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Dead And Gone A Sookie Stackhouse Novel Sookie Stackhouse/True Blood Charlaine Harris Books

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Dead And Gone A Sookie Stackhouse Novel Sookie Stackhouse/True Blood Charlaine Harris Books

Set approximately three months after the tumultuous events of the previous entry in her Sookie Stackhouse series (2008's From Dead to Worse), author Charlaine Harris' latest release, Dead and Gone, takes off full-speed ahead and never once slows down. Therein lies a very big problem with this book, though...

Unfortunately for the fans of Ms. Harris' usually-compelling series, the result of all her labor last year is just a crazy quilt of frenetic events, as heroine Sookie races from trying to put out one metaphorical fire here to saving someone else's skin (or, heaven help her, her own skin, AGAIN) from another harrowing situation there. The poor girl never gets a chance to stop and catch her breath or regain her equilibrium, and as a result, the entire story shows her behaving in very un-Sookie-like ways (almost as if she's taken way too much cold medicine and is trying desperately--but failing-- to act "normal"). Her interactions with her current boyfriend (Eric the vampire) are notably odd. Her responses to the many deaths that occur are strangely remote. She is disconnected. She isn't amused, nor (sadly) is she amusing. Actually, Sookie isn't even particularly likable here (for the first time in the series!). In short, Sookie is off-kilter in this book, and the reader is left that way, as well.

As difficult as it is to keep up with the hyper pace, Ms. Harris does manage to keep the reader engaged, albeit unsettled. Definitely the most grim and gruesome entry in the series to date, DAG offers up numerous, gratuitously-graphic deaths and horrific surprises (shocks), while also attempting to address long-standing relationship issues. Many fans will be gratified that Ms. Harris continues to show parallels between her fictionalized world and the real one, by spotlighting the harmful effects of prejudice toward persons of different races and sexual orientations. (The fact that she makes her points with a sword rather than a paring knife, figuratively speaking, is rather disturbing, however. Like so many other aspects of this book, such scenes are just uncomfortably over-the-top.)

Yet another problem is Ms. Harris' decision to go out of her way to include several auxiliary characters, no doubt to appease readers who have expressed sadness over certain characters' absence in recent books. Most of these characters are relegated to mere cameo appearances, though, so fans will likely be left rather unsatisfied in that regard; the book, meanwhile, is left with quite a lot of clutter.

Despite Ms. Harris' attempts, there is just WAY too much going on in DAG for one normal-length book, and the reader is left feeling nearly as spent and exhausted upon completing it as poor Sookie is. Hopefully after this aberration (at least, what I can only HOPE is an aberration, and not a harbinger of her future books), Ms. Harris will sit herself down in a nice comfy easy chair, with a big glass of sweet tea by her side, to peacefully contemplate an easier, more pleasant adventure for her heroine's next appearance on the bookshelves. Sookie and company--as well as the readers--deserve it.


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Dead And Gone A Sookie Stackhouse Novel Sookie Stackhouse/True Blood Charlaine Harris Books Reviews

Sookie is becoming one of those spoiled characters where not only do the readers see the story from her point of view and the character sees herself as the center of the world.

***Spoilers warning*** - Dropping a bomb on Sam (Sookie and Eric little pledge thing) as a light ending to a conversation was cruel at best and just plain stupid. While Sam may understand that Sookie doesn't love him, he is still protective of her just as any close friend would be. So gosh darn how was she was surprised by his reaction. Why? There was no empathy or consideration and once again, she felt that he should understand how she felt. It never seemed to dawn on her to understand how he felt.

Grandfather and the Fairies - It appeared to me the author introduced the concept of Sookie's Fey connection in the last book but then realized she didn't have a plan to proceed with the idea so now she had to come up with a way to close the door to the Fey world. Was it good idea? No, not really.

Quinn? - Sookie's declaration, `I want to be first?' I don't remember Sookie declaring her love for him, they went out a few times and when he visited her in her home they went to bed. So why did she expect him to drop everything when trying to find his Mom and sister, though Sis is not one of the nicest person in the world. She never gave him a chance to explain and in her mind,there was no reason why he couldn't stop and take the time to call her and tell her what was happening. She seemed to forget that she can read minds not him. Besides, if she had his cell number, she could have called him or left a message for him with his office.

Jason and Crystal - a dead woman and baby and again it was her feelings that were important - she wasn't talking to her brother because of what he did in the last book and yes it was wrong, big time time wrong and yes Jason is a jerk, a first class triple AAA jerk but his wife and child were murdered and she wasn't there to support him. Even in the end when she had a few words for him you never do get the feeling that deep down she really care.

Oh, word to the wise - if you read about a character and she's pregnant don't get attached because she'll be dead in the next few chapters of the book.

And some of Sookie's choice of actions was down right stupid. Had she never heard of Super Soakers????? And pack more then two of her special weapons?

One other little point, if lemon juice is really bad for Fairies and she was part Fairy wouldn't lemon juice have some kind effect on Sookie. Upset stomach or a rash? Something?

Finally, Sookie constantly tells the reader how she's drawn to Eric, over, over and over again. Bella took lessons from her. How perfect he is, how he slips into her thoughts, her feeling, if she is so taken with the vampire then why at the end of the book did she ask herself which Vampire her Great Grandfather was referring to.
Set approximately three months after the tumultuous events of the previous entry in her Sookie Stackhouse series (2008's From Dead to Worse), author Charlaine Harris' latest release, Dead and Gone, takes off full-speed ahead and never once slows down. Therein lies a very big problem with this book, though...

Unfortunately for the fans of Ms. Harris' usually-compelling series, the result of all her labor last year is just a crazy quilt of frenetic events, as heroine Sookie races from trying to put out one metaphorical fire here to saving someone else's skin (or, heaven help her, her own skin, AGAIN) from another harrowing situation there. The poor girl never gets a chance to stop and catch her breath or regain her equilibrium, and as a result, the entire story shows her behaving in very un-Sookie-like ways (almost as if she's taken way too much cold medicine and is trying desperately--but failing-- to act "normal"). Her interactions with her current boyfriend (Eric the vampire) are notably odd. Her responses to the many deaths that occur are strangely remote. She is disconnected. She isn't amused, nor (sadly) is she amusing. Actually, Sookie isn't even particularly likable here (for the first time in the series!). In short, Sookie is off-kilter in this book, and the reader is left that way, as well.

As difficult as it is to keep up with the hyper pace, Ms. Harris does manage to keep the reader engaged, albeit unsettled. Definitely the most grim and gruesome entry in the series to date, DAG offers up numerous, gratuitously-graphic deaths and horrific surprises (shocks), while also attempting to address long-standing relationship issues. Many fans will be gratified that Ms. Harris continues to show parallels between her fictionalized world and the real one, by spotlighting the harmful effects of prejudice toward persons of different races and sexual orientations. (The fact that she makes her points with a sword rather than a paring knife, figuratively speaking, is rather disturbing, however. Like so many other aspects of this book, such scenes are just uncomfortably over-the-top.)

Yet another problem is Ms. Harris' decision to go out of her way to include several auxiliary characters, no doubt to appease readers who have expressed sadness over certain characters' absence in recent books. Most of these characters are relegated to mere cameo appearances, though, so fans will likely be left rather unsatisfied in that regard; the book, meanwhile, is left with quite a lot of clutter.

Despite Ms. Harris' attempts, there is just WAY too much going on in DAG for one normal-length book, and the reader is left feeling nearly as spent and exhausted upon completing it as poor Sookie is. Hopefully after this aberration (at least, what I can only HOPE is an aberration, and not a harbinger of her future books), Ms. Harris will sit herself down in a nice comfy easy chair, with a big glass of sweet tea by her side, to peacefully contemplate an easier, more pleasant adventure for her heroine's next appearance on the bookshelves. Sookie and company--as well as the readers--deserve it.