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booksforalexandra 's review for:
Dead Until Dark
by Charlaine Harris
“Life had sure been simpler when I hadn’t dated.” -Sookie
The first book in this series is not quite as strong as I remember after re-watching True Blood but is still very good. While the Southernisms in the book fit the setting of the story, I couldn’t help but cringe and appreciate the show for updating a lot as far as tackling those things and including more representative diversity.
And really I’d rather just compare the book and the show than give a real review.
The show also expertly expands on many of the characters only briefly mentioned in the book, Lafayette and Jason, are given more depth. Small random characters are combined to add better characters like having Pam be the vampire IDing people at Fangtasia to give her a great line from the book.
Other small changes stood out to me too. In the book, it is Bill who asks if all humans can sing after showing his ability to levitate (Eric does this with his flying ability in a later season of the show). In the book, it is Eric who kills Long Shadow and not Bill.
The show’s expansion of the mystery was also very well done. Sam & Sookie going to investigate Cindy’s death to reveal René to the audience was a great choice. Also having René’s fake accent being important to the mystery in the show rather than a one of line like in the book was a strong choice.
In the book Sookie takes out René with his own knife all on her own (while in the book she uses a shove with help). Though the finale of having Sookie kill René with Sam and Bill’s help may have been a bit too far— taking away Sookie’s independent victory & her stance on killing being wrong.
Andy’s book portrayal as well as Tara’s inclusion at all were what stood out to me as the biggest changes.
I like how thoughtful book-Sookie is. She may be naive but she’s a quick study. Eric also has a little more to do in this book— sending Sookie a bouquet, flying, Sookie being able to read his mind in Fangtasia— which I love. I wish the show had not worked so hard to make Bill likable. I think how cold and intimidating he is was really lost in the show’s adaptation.
The first book in this series is not quite as strong as I remember after re-watching True Blood but is still very good. While the Southernisms in the book fit the setting of the story, I couldn’t help but cringe and appreciate the show for updating a lot as far as tackling those things and including more representative diversity.
And really I’d rather just compare the book and the show than give a real review.
The show also expertly expands on many of the characters only briefly mentioned in the book, Lafayette and Jason, are given more depth. Small random characters are combined to add better characters like having Pam be the vampire IDing people at Fangtasia to give her a great line from the book.
Other small changes stood out to me too. In the book, it is Bill who asks if all humans can sing after showing his ability to levitate (Eric does this with his flying ability in a later season of the show). In the book, it is Eric who kills Long Shadow and not Bill.
The show’s expansion of the mystery was also very well done. Sam & Sookie going to investigate Cindy’s death to reveal René to the audience was a great choice. Also having René’s fake accent being important to the mystery in the show rather than a one of line like in the book was a strong choice.
In the book Sookie takes out René with his own knife all on her own (while in the book she uses a shove with help). Though the finale of having Sookie kill René with Sam and Bill’s help may have been a bit too far— taking away Sookie’s independent victory & her stance on killing being wrong.
Andy’s book portrayal as well as Tara’s inclusion at all were what stood out to me as the biggest changes.
I like how thoughtful book-Sookie is. She may be naive but she’s a quick study. Eric also has a little more to do in this book— sending Sookie a bouquet, flying, Sookie being able to read his mind in Fangtasia— which I love. I wish the show had not worked so hard to make Bill likable. I think how cold and intimidating he is was really lost in the show’s adaptation.