So Disappointed

I usually try not to read too many reviews of a book before I write my own so as not to be influenced by others' opinions. This time, however, I couldn't help myself; I had to peek to see if other readers felt a distinct lack of emotion for this final installment into our beloved Sookie's tale. And while I won't go so far as to say this is the worst book ever written, I will agree with the reviews I've read: I am very disappointed overall.

There are some things I liked about Dead Ever After, so I will state them first. I liked the fact that I got to spend time with characters I've grown to know and love, including Mr. Cataliades, Diantha, Pam and Bill (despite his flaws). I liked that Sookie realized she has friends she can call on who will help her, no questions asked. I liked that there was resolution for Claude. Wait...I'm trying to think of more things. Oh, and despite my overall lack of enthusiasm, the story did move along fairly quickly and I kept turning the pages to see what would happen next. That's a positive, right?

But oh my gosh, the problems. This is going to be spoiler-y, so consider yourselves warned.

I'll start small. After being in financial straits for so long, suddenly Sookie receives a bequest from Claudine that will basically take care of her for life? Wow. How nice. Oh, that nasty break-up with Quinn? It's in the past and all's forgiven. That convoluted murder and arrest? Never would've happened, even if Alcee had not been under the influence of a voodoo object. Amelia's father wanting the cluviel for simply to control Amelia? Yeah, right. And where was Bubba?

But then...the Eric situation. It was handled so badly, even with the lead up from the last book, that it was unbelievable. These two loved each other madly, and yet Eric couldn't and wouldn't find a way to get out of the marriage with Freyda? I understand the problems with an ongoing relationship between an immortal vampire and a human, but there would have been something Eric would've done. For him to ride off into the sunset, even with his token gifts, was totally unacceptable, even if I did see it coming. And the non-chemistry between Sookie and Sam, no matter how much Sookie tried to make it sound wonderful, was anything but. Sookie would not, under any circumstances, have simply let go of Eric and moved on so quickly.

If I keep writing, I'm going to talk myself out of the three stars I'm giving this final novel. I wanted to love it, I was expecting closure, and hoping to at least like Sam and Sookie together, and got none of it. Let's just say I'll give it 2.5 stars and round it up for old times' sake.

~taminator40

Sookie # 11

My reading's been so hit or miss lately...My iPad has really cut into my reading time because it's just so darned fun! But I did make time to fit in the newest Sookie Stackhouse...and as always, it fits the bill in so many ways.

In Dead Reckoning, things should be going well for Sookie: her relationship with Eric is solid, her most recent enemy is dead, and she's still got all her close friends and relatives nearby. Naturally things cannot stay this way, and the book begins with a fire bombing of Merlotte's and ends with...well, lots and lots and lots of carnage. And amid all this, Sookie must face some ugly truths about herself, Eric, and her family.

I don't go into a Sookie Stackhouse novel expecting literary development of characters and with that in mind, I'm never disappointed. Even so, Sookie is definitely changed in this novel: how can she not be, with all the trials and traumas she's faced over the span of the previous novels? Still, I expected (read: hoped) that her relationship with Eric would be the one constant, and apparently this isn't something that's going to be in the cards. It's going to be interesting to see how Eric's contract with the Queen of Oklahoma plays out and whether he's willing to give up the lure of power for the human he loves.


There are indeed a few timeline discrepencies in Dead Reckoning, but beyond that, it's still a solid entry in the series. I love that Sookie was able to stand up to interfering friends and family, but her resignation that the way she has to live her life now (plotting murder, dealing with demons, looking out for enemies) shows that her life is actually out of her control in many ways. I love her relationship with Pam, and Dermot's earned a place in my heart with his determination to "help" Sookie as best he can. I just wish I could smack some sense into Eric...but then again, that would make life kinda boring for Sookie if she didn't have to worry at all about her love life.


Dead Reckoning is a page turner, especially towards the end, and it's filled with the gore and characters we've come to expect. Is it always consistent with previous novels? Nope. Are there characters who are acting oddly? Yep. Will I continue on with the series? Absolutely. Ms. Harris's world of Bon Temps and its inhabitants still engages and brings me in touch with people I've grown to love. I could nit pick all day but that's not what Sookie's about. I'm just going to continue to enjoy the ride.
 
~taminator40

Dead in the Family

Seriously, can you say brain dead? Because that's what I've been most of the month of May. My reading has suffered and I'm off to one of the slowest starts for a year I've had in eons. I'd blame the flood and the end of school but I think there's more to it than that. Anyway, I do finally have a new review to post and I'm looking forward to the summer break. I feel as though I'm Dobby receiving a sock!


If you're reading this, you probably know the plot of Dead in the Family, at least generally: Sookie's still with Eric (thank God!), the Weres are still having problems adjusting to being "out", and Sookie's fairy cousin Claude has come for a visit...or rather, to move in with Sookie. When a fresh body turns up on Sookie's property, things take an uneasy turn as it seems someone is setting Sookie up; meanwhile, Eric's maker shows up in Bon Temps, pulling Eric out of Sookie's life and intwining them all in the drama that is the former Russian prince, Alexei. Action, mystery, family, and Eric--seriously, what more could you want from this delicious series?




Sookie's life is always complicated, and Dead in the Family is no exception. While the relationship between Sookie and Eric is still sizzling, it's not front and center for most of the book. There is a lot of focus on Sookie's family in this book, and at least one long mystery (Dermot's role in Sookie's parents' death) is cleared up. I liked spending time with Claude, and I liked how Jason seems to be stepping up to the plate for Sookie. I also liked how Sookie interacted with Hunter; that seems a relationship developing well and helping to keep Sookie grounded. The introduction of Alexei was well written and intriguing, though I did miss Bubba. I also liked how Sookie still cares for Bill and that he's not been allowed to slip quietly away into the recesses of her life.




There's a lot to love in Dead in the Family, though not every little action was resolved and sometimes Sookie seems to be slipping into the dark side as she wrangles with characters who want to do her harm. Unfortunately for Ms. Harris, this series has become so beloved by so many (and I suspect, mixed up in emotional ways with the television series) that she's going to have a hard time pleasing the long term fans who want to see certain characters behave in certain ways. While I may not have loved every single page, I do recognize that an author cannot have every character she's created in every book, especially when we're now in the tenth title. I do feel Ms. Harris has stayed true to the spirit of the series with Dead in the Family, and I'm pleased to say it was a page turner that captured me and reeled me in. For those who were less than thrilled with it, I'd advise you to let go of your expectations for the plot and see where Dead in the Family actually leads you. I'm pleased to say that I felt this book is a return to the action-filled mysteries of the early books, and I can recommend it to all who love the Southern Vampire Mysteries.

~taminator40

Back With Sookie...and Life is Good

I get kinda pissed at people who review on Amazon sometimes. You'd think they'd been personally offended just because an author *did not do* precisely what they felt should have been done in the next installment of a series. I swear in some of the reviews they nitpick a novel to death so much I just want to scream! Authors simply cannot make everyone happy by a)including every character ever introduced, b) making their characters do something because of what was done in the past, and c) make the book longer/shorter/less sexy/more sexy/, etc., etc., etc. I think some people simply delight in finding issues with a book and then blasting them; this seems to happen most frequently with books in a series.

I personally loved Dead and Gone, the 9th Sookie Stackhouse book. I raced through it, even with a sick child and work, kicking myself frequently because now I'll have to wait a year for the next one. After I'd closed the book and moseyed on over to Amazon to begin my own review, I was simply amazed at the recent reviews that gave one, two, or three stars. You'd not believe some of the problems some reviewers had; I don't have a problem with a negative review when it's based on something solid, but when it's just a rant because the author didn't include character A or had character B do something the reader didn't like, it becomes about the reviewer wanting to direct the author's words and ideas. One reviewer had the nerve to mention her own upcoming vampire book and how she would never do so-and-so...well, good for you, honey. But Amazon's not the place for BSP (blatant self-promotion) when writing reviews for others' books.

Below is my own personal review of Dead and Gone, and if you don't agree with it, that's okay. But I refuse to blast an author because of the direction she's taking her characters. Poor story, yes; poor writing, an even bigger yes. This book was delightful, and I stand by that opinion.

~taminator40

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The ninth entry in the Southern Vampire Mysteries, Dead and Gone, opens with Sookie Stackhouse back at work at Merlotte's in Bon Temps, Louisiana, and the world being rocked with the revelation of were-creatures. Sookie, telepath extraordinaire, has known of the existence of not only the weres but all sorts of other supernaturals for a while now (even having dated the weretiger Quinn), but those who haven't aren't necessarily thrilled with the news. Even her boss Sam's stepfather doesn't react well to the announcement, so Sam must leave the bar temporarily in Sookie's care while he travels home. Unfortunately, Sookie's erstwhile sister-in-law Crystal turns up mysteriously crucified in the parking lot, and that is just the beginning of her troubles. Her great-grandfather Niall, a fairy, turns up long enough to tell her she's in danger because of his politics, and Eric, her sometimes lover/vampire friend, tricks Sookie into becoming "his"...and Sookie's not sure if that means they are married, bonded, or simply stuck with each other.

There are a lot of characters in this book, from Sookie's roommate Amelia to sadistic fairies to vengeful ex-friends intent on harm. Sookie's more serious than in the past, but there is a lot to deal with with her own life in danger and the death of Crystal. Sookie's confused: is Bill really such a bad guy? Is a relationship with Eric what she truly wants? Should she trust her brother Jason? All of these events combine to a good deal of action that is often bloody and violent, even with Sookie doing her best to stay on top of things.

I am not disappointed with this installment of Ms. Harris's series, though of course I would have liked more story to flesh out some of the action. There are a couple of convenient explanations that seem to come out of nowhere--seriously, Mel?--but there is an air of plausibility to Sookie's actions that certainly follow what she has done in the past. The push/pull between Bill and Eric is intriguing and believable, and while I desperately want her to end up with Eric, I can see how hard it is to banish an old flame. I did at times feel that the canvas was too crowded, and had to stop and think about who a character was and what his/her place was in Bon Temps, but I don't have a good solution as to paring things down. It would be easy to pick apart the book if I sat and pondered it too much, but honestly, you can't please everyone by adding in everything they want in one novel. Ms. Harris did a fine job of weaving action and emotion into Dead and Gone, and I am looking forward to more in this series.

Grave Sight by Charlaine Harris

I picked up Grave Sight by Charlaine Harris because I'm such a fan of her Southern Vampire Mysteries. And while this one had Harris's trademark engaging writing, it fell a little flat for me. The "mystery" was quite transparent, and honestly, in this day and age, not that big of a deal really (had the problem been stopped early on, however). I found the relationship between Harper Connelly and her stepbrother Tolliver a bit on the weird, too dependent side, and I would've liked more background on just why Harper clings so to him. The best I can say, though, is that there is a preview for the next book in the back and it was interesting enough to make me want to continue in the series. My amazon review can be found at http://www.amazon.com/review/R1T26VOMD8C0LF/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm.

~taminator40

From Dead to Worse

Did I ever mention that I like vampire books?

Okay, seriously, I do have a thing for vampires and I love a well-written vampire novel. Charlaine Harris's Southern Vampire Mysteries fills the bill (ha, I just made myself laugh; if you've read the books, you'll understand) nicely. As I told Jeff when I first picked this one up, just days after the release date, there's simply nothing better than the next book in a beloved series where you feel like you are visiting with old friends, and this one is no exception. Except....

Except that this one has about ten different plots happening and the action rises and falls in aggravating spurts. Everyone checks in, which is good, but this is definitely a transition novel in the series. Don't get me wrong, I loved it, if for nothing more than another visit with Sookie and her abilities, supernatural friends, and the atmosphere. Harris also does a credible job of weaving Hurricane Katrina and that devastation into the storyline, and for that I give her props. I just wish this book had had more of a focus. Oh, well, still fun, still Sookie, still better than a bunch of stuff I've read lately. I can look forward to the next release with hopes that we'll be back in a mess and Sookie will be back in Eric's vampiric arms.

My amazon review is found at http://tinyurl.com/5ghhqn. Apparently I'm not alone in my slight disappointment in this entry.

~taminator40

All Together Dead

I'm all caught up on the Southern Vampire Mysteries series, having completed All Together Dead last night. Definitely better than the last book in the series (Definitely Dead), this one centers on the vamps and a Mid-West summit meeting they are attending. Our friend Sookie is brought along for her telepathic abilities and naturally, murder and mayhem ensue. There was much more of sexy vampire Eric (thank goodness!) and though I do like Quinn, he's just not who I want Sookie to be with. This book is definitely darker than the last couple, and it ends on a bit of an emotional cliffhanger. Now I have to wait until next May (geez louise, that's a long time!) for the next installment. But by visiting the author's website, I was able to learn that HBO is planning a series called True Blood based on this series. Apparently Anna Paquin is going to play Sookie. This *might* be worth investing in HBO for.

My amazon review is found at http://tinyurl.com/2h7v94. Please visit and vote.

Now I picked up Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr. Dark so far, it's an interesting premise of a teen girl who is fey, and the faeries who are tormenting her. I think it'll be a quick read.

~taminator40

Definitely Dead

I'm feeling pretty good about myself right now. I'd made a mental promise to myself to get to 45 books for the year by the end of the summer, and right now I've finished #47, Definitely Dead. For some reason at the beginning of this year, my reading had really slowed down and I'd only gotten to #25 when the summer began. So I'm officially pleased with myself that I've gone beyond my own self-imposed goal, and now I'd like to see #50 before that dreaded date of returning to school (which I'm sooooo in denial about!). Go, me!

Definitely Dead picks up the story of barmaid and telepath Sookie Stackhouse (don't you just love her name?) after the death of her estranged cousin, Hadley (who was also a vampire). Sookie is called in to clean up her cousin's estate, as well as deal with the vampire queen of Louisiana. This being our beloved Sookie (and the sixth book in the series), naturally things don't go smoothly and her life is in mortal danger a few times throughout the book. My biggest personal disappointment is the lack of relationship between Sookie and Eric the vampire (but yes, I still have a soft spot for Bill!). I suppose I like Quinn, her current squeeze (and weretiger) well enough, but he just isn't doing it for me like the vamps do. I can't get excited about a bald guy, even if I do try to picture him as looking like Chris Daughtry. I miss my vampires! However, I've got book #7 sitting here waiting for me, and it may be the next one I pick up. The preview for it at the back of this book had Sookie sitting in Eric's office with several vamps so hopefully they will be more of the focus. We'll see.

Anyway, overall I enjoyed Definitely Dead; its humor is great and the story itself is good, even if it does seem to wander a bit at times (hello? missing child sideplot? why?). I reviewed it at amazon at this link: http://tinyurl.com/35h49x

I picked up Private Peaceful because it's short (200 pages) and it looked good but when I was reading it this afternoon I was having to force myself on through it. :( I will finish it, but I'm not exactly enjoying it. But at least it'll be a solid #48 on my list! Hey, at least I can accomplish another goal, right?

~taminator40

Another Vampire Book Finished! Plus Some HP News

Yesterday I finished #5 in the Southern Vampire Mysteries, Dead As a Doornail. Like all the Sookie Stackhouse books, this one was a fast, fun read. Certainly not great literature by any stretch, but the characters in these books are funny and fascinating and I'm definitely enjoying getting to know them over the course of the series. My biggest complaint about this one is the lack of Eric the Vampire...I was a Bill fan, but Eric's got me now. In fact, it's a complaint in general that the story didn't focus more on vampires, but then again, I *may* have a vampire problem. Here's my link to the amazon review:

http://tinyurl.com/3bpakl

We are all beside ourselves with excitement over the new Harry Potter movie, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. We've got tickets for the 12:30 show on Wednesday, the day it opens. I absolutely adore these books and movies. I love that the movies have had the same actors throughout for almost all the roles, with the grand exception of Dumbledore (which couldn't be helped, of course). I love seeing how these kids have grown up. It makes it all so much more believable. I love the music and the adaptations. We've spent the weekend rewatching the first three films on ABC Family, and we may try to get in the fourth film tomorrow night. I've got happy tremors just thinking about it!

~taminator40

Dead to the World Review

Still on my vampire kick, I finished off Dead to the World by Charlaine Harris a couple of days ago. This is a really good entry in the series; Harris keeps throwing more and more supernatural creatures at us, and darn, but if those vampires don't just keep getting sexier! Sookie Stackhouse, mind-reading waitress at large, finds her ex-boyfriend's boss, Eric, alongside the road on her way home from work, and even though she's vowed to not meddle with vampires again, she can't just leave him there when it's very obvious his memory has been erased. And do things ever go smoothly for Sookie? Her brother turns up missing, a local community turns out to be full of werepanthers, and a coven of witches has moved in and is attempting to take over Area 5. Delightful as always, this book kept me turning the pages. And OF COURSE I had to make a trip to the local Borders to pick up the next 3 books in the series because I just couldn't stand knowing there were more books out there unread about Sookie and her delicious world. I'm having great fun reading this series.

Here's the link to my amazon review:

http://tinyurl.com/2rumts

~taminator40

Club Dead Review

I finished the next installment in Charlaine Harris's Southern Vampire Mysteries, Club Dead, in the car on our way to an Atlanta Braves baseball game yesterday (which the Braves won! Yeah!). This is a great installment; poor Sookie finds her heart broken as Bill, her vampire boyfriend, leaves her high and dry when his former flame, Lorena, calls to him. Sookie is then enlisted by Eric, Bill's boss, to help locate him; Sookie is thrown together with Alcide the Werewolf, and the two visit Club Dead to see if Sookie can mind read anything as to Bill's whereabouts. As usual, this book is peopled with fun characters, both supernatural and ordinary, and this is light brain candy that seems to keep me riveted! On to the next installment...

Here's the link to my amazon review:

http://tinyurl.com/2twv2a

Please visit and vote if you feel so inclined.

~taminator40

Living Dead in Dallas Review

Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris is the second book in the Southern Vampire series, and I finished it this afternoon. Not as good as the first in the series, it's rather chaotic in its storyline as it moves between a murder into a maenad into a Fellowship that hates vampires and then back to the murder. However, it is filled with Sookie Stackhouse, barmaid and telepath, her vampire boyfriend Bill, and lots of excellent secondary characters who seem to develop quite nicely over the course of this book. It's still a greatly enjoyable read and I can truthfully say I loved it, but it really did need a clearer storyline (though I do suppose one thing led to another overall). I'm looking forward to reading more in this series because it really is a delightful way to spend some time! Follow the link to my amazon.com review:

http://tinyurl.com/2r5zcz

~taminator40