Charlaine Harris Book/Show Group discussion
Sookie Stackhouse Books
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How many times do I have to read about...
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Fiona
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Jan 21, 2010 07:15PM
Sookie storing her purse in Sam's desk drawer? Is this important somehow? I love these books but some things are really repetitive.
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hahahaha that's true. It is said alot.
I love these books so I hope I don't get flamed, And actually the last 2 have left me unsatified. So.....I'll own up, I'm tired of her damsel in distress routine. That she's beaten with in an inch of her life, but thank god she had that good Helpen of vampire blood, and some one will save her. Take a self defense class, start carrying some weapons for Christ sake! Hello Sookie, your not just a barmaid anymore!
You know, that's a good point. A weapon of some sort would be a smart thing. Maybe a little lady pistol or mini crossbow!
Ya! The minute Eric says "I have..." pick up a weapon because your going some where you'll need to be armed!
well there was that dagger as an "engagement" present. Why couldn't she carry that around for protection?
Haha, this cracks me up! And I totally agree... she should always wear silver jewelry, carry lemon juice in a pepper spray can, and carry a stake. Plus, I get annoyed that she KNOWS there's danger out there and still thinks she can check her mail? Sigh, but I can't stop myself reading the books...
So when she carries the stake should it be rare or medium well?
If you remember in book one Dead Until Dark Sookie with nothing but her country grit and brothers heavy chain takes out Ratray and saves Bill. Yay! So Sookie takes care of her self well enough. Like when she shotgunned Fox girl and staked Bills maker. I love it when Russell Edington says. Oh we thought we found some sludge in the pool, LOL. Its been well over a year since I have read one of the books. I can't remember some characters names immediately. I don't remember about the purse, and Sams drawer. Possibly because it is so not worth remembering. I think Harris realizes that having Sookie beaten down in every episode is getting a little much. Plus you don't get your ass constantly kicked without looking like a boxer with lots of scars a bumbed up face. Sookie must use allota makeup by now. Wait, vampire blood is keeping up her looks. How stupid of me. The books really reached a climax with Dead to the World. I think Harris sensed her books needed a new element to keep them interesting. But in Dead and Gone she went about it the wrong way. Having the pregnant Claudine killed was just sheer shock effect. Like hey anything can happen. Having my favorite independant biker & Were Tray killed totally pissed me off. The last book pissed allot of people off. I still enjoyed it. Though the Claudine part was a super serious mistake. Why she didn't have someone totaly expendable like Claude killed? The brother & sister hillbilly fairy assassins that alternately have sex while they torture and kill people was just over the edge. I still cant wait for what wild happenings will pop up in book 12.
I was pissed they killed off Claudine and Tray. I liked them both. You know what I am tired of? I am tired of the fact Fangtasia can't keep a bartender employed :)
Jayme wrote: "I was pissed they killed off Claudine and Tray. I liked them both. You know what I am tired of? I am tired of the fact Fangtasia can't keep a bartender employed :)"Yeah, I don't understand why they make it seem like the bartender thing is somehow Sookie's fault. And I am annoyed about Claudine and Tray, too, they were really good characters.
I liked the pirate bartender and then I found out he was the traitor and that pissed me off.
Claudine was not only good she was real relevant to the story. You would think Harris proof reader and publisher would have said " hey what up?" on that one. Chow the oriental bartender with tattoo's was my favorite. Eric needs a bartender with a vested interest in Fantasia, and some real personality. Pam would be a good bartender. She is a co owner I believe. She has to dress up like a cheesy vamp in black every now and again. Because Eric needs it for the tourists. So why not tend bar. If I was Pam I would have a beautiful black suit made up that looked attractive and vampy but not cheesy, and gothic. A Southern Belle vamp bartender would work great. Or a suave sophisticated creaole plantation owner type. Able to mix up unusual drinks with a flare. Special drinks like Absinthe specials. Or a Bromtons coctail. Around the turn of the century Dr. Bromton invented a cocktail for dying cancer patients. One ounce gin,1 to 2 grains Heroin,and 10 to 20mgs Cocaine depending on tolerance. Talk about one euphoric drink. Plus some nice Northern Lights #5 reefer, at special request. Or maybe a Bloody Mary made in front of you. By having your favorite drink mixed up and having the vampire open a wrist vein, and let a single drop of blood drip into the glass. A drink for special guests & VPs only. Yeah they should get a really flash bartender protected by spells while working at Fangtasia.
I think there's always a bit too much repetition in her books for the uninitiated. Really tired of the description of Sam and his curly red-gold angelic halo of hair. Seems there must be a fresh way to describe the sweet guy.I also agree that it was a mistake to kill of Claudine. There were so many possibilities for Sookie and her Faerie kin. I do think there will be a HEA for Sookie. Don't know who it will be (rooting for Eric:)
The thing that I noticed that was constantly repeated in at least the first few chapters of every book was how she had to tell us that Sookie could read minds, but not vampire minds. Also about the big revelation, how the vamps "came out" to the rest of the world. If you've read the series from the beginning there's no reason to keep touching on these subjects, cuz Duh, we know!
Well Sookie can indeed catch occasional glimpses into vampire minds. A secret she carfully guards because it would mean her immediate death most likely. You get the review of the story line because most people are not avid readers. Very few people have read all the books. Most people have ony read a couple. People either catch the fever, and read them all. Or they just read them when ever.
Yeah if you don't have people who read the books from the beginiing, some background info is necessary. I like Sam's desc but then again, I LOVE Sam.
I love Sam too, it's just that as a writer it seems she could find new ways to describe him. He has evolved so much over the series it seems so should his description.I love reading book series, especially mysteries and most of my favorite writers don't feel the need to constantly rehash the main characters looks, habits, and histories every time. Recalling information pertinent to the current story, like a former villain or lover etc. is important but leaving the rest just encourages readers to go back and read the older novels.
Oh, she totally uses that information later, like right before some bombs are going to go off, she thinks about that stowed information.
Lissa1229 wrote: "I love these books so I hope I don't get flamed, And actually the last 2 have left me unsatified. So.....I'll own up, I'm tired of her damsel in distress routine. That she's beaten with in an inch ..."I SO agree, she needs some lessons in how to defend her self and maybe she needs a bodyguard and a little common sense. Do not roam around at night alone, carry a weapon, and she SHOULD wear LOTS of silver, maybe bracelets/cuffs and a big collar and lots of rings so she can punch a vamp!
Teena wrote: "The thing that I noticed that was constantly repeated in at least the first few chapters of every book was how she had to tell us that Sookie could read minds, but not vampire minds. Also about th..."Thats just the formula for a series, repeat, repeat, repeat just in case some one picks up book 5 with out realizing that its a chronological series. That way they are not too lost. Its VERY annoying!! I have ALWAYS hated that about reading a series! Seriously, writers need to write for the people following the story not some doofus just picking up a book to read!! One of my favorite authors Robert Jordan of The Wheel of Time series, NEVER did that.
Bernadette wrote: "I love Sam too, it's just that as a writer it seems she could find new ways to describe him. He has evolved so much over the series it seems so should his description.I love reading book series, e..."I love Sam too, why oh WHY is Sookie stuck on vamps? Gimmie a red headed shifter ANY day!
Someone commented she needed bodyguards. She had Tray as a bodyguard and he got killed.
After the first book, I found myself skimming the Sookie Intro pages - but then again, I had the luxury of being able to read all of them in rapid succession. :) Now I have to wait for the newest one to come out!I think it would be better if CH had a separate section like "Intro to the Sookie-Verse" at the beginning of each book, so it was more optional.
I think part of Sookie's appeal is that, although she has evolved considerably from the first book, she still isn't a warrior. And probably never will be. She's tougher than she was, and has lost a lot of her innocence, but still seems to see the good in most people/creatures.
Sookie has been really resourceful in some tight situations, and proven her bravery - which, for me, discounts the "damsel-in-distress" theory. Although, I must say, she could definitely use a Misto bottle full of lemon juice in that purse of hers!
The repeating of the story line. I can live with it. After reading 11 books it is tiring. I usually do not read series books. I read all the classic vampire books like Dracula. I was about to give up on series vampire books when I discoverd Sookie Stackhouse. I read Twilight because it was on the New York best seller list, and because of all the hoopla.Just goes to show New York Best seller doesnt mean anything. Southern Vampire mysteries is a unique combination of Vampire/occult, Mystery, and Romance/porn. Definitly in a league of its own.
I just finished reading Moon Called by Patricia Briggs and that is more werewolf based but they do have some vampire. There is a Sam character and an Andre character. I don't mean they act like CH characters but both authors came up with the same names. Both of these are werewolves.
Chelle wrote: "After the first book, I found myself skimming the Sookie Intro pages - but then again, I had the luxury of being able to read all of them in rapid succession. :) Now I have to wait for the newest o..."I agree with the short info in the beginning of the book. Kinda like what J.R. Ward does with the BDB books. She has a glossary of terms. It was helpful when I started reading that series.
When I see in the books she is going over the basic story like how Sookie is a telepath and all that stuff you should really know by now I definitely skim it.. she could be using this time to elaborate on other things in the newer storyline..
DAMNIT!!!!! I wish I hadt read this thread! I had NO IDEA about Claudine and she was PREGNANT?! WTF?! Mark Spoilers, people!!!!!!!!!
I didn't write it but I would have figured everyone had read all the books by now. I'm sure no one meant to spoil it.
well some people only watch the show and they don't care about books. How DARE they!
Did anyone read the last book yet?? Dead and Gone? I bought it but i have heard so many bad things about it that i feel like i should just skip it. The purse thing is really annoying too!!
Don't skip it, read it. It is important to read it for plot.
Definitely read it! It wasn't my favorite of the series because I am not all about the fae storyline, but it was still pivotal and interesting.
Why don't you like the fae Michelle?
Jayme wrote: "Why don't you like the fae Michelle?"I felt her depiction of them was vague. She could have made a lot more out of them.
true, but I have learned not to nitpick and compare this author's version of fairies to this author's. Each world is different and different circumstances.
I was actually comparing within the work. Niall seemed more a means to an end rather than a real character.::shrug::
No, no. Is okay. I do think there's a lot of folk lore she could have worked with, but moreso they just seemed sort of flat compared to the vampires and weres.
On the flip side of this topic, what I'd like to read more of is the tidbits about vampires in the mainstream. I thought that glimpse into the vampire makeover show was hilarious.
One of myu favorite things HBO did to promote True Blood were the short investigative reports called Blood Copy. They were presented as real and looked into vamps fitting into the world after the great reveal. Last year they had those weekly news spots which weren't quite as good, but still pretty entertaining.
really? I don't have HBO, I was watching them off of netflix and those free websites where you can watch tv episodes.
You can still find Blood Copy on the net. There are tons of "episodes" of that.
