30 Mar 2010

THE SOOKIE STACKHOUSE BOOKS.

Having read all the nine books in the Sookie Stackhouse series I thought I'd review them as one rather than separately and in order to do this decided on a different format to my usual book reviews using some of the questions posed by family and friends. I hope you enjoy it.
THE SOOKIE STACKHOUSE SERIES OF BOOKS by CHARLAINE HARRIS.
Q. Haven't I heard the name Sookie Stackhouse somewhere before?
A. Yes, she is the heroine of the tv series TRUE BLOOD.
Q. What exactly are the books about?
A. Sookie Stackhouse (pictured to the right with Bill as they are portrayed in the tv series) is a small-time cocktail waitress in small-town Louisiana. She's quiet, keeps to herself, and doesn't get out much. Not because she's not pretty. She is. It's just that, well, Sookie has this sort of 'disability'. She can read minds. And that doesn't make her too dateable. And then along comes Bill: he's tall, dark and handsome - and Sookie can't 'hear' a word he's thinking. He's exactly the type of guy she's been waiting for all her life.
But Bill has a disability of his own: he's a vampire. Worse than that, he hangs with a seriously creepy crowd, with a reputation for trouble - of the murderous kind ....
..... From the outer back cover of Dead until Dark, the first book in the series.
Q. So it's about vampires, right?
A. Yes, the books contain vampires. After the invention of an artificial blood product, True Blood, the vampires have revealed themselves to the world at large and now have the right to legally exist.
Q. Whoa, you said nine books. What are they called?
A. There's DEAD UNTIL DARK, LIVING DEAD IN DALLAS, CLUB DEAD, DEAD TO THE WORLD, DEAD AS A DOORNAIL, DEFINITELY DEAD, ALL TOGETHER DEAD, FROM DEAD TO WORSE and lastly DEAD AND GONE.
Q. Can they be read independently?
A. You could do as each one brings you pretty much up to speed about what happened in the previous novel(s) but I think you'll get more out of them by reading them in order.
Q. OK, so which was your favourite?
A. That's a hard one but probably the last book, Dead And Gone, as it has it all - romance and adventure AND it's sad as well as funny.
Q. But what's it about?
A. I don't want to give too much away but .......
What Sookie doesn't realise is that there is a far greater danger than this killer threatening Bon Temps (The small town she lives in): a race of unhuman beings, older, more powerful and far more secretive than the vampires or the werewolves, is preparing for war. And Sookie is an all-too-human pawn in their ages-old battle......
.... An extract from the inner front cover of Dead And Gone, the 9th book in the series.
Q. So there are other out of this world characters as well as vampires?
A. Yeah, we got to meet shapeshifters and not just werewolves but other were-animals. Then there was a goblin, witches, fairies, a demon, and, oh yes, a britlingen .
Q. Which character was your favourite?
A. Well there was fairy, Claudine - a truly modern 'kick-ass' heroine. I also got to really like Eric who, for want of a better word, was the head vampire in the area. Then there was the cat, Bob, who wasn't what he at first seemed. But most of all, there was Bubba - I just loved the idea of a huge rock legend coming back as a vampire though not a very good one.
Q. TV series or books?
A. Most definitely the books. They are full of so much more humour and a lot less sex.
Q. Better than the TWILIGHT books?
A. Better by far. The vampires are much more traditional, the stories are so much more grown up and are extremely humorous in places - altogether more cleverly written.
Q. You'd recommend them then?
A. Most definitely.
All nine books were purchased through the BOOK PEOPLE catalogue.

17 comments:

serendipity_viv said...

They are so cheap from the Book People too. I cannot believe the price. I have read the first one and really enjoyed it. I think I will definitely get the set.

Rich Mom, Rich Dad. Poor Mom, Poor Dad. said...

I am in the middle of reading the books myself, I am currently on Dead Like A Doornail and I have to say, I am turning in to a fangirl over these books! LOL. I can't wait for more Were-animals, Fairies, and more Sookie! She just rocks!

Gina said...

Enjoyed your condensed review! No seriously...I've had the series (at least the first 7) in my TBR for a while, but haven't pulled them out for a read. I had heard it both ways, book better than tv series, and tv series better than books....I was too up in the air about the whole thing and once I caught an episode or so of the tv series...yeah, definitely wasn't so certain about the read. (No offense, but I like a story, not just people running around with their clothes off the whole time....)Sounds like the books offer more than meets the eye. I'm still a Twilight fan....but really, it's not going to be a standard to hold everything else to. Other vamp books need to stand on their own and present their own story....which is what I see here. Thanks for sharing and unearthing a series to be read...(adds to list)....happy reading!

Heather said...

I read about half your review and loved it. I stoppped because i am currently reading the series and didn't want to come across any secrets. I just finished book 3 last week and am loving it. Great style for your review.

Jennifer McLean said...

Damn! Now I have yet ANOTHER set of books to add to my totally out-of-control book list. THat's not even counting my huuuugggeee author list that I have to keep up with, since I've read everything up 'til now they all wrote. Sheesh, and I blame YOU! It's your fault I sleep less than I should... I'll be up all night reading about vampires now. ;o)
Thanks.
~Jenn

Pam said...

I really enjoyed your review. Now I want to read the series. Of course, I am so far behind in my TBR pile I don't know if it will ever happen, but I am putting them on my wish list.

JACQUI said...

Hello. Just popping over to say hi as I noticed you are a UK blog. Most of my blogging friends are from the US and Canada which is great, but it's also good to 'bump into' a UK blogger. Nice to meet you.

Kelly said...

Great review! I love these books in part because they are set in my neck of the woods. They're also just fun books to read!

I've never watched the TV series, but most anyone I've asked that has both watched AND read the books has preferred the books.

I met Charlaine Harris at a book signing about a year ago then heard her speak at our community college a last September.

http://ksrgmck.blogspot.com/2009/02/valentines-day-2009.html

http://ksrgmck.blogspot.com/2009/09/tidbits.html

Kissed by an Angel said...

That was a brilliant review!! Not my type of books - I don't like vampire themed stuff!!! Scary, when hubby is on nights!!!
xxxx

Myne said...

I'll probabaly just check to see if they have it at the library. I have seen a few episodes of the series.

Jenners said...

I've been steadily accumulating these books over the past year and I'm thinking of having a "Sookie" reading month for myself.

kathryn said...

You did an excellent job with this review! You've definitely intrigued me...I will look for this series, since you've enjoyed it so much.

I haven't seen the tv series, so it won't have spoiled it for me.

Oddyoddyo13 said...

Sounds awesome! I'm definitely checking those ones out-you know, because of the vampires. We humans just can't seem to stay away from them.....LOL

Anonymous said...

Oh thank you Tracy, I have been toying with whether or not I wanted to delve into this series. I love the television series, totally hooked and I love that there are more creatures and wild things than merely vampires. In fact, I love Sookie's talents.
You've helped me make up my mind, I'm going to read the books, or at least get started.

Cara Powers said...

I absolutely love the way you wrote this post. It makes me want to read the series (on my nook, of course).

Anonymous said...

Hey, I found you through the blog hop (",).

I absolutely love the Sookie books, read all 9 in a week, and I CAN'T WAIT for Dead in the Family! The story is just so different to everything else vampire that I've been reading, I think it's the whole Southern vibe that puts a whole new spin on things. *lovely* :D

Unknown said...

I got the first 8 books of the Sookie Stackhouse series from a friend not long ago, and I've just started the first book, and I'm really enjoying it!