sookie stackhouse Archives - Diary of Difference

Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris [BOOK REVIEW]

If you’ve read my review for Dead Until Dark, you already know my feelings before getting into Living Dead in Dallas. I wasn’t impressed with this book, but I will continue reading the series.

About The Book:

Pages: 279

Format I read it in: Paperback

Publisher: Gollancz

Purchase Links:
Amazon UK | Amazon US

★★★

Synopsis:

Sookie’s co-worker is killed outside the bar where she works, and very shortly after, she has a dangerous encounter with a mythological creature that wants to deliver a message. On top of that, Sookie and Bill are sent to Dallas, trying to locate a missing vampire. Things escalate, and now both humans and vampires might be in a grave danger.

My Thoughts:

It’s a big shame I can’t get over the fact that I don’t like Sookie. If she was annoying in the first book, she’s twice as annoying in this one. Her inner monologues are terrible, and her personality even worse still. When I was reading her story, it felt like someone was taking about a 12-year-old. She still believes people should treat her in a special way because she can read minds, but she doesn’t mind being treated by Bill as if she were a possession. She’s the first one to judge people for not being modest, but she flirts with people and vampires whilst she has a boyfriend and is also involved in some interesting situations involving sex. I think I’ll stop here, because I’ve already decided Sookie’s not the reason I like this book series, so time to move on.

In the first book, I liked Bill for his maturity, but his behaviour, especially towards Sookie didn’t impress me. I also think he didn’t get much time in the book, and hopefully his behaviour in the next book will improve. Luckily, Eric was here to make up for it. Now he’s a vampire I like. He intrigued me a lot and I want to see more of Eric. And as much as I don’t like Sookie, I liked her scenes with him and I foor for her and Eric to be together at some point.

The beginning of the book already made me realise some of the bigger issues this book has. Firstly, with this Church, or so called, Fellowship of the Sun. The characters in this book are racist. Starting with Sookie’s co-worker, who I won’t name because of spoilers, but is well known for fans of the TV Show. He is the only (so far) black friend that Sookie has met. And when he is killed, there are many things she says that are not okay. Not to mention the thoughts she also reads from other people in the town.

The Fellowship of the Sun

Living Dead in Dallas is the book where we meet The Fellowship of the Sun. The members of this cult are people that hate vampires, and not only think that vampires should go back to hiding, but they want vampires dead too.

“What the Klan was to African Americans, the Fellowship of the Sun was to vampires.”

Then, we get to these people from the Church, who discriminate the vampires. And later on, we even get to meet one vampire, who is gay and a pedophile, but because he chooses the way of God and decides to “meet the sun”, is forgiven for his sins. Godfrey is actually one of my favourite characters in this book, together with Eric, but I don’t think the other characters should have handled his sins in the way they did. I also might be biased from watching the TV Show, as Godfrey and Eric had a way better story and plot than they did in this book. Regarding the Fellowship of the Sun, I expected much more to this. However, as some of the characters are still around, I have a feeling that we might read more from them in the next books.

I liked the involvement of other creatures too, not only the vampires. I liked Sam’s little side story that tangled with Sookie’s experience in Dallas, although I wasn’t too keen on her being so inquisitive on his romantic life, when it’s none of her business. On the subject of vampires, however, I really enjoyed the rules the vampires have and their ranks and statuses. Even their punishment, if someone betrays them, although quite cruel, they seemed fair.

To my surprise, we do get to meet Tara in this book. But if you’re a fan to the TV show, she’s nothing like Sookie’s bestie that we know and love. Here, she is more interested in accompanying Eggs to orgies, one of which Sookie joins as well. But I won’t get into how that happens and why and let you read that bit for yourself.

Summary

Overall, I quite enjoyed Living Dead in Dallas although there are a lot of questions and things that don’t sit quite right with me at all. It took me on a fantasy adventure full of vampires and kept me intrigued until the end. I didn’t like Sookie, but the many incredible side characters made up for that. I will continue the series, as I am a bit invested now, and I look forward to see what Club Dead has in store for me.

About The Author:

Charlaine Harris Schulz is an American author who specializes in mysteries. She is best known for her book series The Southern Vampire Mysteries, which was adapted as the TV series True Blood. The television show was a critical and financial success for HBO, running seven seasons, from 2008 through 2014.

★★★★

Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris is the first book in the Sookie Stackhouse series. We follow the life of Sookie, a waitress in Louisiana, who also has the ability to read people’s minds.

When a vampire enters the bar and Sookie can’t read his mind – she is intrigued and wants to know this mysterious man better. But vampires usually mean trouble, and maybe Sookie is not really for all the troubles to start coming her way.

After watching the TV show “True Blood” and finding out that there is a book series, I had to read the books. I am usually a person that reads the books before watching the adaptations. The first book was great and I also loved the TV Show.

I liked everyone, apart from Sookie.

Possibly because she acts very immature at all times and behaves like a spoilt child, when others tell her no. Maybe it is the lack of fear, empathy and emotion she feels. Or maybe, it is just the fact that she feels entitled because of her special ability, and likes to talk about how people always treat her badly because she is different. I just didn’t like her at all. And given the fact that she is the main character in this series, I am wondering how I like this book. Sookie – if you don’t behave in the next books, we’re going to have some problems!

I loved this book because of the side characters. In Dead Until Dark, we meen many amazing characters that I loved who have their own stories to tell. This was something I really enjoyed, and considering I watched the TV Shows and knew some of these stories, I was actually excited to read the book version of them. It felt like I was meeting them again for the very first time. I was really hoping to meet Tara though, but she is not in the first book… Oh well. Maybe she’ll appear after? Don’t tell me if you know. 🙂

Charlaine Harris has an interesting writing style that kept me engaged. I was invested and curious throughout the whole book. I loved the adventures and the plot twists that kept coming up. The ending was meh, but considering the fact that it is a build-up for the second book, I wasn’t too surprised. It definitely gives you something to think about until you read the next book though.

Vampire Bill was the character that intrigued me the most.

I was so glad that he was not the usual vampire type we are used to, of the likes of Edward Cullen or the Salvatore brothers. Bill seemed more mature, more mysterious and I loved it.

I actually enjoyed the whole vampire world in this book. The rules and the hierarchy model was pleasantly surprising. It is interesting to dive in more in how the vampires respect each other depending on their ranks and age. Even though I do wish that the mythology was more followed through, it was nice to read a book where vampires are living in the society, and are more or less accepted. We could see how people still have their prejudice though, as is the example that the women who tend to hang out with vampires are called “fangbangers”, and they tend to be frowned upon by society.

Overall, I believe Dead Until Dark is a great first book, and a promising beginning of the Sookie Stackhouse series. I will definitely be continuing the series!

Highly recommended if you are a fan of vampires, fantasy, romance and a bit of mystery, followed by many different side characters that you will instantly adore.