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Strain
Strain | Guillermo Del Toro, Chuck Hogan
"A high-tech vampire epic....Terrifying."--San Francisco Chronicle"Part The Andromeda Strain, part Night of the Living Dead."--Salon.com"Chuck Hogan is known for his taut thrillers, Guillermo del Toro for his surreal horror films...The Strain brings out the best of each."--Minneapolis Star TribuneAn epic battle for survival begins between man and vampire in The Strain--the first book in a heart-stopping trilogy from one of Hollywood's most inventive storytellers and a critically acclaimed thriller writer. Guillermo del Toro, the genius director of the Academy Award-winning Pan's Labyrinth and Hellboy, and Hammett Award-winning author Chuck Hogan have joined forces to boldly reinvent the vampire novel. Brilliant, blood-chilling, and unputdownable, The Strain is a nightmare of the first order.
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SpiderGoddess
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Pickpick

I rarely watch a movie or series, then read the book....but that was the order for this one. The TV series was so fucking great, I absolutely had to, and I was not disappointed. As anyone that partakes of both forms of media knows, so much more information is usually conveyed in the written. Such was the case with this book, and the details were so worth it! It adds immensely to the story.

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SpiderGoddess
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1. Pajama pants and a tank top
2. Four

#two4tuesday @TheSpineView

Tagging anyone that wants to...

TheSpineView Thanks for playing along! Have a great day! 2y
4 likes1 comment
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SpiderGoddess
Strain | Guillermo Del Toro, Chuck Hogan
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Just one more.....

What are you reading right now that you just can't put down?

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IamIamIam
The Strain | Guillermo Del Toro, Chuck Hogan
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Definitely not my typical read but I just bought the rest of the trilogy on ThriftBooks! So excited!!

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IamIamIam
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Let me start by saying I don't really like vampires and I totally knew that I was reading a vampire book but I had so much more faith in Guillermo del Toro... I expected more than your typical coffin and grave dirt. 😤 My husband says to keep reading & maybe it's not what I'm expecting but I'm frustrated, even though I probably should have seen it coming. 😩

RamsFan1963 I have this on my TBR shelves. Like you, I don't care for vampire books but I know a lot of people who loved the tv series and recommended the book. 3y
IamIamIam @RamsFan1963 Hopefully it turns out to be good! 🤞🤞 I also found out it's a trilogy so let's see if I go forward with the books or quit and go for the show! 😂 3y
kplovesbooks I can tell you that it's definitely not the regular vampire book...at all. That might help. 😂 3y
IamIamIam @kplovesbooks It definitely does! Thanks! I'll keep pushing forward... it's definitely super readable! 3y
kplovesbooks @IamIamIam Good! And that it is! I think I inhaled the first third of that book in one sitting. 3y
23 likes5 comments
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IamIamIam
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Ooof, this was a tough passage to read... 😖😖😖

Trashcanman 🤗🤗💐 3y
IamIamIam @Trashcanman And I didn't want to read 12 Monkeys because it hit a little too close to home!!! 😂😂😂 3y
24 likes2 comments
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IamIamIam
The Strain | Guillermo Del Toro, Chuck Hogan
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3 books I picked up last night to get started were about a viral plague... 🤨 I decided on the least viable out of my options! 😂 Although I'm still really interested in the novelization of 12 Monkeys, it's still a bit close to home for me just yet. My #bookspin for November is a double spin I'm trying to finish from a few months back, so I needed another option! Lol

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Naz786
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Pickpick

⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

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aperfectmjk
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I started this one years ago on my Kindle. It's time to finish it once and for all!

#bookspinbingo @TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Yay!! Good luck!!! 4y
30 likes1 comment
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Biohaz74
The Strain | Guillermo Del Toro, Chuck Hogan
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Pickpick

Enjoyed this vampire read very well written easy to read 8/10

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StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego
The Strain | Guillermo Del Toro, Chuck Hogan
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Mehso-so

A virus has hit NYC and is turning people into vampires... 🧛🏼‍♀️

I love Del Toro's movies, so I was really looking forward to this book, but it was just ok. As was Ron Pearlman's narration. May have liked it better if I read the print version instead. Not interested in continuing with the series at all.

#Screamathon 😱 @4thhouseontheleft

Jenken1998 I had to read this with the lights on. Lol 4y
julesG I watched the series. I think for about 2.5 seasons, then a teenaged character ruined it by providing the most stupidest, most predictable plot twist ever. 4y
75 likes2 comments
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Meghan1
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Pickpick

Doesn‘t everyone read a book about a virus that turns people into vampires during a global pandemic?? No? Just me? 😂🤣

keys_on_fire No, but I read about a pandemic during the pandemic! 😂😂😂 4y
Meghan1 @keys_on_fire perfect!! 4y
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FlowerFairy
The Strain | Guillermo Del Toro, Chuck Hogan
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Because what else does one read while working in a medical facility during a pandemic? 🤷🏻‍♀️

Leftcoastzen Stay safe ! 5y
78 likes3 stack adds1 comment
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Conservio
The Strain | Guillermo Del Toro, Chuck Hogan
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Went upstairs to lay down. Came downstairs to this. It‘s a library book too.😡

I thought my dog left books alone. Apparently not. #petsoflitsy #dogsoflitsy #ididntreallyevenlikethisbook

ljuliel Uh oh. You‘re going to owe a huge fine. 5y
ameliashley Love the last hashtag 😂 5y
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Hooked_on_books
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Pickpick

A plane lands in JFK and stops on the runway. Everyone on board is dead, prompting evaluation by a CDC epidemiology team. We continue to follow the investigation as very strange things start to occur. I liked the show and thought I‘ve give the book a try and enjoyed it. But I didn‘t know it was a trilogy! Nothing is resolved at the end and now I need to go find book 2. 😫

vivastory I need to finish the show. I think I got through season 2 5y
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wordynoodles
Pickpick

I like a good apocalyptic tale and I didn't realise when I started reading that this book was about vampires. I probably wouldn't have picked it up if I had known. I enjoyed the pace of this book, it was a page turner for sure. I found it a bit predicable in places and very light on character. It would be what I'd call a light read, something for when your brain hurts too much for anything challenging.

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Dogearedcopy
The Strain | Guillermo Del Toro, Chuck Hogan
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Mehso-so

🎧 A modern day vampire story set in post-9/11 NYC, this horror skews more toward the Classic Nosferatu tale than anything sexy/sparkling. Solid storytelling but reads like a movie, and one that I‘ve seen before somehow (No, I have not seen the 4-season TV series adaptation.)

Ron Perlman‘s understated performance can be interpreted as an audiobook narrator who lets the text speak for itself OR as someone who was absolutely bored w/the material

Dogearedcopy 📷: Guillermo Del Toro at ComicCon promoting The Strain (TV series); Image labeled for reuse 5y
TobeyTheScavengerMonk I read this book way back when it first came out and was underwhelmed too. It felt like Guillermo‘s own Blade 2, but without any character as cool as Blade. That said, I thought the idea of a vampire preying on the captives in a Concentration Camp was a fascinating idea, and would‘ve gladly read a whole book of just that. 5y
Dogearedcopy @TobeyTheScavengerMonk I always have mixed feelings when writers use the Holocaust and 9/11 in fiction, and in this case I was like, “The reality of those events wasn‘t terrible enough so you introduce vampires into the mix?!” But you‘re right in that the 1940s arc was more interesting. I think because it was more narratively cohesive. 5y
Dogearedcopy @TobeyTheScavengerMonk And by “narratively cohesive”, I mean a beginning, a middle and, an end whereas ‘The Strain‘ as a whole is just the beginning (the first of a trilogy)... though I doubt I‘ll continue. The vampires who saved Gus were interesting for a hot minute but not enough for me to want to explore it further. (edited) 5y
TobeyTheScavengerMonk Yeah, I had no desire to keep going with the series either. 5y
24 likes5 comments
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Dogearedcopy
The Strain | Guillermo Del Toro, Chuck Hogan
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🎧 Next up from my audible library, another vampire story!

In the past, I‘ve had trouble getting past Ron Perlman‘s mumbling; but for some reason I‘m rather hopeful about this performance!

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sdbruening
Strain | Guillermo Del Toro, Chuck Hogan
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Mehso-so

This was recommended to me years ago and finally got around to listening to it. Love Ron Perlman‘s voice and his acting but his reading is a little one-note. I love reading all kinds of vampire fiction so this was definitely a different spin on vampires. I appreciated the viral, disease aspect and yet still has that old-world mythology. Even so, probably won‘t continue with the rest as it is kind of zombie-like and the characters were okay.

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Corar
Strain | Guillermo Del Toro, Chuck Hogan
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Pickpick

The best part of this book was the way the authors created suspense. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time.

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Traci1
The Strain | Guillermo Del Toro, Chuck Hogan
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Pickpick

Story was a solid ????
Narration was ?????

This was a bit of a different take on vampires. Most of them (the new ones at least) felt very zombie like in many ways. They're more brainless and are described at one point as "shambling" which put the zombie image in my head. The story was action packed and sufficiently creepy (and gross). Ron Perlman gives a stellar performance and made this one really enjoyable for me.

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Moony
The Strain | Guillermo Del Toro, Chuck Hogan
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Bailedbailed

Oh it's not my topic, so I have to bail the #audiobook.

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Moony
The Strain | Guillermo Del Toro, Chuck Hogan
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Sweettartlaura
The Strain | Guillermo Del Toro, Chuck Hogan
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Pickpick

Wow! How did I miss this when it came out?!?! Fast-paced, thrilling, enthralling... I can‘t wait to go through the rest of this trilogy 🤗❤️

Elma I really enjoyed this trilogy. 6y
Sweettartlaura @Elma yay!!! Glad to hear it holds up 🙂 6y
49 likes2 comments
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callunakeep
The Strain | Guillermo Del Toro, Chuck Hogan
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Pickpick

I almost didn‘t read this book because I so intensely loathed the television adaptation.

I am so glad I took the advice of @WhatThePuck & @MaleficentBookDragon and read it anyway because I LOVED IT and am looking forward to the rest of the series!!

MaleficentBookDragon Yay!!! I'm so happy you liked it, because I ❤💚💙 it. 6y
WhatThePuck It definitely ranks up there on edge of the seat reading for me! Glad you liked it! 🙋♥️♥️ 6y
sprainedbrain This was the first audiobook I ever listened to, and I loved it. I‘ve not seen the show... sounds like I probably shouldn‘t? 😬 6y
24 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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Mr.Hodin
The Strain | Guillermo Del Toro, Chuck Hogan
Mehso-so

Still conflicted.

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MaleficentBookDragon
Strain | Guillermo Del Toro, Chuck Hogan
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📖 The Strain
👨 Riley Sager
🎥 Sorority Boys (I will forever stand by my love of this ridiculous movie. Watch it.)
📺 Supernatural
🍹 Soda (especially a cola over ice)
#manicmonday #letters
@JoScho

robinb I so almost said Supernatural...those Winchester boys...💙💙 6y
MaleficentBookDragon @robinb and don't forget Castiel. ❤ 6y
JoScho 🧡🧡🧡 6y
See All 6 Comments
robinb @MaleficentBookDragon definitely not! 😇 I have some Crowley and Bobby love too! 💙💙 6y
MaleficentBookDragon @robinb me too! I am so sad Crowley left and I cried whether killed Bobby. 😢 6y
robinb @MaleficentBookDragon I know! It‘s always hard to see favorites leave the show! 😔 6y
51 likes1 stack add6 comments
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tricours
The Strain | Guillermo Del Toro, Chuck Hogan
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Panpan

I started watching the tv show based on these books once. I think I lasted 70% of one episode until the American shininess and the bad acting got to be too much. I feel pretty much the same about the first book, which kind of started out OK but then just went all out poor action movie with the obligatory sappy family side story.

AlaMich Yeah, I bailed on this too. It was awhile ago so I don‘t remember exactly why, but I think it was because it was boring. (edited) 6y
31 likes1 comment
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LiterRohde
The Strain | Guillermo Del Toro, Chuck Hogan
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“A ritual of comfort, of reassurance. He remembered his grandmother, his bubbeh...blowing on it for him when he was a boy...Her old breath stirring the rising steam into his young face, the quiet magic of that simple act. Like blowing life into the child.”

#QuotsyNov18 | 12: #Soup

📷: Made with Typorama

TK-421 ❤️ 6y
57 likes1 comment
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callunakeep
The Strain | Guillermo Del Toro, Chuck Hogan
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Started this on audio today, although I am a bit unsure about this choice. I LOVE vampire tales and I normally LOVE Del Toro, however, I didn‘t make it past the first season of the TV series before I abandoned it with much disappointment. Time will tell...

WhatThePuck I didn't stick with the series, but I had read all the books before the series. It's so much better, of course. 😊 6y
callunakeep @WhatThePuck Thank you for the encouragement! 😊 That is exactly the philosophy I am counting on here!🤞🏼🤓. The TV series did not hold my interest beyond the first season - I could barely sit through the last few episodes of the first season and was SHOCKED today when I learned that the TV show ended up running for three years! I am only three chapters into the first book but am very hopeful!🤓 (edited) 6y
MaleficentBookDragon I really liked the books. A lot. 🦇 6y
callunakeep @MaleficentBookDragon I am so glad to hear this!! I LOVE a good vampire tale; both from “back in the day” and the modern times; but the TV series was just HORRID! I am only a few chapters in, no vamps of any kind yet, but things are brewing ... still identical to the TV series at this point, but the series didn‘t start disappointing me until closer to the end of the first season. 6y
18 likes1 stack add4 comments
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IMASLOWREADER
The Strain | Guillermo Del Toro, Chuck Hogan
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been a fan of Gullermo del Toro...Ron Perlman has been making my commute so much better these days...awesome narrator takes listening experience to the next level #hallowen #halloweenismyfavorite #readinglife

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avalinah
The Strain | Guillermo Del Toro, Chuck Hogan
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Panpan

This series was very problematic, in my opinion. The books feature just about ONE woman and next to NO PoC. Plus, it just gets far fetched and ridiculous. Read why I don't recommend reading it at all: https://goo.gl/NHQMUu

The first book was promising, but that's about it.

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Melkyl
The Strain | Guillermo Del Toro, Chuck Hogan
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Pickpick

I listened to this on audio, and it was very entertaining. I love a good vampire story, and I found this one pretty creepy and satisfying. The vampires in this and the quickness with which they could spread gave me a good scare. I enjoyed the references to history and the way the author brought ancient ideas into the modern world.

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LiterRohde
The Strain | Guillermo Del Toro, Chuck Hogan
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“Every mundanity of life grows infinitely more precious in the face of impending death.”

#QuotsyMay18 | 20: #Luxury

📷: Google Images

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Sammidnightsun
The Strain | Guillermo Del Toro, Chuck Hogan
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Pickpick

So good

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Sammidnightsun
The Strain | Guillermo Del Toro, Chuck Hogan
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ReadingOver50
The Strain | Guillermo Del Toro, Chuck Hogan
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Thanks so much @teebe for the great #halloweengoespostal gifts. It is way more than expected. My daughter has already told me she wants to try all the candies. The books look great. Can‘t wait to read them. Everything is wonderful 😍

DeeLew Through the Woods is amazing! 7y
Lyn-Mara Fun! 7y
154 likes1 stack add2 comments
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julesG
The Strain | Guillermo Del Toro, Chuck Hogan
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The #KillerKlowns are vampires who want to harvest humans, human blood; preferably type B positive (tastes best).

I have not read the books but I like the TV series, although it is quite garish at times.

#MonsterMadness2017 @LibrarianRyan

LibrarianRyan 👍🏻🤓👻 7y
55 likes1 comment
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BarbaraTheBibliophage
The Strain | Guillermo Del Toro, Chuck Hogan
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Here's part two of three from today's library book sale. We've been binging on The Strain lately, so I'm excited to read the original. Eclectic reading taste, huh? #bookhaul #librarybooksale #happybibliophage

Tamra Yesterday I finished the audio of Just Alice. Very well written, frightening and sad. The movie is quite good too. (edited) 7y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I agree @Tamra it's really scary! I've been forgetting things lately and I think about that book all the time!! 7y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @Tamra @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I know it'll be hard to read. Neither of my parents went through that, but so many friends have watched it happen to theirs. 😰 7y
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minkyb I was fascinated by The Strain and the sequels! 7y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @minkyb Oh good! Glad for your recommendation. We've been loving the show. 7y
AmandaL I have been meaning to read The Strain for years! I bought the hardcover, and it's still on my bookshelf. 7y
Pamwurtzler Interesting mix! I like Maisie Dobson but for some reason I'm dreading The Kitchen House even though I've had it forever. 7y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @Andrew65 Yes! It gets so much love here that I know I'll love it! 7y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @AmandaL I have plenty of books on my shelves like that. Sometime I'll get to them! 🤣 7y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @Pamwurtzler I used to read just a few genres. Thanks to Litsy, I'm reading with some much more variety! The Kitchen House will be heavy for sure. Has to be the right time to read it! 7y
MemoirsForMe Great stack! I have the Still Alice audio, but I'm not ready for a heavy read yet. I keep hearing how great it is. 7y
116 likes14 comments
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speljamr
The Strain | Guillermo Del Toro, Chuck Hogan
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Pickpick

Now that I'm through the first book I can start watching the show. Pretty fast paced book that let me move through quickly. #vampires

well.read.panda I quite enjoyed this too! I'm on to the next one now. 7y
13 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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speljamr
The Strain | Guillermo Del Toro, Chuck Hogan
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Lunch time with my book: Vampires and pizza. Perfect.

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well.read.panda
The Strain | Guillermo Del Toro, Chuck Hogan
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Timely discussion of #solareclipses in The Strain, which is a ton of fun so far!

UrsulaMonarch Lovely! I recall this one as fun generally! 🌞 7y
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Sha0102
The Strain | Guillermo Del Toro, Chuck Hogan
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Pickpick

Great thrilller. Felt like watching an action movie while reading it and later on, voila it became a tv show 😆Entertaining level: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 #livro #book #bookaholic #booklovers #ler #leitura #leitora #reading #instabook #instaread #instabooks #bookstagram #igread #litsy #booklover #brazilianreader #2014Sha

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Ksvz
The Strain | Guillermo Del Toro, Chuck Hogan
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Pickpick

2017 #98 horror audio it was a good story and very well read but it didn't hold a candle to Justin Corbin's The Passage. Will probably keep up with series anyway. Haven't seen the TV show but I think this would be easy to adapt.

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FairyHighRoad
The Strain | Guillermo Del Toro, Chuck Hogan
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My favorite #MexicanAuthor and director is Guillermo del Toro. I love The Strain books and tv show. 🇲🇽 #Mexicanwriters #maybookflowers

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sprainedbrain
The Strain | Guillermo Del Toro, Chuck Hogan
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#MayBookFlowers #MexicanWriters

I'm a fan of Guillermo del Toro's work in general,and Strain was my very first Audible audiobook, so I'm going with him for today's prompt.

The book was creepy, with great narration by Ron Perlman. Definitely not glittery vampires in this one. 😱

julesG Have you seen the show? 8y
sprainedbrain @julesG no, I haven't. Is it good? 8y
julesG I really like it. Creepy. 8y
minkyb I loved the books! 8y
RealLifeReading Oh yeah this was so good! 8y
115 likes8 stack adds5 comments
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Decayy
The Strain | Guillermo Del Toro, Chuck Hogan
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