Sookie Stackhouse...anyone?

Has anyone finished reading the 8th book From Dead to Worse in the Southern Vampire series by Charlaine Harris? How did you like it?

I finished it yesterday. It's a transitional book in the series. It seemed abrubt in places and some characters were dealt with harshly. Some events that should have been pivitol went by very quickly. I like the series and I think I can see where the changes are taking things, but it is not my favorite book.

How are these books? I have them on my "I Need to Read That" list but I'm not sure how I'd like them.

This is one of my favorite series. It's funny (except the last one I read ~ the one before From Dead to Worse ~ which was anything but) and well-written, with great characters, and Sookie is a really special kind of heroine. I read it as much for the characters and their relationships, in fact, as for the plot, so I shouldn't have much trouble with the latest one. Have you read it yet, BooGirl?

I just came across these in the book store the other day and bought the first 2 in the series. I haven't read them yet, but they sound pretty good.

The first books in the Sookie Stackhouse series are really good. The latter ones are still good, but in book 5-6 the quality has deteriorated some in my opinion.

I just finished From Dead to Worse and I agree with #2. I was really astounded at how some characters were dealt with. Seemed very out of character for both them and Sookie...

I have to agree with #2 also. It seems that nothing really happened...other than the King situation. Not my favorite in the series.

I enjoyed this book. I was disappointed with All Together Dead. Sookie's character came off as cynical and uncaring. Quinn also isn't my favorite amongst suitors. This one though I enjoyed. I know a lot of people have complained, because there wasn't one big story arc. But I think this book was necessary to clear up a lot of hanging threads, so Harris can concentrate on other aspects of Sookie's life. If she hadn't taken care of these things, the fans would keep bringing them up.

I see this book as a sort of week or couple of weeks in the life of Sookie. Though she acknowledges her life amongst the supernatural population is always dangerous. She realizes that she's also happier for it.

True. Sookie finally has a "family" after living her whole life in a town where people think she is crazy. This is a great series; I love the world Ms. Harris has created. I'm glad the hanging threads were sewn up. I just wish she had argued for a few more pages. I think if she had a few more pages to work with she could have woven the were story, Sookie's story and the vamp story together a little better.

Ms. Harris is a great writer with a wonderful imagination. I think when the next book comes out, From Dead to Worse will fit into the overall story better than it does now. The series is well worth reading.

Charlaine Harris is one of my favorite authors, and I've enjoyed every book of hers that I picked up. I thought it was fine that we saw 'a couple of weeks in the life of Sookie'. I also enjoyed seeing the 'fairy' part come into play. Eric was good as always. But the way Harris dealt with Quinn and her brother bothers me.

Frankly I wasn't a fan of either of them (I'm a Sookie/Eric shipper, and her bro was just annoying), but I thought what happened was just wrong... Sookie was very harsh with Quinn which I think was out of character for her, and just an easy way out for Harris to deal with him.

As for Jason, although he wasn't the greatest brother in the world, I think it was out of character for him to do what he did as well. Harris just wanted him out of the picture I guess, but for me it didn't flow well at all.

I zoomed down to the bottom of this thread in case there's any spoilers.... just got the book last night! I'm finishing Firefly Rain by Richard Dansky - a great book although there are ghosts, not vampires! - and will start Sookie tonight. Can't wait.

Anyone who is interested, I finally wrote my review of From Dead to Worse. Spoiler free (although I touch on the issues I mentioned in this thread), so drop by and tell me what you agree with or disagree with :)

http://kbookreviews.wordpress.com/2008/06/09/review-from-dead-to-worse-by-charla...

I have only just finished the first Sookie book and even though I kept putting it off because I thought that I wouldn't like it I couldn't put it down! All that wasted time - can't wait to get into the others now

I see that these books are now going to be a television series on HBO. Is it True Blood?

Yes, the series "True Blood" is based on these books. I've seen a few scenes and IMHO the HBO series is going to be a darker version of Sookie Stackhouse's world. If you go to http://www.hbo.com/events/trueblood/ you can get an idea of what they have planned.

Nooooo! I just went and looked at the trailer for Trueblood and now I'm gonna have to get a cable hookup and subscribe to HBO. Oh, yeah, and a new TV.

Thank you soooo much for letting that cat out of the bag, madamlibby. ;)

(Kidding aside, it looks like it's going to be a lot of fun, and maybe even follow relatively close to the book series!)

You are very welcome! (My friend at work (who turned me on to the books) and I are both swooning over Eric.) It's going to be interesting to see how well the HBO interpretation holds up with the fans of the books.

I really wasn't sure if I was going to like the casting... esp Sookie- but I think it looks like Anna Paquin is going to do okay. The previews are definitely darker than I think of the books being.... but they are about vampires and blood though so I think it works.

The actor who plays Sam is definately not my image of Sam in the books. I agree Anna Pacquin should do a credible job. I just hope the series doesn't go so dark it's looses the humor. (Ex: Sookie's word of the day.)

I really enjoy the "Sookie" books but I made the mistake of not reading them in order. I started them by getting them from the library and just read what they had. I really enjoyed Eric when he lost his memory and I wonder does ones personalty really change. I hope HBO doesn't stray to far from the authors view of Sookie. I enjoy the humor the most.
Nzingha

17> If you get cable, you can keep your analog TV - the cable box will do the digital conversion for you. At least that's the way I understand it.

Thanks for the tip about digital conversion, Cynthia! That'll save some bucks! I still resent having to get cable, but if this series is good, I'm not going to have any choice. :)

You are so lucky all being in America - we can't get HBO in England so unless it comes over here on another channel I won't get to watch it and that sucks! It looks like it might be really good too.

I live in Sweden so I won't see it either, unless i download it, I've only seen the first episode but it was really good (a bit unhappy about Bill, my brain-pic of him looked much better) so I reccomend all non-americans to download it. (www.torrentpond.com have it)

Thanks butterflyfreak I will check the website out it's annoying isn't it when we miss out on things in Europe glad your in the know!

I loved these books and I'm totally hooked on the HBO series True Blood which is *very* loosely based on the first book

"Loosely" is right. Especailly after last night's episode. I think I prefer the books. But I'm with holding final judgement until I see Eric on screen!

I'm kind of finding the show funnier than the book, so far. >.> And I like funny. Which means I like Tara and Lafayette, and all the embarrassing stupid subplots they keep cooking up for Jason. Even if they did prawn it up a little more than is strictly necessary, just because they're HBO.

(For those of you without HBO... like me... surfthechannel.com has them. Yay, Internets!)

And yay thecynicalromantic! Thanks for mini-review and the website.

So, what do you think of Eric?

He wasn't as brawny as I saw him in my minds eye, but I am waiting to hear him call Sookie "my future lover" before I cast my final vote.

To me that was the point in the series he switched from bad guy to potential suitor.

Am i the only one who is overly annoyed with the fact that the show is only remotely simmilar to the books? I mean, sure, one can't expect them to find drop-dead-handsome guys to play eric and bill, but come on! i think almost think the guy playing sam is hotter than bill!
And what's the whole deal with Tara?? I can't recall her being like she is in the show, is my memory just playing with me or have they changed the story (again)??

No, she is nothing like that in the books. My friend and I (both rabid fans of the books) have discussed the Tara thing and have come to the conclusion that they divided the Sookie character into two parts - The external Sookie who pretends to be the silly goofy girl to protect herself from the folks who think she's crazy and the internal Sookie (Tara on the show) who tells it like it is and is much more shrewd than she is given credit for. The books being in the first person gave readers a lot of insight into Sookie and her motivations. We think this is Mr. Ball's solution to loosing that insight.

My biggest problem is the "excuses" the show is giving for Jason's behavior. In the books, he acts the way he does toward Sookie because he's a selfish jerk. In the show he was "under the influence" so can't be held responsible for what he does. (IMO) I'm going to give the show the rest of the season before I make a final judgment, but I if things keep on the way they are, I'm not hopeful.

ooo...conflict! I just picked up the first book and it's near the top of my TBR. I definitely want to read before seeing anything. I'm am very intrigued, though.

It was not the best book in the series. I felt as if she were laying the stage for her next book. If so, the next one should be good!

I think Jason is still pretty clearly a selfish jerk. And still pretty clearly stupid. He only does V because he's a stupid selfish jerk to start with, it's just that the V manages to get him into even MORE ridiculous over-the-top trouble. And as I mentioned before, for me, funny=good.

I think so far Eric seems to be cast well, although we haven't seen much of him. I think he has the "I Am Ze Important Pretty Vampire Man" Look down well, which I find more important than whether or not I think he's "attractive enough," since frankly, male standards of visual beauty seem much more subjective than female ones; trying to cast male characters whose main trait is being Rilly Hott will *always* piss off a whole lot of people.

I have the first four books. I have only been able to read the first two though. They're pretty good and I'm looking forward to read more of the series

I finished the first book and I quite liked it! I only thought that Sookie and Bill were in a relationship very fast.
I got that Sookie was charmed by him and was interested in him, but I didn't get why exactly Bill fell in love with her. I take it that he found her different from the rest and refreshing.

Now that you brought it up that relationship did go fast.

38 & 39 > When you get further into the series Bill's reasons for "courting" Sookie become clear. To tell you more would be a major spoiler!

well thanks for telling us that much, now we'll know there's an explanation.

I'm rereading the series. I'm up to the third book.

38> When I first picked up the book, I thought it was a romance novel, so the relationship didn't seem fast.

40> Rereading the novels now, knowing what I know, I find parts of the story that had me saying, "no, no, no!" the first time are much more enjoyable the second time! LOL.

42> I had the same reaction! Much better the second time around.

I have read all nine of the Sookie Stackhouse series and can't wait for the tenth one next month! I love them, they are an easy read but entertaining none the less!

Reading Dead in the Family right now!!!

I'm still number 390-something on the waiting list at my library for Dead in the Family :( I might have to break down and buy it.

So Sorry Katy..The perks of being the librarian is I get to read it first and everyone else has to wait!

hmmmm....maybe I need to think about becoming a librarian ;)

46> Katymelrose, see if your library system has any "Speed Reads" or "Browsing" copies. Some libraries around here will have a copy that's non-requestable and non-renewable so that people will have a chance of getting a new book sooner if they actually come into the library.

Yep Katy it is the best perk of my job!

good call BookLizard. I'll check on that. Thanks for the idea.

Sounds like a pretty good perk Susie!

My DH bought me up to 8 for valentines, so that I can re-read them - to him!

I remembered reading up to three but I've gone fuzzy on them.

I LOVE this sereis!! I devoured the first 9 books. I have them all in paperback, but I have to tell you, I was not really happy with Dead in the Family. I kept thinking something major was going to happen (because it always does) but the end just kind of fizzeled out. Has anyone else read it? What did you think?

I agree about Dead in the Family I'm hoping it was a build up to the next book.
Also was curious why Sookie could sense Erics maker and "brother" but she can't sense Pam who is Eric's "child" .

Great point! I never even thought about that. Maybe she can only feel those tied to his maker and not those he made. I have no idea.

I really hope it was a build up to the next book. I couldn't believe she let that go to press that way. It felt so unfinished.

This is easily one of my favorite series. I've read every one twice! I totally agree about the unfinished ending in Dead in the Family, although I find alot of really great book do that. It leaves you aching for the next book so I assume it's probably intentional.

I just read the short story "Two Blondes" in Death's Excellent Vacation. Pam and Sookie go to Mississippi for a weekend getaway, but of course they have to "run an errand" for Eric while they're there.

I really love these books! They are extremely well written and the mixture of blood, love and sex is just awesome. The thing about them that just keeps me on the hook is Sookie with the way she carries herself through the most absurd situations with her head held high. The way Charlaine Harris writes the dialogues makes me laugh all the time, for example:

Happy as a clam ^^

I have read up to halfway thru book 6 and then got fed up with them. Maybe I will return to them.

I had watched season 1 and 2 of True Blood before picking up the novels. Once I had read the first I couldn't put them down. I like that fact that the characters have a chance to be two different people - depending on the medium. Whilst at the same time there are similarities in each. I am currently waiting for the newest one to arrive...

haha. reading your message reminded me how my friend and I rented one of the seasons, well it was the 2nd season (we never watched the 1st) we couldnt watch it because it didnt make much sense.