DEAD UNTIL DARK by Charlaine Harris
TITLE: Dead Until Dark
AUTHOR: Charlaine Harris
SERIES: Sookie Stackhouse/Southern Vampires book 1
PUBLICATION: Ace Books, May 2001
GENRE: Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy
RATING: <3 <3 <3 <3
Sookie Stackhouse is cheerful down-home southern gal who isn’t afraid to step up when someone’s in trouble. DEAD UNTIL DARK won the Anthony Award for Best Paperback Mystery in 2001. Sookie’s currently on her eighth adventure and, while book 1 is a paranormal romance, the series has morphed into urban fantasy. HBO last night launched a new show based on the book called “True Blood” and staring Anna Paquin as our intrepid heroine. Read the book. It’s much, much better than the show.
Plot:
Small town southern girl Sookie Stackhouse is a waitress living in Beau Temps, Louisiana. She has a little disability that makes people think she’s crazy: she can hear people’s thoughts. Vampires “came out of the coffin” two years ago, and one dark night Sookie sees her first when he walks into her bar and orders a drink. She is thrilled, not only at the excitement of seeing a vampire but also to find that she can’t hear his thoughts. Blissful quiet. Unfortunately two lowlifes take the vamp into the parking lot to drain his blood for profit. Sookie comes to the rescue. When the two villains try to murder Sookie in the parking lot a week later….
***here ends the first episode of TRUE BLOOD***
…Bill comes to her rescue and gives her some of his blood to heal her wounds, making her stronger and faster and more beautiful. So starts her sweet love affair with Bill the Vampire.
Beau Temps is plagued by the murders of young blue-collar women who date vampires. Bill, of course, is a top suspect, along with Sookie’s playboy brother Jason. Sookie decides to investigate to protect her men, and asks Bill to bring her to a vampire bar in a neighboring town, where she meets the manipulative Vampire Eric Northman. (He’s a key figure in later books.) When Sookie’s grandmother is murdered, she knows she’s next.
Discussion:
A delightful read! Great pacing, style and characterization. Sookie’s voice had a charming Southern cadence. It was cheerful and innocent: a refreshing change from the typical cynical, dark urban fantasy heroines. She reminded me of Patricia Briggs’ Mercy Thompson. Both are small town girls just trying to do their blue collar jobs and lead normal lives, but their loyalty compels them to stand up and save the day when their friends are threatened.
I had held off on reading the series, though it was so highly recommended to me, because I prefer a sweet love story to a triangle. This first book is definitely a paranormal romance. Yummy, luv true luv.
***SPOILER***My widdle heart hurts to know that ze love, it donna last. How else is Ms. Harris supposed to keep an eight book series going? Sniff, sniff. ***ENDSPOILER***
It is also a compelling mystery. Ms. Harris weaves in clues like a pro. The villain was a complete surprise.
Ms. Harris peppers her book with romance novel references, which as a romance reader I delighted in. Sookie’s grandmother is a Danielle Steele addict. Eric Northman is first described “wearing boots, jeans and a vest. Period. Kind of like the guys on covers of romance books,” (p 95).
HBO’s TRUE BLOOD:
It was amusing reading the book and immediately watching the TV show. Many of the lines were similar, though the lack of Sookie’s internal dialog on the show took away a much of the charm and humor in the story. Anna Paquin stood around with her mouth hanging open much of the time. And Bill? He had teh uggles. Yeouch. Really, the show reminded me why I don’t watch TV. It sucks. (pun intended.) Books are richer and much more satisfying. Why do TV people feel the need to put in the annoying best friend? Cuz that character was nowhere in the book and drove me bonkers. Comedic relief, she was not. Snark, snark, snark. READ THE BOOK. IT’S MUCH BETTER.
Tags: Book lovers & reviewers, Charlaine Harris, Dead Until Dark, Paranormal Romance, Sookie Stackhouse, Southern Vampire Novel, True Blood, Urban Fantasy, vampires
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September 8, 2008 at 12:07 pm
What? can this be possible? You actually like…..BILL???????
September 8, 2008 at 12:10 pm
I totally forgot to beg my mom to tape this for me, since I don’t have HBO, so thanks for the review, because I was sort of on the fence. You are totally right, the internal dialogue really makes this book shine, and it would suck without. Now I don’t feel bad about missing it.
Oh, also, don’t despair. There are many Bill haters out there, (including me) but the jury is out on whether their love will last. This may look like a love triangle, but I think Charlaine ultimately sees it as the story of Bill and Sookie.
September 8, 2008 at 12:13 pm
***SPOILER***
But I read on Wikipedia that he CHEATS ON HER. I am so unhappy to know that their “I lurve you!” doesn’t last. Cheating? In a hero? Nuh-uh.
September 8, 2008 at 2:05 pm
Exactly Ciara, if Sookie and Bill end up together, I will be very very sad. I am an Eric girl all the way!
September 10, 2008 at 4:04 am
I totally agree! The books were loads better. Her other Shakespeare series is excellent also.
October 19, 2008 at 11:10 am
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December 10, 2008 at 6:09 pm
[...] Ciaralira, 4 smiles [...]