Rating: Summary: Bubba has left the building! Review: This series cracks me up. If you like the Anita Blake series, you'll like this one, too. It has the vampires, the shape-shifters, and sexual tension (only on a tammer scale). What I do like about this series that Anita Blake doesn't have is the humor. Can you imagine Elvis (oops, I said it) as a vampire? Well, just call him Bubba.In this third edition of the series, Sookie is frustrated with Bill's put-offness. He's just not as affectionate as he use to be. When Bill runs off on a secret misssion and Bubba arrives to protect Sookie, something is definiately wrong. Sookie is brought into the intrigue by sexy Eric and introduced to the Jackson vampire elite by pretending to be a Were's girlfriend. Did I mention the Were, Alcide, is HOT, HOT, HOT! Well, it's not all sexual tension, there is a whole lot of action going on and Sookie even has to take on a vampire in hand to hand. You go girl! The only problem with this latest installment is the wait for the fourth. Keep'em coming Harris!
Rating: Summary: Real people (if supernatural) Review: Club Dead is the third in the Sookie Stackhouse series for Ms Harris, following Living Dead in Dallas and Dead After Dark. I think it can be read on its own, as references to earlier books are fully explained, but why not read the earlier two - they will deepen your enjoyment of the third in the series. Sookie and vampire boyfriend Bill have been together for almost a year now. Although things between them are by no means perfect - even asside from the fact they are not the same species - Sookie loves Bill. But one night he announces that hes about to take a trip, and she just knows he's lying to her, even hampered by her inability to read his thoughts (and those of any vampire, which makes them a restful race to Sookie for that if nothing else). Things go from bad to worse as Bill goes missing, suspected dead. Finally dead. And he's betrayed her in the worst way - lie upon lie. Sookie is drawn by events and by her own feeling for Bill to search for him, undead or really dead. And here she enters ever deeper the life of vampires, Were and Shifters. She?s seemingly constantly in danger, surrounded by those she doesn't know if she can trust (okay mostly Eric) and bombarded by badness. Yet Sookie seldom looses her sense of humor, her ability to self deprecate, and I find this very engaging in her. Her own telepathic abilities clearly make her attractive to a class of people where for most of her life she's simply been regarded as crazy. New Alcides is one that adds his own attractive flavour: in the unnatural world, he offers a possible future to Sookie that she finds almost irresistible. This very human ability to be attracted by options, even while wishing to remain 'faithful' is also very appealling to me as a reader. Sookie is by no means a perfect heroic figure, altough she does very heroic deeds she is not without fear, and possibly getting it wrong. If you are into Vampires, gothic, mystery or humour, give this book a read. I think that something in it will appeal to almost every reader.
Rating: Summary: Enjoyed it quite a bit Review: This series is still quite enjoyable. I'm looking forward to #4.
Rating: Summary: Good book, get rid of the vampires Review: It occurs to me that I read a lot of vampire novels. Anne Rice, Laurell K. Hamilton, even Karen Taylor. Now Charlaine Harris. What is it about vampires? Lestat is a compelling character...tragic grandeur, moral ambiguity, the restless soul striving for the light and falling back into evil. At its best, truly great stuff. Anita Blake is the attraction in the Hamilton books. Tough as nails, deadly, doing her best to do good. I used to root for Richard over Jean-Claude, not only because Jean-Claude was an arrogant cuss, but because I personally like the idea of happy ever after, and to me this has always meant a family, kids, the whole American dream schtick. The family options are pretty limited when your significant other is a vampire. Richard, of course, has turned into a jerk, and Jean-Claude seems like a nicer guy than he used to be. Now we have Sookie Stackhouse. Beautiful, spunky, feminine, loyal, an attractive heroine. You can't help rooting for Sookie, but where are these books going? Sookie, though telepathic, does not possess the supernatural abilities of Anita Blake, nor her basically bloodthirsty nature. Sookie is no match for a vampire, except perhaps, at the game of love, which she does not wish to play. Bill doesn't deserve her, not after the way he treats her in Club Dead. Eric is a hunk, but so what? No future with Eric, that's for sure. I vote for Alcide, a nice, nearly normal werewolf. I do like this series, though, and I'm looking forward to the next one.
Rating: Summary: What the heck's the matter with Bill? Review: I LOVE the Southern Vampire series. The books are short and extremely fun to read. However Club Dead just wasn't as good as the other two. Sookie is great as always, but what happened to Bill? Sneaking off to Jackson and not telling Sookie is so unlike the Bill in the first two books. It goes against everything we learned about him. And then we really don't get any sense of why. Being a Bill fan, I was disappointed we didn't get to hear more about this female from his past and how she had control over him. Also the book just ended. There wasn't really any wrap-up. This is also my biggest complaint with the Anita Blake books-they just end. You're left hanging. So I'll just be hanging, waiting anxiously for the next book in what is becoming my favorite vampire series!
Rating: Summary: Some of the freshness is gone Review: I may be wrong but it could be that the idea of a rural vampire series has a problem, The first two books were excellent, but it looks as if Charlaine Harris is having to head to the big city to advance the plot. As this with it's vampire politics and werewolves is Anita Blake territory I think that it would be better if Charlaine Harris could keep to the original concept. I think the Southern vampire series is much better than Ms Hamilton's current rather sleazy efforts and any convergence of plot line is best avoided.
Rating: Summary: Club Dead is Dead On... Review: the money. The third installment of the southern vampire series lived up to the enjoyment of the first two. The characters are further developing nicely and the humor is getting better. My only complaint is all the beatings Sookie had to endure. Adding Alcide to the romantic mix was wonderful and I have a feeling this is not the last we'll be hearing from him. I was never crazy for Bill since he seems constipated to me, and after his betrayal, well, I don't think I could ever like him now. I hope there is a fourth book because it seems to me that there are more adventures waiting for these wonderful characters.
Rating: Summary: Dead some more Review: Charlaine Harris does it again. This was the 3rd in the Southern Vampire Chronicles & does poor Sookie ever manage to get into & out of jams again. Definately leaves you wanting more (so Charlaine - write faster.) The ending of the book was awesome - a perfect ending for this edition. Sookie gets a bit more gutsy in this one & (hint) tempted to stray from her vampires. Adding the new characters added a whole new twist to the story & leaves you wondering if maybe, just maybe, this could really happen.... My only complaint w/ the entire series - it all seems to be happening so fast. Book 1 to Book 3 are bases in a matter of months apart. Need to spread out the time-frame withing the series a bit. It's beginning to sound like "24" done in 365 days.
Rating: Summary: Not as good as first two Review: This is not a mystery or even a very good vampire book. It also has some major characterization flaws. I enjoyed the first two books in which we learned about Sookie as she worked her way through some decen plots. This book seems to be about 90% "Gee, how can little ole me attract all tese handsome supernatural creatures, all of whom I do or want to sleep with. The plot is minimal. I still like the writing style, but I need more substance to the style.
Rating: Summary: Sookie Wins Again Review: I actually stumbled onto this series in a quest for some new reading material. I love the first two books in this series and I love this one as well. My only complaint is the never ending beating Sookie takes. I guess vampire blood cures all though because Sookie comes out shining once more. I love all the characters in this book, they definately made me feel all kinds of emotions as I got to know them. Really disappointed in Alcide for hooking up with is gal again. Very proud of Sookie's decision at the end of this story. However, we are left dangling when Sookie exercises her rights with Bill and Eric. Hmmm, what is next? And how long do we have to wait?
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