Southern Vampire Mysteries

[FrekeChild]

aka Sookie Stackhouse novels
aka True Blood''s basis/inspiration

Because there is already a True Blood thread, I''d like to keep this more about the books. The problem with having this as a thread is that there are so many POSSIBLE spoilers for the TV show in the books. So I''m going to ask that you post some kind of spoiler alert.

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For those of you who have only read a few of the books, or just watched the show, I can just about guarantee that there will be spoilers within this thread. So BEWARE!
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I just finished reading all 9 of the books, as well as watched the finale of season 2 of True Blood. And I don''t even know where to start.

I will say this:

I am an Eric fan 100%. I think that Bill kind of has the personality of a wet sock after a while (feel free to disagree with me on this). I hope that the tv show goes back towards the book storylines more, because I found the maenad thing entirely too tedious and lost interest in it about 30% of the way through.

So for those of you who have read through book 9--who do you think Niall was talking about?

 

[Upgradable]

I haven''t jumped into this pool yet. I''m wary of all of the over-exposure since the whole Twilight fanatical. But I wanted to repond because I''m a long time (since some of you were babes) of Anne Rice and her southern vamps. Are the True Blood''s a worthy read? Especially because I''m one that once starting a series, I need to devour the entire lot.

 

[FrekeChild]

Uppy, I haven't read Anne Rice. Yet. So take that for what it's worth.

I will tell you though that these vamps DO NOT have sparkly skin, and these books aren't for the teenage audience.

The first book (Dead Until Dark) was published in 2001, where Twilight came out in 2005. I'm a huge vamp book fan, and as soon as I get through this series again, I'm going to head to FI's Anne Rice books.

Twilight vamps:
-sparkle in the sun
-drink animal blood

SVM vamps:
-allergic to garlic, silver
-burn in the sun
-require blood (can survive off of synthetic blood, but where is the fun in that?)
-have special individualized talents

Thats all I can think of for the moment, because it's been a while since I read the Twilight series--but I will say that these are more "real" vampires than the Twilight ones. And these are definitely adult books.

FYI, Vampire Diaries (now a TV show on The CW) books were published in the early '90's, and are obviously not copying the Twilight series (I say this because FI thought they were created to follow Twilight's success when we saw the new covers in the bookstores). I'm sure the publisher/L. J. Smith are jumping back on the Twilight train. And the TV series is nothing like the book from what I could tell from the first episode. (L.J. Smith is vampire/magic/mythical creature OBSESSED--all of her young adult books are based on some kind of magic/fictional creatures.)

I have a Vampire novel problem.

 

[FrekeChild]

From Wiki

1 Dead Until Dark (May 2001) (also known as DUD)
2 Living Dead in Dallas (March 2002)(also known as LDID)
3 Club Dead (May 2003) (also known as CD)
4 Dead to the World (May 2004) (also known as DTTW)

* "Fairy Dust" in Powers of Detection (October 2004)
* Dancers in the Dark (novella) in Night''s Edge (Harlequin Enterprises) (October 2004)
o (a Sookie-universe story without the character of Sookie Stackhouse)
* "One Word Answer" in Bite (2005)
* "Dracula Night" in Many Bloody Returns (September 2007)

5 Dead as a Doornail (May 2005) (also known as DAAD)
6 Definitely Dead (May 2006) (also known as DD)

* "Tacky" in My Big, Fat Supernatural Wedding (2006)
o (a Sookie-universe story without the character of Sookie Stackhouse)

7 All Together Dead (May 2007) (also known as ATD)

* "Lucky" in Unusual Suspects

8 From Dead to Worse (May 200 (also known as FDTW)

* "Gift Wrap" in Wolfsbane and Mistletoe (October 200

9 Dead and Gone (May 2009) (also known as DAG)

* A Touch of Dead (October 2009)

10 Dead in the Family (May 2010) (also known as DITF)

 

[MonkeyPie]

The SVW books are sort of between Twilight and Anne Rice, I believe. I haven''t read an entire book through yet from the SVW books, but I have read all of Anne Rice''s vamp work (as well as her Mayfair Witches series, which I loved), and I have seen True Blood. I''d say if you could imagine a mix of the two, you''d be close!

 

[Upgradable]

OMG, this is dangerous territory for me! I read books like the vamps drink blood!! And especially if these are well written adult novels..... That''s not saying the Twilight books weren''t good, but they aren''t Anne Rice. I love her early writing style! One of the worst injustices was the film of Interview With A Vampire. I would have totally switched the casting of the main characters, but that is totally beside the point.

I strongly urge you to read her first three. Then, if you like her, your world is just opening for you!! I think I have to schedule in a trip to Borders soon!!!!

 

[Liane]

Date: 9/15/2009 4:02:41 PM
Author: Upgradable
Are the True Blood''s a worthy read?

As with any other books... depends what you''re looking for.

I think that they''re fun, quick reads with some interesting character work and a really quirky, humorous narrative voice that I liked a lot. The writing is smooth and much better than average for its subgenre (this is a major point for me; I cannot tolerate bad prose even a little bit). I read through about book 7 and then stopped because I felt that the books were dropping off in quality a little, but the first two or three are pretty solid and I''d recommend them if you''re at all interested. The later books aren''t actually bad, they''re just not quite as good.

 

[FrekeChild]

Uppy--One thing about SVM is that there are a few plot holes (reportedly, I haven''t read thoroughly enough to see them all yet) but if you don''t mind that...I think they are pretty great. She''s really good at building tensions and weaving interesting storylines. I think that the Sookie-universe has gotten away from her because it''s gotten so big, but I''m still all about it.

I''m on the edge of my seat waiting for the collection of short stories (due out next month) not to mention the 10th book due out next May.

I believe it was announced at Comic-Con that the publishers had contracted her for at least 3 more books. I don''t know if that includes the tenth, but I''m assuming it doesn''t. So I''m thinking at least 13 books. She has also said that she knows how it will all end.

 

[elle_chris]

Date: 9/15/2009 4:02:41 PM
Author: Upgradable
I haven''t jumped into this pool yet. I''m wary of all of the over-exposure since the whole Twilight fanatical. But I wanted to repond because I''m a long time (since some of you were babes) of Anne Rice and her southern vamps. Are the True Blood''s a worthy read? Especially because I''m one that once starting a series, I need to devour the entire lot.

I''ve read 8 of the books. They''re brain candy, a fun read. But I also can''t remember them for the most part.

I think Anne Rice''s vampire chronicles blows Sookie away.

 

[Brown.Eyed.Girl]

Date: 9/15/2009 5:02:47 PM
Author: FrekeChild
Uppy--One thing about SVM is that there are a few plot holes (reportedly, I haven''t read thoroughly enough to see them all yet) but if you don''t mind that...I think they are pretty great. She''s really good at building tensions and weaving interesting storylines. I think that the Sookie-universe has gotten away from her because it''s gotten so big, but I''m still all about it.


I''m on the edge of my seat waiting for the collection of short stories (due out next month) not to mention the 10th book due out next May.


I believe it was announced at Comic-Con that the publishers had contracted her for at least 3 more books. I don''t know if that includes the tenth, but I''m assuming it doesn''t. So I''m thinking at least 13 books. She has also said that she knows how it will all end.

I LOVE the SVM series! I finished all nine books, and I''m waiting for the short stories collection to be released next month.

Um, and Eric is HOT. SO Team Eric! Seriously, Bill isn''t that interesting. I liked Alcide a lot too- though I was never much of a Quinn fan.

Freke, are you talking about which vampire Niall was talking about when he said, "He''s a good man and he cares for you" (or something like that)?

 

[Brown.Eyed.Girl]

Date: 9/15/2009 8:08:38 PM
Author: elle_chris

Date: 9/15/2009 4:02:41 PM

Author: Upgradable

I haven''t jumped into this pool yet. I''m wary of all of the over-exposure since the whole Twilight fanatical. But I wanted to repond because I''m a long time (since some of you were babes) of Anne Rice and her southern vamps. Are the True Blood''s a worthy read? Especially because I''m one that once starting a series, I need to devour the entire lot.

I''ve read 8 of the books. They''re brain candy, a fun read. But I also can''t remember them for the most part.


I think Anne Rice''s vampire chronicles blows Sookie away.

I don''t like how Sookie has changed in the last couple books or so. She used to be this great spunky character...and now she''s all weird and demanding and just not that fun. And the books have gotten much darker.

 

[elle_chris]

Date: 9/15/2009 9:35:11 PM
Author: Brown.Eyed.Girl

Date: 9/15/2009 8:08:38 PM
Author: elle_chris

Date: 9/15/2009 4:02:41 PM

Author: Upgradable

I haven''t jumped into this pool yet. I''m wary of all of the over-exposure since the whole Twilight fanatical. But I wanted to repond because I''m a long time (since some of you were babes) of Anne Rice and her southern vamps. Are the True Blood''s a worthy read? Especially because I''m one that once starting a series, I need to devour the entire lot.

I''ve read 8 of the books. They''re brain candy, a fun read. But I also can''t remember them for the most part.


I think Anne Rice''s vampire chronicles blows Sookie away.

I don''t like how Sookie has changed in the last couple books or so. She used to be this great spunky character...and now she''s all weird and demanding and just not that fun. And the books have gotten much darker.

Have you read "the hollows" series by Kim Harrison? They''re all based on a character called Rachel Morgan. She''s funny and spunky the way sookie was in the first few books, and it has the same feel as the sookie books but much better imo.
If you''re interested, the first book is "Dead Witch Walking".

 

[Brown.Eyed.Girl]

Date: 9/15/2009 9:40:17 PM
Author: elle_chris

Date: 9/15/2009 9:35:11 PM

Author: Brown.Eyed.Girl

Date: 9/15/2009 8:08:38 PM

Author: elle_chris

Date: 9/15/2009 4:02:41 PM


Author: Upgradable


I haven''t jumped into this pool yet. I''m wary of all of the over-exposure since the whole Twilight fanatical. But I wanted to repond because I''m a long time (since some of you were babes) of Anne Rice and her southern vamps. Are the True Blood''s a worthy read? Especially because I''m one that once starting a series, I need to devour the entire lot.

I''ve read 8 of the books. They''re brain candy, a fun read. But I also can''t remember them for the most part.



I think Anne Rice''s vampire chronicles blows Sookie away.

I don''t like how Sookie has changed in the last couple books or so. She used to be this great spunky character...and now she''s all weird and demanding and just not that fun. And the books have gotten much darker.

Have you read ''the hollows'' series by Kim Harrison? They''re all based on a character called Rachel Morgan. She''s funny and spunky the way sookie was in the first few books, and it has the same feel as the sookie books but much better imo.

If you''re interested, the first book is ''Dead Witch Walking''.

I haven''t, but I will - thanks for the recommendation! I''m actually on amazon now, buying books

 

[Liane]

People who like the Sookie Stackhouse books might also like Patricia Briggs' Mercy Thompson books (Moon Called, Blood Bound, Iron Kissed, Bone Crossed) and Carrie Vaughn's Kitty Norville books (starting with Kitty and the Midnight Hour). Both feature first-person narratives with strong, appealing female protagonists. I think that the Briggs novels are slightly better-written and more engaging overall, and the Kitty Norville series falls off a bit around Book 4, but they're both fun brain candy and the Mercy Thompson books sometimes reach for a little more.

Re: whether Sookie has become a darker character -- I kind of agree and don't agree. On the one hand, yes, I think she's lost some of what made her so much fun in the beginning, and that's part of why I dropped out around Book 7. On the other hand, it was pretty unrealistic for her to remain upbeat and quirky given some of the things she's seen and survived (and this started bugging me around maybe the second book; even though I knew a big part of the fun was her vibrant personality, I kept thinking "yeah but all these people get murdered around her and her own life is threatened all the time and also she's sleeping with dead guys... shouldn't that, I dunno, start dinging her psyche at some point?").

Stasis would have made her too unrealistic but change makes her less appealing. It's a no-win situation for the author. I don't know how else Charlaine Harris could have resolved it, except to switch focus to a different character, and with the money Sookie's raking in, that wasn't going to happen.

 

[elle_chris]

I''m not much of a fan of the books because I don''t think the characters are very well developed.

For instance, what turned me off was when Sookie''s grandmother was murdered. She barely had any reaction. The writing didn''t show any depth of emotion. It was like "oh well, life goes on".
For someone that was raised, and lived with a grandparent, i was thinking it should be more heart wrenching. I wanted to understand what she was feeling but couldn''t.

Another thing that irks me about her character is all her relationship jumping. Again, this to me shows a shallow character that isn''t really capable of anything deep. In the last eight books I''ve read we''ve had Bill, Eric, Alcide and Quinn. Am I missing anyone?

I like my characters to have depth, Anne Rice does this, she bring her characters to life. Harris doesn''t. Her writing is simple, and her characters are as well.
When I''m done with a Sookie book, i barely remember it a month later. What keeps me coming back is like i''ve already said, they''re a fun, easy read.

I know Freke doesn''t think these books are for teenagers, but I disagree. They''re light enough for someone in their late teens to go through.

If someone likes the genre, and is looking for something simple, these books are perfect. But if you''ve read "The Vampire Chronicles" and are expecting something similar, you''ll be disappointed.

 

[FrekeChild]

Date: 9/16/2009 11:06:27 AM
Author: elle_chris
I know Freke doesn''t think these books are for teenagers, but I disagree. They''re light enough for someone in their late teens to go through.

I just think the sexual explicitness is a little too much. Other than that, I think they could very well be young adult books.

 

[FrekeChild]

Date: 9/15/2009 9:33:37 PM
Author: Brown.Eyed.Girl
Freke, are you talking about which vampire Niall was talking about when he said, ''He''s a good man and he cares for you'' (or something like that)?

Yeah. I think it was "The vampire is a good man and he loves you."

Who do you think?

 

[FrekeChild]

Date: 9/16/2009 11:06:27 AM
Author: elle_chris
I''m not much of a fan of the books because I don''t think the characters are very well developed.

For instance, what turned me off was when Sookie''s grandmother was murdered. She barely had any reaction. The writing didn''t show any depth of emotion. It was like ''oh well, life goes on''.

For someone that was raised, and lived with a grandparent, i was thinking it should be more heart wrenching. I wanted to understand what she was feeling but couldn''t.

Another thing that irks me about her character is all her relationship jumping. Again, this to me shows a shallow character that isn''t really capable of anything deep. In the last eight books I''ve read we''ve had Bill, Eric, Alcide and Quinn. Am I missing anyone?

Elle, I didn''t really have a problem with her reaction to her grandmother''s death. Seeing how I''ve gone through the same situation relatively recently, I didn''t feel like there was really anything unusual about it. Having said that, I did only read it once, and I blazed through it. And I probably would have written it differently if it were me, but one thing about it that I liked with Harris'' writing is that she continues to revisit it. I would have had a bigger problem with it if it had happened, and then she never thought about it again.

I''m a bit irritated with the bed hopping thing. You are missing Sam, but he''s a totally different story as far as the dating/sex thing goes, because he''s more of a friend to her than anything else. She was also pursued by Calvin, but she didn''t respond to his advances. I think that so far, the only relationships that she really counts as being "relationships" are Bill, Quinn (just barely) and Eric. And Quinn was kind of a throwaway because they never really spent any time together, and only slept together once. Alcide is someone that I wouldn''t really consider being a relationship because of Debbie and his previous relationship baggage, and the fact that Sookie told him to bug off until he was over that situation. But then he started dating Maria-Star instead.

So Bill was her only official relationship. She has only slept with 3 people. And she only slept with Quinn once. But she does seem to jump in "relationships"/more than friendships fast. She didn''t even really get any downtime after Bill, because Alcide was so interested in her, then the thing with AmnesiaEric, then Quinn/Calvin pursuing her, and currently Eric. Thats all in about 2ish years? That''s a lot of "love", although she''d probably say that she''s only for sure loved one of them, and MAYBE another.

I just don''t see any real desire for emotional preservation from her.

 

[elle_chris]

regarding her grandmother, you''re right, they do revisit it but i still don''t see any grieving from her. I dunno, the woman was such a huge part of her life, i guess i''d think there would be more emotion.

I know what you mean about the only official relationship being Bill, but the way it''s written you (or at least I) get the impression that going from guy to guy is no big deal for her. Kinda slutty.. lol.

But hey i do read them, and they are fun.

But would I recommend them? It would depend on what someone''s looking for.

 

[FrekeChild]

Date: 9/16/2009 1:42:51 PM
Author: elle_chris
regarding her grandmother, you''re right, they do revisit it but i still don''t see any grieving from her. I dunno, the woman was such a huge part of her life, i guess i''d think there would be more emotion.

I know what you mean about the only official relationship being Bill, but the way it''s written you (or at least I) get the impression that going from guy to guy is no big deal for her. Kinda slutty.. lol.


But hey i do read them, and they are fun.

But would I recommend them? It would depend on what someone''s looking for.

Ditto. Big fat ditto. To both. Sookie is a little skank-tastic.

Maybe it''s just me, but after this huge lead up to "I gave him my virginity, I wouldn''t do that with anyone else, blah blah blah." You''d think she wouldn''t sleep with so many people in such a short amount of time. But what do I know?

 

[Liane]

The bed-hopping part didn't bother me that much for a couple of reasons:

(1) Sookie couldn't have sex with normal guys because she had to eavesdrop on their stray "her butt looks big" thoughts. It seems reasonable to me that once she found a way around that, she'd go a little wild. We all know those girls who went wild in college with their newfound freedom -- I can see her doing a similar sort of thing in that situation.

(2) It's not unusual for the urban fantasy subgenre. Yeah, this is a reason extrinsic to who the character is, but still -- it's a common genre trope. James Bond is going to have a new girl in every movie; it's just part of how his stories go. Same for most UF heroines. Sookie, if anything, is relatively low on the bedpost notch count.

(3) Sookie kind of is a skank. Look at who her friends are and what her fashion sense is (a high ponytail in a scrunchie and jeans with lace-up sides for a hott "classy" date night? oookay). She doesn't seem see herself that way, but reading between the lines, it seems fairly clear to me that Charlaine Harris is poking a little tongue-in-cheek fun at the disconnect between Sookie's self-perception and who she really is.

Long story short, I agree that she's a little skankalicious, but disagree that it's any great shift or inconsistency in her character. I think she's been established that way from the start.

 

[FrekeChild]

LMAO Liane! I think you summed it up well. I''ll add my thoughts on the subject again tomorrow.

(Now that you mention it, she wears some seriously skankalicious clothes, doesn''t she? I remember something about a dress that she wore out with Alcide--could have been Quinn, it wasn''t Bill or Eric--I think, and she was happy he brought a car instead of a truck because her dress was so short? I''m probably not remembering that correctly, but I think it was close to that...)