personality can really be suppressed by the Messages, and how far his father will go to keep the town safe and sterile.
Candor would be a fitting book suggestion for a fan of Scott Westerfeld's Uglies series - the bubbly Pretties and the Candor teens have a lot in common. But even if they are not familiar with that series, readers will enjoy this well-written, fast-paced (and other hyphenated words) story.
After the Heartland war, a decision was made - abortion would become illegal. BUT when a child is between the ages of 13-18, they are eligible to be Unwound - a procedure that takes every part of the child and allows it to be distributed to someone in need. So the child is technically still living. Just not as a single human.
That is the main plot of Neil Shusterman's disturbing YA novel Unwind. Like Scott Westerfeld's Uglies series, this book takes an issue and does what all good sci-fi should do - takes it to an extreme. It doesn't beat you over the head with what is right or wrong, but it does get you caught up in a story, with characters, but at the same time, your brain begins to think about the deeper themes and questions behind the story.
In Unwind, three teens runaway while on their way to the unwinding facility - Connor, whose parents scheduled him to be unwound after some bad behavior in school, runs away the night before. Risa, an orphan, was scheduled by the state after they realized they could not afford another mouth to feed. And Lev, a tithe, a sacrifice that is family had decided to make before he was born, raised knowing that he would be unwound. Fate throws these three together and the book is the story of their adventure through this future world.
Unwind sucks you in from page 1 and doesn't let go until its over. It is an intense story, and I found myself needing to put the book down and walk away for a bit. But it is the kind of book you want to read with your friends because you're going to want to discuss it. Schusterman is careful not to preach any sort of agenda - he is just playing with a scenario that feels all too plausible in a twisted way.
If you're in the mood for some well written science fiction that has a good blend of action, suspense, and pseudo-science, pick up this book!
That is the main plot of Neil Shusterman's disturbing YA novel Unwind. Like Scott Westerfeld's Uglies series, this book takes an issue and does what all good sci-fi should do - takes it to an extreme. It doesn't beat you over the head with what is right or wrong, but it does get you caught up in a story, with characters, but at the same time, your brain begins to think about the deeper themes and questions behind the story.
In Unwind, three teens runaway while on their way to the unwinding facility - Connor, whose parents scheduled him to be unwound after some bad behavior in school, runs away the night before. Risa, an orphan, was scheduled by the state after they realized they could not afford another mouth to feed. And Lev, a tithe, a sacrifice that is family had decided to make before he was born, raised knowing that he would be unwound. Fate throws these three together and the book is the story of their adventure through this future world.
Unwind sucks you in from page 1 and doesn't let go until its over. It is an intense story, and I found myself needing to put the book down and walk away for a bit. But it is the kind of book you want to read with your friends because you're going to want to discuss it. Schusterman is careful not to preach any sort of agenda - he is just playing with a scenario that feels all too plausible in a twisted way.
If you're in the mood for some well written science fiction that has a good blend of action, suspense, and pseudo-science, pick up this book!
Earlier this year, I read The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and I loved it. I'm talking 5 out of 5 stars, must tell everyone I know about this book LOVED it. It had everything I wanted in a story - action, adventure, kick-ass heroine, well-developed side characters, and a hint of relationship stuff (but not so much that I started to gag).
Last month, the sequel was released - Catching Fire.
I am not going to post any spoilers because the thing that made reading Hunger Games and Catching Fire so great was how little I knew about them before I started. But let's just say that Catching Fire has everything Hunger Games had, but kicked up a notch. It picks up right where we left off...
That being said, I give Catching Fire 4 out of 5 stars because of the usual reasons with middle books - this book is more about setting things up for the grand finale than anything else so the ending is a lot rougher than Hunger Games, which felt like the first Star Wars movie - yeah, there was more to do, but it had a satisfying ending for the biggest story.
With Catching Fire, Suzanne Collins knows that she owns us, that we are invested in these characters, and that we'll be expecting that cliffhanger. And she gives it to us. I read the last page several times, trying to figure out exactly what it all meant because I know I have another year before I found out what happens.
Seriously, why are you reading this post? You should be reading Hunger Games or Catching Fire RIGHT NOW!
Last month, the sequel was released - Catching Fire.
I am not going to post any spoilers because the thing that made reading Hunger Games and Catching Fire so great was how little I knew about them before I started. But let's just say that Catching Fire has everything Hunger Games had, but kicked up a notch. It picks up right where we left off...
That being said, I give Catching Fire 4 out of 5 stars because of the usual reasons with middle books - this book is more about setting things up for the grand finale than anything else so the ending is a lot rougher than Hunger Games, which felt like the first Star Wars movie - yeah, there was more to do, but it had a satisfying ending for the biggest story.
With Catching Fire, Suzanne Collins knows that she owns us, that we are invested in these characters, and that we'll be expecting that cliffhanger. And she gives it to us. I read the last page several times, trying to figure out exactly what it all meant because I know I have another year before I found out what happens.
Seriously, why are you reading this post? You should be reading Hunger Games or Catching Fire RIGHT NOW!
In rural Korea, some time ago, young Ehwa lived with her widowed mother. She is an innocent child, believing everything she is told by her friends and many days she wanders home, deep in thought about their stories. But soon her mother sets her straight, the rain comes, and Ehwa feels a little older.
The easiest way to describe the story of 'The Color of the Earth' would be to say it is the Gilmore Girls in rural Korea. Ehwa and her mother have this beautiful relationship and while the book mostly focuses on Ehwa's coming-of-age story, there is a large part devoted to her mother and her life as a widow in a small town.
But there is a lot more to it than that, as I found by reading last few pages of the U.S. edition. Originally published in Korea in 2003, Color of the Earth was a groundbreaking manhwa (Korean for graphic novel) because of its focus telling the story of being a woman through female characters, a very feminist comic in a genre that tended to focus on the masculine world.
The artwork is gorgeous, and it helps that the book is about the size of a normal hardback so the images have plenty of room to breathe. One page might have a quick succession of panels, the next might be a two page spread of Ehwa wandering through a field with peach blossoms dancing around her in the wind.
This is the first book in a trilogy - The Color of Water and The Color of Heaven are the next two volumes. I cannot wait to read the other two stories to see where life takes Ehwa as she matures from child to adult.
The easiest way to describe the story of 'The Color of the Earth' would be to say it is the Gilmore Girls in rural Korea. Ehwa and her mother have this beautiful relationship and while the book mostly focuses on Ehwa's coming-of-age story, there is a large part devoted to her mother and her life as a widow in a small town.
But there is a lot more to it than that, as I found by reading last few pages of the U.S. edition. Originally published in Korea in 2003, Color of the Earth was a groundbreaking manhwa (Korean for graphic novel) because of its focus telling the story of being a woman through female characters, a very feminist comic in a genre that tended to focus on the masculine world.
The artwork is gorgeous, and it helps that the book is about the size of a normal hardback so the images have plenty of room to breathe. One page might have a quick succession of panels, the next might be a two page spread of Ehwa wandering through a field with peach blossoms dancing around her in the wind.
This is the first book in a trilogy - The Color of Water and The Color of Heaven are the next two volumes. I cannot wait to read the other two stories to see where life takes Ehwa as she matures from child to adult.
Andy has tried everything to quite smoking, but nothing ever seems to work. In one last desperate attempt to kick the habit, he goes to a hypnotist. He's skeptical of her abilities, but tries to go along with the process...and he feels himself getting sleepier, going under, but then wakes up in 1985! He's back in high school, his middle-aged brain stuck in his 16 year old body. But Andy realizes that he's just moments away from his first cigarette ever. If he stops himself from taking that first puff, could he keep himself from ever starting - or is there more to Andy's addiction than he really knows.
Too Cool to be Forgotten by Alex Robinson is a fun graphic novel for adults. I say "for adults" not because it has violence/sex/nudity or even a lot of swearing - it's just that most of the humor comes from adult-Andy interacting with his high school friends, his adult mind trying to manage the high school world. While teens might find it amusing, I think those of us that have survived high school and moved on will end up chuckling and nodding a lot more.
Playing in the world of classic 80s movies like Back to the Future and Big, Too Cool reminds us of how rough it is being a teenager and how all the little things we did back then are part of the person we are today - even if we have forgotten most of it. It's not about nostalgia for those teen years, but more of a look back to say "wtf? I lived like that?" The book has a great sense of humor about the whole thing, but just the right amount of heart to bring readers back again. I really enjoyed Robinson's style and I am looking forward to reading other books by him.
If you get a chance, definitely give this one a try.
Clearly Guillermo Del Toro has had enough of this Twilight crap too. You won't find any sexy sparkling vampires in this store. It's 100% horror.
The Strain is the first book in planned trilogy. It's always hard to judge Part I when you have no idea what Part II or III will bring. But here goes nothing...
A plane lands at JFK airport in New York City and almost everyone on board has mysteriously died. But their bodies were not discovered hunched over their seats or with horrified looks on their faces - they were all sitting peacefully in their seats. A small group of 4 passengers survived and are rushed to the hospital. Dr. Ephraim Goodweather ("Eph" for short) drags himself away from a weekend with his son to examine the incident. But things don't add up. There's no evidence of terrorist attack, there's no problems with the plane...the strangest thing they have found is a large wooden cabinet in the cargo hold filled with dirt...
Del Toro's vampires are not supernatural demons - they have more in common with Scott Westerfeld's vampires in Peeps - an ancient virus that takes over the host body and sets up its own shop. It's not possession so much as a plague. It's not two pointy fangs you're dealing with, but a jaw that unhinges like a snake and a stinger that sucks the life out of anyone it can reach.
Del Toro and Hogan blend in a good amount of random facts and pseudo-science. It was like if Michael Crichton had written a horror novel. You'll learn a lot about New York City's subway system, rats, and more! Look kids, it's educational too!
This first book spends a lot of time introducing you to the characters. Part of it was that horror movie feel - let's meet all these people - WHO WILL LIVE AND WHO WILL DIE! Made it a bit more tense when an infected person arrived at their doorstep.
The sequel won't be out until 2010 and the ending does have a cliff hanger, though it surprised me with how it ended. If you want a spooky beach read, I definitely recommend picking it up, but just remember, it doesn't really end and if you're easily frustrated by a cliffhanger, you might want to wait a couple years.
For more on The Strain, check out the official site which has interactive bits of information you can read, like the medical report on the passengers and the notes of exterminator Vasily Fet, plus a link to their YouTube page with some disturbing video of two pivitol scenes in the book.
The Strain is the first book in planned trilogy. It's always hard to judge Part I when you have no idea what Part II or III will bring. But here goes nothing...
A plane lands at JFK airport in New York City and almost everyone on board has mysteriously died. But their bodies were not discovered hunched over their seats or with horrified looks on their faces - they were all sitting peacefully in their seats. A small group of 4 passengers survived and are rushed to the hospital. Dr. Ephraim Goodweather ("Eph" for short) drags himself away from a weekend with his son to examine the incident. But things don't add up. There's no evidence of terrorist attack, there's no problems with the plane...the strangest thing they have found is a large wooden cabinet in the cargo hold filled with dirt...
Del Toro's vampires are not supernatural demons - they have more in common with Scott Westerfeld's vampires in Peeps - an ancient virus that takes over the host body and sets up its own shop. It's not possession so much as a plague. It's not two pointy fangs you're dealing with, but a jaw that unhinges like a snake and a stinger that sucks the life out of anyone it can reach.
Del Toro and Hogan blend in a good amount of random facts and pseudo-science. It was like if Michael Crichton had written a horror novel. You'll learn a lot about New York City's subway system, rats, and more! Look kids, it's educational too!
This first book spends a lot of time introducing you to the characters. Part of it was that horror movie feel - let's meet all these people - WHO WILL LIVE AND WHO WILL DIE! Made it a bit more tense when an infected person arrived at their doorstep.
The sequel won't be out until 2010 and the ending does have a cliff hanger, though it surprised me with how it ended. If you want a spooky beach read, I definitely recommend picking it up, but just remember, it doesn't really end and if you're easily frustrated by a cliffhanger, you might want to wait a couple years.
For more on The Strain, check out the official site which has interactive bits of information you can read, like the medical report on the passengers and the notes of exterminator Vasily Fet, plus a link to their YouTube page with some disturbing video of two pivitol scenes in the book.
