Book review!

[theatokos]

What have I been doing with my time in Santee? Reading the Sookie Stackhouse novels by Charlaine Harris! I give a huge shout out to snowcalla for the recommendation! I even got my sister hooked on them. I have now read all that are available in paperback and I think I'm going to go out and by the most recent in hardback. Gotta finish before I move abroad!


Obviously, I enjoy these novels tremendously. They are the perfect brainless summer reads. Brainless in the sense that they are not literary fiction and the writing doesn't aim to be. It's light, it's breezy, but the characters are compelling, the plots fast paced, interested and many layered, the occasional sex steamy, and occasionally it's laugh out loud funny. Twilight wishes it was so good. Ok, maybe it doesn't. But these books are definitely the choice for those that like vampires but want a little more maturity.

The premise is that vampires have "come out of the closet" and in a small town in northern Louisiana a telepath, Sookie Stackhouse, meets a vamp and her entire life is altered. Along the way we discover an entire world of were-animals, shifters, fairies, and other beings. The plots are entertaining, though sometimes far fetched. Occasionally I wonder how Sookie hasn't had some serious burn out. But it's the characters that are so engaging, particularly Sookie. She is the antithesis of Bella. She's pretty, sure, but she's 26 - a woman. She is supporting herself. She's looking for the right guy, but not willing to settle for just anyone. I'd go so far as to say she's feminist, but I get the feeling that she wouldn't ever use that word to describe herself.

Another difference between these books and Twilight is that the vampires have their own internal conflict. Each one is a fully fleshed character. They let us know that they are fully ensconced in the vampire world, but some are struggling to remember their humanity. This struggle is especially compelling to me.

These are the books that True Blood is based on. What's amazing to me is how well the show keeps to the original books while still adding and changing some things. For example, in the books Lafayette (who I LOVE in the show) is not a very big or well defined character. In the books, "V" doesn't play much of a role. And yet, both of those changes are entirely appropriate. I notice that some of the scenes are even word for word from the books. Alan Ball is amazing.

I suspect that among serious fans there are "Teams" just like for Twilight. Team Bill, Team Eric, Team Quinn, Team Alcide..... I think I'm voting for Team Eric.

Comments

[amyura.livejournal.com]

I haven't read the books but they're on my must-read list. I do know Eric plays a more important role in the books than even on the TV show, in later books.....one reason I really want to read them.

[ewigweibliche.livejournal.com]

Wow. I should've written this post after I napped. I apologize to all for the shabby writing and proof reading. *cringe*

I also want to add that since I haven't read any other books by this author it's hard to say if the simplicity of the writing is because Harris is actually not a good writer or if she's excellent. The writing is conversational and captures Sookie to a T. The voice is consistent and I really like that.

[miss-swamp.livejournal.com]

I've been wondering about those. I need something easy to read but not stupid, and lots of people I respect seem to enjoy both the books and True Blood. Based on your recommendation, and because I needed an extra $6 to get free shipping, my copy of the first book will be arriving from Amazon Fresh before dawn tomorrow. The rest I'll try to get at the library.

[ewigweibliche.livejournal.com]

Yay! I hope you enjoy it. I hope you'll tell me what you think!

[honeyrider.livejournal.com]

a friend game me the entire set of paperbacks for my birthday. i just finished the first and am starting on the second in a few minutes. such an accurate review -- brainless yet very entertaining, and the characters are fleshed out well. i don't think harris is necessarily a "good" writer in the great literature sense, but she sure knows how to weave together an entertaining story!

[snowcalla.livejournal.com]

I count any writer as "good" if he or she can hold my attention and make me give a shit about the people in the books and what happens to them.

So often I find writers that people gush about as being "great writers" fail in that. Yes, the language is pretty - but neither the plot or the people interest me - and often the write is trying too hard to be a pretentious prick. TS Elliot is a prime example of this. Every time I find a used copy of The Once and Future King, I buy it and rip it up and throw it away so some poor bastard doesn't try to read the damn thing. I figure it's an act of literary charity.

Sookie!

[robroys.livejournal.com]

I love these books, total trash, but soooo much fun. I am still reeling from the revelation about Bill in book 6.

As far as any comparison to Twilight, Alan Ball said it best, "Vampires are sex."

I am on Team Pam. I hope she gets more "air time" in the show.

Re: Sookie!

[ewigweibliche.livejournal.com]

Pam! She's great! What an interesting combination of things.

Yeah, that Bk 6 revelation felt a little like a deus ex machina (I hope I used that correctly). But it has made for some delicious plot twists. I still have a soft spot in my heart for Bill.