lindsmc's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
laurenjodi's review against another edition
4.0
Living Dead in Dallas
4 Stars
Sookie Stackhouse is settling into life as the girlfriend of a vampire when she has a streak of bad luck. First, the body of the short order cook at Merlotte's is found in the local detective's car. Then she is attacked by a deadly creature in the woods, and finally, she must travel to Dallas and use her telepathy to hope the locals find their missing nest mate - that is if she can survive the experience.
Note: It is my understanding that 2nd season of True Blood is loosely based on this installment in the Southern Vampire series. However, this review is of the book only as I stopped watching the sex-fest after season 1.
While Living Dead in Dallas is a fun follow up, the book focuses on the thread that takes place in Texas, and the other two storylines are woefully underdeveloped.
The investigation into the disappearance of the Texan vampire is compelling as Sookie becomes acquainted with a different set of "living dead" as well as a host of other supernatural beings. The action is front and center with several "edge of your seat" moments, and the underlying message regarding prejudice and fanaticism is particularly apropos in the current political climate around the world.
Unfortunately, the other two threads involving the question of who killed Lafayette and the threat posed by the poisonous Maenad feel like an afterthought. Sookie more or less stumbles across the culprits by accident, and the final confrontation is decidedly sick and creepy with a confusing resolution -
The real highlight of the book is the character development as Sookie comes to terms with Bill's true nature (for me, his questionable behavior precludes him from being a suitable love interest), and learns that there is more to Erik than meets the eye (whoever would have thought that a Viking warrior would look good in Spandex?).
In sum, Harris is very skilled at mixing dark and gritty themes with delightful humor and engaging characters, and her Sookie books are not exception. Looking forward to the next one.
4 Stars
Sookie Stackhouse is settling into life as the girlfriend of a vampire when she has a streak of bad luck. First, the body of the short order cook at Merlotte's is found in the local detective's car. Then she is attacked by a deadly creature in the woods, and finally, she must travel to Dallas and use her telepathy to hope the locals find their missing nest mate - that is if she can survive the experience.
Note: It is my understanding that 2nd season of True Blood is loosely based on this installment in the Southern Vampire series. However, this review is of the book only as I stopped watching the sex-fest after season 1.
While Living Dead in Dallas is a fun follow up, the book focuses on the thread that takes place in Texas, and the other two storylines are woefully underdeveloped.
The investigation into the disappearance of the Texan vampire is compelling as Sookie becomes acquainted with a different set of "living dead" as well as a host of other supernatural beings. The action is front and center with several "edge of your seat" moments, and the underlying message regarding prejudice and fanaticism is particularly apropos in the current political climate around the world.
Unfortunately, the other two threads involving the question of who killed Lafayette and the threat posed by the poisonous Maenad feel like an afterthought. Sookie more or less stumbles across the culprits by accident, and the final confrontation is decidedly sick and creepy with a confusing resolution -
Spoiler
Did Callisto kill the murderous trio or did they kill each other after she drove them insane?The real highlight of the book is the character development as Sookie comes to terms with Bill's true nature (for me, his questionable behavior precludes him from being a suitable love interest), and learns that there is more to Erik than meets the eye (whoever would have thought that a Viking warrior would look good in Spandex?).
In sum, Harris is very skilled at mixing dark and gritty themes with delightful humor and engaging characters, and her Sookie books are not exception. Looking forward to the next one.
geo_ix's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 stars.
This was a reread for me as I read it back in highschool. Back then I loved it, now not so much. I had a lot of issues, but I think I really couldn't enjoy it again this time because I'd read it before and watched the show twice by now (even though it's not the same these earlier books have pretty similar elements). Either way, because I knew what was happening most of the time I didn't like it all that much. I still love all the Eric bits so maybe it's because I never liked Bill? Oh well. I'll eventually read the next one sometime soon (hopefully) so I can get to books in this series I HAVEN'T read.
This was a reread for me as I read it back in highschool. Back then I loved it, now not so much. I had a lot of issues, but I think I really couldn't enjoy it again this time because I'd read it before and watched the show twice by now (even though it's not the same these earlier books have pretty similar elements). Either way, because I knew what was happening most of the time I didn't like it all that much. I still love all the Eric bits so maybe it's because I never liked Bill? Oh well. I'll eventually read the next one sometime soon (hopefully) so I can get to books in this series I HAVEN'T read.
lanica's review against another edition
2.0
Hmmm...what is there to say about this book? It's a cute, light read. I don't have anything really bad to say about it, but I don't have anything really good either. The characters are one-dimentional, but not boring. The plot is interesting, but not groundbreaking. The good guy and bad guys are very similar in a lot of ways.
I guess this just isn't my genre. I like dark and gritty thrillers, not light and fluffy slightly erotic novels.
I guess this just isn't my genre. I like dark and gritty thrillers, not light and fluffy slightly erotic novels.
sup3r_xn0va_maya's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Living Dead in Dallas is the second book in the Sookie Stackhouse or The Southern Mystery Vampire Series, it was confusingly racist, homophobic, sexist, and slut shame-y. I understand this book was published in 2002, I just expected better from author Charlaine Harris.
Wow, I don't like the way Harris writes about people of color in this book. I don't like it one bit. There were so many "WTF?!" moments where I had to cringe and pause the audiobook. Also, what is with Harris' love phrases with the word "co*n" in them, I know she's southern but I don't care. She needs to stop using those damn phrases.
There's a bit of homophobia in the book too. Sookie's brother admits to be a homophobe and she yells at him for it, then she turns around and starts having homophobic thoughts about gay characters in the book. Girl, you are no better than your brother.
The spice in here was okay, but what was lacking was the detail .I'm giving this 2.5 chilies out of 5 chilies 🌶️🌶️
With the causal racism, sexism, and homophobia, I can't give this book anything higher than 2 stars. Certain parts were interesting and that's why I'm giving it two stars instead of just one.
⭐️⭐️ 2/5 Stars
I listened to this for free on the library app libbyapp.com
Wow, I don't like the way Harris writes about people of color in this book. I don't like it one bit. There were so many "WTF?!" moments where I had to cringe and pause the audiobook. Also, what is with Harris' love phrases with the word "co*n" in them, I know she's southern but I don't care. She needs to stop using those damn phrases.
There's a bit of homophobia in the book too. Sookie's brother admits to be a homophobe and she yells at him for it, then she turns around and starts having homophobic thoughts about gay characters in the book. Girl, you are no better than your brother.
The spice in here was okay, but what was lacking was the detail .I'm giving this 2.5 chilies out of 5 chilies 🌶️🌶️
With the causal racism, sexism, and homophobia, I can't give this book anything higher than 2 stars. Certain parts were interesting and that's why I'm giving it two stars instead of just one.
⭐️⭐️ 2/5 Stars
I listened to this for free on the library app libbyapp.com
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Violence, Alcohol, Gore, Hate crime, Blood, Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, Death, Homophobia, Mass/school shootings, Misogyny, Murder, Racism, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment
nicklelove's review against another edition
3.0
Review can also be found in my blog: http://nicklelove.com/books/living-dead-in-dallas/
Living Dead in Dallas is the 2nd book from The Southern Vampire Mysteries by Charlaine Harris. The second season of HBO's True Blood is loosely based in this book. Because the books focus on Sookie and her adventures, we don't actually know what happened in Bon Temps while she was doing a job with Bill for the Dallas vampires. But before she left for Dallas, she encountered the maenad Callisto.
Like what i mentioned in my previous post about this series, The story focused on the Dallas vampires as one of their "brothers" went missing and they needed Sookie's special ability to find out what happened to him. They had a hunch that The Fellowship of the Sun was behind it but they needed to be sure. Later we find out that
Unlike the show, Jason Stackhouse was I happen to like Godric from the show, his existence and relationship with Eric made them seem more human. But Godfrey in the books was just
Another difference between the show and the book is that Tara and EggsSookie knew Tara from high school and they were not best friends since they were kids.
Living Dead in Dallas is the 2nd book from The Southern Vampire Mysteries by Charlaine Harris. The second season of HBO's True Blood is loosely based in this book. Because the books focus on Sookie and her adventures, we don't actually know what happened in Bon Temps while she was doing a job with Bill for the Dallas vampires. But before she left for Dallas, she encountered the maenad Callisto.
Like what i mentioned in my previous post about this series,
Spoiler
Lafayette died in the beginning of this book. That and the maenad's presence was merely a side story which Sookie had to take care of when she got back from Dallas.Spoiler
the vampire Farell was captured with the help of Godric/Godfrey, who wanted to face his true death by burning under the sun.Unlike the show, Jason Stackhouse was
Spoiler
nowhere near the Fellowship, Steve Newlin is an old man, and Godric/Godfrey is not Eric Northman's maker.Spoiler
a pedophile who raped and killed children, sucking them dry. Although it seems like he repented when he realized his sins and decided to take his life by facing the sun.Another difference between the show and the book is that Tara and Eggs
Spoiler
have already been going out.Spoiler
Eggs and the maenad didn't die too, although a whole bunch of townsfolk DID die when the maenad took their lives as a "proper tribute" to her. Also, Sam was running/spending time in the woods with the maenad, not another shapeshifter. If you've seen the show, they made it look like Sam encountered the maenad before and he hates her guts and he killed her in the end.ninaeudora's review against another edition
Bas i nisam u nekom elementu za druzenje sa Sooke i Billom :/ ide na cekanje..
lakecake's review against another edition
3.0
I gotta say, this usually doesn't happen, but I liked the first one better. This one seemed like a bridger--like Harris needed to give us more insight into a few characters (namely Eric) for upcoming books, so she just tossed this one off on us. It wasn't bad, it just didn't really hang together that well, and it was pretty obvious who the vamp traitor was. I never guess stuff like that and I was practically yelling at the book "This is a bad idea Sookie!"
I'll read the rest, of course...I have high hopes for Eric and Sookie.
I'll read the rest, of course...I have high hopes for Eric and Sookie.
sheilasamuelson's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Rating: 5 Stars!!
Review:
Even tho this is only the 2nd Book ive read in this series by Charlaine Harris, I can happily say im really starting to love this series.
Will it push me to watch the Show True Blood- TV Show?! I dont know yet since ALOT has to happen in this Book Series before i consider watching the show.
The Characters were fun and lovely to read about. Sookie is definately my favorite by far. Im starting to like the other characters in this book but not as much as Sookie.
The Setting was beautifully described which made me feel like i was actually in the book helping Sookie solve the murder while reading, especially when the scenery was described.
Overall Another Good Book in this Cozy Mystery Series about a Cocktail Waitress who solves murders!! Can't wait to read more in this series and by Charlaine in the future!!
Review:
Even tho this is only the 2nd Book ive read in this series by Charlaine Harris, I can happily say im really starting to love this series.
Will it push me to watch the Show True Blood- TV Show?! I dont know yet since ALOT has to happen in this Book Series before i consider watching the show.
The Characters were fun and lovely to read about. Sookie is definately my favorite by far. Im starting to like the other characters in this book but not as much as Sookie.
The Setting was beautifully described which made me feel like i was actually in the book helping Sookie solve the murder while reading, especially when the scenery was described.
Overall Another Good Book in this Cozy Mystery Series about a Cocktail Waitress who solves murders!! Can't wait to read more in this series and by Charlaine in the future!!