Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris: The Dilemma of Character Development

Dead Until Dark is the first book in a series of small town, Louisianna-style books by Charlaine Harris. It is the story of a small town girl named Sookie Stackhouse who has the unwanted talent of reading peoples' minds. She works at a little bar called Merlott's where her boss, Sam, is secretly in love with her. Sookie and her friends live in a society where vampires live openly in the human world and can survive off synthetic blood. When Sookie meets Bill, a gentle, handsome vampire, her world turns upside down.

This book adhered to most of the typical vampire myths. They sleep in coffins and are burned to death by the sun. The books also have a very raunchy quality to them. The sexual element is not absent or tamed. Harris did a great amount of work to detail every intense moment between Sookie and Bill, which makes the book more enjoyable. However, Bill as a character is another story. His character is not developed enough for me to feel a part of his and Sookie's relationship. I cannot figure out why she likes him so much and it makes it hard to feel connected to his character. However, all the other characters in the books are very well developed: Sookie's sex-addict brother and her colorful friend, Lafayette, both add a lot of interesting elements to the stories.

Although I didn't enjoy the routine of normal vampireism in the book, I did enjoy it enough to venture on to the second book, Living Dead in Dallas. I haven't finished this book yet, but will have a review up as soon as I do.

HBO has turned Charlaine Harris's Sookie Stackhouse novels into a hit show called True Blood. WARNING: Adult content and some disturbing scenes.

Twilight Series: For Beginners?

The Twilight Series are some amazing books. Stephenie Meyer, the author, creates a world where vampires interact with people secretly and in a humane nature. It starts with a story about a normal girl, she moves away from her mother to spend some time with her estranged father. She meets and falls in love with Edward, a century-old vampire. Her blood is the sweetest thing he has ever smelled and that creates a problem for him when he falls in love with her too. The story continues into a beautiful love story filled with many adventures. For a beginner, I would strongly suggest starting with Twilight book. The first book in the series is an easy read, compelling, and good until the last page. Meyer supplies you, at the end of the novel, with the first chapter of the next book in the series, New Moon. If you are at all interested in the nature of people, good vs. evil, or just love an epic romance, I suggest this series with my whole heart.

With all the hype from the movie, people are talking about the Twilight Series frequently. I find myself in conversations with many people who do not want to be the sterotype and read the book because so many others are reading it. In this instance, I do not believe it is a sign of following the herd to read these novels. They awakened something in me that made me want to read more and more of her novels as well as others. I would strongly recommend every reader, avid or not, to pick up these books. I can honestly say that Stephenie Meyer's books turned me into a literary enthusiast and I hope that they can do the same for many others.

Why Read?

What is the number one topic being talked about in our country today? The economy. Americans are changing their habits and hobbies, trying to find ways to enjoy life without breaking the bank. One way to enjoy life during hard times is to escape it for a while. One way to escape for free? Read a book. Research the internet for your favorite subjects and look for books associated. Go to your local library and pick it up. Read 10-20 pages before you go to bed at night. This is my suggestion for a little enjoyment when life feels lacking in the happiness area. The purpose of my blog is to encourage you to read by reviewing books I've read and forwarding on opinions of others. I am a new reader myself, so I would love to hear your feedback and opinions as well. Reading is about opening up your mind to new things and in turn, discovering things about yourself. Specific books and reviews to come in the next blog posts.