Review: The Southern Vampire Series and True Blood

Ok, I have to admit that I saw the first season of True Blood before I picked up the Sookie Stackhouse novels, popularly known as The Southern Vampire Series and written by Charlaine Harris.  After watching the first season I ran out and bought the first book.  Then I checked out the second from the library.  I have to admit the first two books didn’t hook me.  Maybe, it was because of the tv series which is quite a bit different than the books.  Then…I read book three.  Book three is where the series swallowed me.

I requested the rest of the series from the library and read nothing but Sookie Stackhouse books until I’d finished the series.  Now I anxiously await the next book.

I admit at first I thought the t.v. series was better than the books but after reading book three and the rest of the series I have whole heatedly changed my mind.  I love the books and we will see if HBO can do them justice in the upcoming seasons of True Blood.

I love the vast array of characters that Ms. Harris introduces throughout the books as well as the many plot twists and conflicts that poor Sookie has to deal with.  I also love watching the characters develop.  Sookie becomes a much stronger person throughout the books, though she remains slightly fickle with her love life.  Eric is one of my all time favorite characters and who I am personally routing for as Sookie’s boyfriend.  Yes, you read correctly–I am not a Bill fan.  I think it’s hard to be a Bill fan if you read the series.  All in all, I can’t wait for the next book.

As for the True Blood series, I have enjoyed the first two seasons and will be watching the third.  However, if you are reading the books and watching the series you basically have to let them be two separate entities in your mind.  The t.v. series makes a lot of changes and doesn’t stick with books closely.  It is loosely based on the book plots and takes a lot of liberty with the characters.  For example, poor Lafayette does not live quite so long in the books, but he is one of my favorite characters in the t.v. series.

Anyway, I recommend you read the books for the full experience of plot and character development, but I’d also recommend watching the series–but be forewarned, HBO LOVES to cliff hang every episode.

To learn more about the author, check out her website:

http://www.charlaineharris.com/