Book 08
I read Living Dead in Dallas, the second book in the Southern Vampire series. Here is what I thought.
I was a little disappointed by the novel, but only because I didn't like it quite as much as the first. Sookie's voice was all right - I didn't notice any real inconsistencies and her characterization seems to be stable, but I just didn't think she was as sparkling as in the first novel. Now, I'm not sure this is the book's fault, as it may have been my mood when I read it. I can't say for sure. Anyway, though! I really liked Eric in this novel; he's a very interesting character and it was a lot of fun to see a bit more of him. I'm liking Bill less and less, as well. He's so... flat. That's my problem with the series, really. The way she's presented vampires here as so different from humans, makes the idea of a relationship seem so unlikely. They're soulless, I think? It's a hard concept to wade through. If vampires can still be walking and talking, that indicates that the soul is separate from the consciousness. Unless the vampire isn't the same person as when they were alive (and there is some indication that's the case in the novel)? See, I wish it would focus on that a little more, but somehow I doubt it. Anyway. I could go on and on, but I'll just move back to the plot. I did like to get to see another vampire "nest" in Dallas - that was interesting, and it's cool to see the sort of underground culture vampires have going. I wonder if we're going to see one of the rogue vampires who don't want to mainstream that they were talking about. I did feel like the plot was sort of blah otherwise. It felt a bit like not a lot happened? And again, I'm not fond of Bill. The maenad was interesting, though, and it was cool to see more shapshifters, also. I was wondering if vampires would be the only supernatural creature, or if they'd introduce more, too (besides Sam, I mean). I think I'll definitely read the next in the series.
~~~
Not a very good review, I'm afraid. I should have written it up sooner, because it's been quite a few days since I finished the book.
My 2010 book list is here; feel free to leave any recs or anything there.
I was a little disappointed by the novel, but only because I didn't like it quite as much as the first. Sookie's voice was all right - I didn't notice any real inconsistencies and her characterization seems to be stable, but I just didn't think she was as sparkling as in the first novel. Now, I'm not sure this is the book's fault, as it may have been my mood when I read it. I can't say for sure. Anyway, though! I really liked Eric in this novel; he's a very interesting character and it was a lot of fun to see a bit more of him. I'm liking Bill less and less, as well. He's so... flat. That's my problem with the series, really. The way she's presented vampires here as so different from humans, makes the idea of a relationship seem so unlikely. They're soulless, I think? It's a hard concept to wade through. If vampires can still be walking and talking, that indicates that the soul is separate from the consciousness. Unless the vampire isn't the same person as when they were alive (and there is some indication that's the case in the novel)? See, I wish it would focus on that a little more, but somehow I doubt it. Anyway. I could go on and on, but I'll just move back to the plot. I did like to get to see another vampire "nest" in Dallas - that was interesting, and it's cool to see the sort of underground culture vampires have going. I wonder if we're going to see one of the rogue vampires who don't want to mainstream that they were talking about. I did feel like the plot was sort of blah otherwise. It felt a bit like not a lot happened? And again, I'm not fond of Bill. The maenad was interesting, though, and it was cool to see more shapshifters, also. I was wondering if vampires would be the only supernatural creature, or if they'd introduce more, too (besides Sam, I mean). I think I'll definitely read the next in the series.
~~~
Not a very good review, I'm afraid. I should have written it up sooner, because it's been quite a few days since I finished the book.
My 2010 book list is here; feel free to leave any recs or anything there.