Charlaine Harris - Southern Vampire Series

[Marlow]

Has anyone else read Dead in the Family? Frankly, I just didn't think it was very good. It felt like Charlaine Harris had a deadline to meet and just slapped something on a page. There were several plots and subplots, but no main story line. She introduced new characters for no particular reason. Sookie would be scared and miserable in one scene and perky in the next. Don't want to discuss any spoiler information, but at least one major plot line was introduced and never followed up.

Anyway, anyone else have an opinion?

[Mark S.]

I'm reading the first book for the first time, and I have to say: The TV series is far superior in every way. The TV show develops characters, makes you care about them (both good and bad), and focuses on a wide array of characters. The book is all plot, no character.

Do they get better, or if I don't like the first one am I guaranteed to dislike the rest?

[Niftybergin]

Originally Posted by Mark S.

Do they get better, or if I don't like the first one am I guaranteed to dislike the rest?

I never could get into the first one -- I STILL haven't read it (or #2) -- even though I've read 3-10. I do think they get better, but I'm not sure character development is a mainstay of the series. They definitely seem more focused on the plot.

[fleetiebelle]

I read the books before the show came out, and I couldn't put them down. You're starting out comparing the two, which is always going to be disappointing. The thing with the book series is that it's entirely from Sookie's perspective, so yes, it is going to be limited in that sense. But I think in all, because of the first-person narration the books are a lot warmer and funnier than True Blood, which focuses a lot on the darker aspects of sex and drugs and death.

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

The books (read them all) are much superior to the TV series. TV series always go for the shocker-scenes and if they aren't in the book, they create one. I quit watching after the first season b/c it was just so stupid.

[Mark S.]

Originally Posted by fleetiebelle

The thing with the book series is that it's entirely from Sookie's perspective, so yes, it is going to be limited in that sense. But I think in all, because of the first-person narration the books are a lot warmer and funnier than True Blood, which focuses a lot on the darker aspects of sex and drugs and death.

I think the first person narrative is a large part of why I just can't get into the book. It limits the entire viewpoint to Sookie, and she just isn't that interesting. I feel no emotional connection to her whatsoever, because the prose tends toward "just the facts," with little access to the characters' thoughts and emotions.

My big complaint with the TV show is that so many scenes exist solely to titillate. They don't advance plot or character. It's just a chance to put skin on the screen. Some scenes (especially in the first season) are nothing more than soft core porn.

But at least with the TV show there is an emotional connection with the characters, and the story manages to involve all the characters and their own personal struggles. The book just doesn't do that. The narrative is "this happened, that happened" ... all plot, no character.

I was hoping that this was simply the case with the first book, and later books would become more interesting.

[jenna85]

I have the book series on my Kindle and so far I have only read 3 books. There are some things that I like better in the books than I do in the TV series.

[Jasmin71]

So if you compare these Books to another book series would it be more like twilight, house of Night, morganville vampires..... ?

[davidle]

Reading books is fine better than watching