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Most Helpful Favorable Review
45 out of 47 people found this review helpful.
Excellent Read
I loved reading this wonderful book! It is a story that keeps you entertained for hours.
posted by theReader278 on June 29, 2011
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23 out of 28 people found this review helpful.
Great concept, terribly written
While I am a fan of "True Blood", I was not a fan of Harris' written work, which is quite rare, becasue I usually go the opposite way when it comes to books and their film forms. This is perhaps the first book I can say I actually like the series better than the book. B...Read More
While I am a fan of "True Blood", I was not a fan of Harris' written work, which is quite rare, becasue I usually go the opposite way when it comes to books and their film forms. This is perhaps the first book I can say I actually like the series better than the book. But I digress.
I think Harris' concept is fantastic. She has a dynamic cast of characters, all with their own quirks and issues. Each character is colorful and paints a vivid picture. Towards the middle and end of the book, however, I lose my connection with the characters. I feel as though too much is going on at once and it loses the reader's interest and muddles the time line of events. I'm not a particular fan of her style of writing - but that's just a personal opinion.
While the story line is an intriguing one, I feel Harris loses her grip on her characters halfway through the story and leaves the reader confused and unhappy at the end.Show Less
I think Harris' concept is fantastic. She has a dynamic cast of characters, all with their own quirks and issues. Each character is colorful and paints a vivid picture. Towards the middle and end of the book, however, I lose my connection with the characters. I feel as though too much is going on at once and it loses the reader's interest and muddles the time line of events. I'm not a particular fan of her style of writing - but that's just a personal opinion.
While the story line is an intriguing one, I feel Harris loses her grip on her characters halfway through the story and leaves the reader confused and unhappy at the end.Show Less
posted by spinspinnsuga on July 1, 2010
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theReader278
Posted June 29, 2011
I Also Recommend:
Excellent Read
I loved reading this wonderful book! It is a story that keeps you entertained for hours.
45 out of 47 people found this review helpful.
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Maddilyn
Posted November 4, 2008
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Charlaine Harris Filled My Twilight Void
I LOVED this book. I decided to read it because I took an intrest in the HBO tv show and had just finished reading the Twilight series. Vampire novels are a gulty pleasure of mine so when I discovered Dead Untill Dark I was thrilled. The Sookie Stackhouse novels are definately more adult than the Stephanie Meyer books so youths be advised. I loved everything about the world that Charlaine Harris created. After reading her books I wanted to take a road trip to Louisianna. Her characters are so believabe despite their mythical state. I especially loved the modern twist she put on it. To think that vampires would fight for equal rights and want to live as equals amoung humans is crazy to think about. The love story that she creates between Bill and Sookie is unique despite what die hard Twilight fans might say. (Remember....Dead Untill Dark came BEFORE Twilight.) Also, the HBO show True Blood stays true to the novels for the most part and is just as addicting has the series.
44 out of 46 people found this review helpful.
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Anonymous
Posted October 29, 2008
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Silly covers, great reads!
I read this book because the HBO series True Blood hooked me. I'm a sucker for Anna Paquin and love Alan Ball, so this show was right up my alley and I figured the book might be too.
Within the first chapter or so, I decided I would finish Dead Until Dark. I hate to stop a book midway through, but probably wouldn't continue on to the next books in the series. Sookie Stackhouse's tale just wasn't gripping me. Somewhere around the middle of the book, though, my opinion changed. Maybe the story just took a bit to chug up to full speed, or maybe I was finally able to get out of the TV show mentality. The book, as always, is different than the movie.
Sookie, the heroine, is charming, self-aware, and more than a little tongue in cheek. She also happens to be a telepathic waitress who works at a dive bar in Louisiana, a state that draws vampires to it like a moth to a flame. Couple that with Sookie's seemingly magnetic ability to bring trouble to her doorstep, and you end up with a rollicking good time.
Dead Until Dark is a love story, mystery, and fantasy novel. It works extremely well on all fronts, except for maybe the love story portion. Sookie holds up her half of the relationship quite well, but Vampire Bill seems a little TOO cold and distant. He supposedly has these deep reserves of emotions and passion, but it's very hard to detect that. As a result, it sort of feels like Sookie is dating a robot. A super strong robot.
Overall, a great story that is worth reading. Check them all out.29 out of 31 people found this review helpful.
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Great concept, terribly written
While I am a fan of "True Blood", I was not a fan of Harris' written work, which is quite rare, becasue I usually go the opposite way when it comes to books and their film forms. This is perhaps the first book I can say I actually like the series better than the book. But I digress.
I think Harris' concept is fantastic. She has a dynamic cast of characters, all with their own quirks and issues. Each character is colorful and paints a vivid picture. Towards the middle and end of the book, however, I lose my connection with the characters. I feel as though too much is going on at once and it loses the reader's interest and muddles the time line of events. I'm not a particular fan of her style of writing - but that's just a personal opinion.
While the story line is an intriguing one, I feel Harris loses her grip on her characters halfway through the story and leaves the reader confused and unhappy at the end.23 out of 28 people found this review helpful.
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Surprised in a good way. :)
I write this book review with no preconceived notion brought on by the show True Blood. I refused to watch that show until I read the books. I have just finished the first one.
Sookie Stackhouse is your typical "disabled" waitress in a small town bar in Northern Louisiana. Her disability is a far from common one; she's telepathic.
She was raised with her brother, Jason, by her aging grandmother after her parents died when she was young. While her older brother has moved out of the house a while ago, Sookie still lives with her grandmother.
Enter the Vampire Bill.
When vampires were allowed "out of the coffin" a few years back to be legally recognized citizens, they've been received with curiosity, romanticism, and sometimes all out hatred; but Sookie couldn't wait to meet one.
When she met Bill, she was waitressing at Merlotte's, the local pub and food stop in Bon Temps. She was taken with him, but she was "Crazy Sookie" after all, and Sookie doesn't date. Hearing other people's thoughts at a constant rate kills that idea.
When Bill got up and left with the "Rats", a local couple nicknamed that by Sookie due to their white trash status and last name, Sookie immediately knew they were up to no good. When she followed them out into the parking lot, they were draining him for his prized vampire blood, which has become the new "it" drug.
Sookie managed to get Bill away from them, and herself into a lot of mess.
Meanwhile; there is a serial killer in Bon Temps murdering young women, and the local detective has his sights on her older brother to fill the prison cell for it.
I can't get into all the different characters and aspects of this book so now it's down to my final thoughts. Since I had not seen the show, I really genuinely loved this book. There were so many interesting characters and it really got into the vampire society aspect. Unlike books like "Twilight", it isn't some sob story teen emo G rated romance but there isn't so much sex in it, as say Laurell K Hamilton, where you just groan and skip the five chapters it takes to complete one love scene. That is important to me. Romance scenes should only be included into a book when it benefits the story, not as a cover up for the writer's lack of creativity to spin an actual storyline. This book delivers in this department. Harris is an excellent storyteller, and she did wonderfully by weaving in the whole Southern mentality you'd expect from a story based in Louisiana.17 out of 18 people found this review helpful.
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Dead Until Dark - Charlaine Harris
Great book! Sookie is a down-to-earth, very likable character with charm, compassion, intelligence and an amazing amount of depth. Bill is unlike most of the other vampires you read about, refreshingly so, in that he is not so impossibly beautiful and seductive, which really wouldn't fit in with Sookie's no-nonsense personality. He is protective of Sookie, but not to the point of suffocation. They seem to have a fairly normal relationship, except for the unusual amount of dead people that seem to pop up around them.
Ms. Harris writes with humor and emotion that draws you into the story and makes you feel a part of it. I started this book as my normal before bed read, and didn't put it down until 4 a.m. when I couldn't keep my eyes open any longer. I am truly not interested in seeing the HBO series because it will mess up my internal visualization of Sookie, Bill and everyone else in Bon Temps, LA. As much as I admire Anna Pacquin in her past work, I just can't visualize her as Sookie.
Again, I am very pleased to have purchased Ms. Harris' books and once I finish the Stackhouse series, I will move on to her other characters. She is a wonderful author!16 out of 18 people found this review helpful.
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It's okay...
I read this book on a suggestion from someone who had read Twilight. I'm not into vampire books in particular, but I really liked the Twilight series so I gave this one a try. The story is somewhat similar, but I had a hard time getting into it. I felt no connection with the personalities of the characters as you never really have a chance to get to know them. I didn't feel the love behind the two main characters, Sookie and Bill, and they were already professing their love 1/3 of the way into the book. They had sex shortly thereafter and there was a lot of killing in the book.
This book series is not a good match for me personally as I am tired of the sex and violence that is in a lot of books today. However, if you are into murder mysteries and vampires, you may like this one. It did have a couple of funny moments that made me chuckle, but unfortunately it was not enough to keep me interested in reading further books in this series. There was also a part near the end where they introduced a character (Bubba) that was so ridiculous I almost put the book down right then and there.
This is just one person's opinion and I know there are probably a lot of readers who really like this series. So I guess you'd have to find out for yourself if you are one of those people...11 out of 18 people found this review helpful.
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Anonymous
Posted January 25, 2009
Love The Book
I wasn't in love with the book when I started reading it. Though, I continued reading to find out the ending. After one more chapter I fell in love with the book and wanted to keep on reading it. If you love the Twilight series, the blood books, or any vampire fiction, then pick this up now. Sookie is either like you or someone you know, she is easy to relate to.
10 out of 11 people found this review helpful.
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M_Cassidy
Posted July 2, 2010
A Fun Read . . .
This book was a quick and fun read, however I felt the story's pace was just a tad on the slow side, despite the sultry content. Even though I'm not planning to read the rest of the series, I would recommend reading this book to see if it is something that may interest you.
8 out of 9 people found this review helpful.
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Anne Rice move over!!!! Charlaine Harris is the new Vampire Queen lol jk
I have heard of the TV series on HBO, and never watched. But when I went into Barnes and Noble and saw this book. I still didn't tie it in with being the book based on the series. I got it cause the cover drawn me in, but when I started researching the book and reviews. I was surprised to find out it was based on the TV series!!!
SO I read it...and to my surprise this book was very....EXCELLENT!!! I was not expecting nothing I had read. It was so different then the new age vampires being so glamours(Twilight). I'm not saying Twilight isn't a good book. I enjoyed it!! Its just this book gave you more in site about the obstacles, and life of a vampire.
The main character name is Sookie Stackhouse, and she can read minds.How cool is that!!! She has a brother name Jason who is like a man whore lol. One night while working she meets Bill, the vampire. And thats when everything in her life take a dramatic and exciting change for the good.
IF your looking for a great Vampire book, that has romance, thrill, excitement, and just a great storyline. This is the book. I really enjoyed this book. I can't wait to by the squeal.5 out of 8 people found this review helpful.
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Good but slow
it was a good book ooverall but was so slow and took so long for the story to develope that towards the end i got bored and couldnt wait to get it over with
4 out of 9 people found this review helpful.
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Anonymous
Posted September 4, 2008
I LOVE!!!!!
I love your books about Sookie and Bill. I've read dead until dark 3 times. I just love it so much i got the second one... The story of them just gets better and better! I cant wait to start reading the rest of them!
4 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
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Adult fiction at a 5th grade reading level
This would probably be a great series for people learning to read later in life. It was vaguely entertaining.
3 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
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KelliN
Posted May 7, 2010
Better than True Blood
Charlaine Harris' first Sookie Stackhouse novel is a strong start to an outstanding series. If you've watched True Blood on HBO but haven't read the series, I would definitely recommend reading the books. They are very different from True Blood, but just as good.
Dead Until Dark is a murder mystery with romance, friendship, and family relationships all in the mix. I like the setting of Louisiana, it's a good mix of reality and fantasy.
As is common with the first novel in a series, this book introduces a lot of characters and gives us a lot of background information. It doesn't move as fast as the other Sookie Stackhouse books, but is still a quick read. If you read this book and don't find it to be very gripping or compelling, give Living Dead in Dallas, the second Sookie book, a try. Like so many others, this series gets better with every book.
I've read all of Charlaine Harris' books, including the Aurora Teagarden and Lily Bard series, and find the Sookie novels to be her best work. I just don't like her other heroines as much as I like Sookie.
Read my whole review on my book blog: http://idsoratherbereading.blogspot.com/search/label/4.5%20Stars#uds-search-results3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
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I Enjoyed It!
I had watched "True Blood" and really enjoyed it, which is why I figured the book wouldn't interest me...I couldn't have been more wrong! The show really does the book justice, but I found enough nuances to the story to keep me interested. Even if you aren't a fan of the show, it is an enthralling read!
If you enjoyed this series, you might also like "Dark Lover" by J.R. Ward, "Dead Witch Walking" by Kim Harrison, or my favorite "Full Moon Rising" by Keri Arthur!2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Wow
I was inspired to read these books after watching the first season of True Blood and all I can say is Wow! I just finished the first and could not out it down once I started reading it! Though slightly different from the HBO series, there are also a number of similarities. Ms. Harris does an excellent job. Great for just relaxing or if you need something different to read!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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flowersophelia
Posted May 16, 2010
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Love it!
I got started with the Sookie Stackhouse books because a friend had me watch True Blood with her one day. I was instantly hooked, both to the show and the books. If you are a fan of the tv show, be warned, the books are from Sookie's point of view. The show expands on the lives of other characters to make out a full season. Dead Until Dark sets up the entire world. Vampires out in the open, the 'nonliving' right next door. This first book also sets up Sookie's whole tragic life story as well as her first love. These books are a great, fun, exciting, and quick read that will keep you wanting more.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Trueblood made me want to read it
Ok first this is not like Twilight, it isn't Twilight and doesn't try to be like it. I loved it. Sookie makes you fall in love with her. The mystery of the murderer also keeps you guessing. You will be surprised when you find out who it is. This series is different from other vampire series I have read and when I read a new series, I go in with open eyes and decide for myself if I like it or not. I am so glad I ordered the whole series and know this will stay saved on my nook because I could see me reading it again easily. I also have to say I like the tv show as equally as the book which doesn't happen often.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Novagirl
Posted October 10, 2009
Spellbinding. An amazing story with memorable characters.
I've read my share of vampire books. I was sucked in during college with Interview with a Vampire and I've never looked back. Some Vampire books aren't really worth your time. They're just the same old stuff trying to be re-done with a twist. But I can say without a doubt that the Sookie Stackhouse series is well worth your time. The story really is unique and Sookie's character is easy to love. I devoured this book. Its a very easy read and the humor balances out the grim circumstances the heroine finds herself in. I've delighted in every book of this series and I think Dead Until Dark sets it up very well. Enjoy it.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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TrueFan1
Posted November 5, 2008
Dead Until Dawn
I couldn't put this down, wow! More romance then the series and more drama..I began reading these books after seeing the HBO series TrueBlood, but the books as always are better, more romance more interesting. I just wish HBO would get out of the idea that we need a weekly liason with Jason and whoever to keep it hot, which takes over and isn't in the book. The "who did it" was a shock, I never saw that coming! Love Bill and wish the series has as much of him as the book does. I love the books more then the series and finished it in one day.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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