News flash!

It's not a book, but it is related to one of my favourite series of books: the Southern Vampire series by Charlaine Harris.

With Allan Ball (previously of Six Feet Under fame) heading it up and Anna Paquin starring as the lead female character, Sookie Stackhouse, the first book has been turned into season one of a new HBO show called True Blood.

Here in Canada, Season 1 will start airing on The Movie Network (TMN) starting on September 7 at 9 PM. (And for those of you who don't get cable, I'm sure it will turn up online pretty quickly as well). Given that I was addicted to Six Feet Under as well as this series of books, I'm going to try to keep my expectations in check ... but will definitely be tuning in to check it out.

Curious to read the books that started it all? I can throw my support behind the first three or four of them ... the last three were much weaker. Maybe Charlaine Harris was distracted by all the tv hoopla? ;-)

If you're in the mood to do some preparatory reading in anticipation of next week's show launch, here is what you'll want to look at:

Book 1: Dead Until Dark
my rating: @@@@

Where it all started. Except for me ... I actually read Living Dead in Dallas first. Liked it ok but it didn't really grab me. Until one day I guess I was hurting for something to read and picked up this book because I recognized the author. Sucked me in right away.

In case you're wondering, I've looked at the episode lineup for Season 1 of True Blood and it looks like it's based on this book.



Book 2: Living Dead In Dallas
my rating: @@@ 1/2

Based on my own experience, clearly this is not a book to read out of order. On its own it's ok, but you'll get a lot more out of it if you read Dead Until Dark first.

In this book, Sookie moves up a bit in the vampire hierarchy (much to her chagrin and discomfort). Wackiness ensues.




Book 3: Club Dead
my rating: @@@@

This book is good, but it's a bit more disturbing than the first two. You are reminded very clearly that Bill Compton is a vampire, and not a nice guy at that. Sookie still saves the day, but you wonder whether - given the same set of circumstances - whether you would do the same in her position.






Book 4: Dead To The World
my rating: @@@@ 1/2

Granted, I was already addicted to the series by this point. But that being said, it's one of my favourites. Without spoiling the book too much, Eric loses his memory and sense of self and Sookie (against her better judgment) helps him out.

To tell you any more would ruin it. All I have to say is that this is not the book to skip.




Book 5: Definitely Dead
my rating: @@@

Yeah ok ... so this is where the series starts to lose ground. It still has the mystery, and Sookie ends up with a new love interest, but ... I've only read it once so far. Which is the marker for me of a good book.







Book 6: All Together Dead
my rating: @1/2

IMO, this is the weakest book in the series. Huge disappointment. Weakest plot line. A few moments of Eric wickedness but otherwise it just didn't do it for me.

If you're a die-hard fan, then you'll probably want to read it just to find out what happens next to your favourite characters. But if you were to borrow it from the library rather than buying it, you wouldn't feel cheated by the experience.



Book 7: From Dead To Worse
my rating: @@

Ok, not my favourite. This is the most recent addition to the series, and in typical Charlaine Harris fashion (once she has written several books in a series) the passion has waned. Better than Book 6 -- I'll give it that. But it felt more like a visit with old friends rather than a gripping installment of a great series.