Living Dead In Dallas

Liv­ing Dead in Dal­las by Char­laine Har­ris, is the second book in the Southern Vampire Mysteries series. I have to say I am only two books into this series, of at last count ten novels, but I adore it so far. It is hard to resist a series where every mythical creature that you have ever heard about, and I am sure, some you have never heard about, come to life. I can hardly wait to see which ones come to life in the upcoming books.
Sookie is hardly your typical heroin and I think that is why I like her so much. She is not super strong and rarely does the butt kicking herself. Instead she is a very human and as a result very a very likable character who is not afraid to send up a flare when she needs help it is very refreshing. That doesn’t mean that she does not stand on her own two feet she does, even if that means a fight with Bill, her vampire. She had amazing inner strength that is on display in the books a lot of the time.
The vampires are also refreshing in these novels as they make no apology for what they are. They are just trying to get on with their now very public lives. You see since blood has been duplicated in a lab vampires no longer need to feed on humans so they are free to live among the humans, it is referred to as main streaming in the novels. They run businesses, have relationship and are fighting for their rights in a non to tolerate world (if that does not sound familiar to you there is something wrong with you). Char­laine Har­ris takes you right into the vampire world from the special requirement that have been set up so they can travel to the special hotels that have sprung up to cater for vampires, you can almost feel what it is like to be a vampire yourself.
Sookie’s world has not been the same since she met Bill and started a relationship with him. For one thing he has taught her to accept her gift as a gift and not the disability that she always thought that it was. She embraces her gift in this novel in a way that she has never done before. Sookie reminds me a little of Miss Maple every where she goes a dead body seems to show up – hardly surprising given the name of the books. Her relationship with Bill also had me smiling it is hard enough dating a man sometime add in the fact that he is also a vampire and you can imagine the misunderstandings you end up with. Surprisingly it appears to be a very human relationship.
Harris has kicked the action up a level in the book and I found it to be a real page turner. Harris seems to have really settled into the characters it is almost like she knows who they are now and where they are going now. Most of the characters from the first book are back in this installment and Eric, who I have to say is my favorite, is more of a presence in this novel and I have to say the novel really benefit’s from it. This installment is more complex than the first novel with two distinct story arc’s developed throughout the novel. These books leave you wanting to read more to find out what could possibly happen next to Sookie and her friends I am glad I bought all nine at the one time.

The Mortal Instruments book 1 The City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

The City of Bones is the first book in The Mortal Instruments trilogy. This book is a little bit of a departure for me of late as it is not vampire related at all, vampires are only mentioned in passing in this novel. It is though a fantasy novel.

The imaginary world that has been created by Clare is so well woven with ours that you sometimes forget that you are in a make believe world at all. The characters are fun to read however there is very little character development at all in this the first novel, perhaps there will be more in the next two novels. The novel is quite funny in places and I often found myself laughing out loud or at the very least smiling, that being said the descriptive nature of the writing caused me to get bogged down and wishing that it moved a little quicker. Whoever edited this novel also needs a swift kick it was terrible in some place so that I found myself re reading parts to make sure I had it correct.

I have seen in other reviews that people are quite upset about what they see as the lack of originality in the novel or rather elements that were taken from other sources. While I picked up on some of what other reviews said most of it went over my head so I would not use that as a guide to whether or not you picked up this novel. There was one plot line that not only irked me but I also found it a little repulsive but I am sure I know what the end result of it will be so I quickly for over it. I thought the world Clare created was highly original if not all of the plot lines. The story kept me interested until the final page though I had no problem setting the book aside to do something else.

If you decide to pick this book up please remember that it is the first of three so there will be unanswered questions or plot developments that you may not like at least for the short term. That being said all of the books are now out so the waiting will not be that much of a drag for you.

The internet , books, DVD's and Me

I never thought that I would say this but I think that the internet is going to be the death of me. I have signed up to some really great blog sites that satisfy my need for all things vampire on a daily basis and sometimes more than once a day. I knew that I was not alone in this obsession, in fact some of my friends are right there with me, but still it is good to know that people we don’t even know feel the same. Now on the down side I have a list of books to read that is longer than well me and it is being added to quicker than I can read a single book. I really had no idea there was so much out there on vampires.
So as my quest for all things vampire reaches fever pitch I have decided that I should probably never ever enter another bookshop ever again. In the last three weeks I have managed to buy over 26 books. Yes you read that right 26 books. Now these were all books from series that I really wanted and I did get them on sale so really I saved myself a lot of money (that is female logic at work). In my defense I have been a reading machine of late and I have already powered my way through seven and I am on to the eighth now.
I also have more DVD’s to watch than I think I am ever going to have time to watch. I have unopened at home, True Blood S1, Eureka S1, The Dresdin Files S1 and Kyle XY S1 (yes I know they are not all vampire related what can you do). On the up side in the last few weeks I have managed to watch Moonlight, Being Human and S1&2 of Buffy. Buffy is however a re-watch for me so I am not sure if that counts. Now it may seem to you that I have more time on my hands than I should have, but be gentle, I am on holidays from university for only two more weeks and then the time well will run dry. My aim is to get True Blood watched in the next week or so and then continue on with Buffy at what- ever pace I can. I will save the non vampire related ones for the break over Christmas and the New Year. It beats the other crap on TV.
This is not a new problem for me for some reason I cannot walk past a bookshop or DVD without popping my head in and that usually results in my wallet being pulled out. Now how is this for the female logic – I bought all of the books and DVD’s on sale so I actually really saved myself a lot of money!!! Well it works for me so I am going to run with it.

My week.

As it turns out for me keeping a blog has had some side benefits. It forces me to out my many and scattered thoughts in order so that I can write something that is actually worth reading. Not only that I am finding that once I put my thoughts down on paper they no longer roam around in my mind keeping me up at night. Not only that, difficult decisions that need to be made are easier to nut out on paper I am finding. Who knew and why didn’t you tell me sooner?

I have been in a little bit of a funk of late not unhappy mind you just peeved about certain things which is very unlike me. I am finding that the more I start to look after myself and worry about what I think the more other people’s self interest bothers me. We all have friends that are impossible to please I know I do but it has never bothered me in the past like it does now. I am pretty laid back and usually just go with the flow but lately the flow has been ticking me off. I am not sure what made me sit up and take notice but the flow does not always suit me, now what I would usually do is simply change my plans to suit everyone else but I have stopped doing that if something doesn’t suit me anymore I simply say no. I have put a few noses out of joint but I am past the point of caring about that now. There comes a time in your life when you have to put yourself first and finally that time has arrived for me.

I have decided that I am going to rename Sunday Joanne’s day. I am not going to commit to doing anything on a Sunday ever again well at least that is the plan anyway. I am turning Sunday into a complete rest day for myself. If I want to go to the movies I can, if I want to stay inside and read all day I can or if I simply want to watch DVD’s all day I can. I am finding that I am really tried and I never seem to catch up with the weekends being as bust as or busier than week days. Well that is stopping as from this week when Joanne day officially kicks in. A I have said I don’t like saying no and in fact it was not too long ago that I would never have said it but you know what the more you say it the easier it gets. But remember to always say it with a smile. People are a lot more understanding than you think and those that aren’t are frankly not worth knowing at least that is the conclusion that I have come to.

Financial year end has thrown my reading challenge off course I have been extremely busy at work and worn out when I get home. I was so tired last night I did not even have the energy to lift ta book up let alone turn those heavy pages. Year end is a killer but one the up side it only happens once a year (see I still have my sense of humor)! Instead went to bed early and got a good night’s sleep so hopefully I will be ready to go tonight. I am still undecided as to what I am going to read at this stage but I will obviously review it for you once I am finished. Watch this space.

True Blood Season one is out here today on DVD and I will be grabbing my copy tomorrow at lunch time. You see today they are selling it for $39.95 but tomorrow it will go on sale for $28.37 sometimes it pays to wait a day and to also shop around. As you will know I have read the first book so there will be no surprise for me in how the series ends but I am sure there will be some differences between the book and the series and I am looking forward to watching it over the weekend and seeing what they are and what they have done with the book. Hopefully there will be plenty of special features for me to enjoy as well.

Bloodlust by Alex Duval

Bloodlust is the first novel in the Vampire Beach series there are five other novel currently after this one. This book is aimed at the teen market and I guess that we have already established that I have no problem reading teenage novels.

Jason Freeman and his family have just moved to DeVere Heights in Malibu. Jason see’s this change as a way to spice up his predictable life. It is not long before Jason runs into the beyond words beautiful Sienna he also quickly learns that Sienna and his new found friends are hiding a dark secret. While this book is about Jason it is his new found friends that make the story flow. Jason knows that there is something not quite right with his new friends and try as he might he cannot ignore the strange things that keep on happening around him.

It seems that the new take on vampires for the 21st is that they secretly live among us, are ultra rich and of course can go out in the sunlight. (I have to say here I miss the old days). I am not sure if this is a Twilight spun revolution or not but it seems to be here to stay thank goodness the sparkling didn’t stick is all I can say. While of course this is a vampire story it is also the age old teenage story of trying to find your place in the world so there is something for everyone.
The novel is extremely short and the ending feels a little rushed to me, that being said it should be remembered that this is the first of six novels so it really is a setup for the following five novels or at least I hope so. I did not get the use of some of the slang terms the author used they may be American Slang or it could be that the novel was written in 2006 and slang moves so quickly that the sayings are not used anymore. That is something for all authors to remember slang changes and it can date a novel more than time does and quickly.

Overall I enjoyed this novel and I am planning on reading the rest of the series. So my rating 3 out of 5 for this one.

Dead Until Dark (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Book 1)

Sookie Stackhouse lives in our world well almost, in Sookie’s world Vampires "came out of the coffin" and are now a legal part of society. So we have Bill the vampire looking for a place to fit in and a place to call home. Sookie herself is trying in vain to fit in as well, Sookie has the ability to read minds and she calls it her disability. She is delighted the night a vampire walks into the bar that she works at and into her life. While Sookie can hear everyone else’s thoughts Bill is completely silent to her all she hears is what he tells her. The fact that she cannot hear Bill’s thoughts is a great turn on to Sookie it is only with him that she can be totally a peace in a world where the voices of those around her never turn off. Yes I know that it sounds a lot like Twilight but it is anything but. For my money this is a far better story from a far better writer.

This novel has just the right amount of horror, mystery, humor and let’s not forget sex. Let’s not be under any allusions this is an adults only novel the sex is not hidden subtext it is on full display and often. The novel is a quick, easy and highly enjoyable read. Once started it is extremely hard to put down.

I give this novel 5 out of 5 you would be hard pressed to find a better vampire mystery novel anywhere. It is not hard to see why these novels were chosen to make into a TV series. Oh yes that is right these novels have been made into the TV series True Blood. I can highly recommend the TV series as well. Reader and watcher beware though these are aimed at an adult market.

Marked a House of the Night Book 1

Basic Plot:-
In these books vampyres (please note this is not a spelling mistake this is how it is spelt in the novels) not only exist but are also tolerated by humans. Without giving away to much of the plot the vampire mythology has under gone yet another shift in these novels. Vampyres are not created they are marked and it happens in your teenage years and there is no telling who it will happen to. Once you have been marked you enter The House of the Night a school where you learn to be a vampyre. There are the usual teen problems of fitting in, finding friend and belonging. It should be remembered that this is book one so there will not be a neat and tidy ending to this book. There is a hook that is of course meant to drag you on to book two.
The book is a quick and I have to say very easy read if you are looking for something in-depth or something to sink your teeth into (pun intended) than this novel is not for you. What I will tell you that this book is clearly aimed at teens and there is a lot of suggestive language and themes in it. I have seen other reviews where people have been comparing this book to Twilight, they are very different books and any comparison is worthless. The writing however in this book is poorer than in the Twilight novel which was not that great to begin with.
Overall I enjoyed this book so I will be getting the second book and the third which I will review when I am done.