Sookie Stackhouse/Southern Vampire series

Dead Until Dark

Living Dead in Dallas

Club Dead

Dead to the World

Dead as a Doornail

Definitely Dead

All Together Dead

From Dead to Worse

Dead and Gone

by Charlaine Harris

Let me start off by saying, that I went into this series with a preconceived bad attitude. It was the series I read after the Twilight saga, which is a VERY tough act to follow. I was also reluctant because of the Science Fiction label (although I've been seeming to read a few more of those lately than I care to admit).

So I began the first book skeptical and reluctant, to say the very least. After I read the first page, I was going to give it up. I was completely thrown-off by Harris' direct writing style. The plot was just thrown at me and I felt like I had a lot of catching up to do even though it was the first book. It was like Harris threw these controversial and highly unrealistic premises at me, as the reader, and expected me to just accept them and move along.

Although, in her defense, she explains Sookie's world as I read on. In fact, upon reading the books, it proves to be very tactful as it allows her to implement several plots and subplots.

Once I got beyond that, and accepted that Bill (as every other vampire, with maybe the exception of Eric) will never be comparable to Edward Cullen, I fell into the story.

After the first one, I read the following six books in about a day's span each. I did, however, manage to savor the final two for about a day to a day and a half longer.

It's been said before, I think it must be repeated that Harris is a master of creating a colorful mix of genres in this series. Thus, the books contain a little bit of everything for everyone...vivid romance, twisting mystery, plentiful drama and even brilliantly and widely-targeted Sci Fi.

Another unique and refreshing ability Harris had was to in vale and adapt characters. Each of the major characters, in my opinion, changed drastically from beginning to end. It's not necessarily that they became different people (although one can argue Sookie certainly did), she simply chose which aspect of each character's personality to reveal throughout the series. In fact, I didn't really like Eric much in the first few novels but later found myself rooting for him in Sookie's favor toward the end.

Quite simply put, Harris is a brilliant author! She's also written many mysteries and short stories, all of which I intend to read.

Here's her Web site: www.charlaineharris.com

The Twilight Saga

* Before I begin, I'm going to acknowledge how many times this series has been reviewed, as it is a bestseller. Thus, I do not intend to be too thorough or to divulge as little of the plot as I think necessary. Basically, I'm going to outline my general opinions of the book as they relate to my experience and compare a bit.*

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Twilight
by Stephenie Meyer

Initially, I read this book after the movie came out. I was simply curious because I didn't understand what all the hoop-la was about it, except for the charm of Edward. So I decided to give it a try, since I was told that the books are better than the movie was.

I also felt somewhat ashamed to admit that I was reading a Science Fiction book, however I found it to not fit under the category of stereo-typical Sci Fi.

Once I began reading, I was hooked. Meyer created the perfect characters...in Bella she created someone we all relate to or someone we all seem to know; in Rosalie we find that stuck-up, gorgeous snot that we all knew in high school; and in Edward we were instantly enthralled--most of us probably read the rest of the time-consuming books just to hear about him.

The plot moved around nicely and ended with an urgent need to follow-up on the characters.

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New Moon
by Stephenie Meyer


Honestly, this was my least favorite book.

Edward was hardly in it and there wasn't really much action until the end. The middle was hard to read, as I sympathized with heart-broken and devastated Bella.

The most interesting part of the story was the in vale of a forming love triangle. Another juicy part was the revelation of more super-natural beings. I truly eluded to the tip of many icebergs.

Nevertheless, I was too curious and too addicted to the romance and thrill of the series to stop reading or not continue on to the next book.

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Eclipse
by Stephenie Meyer

This book was extremely action-packed. I found myself reading it night and day, cover-to-cover.

It detailed the resolution to the conflict the first two books set-up and what seemed to be a conclusion to the love triangle. However conclusive it appeared it could be toward the end, it took a U-turn into a new drama and adventure at the very end.

By far this was my favorite book of the series. I got to know the characters and their thought process more in-depth and it was never boring.

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Breaking Dawn
by Stephenie Meyer

Wow, this series didn't end at all as widely-anticipated! It was very lengthy and compiled. I think it very well could have been divided into two separate novels.

The thing I liked best about this one was that it was not solely from Bella's perspective, which was an interesting change from the other books. It also ended happily--as anyone who read would want for Edward and Bella.

I also appreciated the realism of the book. Sometimes stories end too happily to be real. This one, although it did end happily, you observed pain and suffering of people caused by other people's putting their own happiness at others' expense. This happens so often and despite the fact it was hard to observe characters enduring pain, it's also important because it is realistic.

I don't think people understand this principle, as this book received many bad reviews from die-hard Twilighters.

My hat's off to Meyer though, for being brave enough to give the series an ending that it deserves while being realistic.

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Midnight Sun
by Stephenie Meyer

Other than Eclipse, this was my favorite.

The primary reason because it was told through Edward's eyes. He is so mysterious often times throughout the book that you wonder what he is thinking. So it was nice to see how he came to love Bella with so much passion.

The worst injustice of the novel was the fact that it wasn't finished due to stealing. I think it is absolutely appalling for someone to do such a thing. Not only did that person steal from the author, but he/she stole from millions of readers. It's inexcusable.

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AS A WHOLE, I was so saddened to finish the series. It was next to impossible to find a novel or series to follow this act. Although I found a good series, nothing compares to this series.

It was consuming to the point where I will probably find myself re-reading the series someday soon (I have yet to re-read a book, except my favorite--To Kill a Mockingbird.)

The Host

The Host

by Stephenie Meyer

I first found out that the author wrote a book, besides the Twilight books, by viewing her Web site. I remember I was enticed by the slogan of the book..."Sci Fi for people who don't like Sci Fi." I decided to give it a try after I read that.

After reading several multiple-hundred page novels in the prior months, I wasn't intimidated by discovering the book was 600+pages. Meyer's other books are lengthy, but normally well distributed within the storyline and climax. I don't any of them had much, if any, unnecessary "fluff" as some books do. However, I found this book did have some fluff to the length. I don't think it was intended to be that way, as it ultimately helped understand the nature of character relationships. Although, I think she could have progressed to the conflict more quickly.

This is really the only negative thing I have to say about the book. And despite this, I still think this was one of the most touching novels I have ever read. I laughed, I cried and I rejoiced throughout the book--to my husband's amusement.

I will not give away many important details but I will explain why I believe the message the novel contained was remarkable and enlightening. It made made me realize how much of a gift life is and the extent of humanity, generousity and endless love we are capable of showing one another.

Naturally the heroine, of which the story's person is told through, is other-wordly and is the one to actually probe these realizations. This was very clever, on Meyer's part, to show readers the importance of life and things we regularlly take for granted through an outsider's perspective.

I recommend this novel on that sole basis.

Reading as a hobby

As a (fairly) recent college grad, I didn't begin reading until a few months ago. Up until then, my rationale was something to the effect of...well I am forced to read enough for my classes, so why would I want to read recreationally, too? Although this seems fair enough, the problem is many do not actually read the text--I know I perfected the art of skimming while I was in college. I didn't seem like such a detriment until I began reading again and then took one of many standardized tests and found myself to be a more focused, diligent test-taker.

Thus, I highly encourage reading as a hobby, not only for entertainment (because everyone knows the books are ALMOST ALWAYS better than the movies of which they were based) purposes but also for intellectual stimulation.

I think it is vital to treat the brain like any other muscle and get plenty of "intellectual exercise." If not, the brain will ball up and lose mass. I will never forget something that my husband said to me, which is a perfect example of this. "Since I've graduated, over the last few months I can feel myself becoming dumber by the minute." I concur. As I can relate a similar experience of losing my concept of vocabulary, confidence and patience without stimulation.

Although it is easier to switch on the television and watch a show, it involves little-to-none brainpower. You aren't tested (unless you are watching a boring war show or movie) for recall or problem-solving. It just isn't the same as reading a book.

Furthermore, I find reading more enjoyable because of the tangibility of it. It sounds minimal, but I like being able to hold a book, being able to flip through pages and being able to back-track if necessary. And there is nothing like holding a book with only a few pages left to read. All of this gives me a stronger sense of realism and accomplishment.

I'm not trying to convert non-readers or those opposed, I am simply offering up my opinions of the matter and what rediscovering this hobby means to me, especially since I did it of my own will.

Purpose

The purpose of this blog, as you might have guessed by the appearance, is to review books that I read recently. I will try to keep it as current as possible. However, I have read 20 books over the last four or five months, so I need to catch up. Enjoy!

Also, just FYI, you probably won't see much (if any) negative reviews from me. As a journalism I very seldom wrote editorials--very seldom. More importantly, I am a pretty conscientious reader and never read anything that I don't think I will enjoy, it's just a waste of my time.

-Sar