deadlocked

I finished the most recent installment in the adventures of Sookie Stackhouse last night. "Deadlocked" is the next to the last book Charlaine Harris will be writing about the telepathic barmaid from Bon Temps, Louisiana. I have loved this series and have stuck with it from the very beginning. Are all the books great? No. Some were better than others, but Harris always entertains and Sookie continues to be a loveable character. This latest book begins the end and unless Harris has a major plot twist up her sleeve, the cards are laid out on the table.

The book is getting some lukewarm reviews on Amazon and B&N and I can understand that. While this novel features a murder mystery at its center, the mystery doesn't drive the plot. Sookie and her relationships with the men in her life continues to be the source of the conflict. I cared little about who killed who and more about Sookie's crumbling 'marriage.'  The books have always been about Sookie and this one reveals even more about her.

So, now we wait a year for the final novel. Harris has already released the book's title and publication date. I wonder if she will feel relief when that last one hits the shelves? Sadness? Joy?

Sookie is an icon now and if nothing else, Harris should be damn proud of that.

Sookie

I finished the latest installment in the Sookie Stackhouse series. "Dead in the Family" is the tenth book from Charlaine Harris about the Louisiana barmaid and her vampire filled life.  Is this the best book in the series? No. In fact, it may be my least favorite book to date, but that being stated, I still enjoyed the story.

I love Sookie. I love the world Harris has created and shared with us.  I love the complex characters who are so multidimensional and flawed and interesting.  So, even when a book seems to fall short or not strike a major note with me, I still enjoy the time I get to spend in Sookie's world.

This isn't a stand alone story. You have to start with the first book and read them all. Too many plot lines, too many characters, too many big story arc developments happen along the way to not begin and the beginning.

I will reread "Dead in the Family," maybe before the weekend is out.  I tend to zip through these books so quickly that I often don't read slowly enough to enjoy every scene.  I may have more comments after a second read.

oh crap

I'm missing one of my Sookie books. I can't remember if I loaned the book out, never bought it or have it stashed somewhere other than my bookcase. Yep, I'm up to "Definitely Dead" and it is definitely not with the other Sookie books.

So, I may be hauling my mending body over to B&N to purchase it. Good thing a discount coupon arrived in today's email. I do love my membership privileges:)

I know my mom has the most recent Sookie as I took it to her this past May. She is returning it in October when we meet up at the oldest kid's out of town soccer tourney.

Kim, I'm still working on the library book ordering post. I promise. I just can't sit for too long and think in any sort of coherent manner.

head full

One of the more lovely things about the kids going back to school is the germs they bring home. Yep, it never fails that within a month of school starting the cold germs infect all of us. It was my turn this weekend and although I feel better this morning, I still have a head full of gunk. My nose is a lovely shade of red and very sore.

Beyond the cold, I had a decent weekend. I finished reading Alison Weir's book, "The Lady Elizabeth." What a good historical fiction read. Now, I truly enjoy reading about Elizabeth's early years, so this book wasn't a hard sell for me. Weir did a great job of exploring the inner thoughts of the future queen from her relationship with her father to the involvement she had with her final stepmother's husband. She took some literary license, which is to be expected in a novel, but everything was very plausible. Thumbs up on this one.

I also watched True Blood last night on HBO. I'm a huge Charlaine Harris fan and own every Sookie book published. When I heard this series was in the works, I didn't go back and reread the first few books. Best to watch a TV treatment without a fresh memory of how the books unfold. I enjoyed episode one and got to hand it to Alan Ball for leaving us all hanging at the end of the show. I've enjoyed the actors cast as the characters and can't wait to see Eric brought to life by young Mr. Skaarsgard. You know where I'll be every Sunday for the next several weeks.

Not a short week this week, but a busy one with three soccer games, a cub scout meeting and assorted other stuff. I do hope to get some editing and writing done, if my nose stops dripping and I can type without blowing every few minutes!