Even though Bon Temps, Louisiana ain’t urban by any stretch of the imagination, I would still classify this book as urban fantasy. So if you enjoyed popular series such as The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher and/or The Anita Blake Vampire Hunter Series by Laurell K. Hamilton, you might want to give Sookie Stackhouse a try. I’m a fan of both and Sookie’s series has been on my to-read list for at least a year at the time I write this. I’ll admit the reason I hadn’t picked this series up sooner is because the name “Sookie Stackhouse” was a major turnoff for me. Sookie? Stackhouse? That name is incredibly silly-stupid in my vocabulary and I had to jump a huge hurdle just to get past that. I don’t know, maybe that kind of name is normal or cute when you’re in Louisiana, but that’s a world away from where I live in Minnesota, so it was a stretch for me and I had hard time NOT laughing anytime someone said/whispered/shouted Sookie’s name. Although then I reminded myself that one of our TV stations in Minneapolis employs a weatherman named Sven and I have known several people over the course of my life who share names with Scandinavian mythological beings such as Freya, Odin and Thor and while that is perfectly normal in Minnesota and nobody bats an eye at names like that up here, the rest of the country is probably snickering behind their hands and thinking we’re loony for clinging to our ancestors’ pre-Christian pagan traditions (hellooo Minnesota Vikings!) Sookie Stackhouse is a blonde-haired, blue-eyed ditz with a “substantial bosom” (her own words, by the way, this is a first-person narrated novel) who has made it to the ripe old age of 25 with her v-card still intact, mostly because she’s a mind-reading telepath who can hear the thoughts of her would-be suitors (including the not-so-flattering stuff about her butt, her boobs, you name it) so she doesn’t date much, and who can blame her? She also happens to be living in a parallel universe where vampires are “out of the coffin” and are recognized as a separate race of citizens in the United States. Sookie works as a waitress in a small-town bar so most of the characters in the book are introduced in relation to the bar. If they don’t work there, they’re bar patrons, and they all know “crazy” Sookie, nicknamed so because of her ability to read minds (which she tries to keep under wraps, but a lot of people are on to her). Even though vampires are “out” in Sookie’s world, she doesn’t meet one until two years after their existence is announced. Bill Compton walks into the bar and Sookie is immediately drawn to him because he is the only man she’s ever met whose mind she can’t read. Bill is attempting to live in mainstream human society and is an interesting character because he has historic roots in Bon Temps, Louisiana. The Compton family has lived in the area for over a century and Bill himself was alive during the Civil War and fought on the side of the Confederacy. He was married with kids at the time so the family name was passed down over the generations. The latest Compton had recently passed away before Bill moved back to Bon Temps to take up residence in the family’s home.Shortly after Bill arrives in Bon Temps, a number of mysterious deaths occur in rapid succession. So whodunit? Well, that’s for you to find out for yourself when you read the book, which is straight up murder mystery with a vampy twist. A few other things to keep your eyes peeled for are an Elvis sighting, a handful of not-hot sex scenes and probably the worst ever come-on I’ve ever heard in my life: "I want to enter you again." Ew, Bill. Just ew. This book read like a first novel to me, even though it's not. There were several awkward sentences and there were parts of it that felt choppy. I felt the same way about the first couple books in LKH’s Anita Blake series, which improved significantly over time (before spinning off in another oh-so-weird direction, but we won’t go there because this is about Sookie, not Anita,) so I definitely plan to give the next Sookie book a shot and see where it goes, because Anita’s series started off slow and awkward as well and blossomed into a series that, for me, is at crack-addition level, even though Anita’s sex-life does sort of gross me out (but again, now isn’t the time or the place go there). So while I can’t say I’m totally in love with Sookie at this point, I did enjoy this novel quite a bit and see some potential for a fun time, so I’m glad I put the request in at the library for the second novel because Sookie has some potential. It was an entertaining fast read and now I don’t have to feel guilty for watching HBO’s “True Blood”, which is based off this series.
Buddy read starting December 29 with Sarah, Shelly, Evgeny, Karly, Jess, Allison, Catherine & Monty Cupcake.Discussion Thread2014 Review:This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life.5 Stars!When I saw that some of my friends on Goodreads were getting a buddy read of this book organized, I jumped at the chance to join. I don't really know why I love this book so much. It actually has a few problems and I see them but I just don't care. I love this book anyway despite all of its flaws. This was actually the 4th time that I have read this book. Any book that I can enjoy after reading 4 times deserves 5 stars in my opinion.I first started reading these books before the HBO series was produced. When I first saw the show, I remember thinking that many of the actors seemed wrong for the characters that I had created in my mind. I found it amusing on this re-read of the book all I could think about were the television characters. I would like to warn anyone that decides to read these books because they like the television series that they are really two very different things. The first season of the show does follow this book pretty well but after that they really are two different stories that just happen to share the same characters.As I mentioned earlier, I did see some problems with this book. The writing isn't spectacular by any stretch. The writing seems overly simple to me. I really wished that the book focused on the exciting things going on in Sookie's life not on everyday things like cleaning. I sometimes feel like a total pig as I look around my messy house and read about Sookie cleaning hers. I really don't want to hear about cleaning. I really didn't feel a whole lot of chemistry going on between Bill and Sookie either. When they started saying that they loved each other, I thought it was a bit sudden and to be honest I just didn't see it myself. This book also seemed a bit dated to me. When Sookie is getting ready for Bill to come over, she puts her hair up in a banana clip. I remember wearing a banana clip in my hair during the late 80's and very early 90's but I don't think anyone was wearing them in 2001. Despite these problems, I still can find so much to love inside of this book. I fell in love with characters a long time ago and I understand that this re-read of the book was probably heavily influence by that. I really like Sookie. I like that she thinks of her telepathy as a disability instead of the superpower most people would consider it to be. As you read the book, you realize how horrible it really would be to be able to read other people's minds. Sookie goes through a lot in this book and I really thought she handled most things quite well. She does require saving from time to time but she isn't afraid to jump into dangerous situations either.I thought that the scenes with Eric were wonderful in this book. I am very partial to Eric. I can't help it and I really don't want to. Sam was great in this book but I did want to slap him for finally noticing Sookie after Bill shows an interest. I thought it was very realistic because people do this all the time but I still wanted to slap him because I hate it when this happens. I really had a good time reading about all of these characters and just remembering how these books sucked me into their world years ago. I do think that some of the later books in the series are stronger than this one. I would recommend this book to others with the explanation that they are quite different from the HBO series. This book is really a quick and easy read that can be a lot of fun. This book is really just candy in book form. Nothing serious, nothing substantial, but a whole lot of fun.My insightful 2011 review:I enjoyed this book. It was a quick, easy, and fun read. I am interested in seeing the HBO series after reading this book.
What do You think about Dead Until Dark (2001)?
Ok. This novel has taught me to Never.Ever.Ever. judge a book by its cover Ever.Ever. again!I would see these books all over Borders and Barnes and Nobles and never give them a second glance.Not because it was sci-fi (which I like). Not because it was Vampire sci-fi (which I like). But because of the super cheesy covers and the super cheesy titles. Logan, I am thanking you for picking this book up and for recommending it to me. One of THE best female lead characters I have ever read. Ever. Very reminicient of Odd Thomas, in that she has something, a gift, lets call it, that sets her apart from everyone else. She's shy, she's a waitress, and she can kick a mean ass when she needs to. Enter Bill, a handsome, gentle, knock-your-socks-off vampire who catches her eye. It was love at first...erm...bite. You've got fang-bangers, synethetic bottled blood, multiple unsolved but eerily similar murders, and a vampire who looks like, but is he, nah, he cant be.... Light and fluffy but not gag-me, it's got just the right amount of everything. I currently own all the Sookie Novels and now cannot wait to start the next one!
—Lori
Dead Until Dark is the first book in the Sookie Stackhouse series by popular American author, Charlaine Harris. A cocktail waitress at Sam Merlotte's bar in Bon Temps, Louisiana, Sookie Stackhouse meets her first vampire when he sits as one of her tables. Bill Compton is trying to live in the mainstream since vampires "came out of the coffin" some four years before. Sookie has a unique (dis)ability that allows her to read minds, so she finds it quite refreshing to hear nothing at all from Bill's mind. But something she does hear from his drinking companions sees her actually saving his life (if that's possible with someone who is effectively dead until dark). Bill has been restoring old Jessie Compton's house near the cemetery and close to Sookie's grandmother, Adele's house. His age and Civil War activity make him of interest to Adele and her friends, while Bill and Sookie can't deny an attraction between them. But Bill's vampire friends have Sookie concerned, and when young women start turning up strangled, with vampire bites on them, suspicion turns to the undead. Then another shocking murder has Sookie afraid for her own life. This first book of the series introduces some of the regular characters and establishes some of the ground rules for the world Harris has created. Her heroine is a feisty woman, a likeable person with a strong sense of independence who is, nonetheless, not immune to a bit of romance. Readers who enjoy this installment will be pleased to know there are a further twelve books in the series, as well as four associated books. Vampire fun!
—Marianne
Opening Line:"I'd been waiting for the Vampire for years when he walked into the bar."I must be one of the last people on the planet to read Dead After Dark. I also haven’t had a chance (yet) to watch True Blood, although because it’s been all over the media I had a pretty good visual reference for the characters here without actually having to compare the two. I was able to just go along for the ride. And what a ride, I can definitely see now what all the fuss has been about. Honestly I had a hard time putting this down. Harris has created the perfect mixture of paranormal romance, mystery and action. With intriguing, humorous characters and situations and an absorbing, fast moving plot. Her take on Vampiric society is fresh and fascinating and I appreciated how we were continually reminded that despite “coming out” vampires are still very much predators.I also found Sookie to be incredibly relatable despite her “disability” and supernatural circumstances. Harris just has a way of making her feel all girl next door so that we discover everything right along with her. I also loved Harris’s portrait of small town America and in this case it’s unique bar patrons whom I felt like I knew. This could be in part because I’m from a small town and I also cocktailed for years so the characters seemed familiar to me. Whatever the case I’m glad I finally got around to reading this series.Sookie lives in the real world of small town Louisiana. She is a pretty cocktail waitress, lives with her grandmother and because of her telepathic “disability” keeps to herself. The people in Bon Temps tend to think that Sookie’s a little crazy because she knows things she shouldn’t and acts strange while her mental “guard” is up.Everything changes the day Bill walks into her bar and orders a bottle of synthetic blood. Bill is a vampire and ever since they entered mainstream society she’s wanted to meet one. To make things even more interesting Sookie can’t hear a word he’s thinking, Bill might just be her perfect match, except of course for the fact that he’s dead.Unfortunately soon after Bill arrives people start turning up dead, in particular waitresses. After an attack at her grandmother’s house Sookie fears she might be next. Then there’s Bill’s creepy group of friends, the recent Elvis sightings, her brothers illicit behaviour and all of a sudden her boss isn‘t quite who he appears to be either. So like I said I really enjoyed this, the love scenes are steamy and dirty (think outdoors, mud, and covered in blood dirty) and Bill well he is just delicious in a dangerous bad boy wanting to brush your hair kinda way. The romance aspect here was very good. I also really liked Sam’s character and appreciated how his true self wasn’t revealed right away. Bubba was another awesome little addition and the many townsfolk and their idiosyncrasies were fantastic. There are some surprising moments here and I never really knew where things were going to go next. Although I’ll be honest I had a tough time keeping straight who was who. Getting many of (the many) secondary characters mixed up so that even at the end when the killer was revealed I had to back track to figure out who it was. As a former waitress (which Harris must also have been at one time) I found the bar scenes realistic and fun. Can’t recommend this one enough.
—Buggy
