Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris

For years, Charlaine Harris has delighted fans with her mystery series featuring small-town waitress-turned-paranormal sleuth Sookie Stackhouse. Now, we are pleased to offer her first novel in the series in a special hardcover edition. And with HBO launching an all-new show, True Blood, based on the Southern Vampire novels, the demand for Charlaine Harris and Sookie Stackhouse will be bigger than ever.

This was such a dry book. I hated how Sookie and Bill practically went from just knowing each other to dating and sleeping together. Towards the end it got much better, I hope the next book picks up a bit.

I decided these books would be my fun summer reading and then I would get the HBO True Blood series and watch that. After the first couple pages, I almost stopped reading the book because the writing was so lame, but it does get better and the fun stories and characters eventually drew me in. I'm a fan of authentic, author-created worlds that you can get lost in, and I'm enjoying spending the summer in Bon Temps, Louisiana.

I read this book in one day, so yeah, you could say I liked it. I don't usually tear through a book that quickly unless I'm interested in it.

I bought this book after seeing the first episode of True Blood during our cable's HBO free preview. I was surprised about how accurate the first episode was to the beginning of the book. I wish I hadn't seen the episode, because it would've been nice to be able to picture the characters myself without having Anna Paquin and Steven Moyer pop into my head the whole time. That being said, I want to read the rest of the series and then go back and watch the shows, maybe renting when the season comes out or something.

This book was much better than I expected, fast paced but easy to follow, turns that keep you surprised and a main character that I really liked. I guess so soon after reading Twilight I was a little weary, but this is nothing like Twilight in any sense of the word. Thankfully.

Both the book and the show seem to be good, but I would suggest reading the book first, and then watching the show. It's easier to imagine if you don't already have pictures there.

TOTALLY likable! Just what I was looking for. I love southern-style chick lit and this doesn't disappoint. The vampire/supernatural elements are fun window dressing. Sookie's a good heroine too - unlike dear Bella Swan, despite being flanked by a vampire and a shapeshifter, Sookie's able to take care of herself, and enjoy sex/bloodletting with her vamp boyfriend.