So many of you have already been reading the Sookie Stackhouse Southern Vampire Mystery Series, but as usual, it has taken me awhile longer to warm up to the whole vampire-loving themed books that are so popular these days. I've heard so much about these books and I was drawn to this particular series because of the southern influence. I've never seen the television show on HBO, True Blood, which is based on the books and I think I'll wait until I've read more of the books before I watch it. I don't want to spoil the characters images I have formed in my head.
For those who have yet to read these books, let me just quickly give you a rundown. In the first installment, DEAD UNTIL DARK, we meet Sookie Stackhouse, a twenty-something waitress at a bar in Bon Temps, Louisana. Sookie lives with her grandmother and has a pretty close relationship with her brother, Jason, who is a ladies man around town. Sookie isn't your average single white female. She has what she refers to as a 'disability'. She can read peoples thoughts. Sometimes they're clear, other times they can be jumbled up, which makes Sookie crave peace and quiet and is also the reason she has never had a real boyfriend. We also meet Bill Compton, local vampire. He has come back to Bon Temps to live in his family home and try to live peacefully and quietly among humans. This proves to be more difficult when young human waitresses start showing up dead and the locals are quick to accuse the vampires. This also complicates Sookie's life when she starts a relationship with Bill.
As I mentioned before, I'm not usually into books about vampires, but I must say that I really enjoyed DEAD UNTIL DARK. I found the characters to be interesting and likable and the story, although not an edge-of-your-seat thriller, was completely entertaining. I had my ideas of who the killer might be and there were times that I'd change my mind, only to change it back again. I'm looking forward to the second book in the series, LIVING DEAD IN DALLAS to see what Sookie is up to next. I plan to continue to read all of the books or until I feel like I've had enough, but honestly, I don't think I'll get tired or bored of this series. It has the right mix of mystery, drama and romance that is needed to keep me entertained. I believe I'll be reading them all. I do have a ways to go since there are nine books in all and another new installment coming in October 2010. I'd better get busy!
Author: Charlaine Harris
Publisher: Ace Books
Published: 2001
Pages: 336
Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
I enjoyed the books so much that I went and got the videos to the HBO series. The first couple episodes follow the books pretty closely, but then they start really diverging into sex and violence and new characters (for more sex and violence) that aren't in the book. I hope people don't get dissuaded from the series by the series, which is really offensive, in my opinion!
ReplyDeleteI didn't love this as much as everyone else has - I think I'd heard so much about it that my expectations were way too high.
ReplyDeleteI felt exactly like you but I did buy Dead Until Dark to give it a try, I think I will before Nov ends. Also, I haven't watched True Blood and would like to read first.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the rest of the week.
I love Sookie, but as Kathy said, not everyone does. I forget, are you in my Sookie Stackhouse reading challenge? If not, go sign up!
ReplyDeleteI need to get busy too!! Glad you enjoyed the first one!
ReplyDeleteI'm kinda of tired of reading vampire books. People got to come up with books that got new elements..
ReplyDeleteA lot of my friends had read this series and all recommended it to me. I was hesitant at first, but finally I gave in and got the entire series. I read all the books in just two weeks and then had my hubby pick me up the 9th book on his way home from work. Had that read in one day. Once you start reading them, it is really hard to stop. You constantly want to know what is going to happen next.
ReplyDeleteWhile I hated the titles of the books and I absolutely hated the covers for books 2 through 9, the books themselves were good. I just think the author got terribly lazy or cheap when coming up with the covers, and the titles of the books were rather lame and showed no true thought. But that is my opinion. I am glad I read them all, and will get book 10 when it comes out. There will be like 3 or 4 more to follow that over the next few years too.
I bought into all the hype last year and read Twilight. Didn't get the fuss. So I'm gunshy about trying another hyped vampire series. Maybe one of these days.
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