Sookie Stackhouse Reading Challenge

Sookie Stackhouse Reading Challenge
I did not get to read any Sookie this year. So, I plan on doing a personal challenge of this series by restarting efforts in 2015 with no deadline.

~*~

2014 Sookie Stackhouse Reading Challenge
hosted by Darlene's Book Nook
January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2014
Details | Linky
Four levels for the challenge:
a. Level 1 "Just A Drop": Read 1-10 books in the series.
b. Level 2 "A Small Bite": Read 11-20 books in the series.
c. Level 3 "So Thirsty": Read 21-30 books in the series.
d. Level 4 "Hungry For More": Read 31-32 books in the series!

As I am starting late, I will go for Level 1 - JUST A DROP

~*~
I just finished watching season 6 of the True Blood series and started watching the last and final season 7 On Demand. I will finish up with the binge-ing this week and know that I will be wanting more.

Back in 2009 I started a Sookie Stackhouse challenge where I started reading the series and watching the tv version. Although, the stories from both were similar they had slight differences that threw me off. So, I decided to hold off on the reading and focus on the tv version.

I got to book 3 in the series and now ready and raring to pickup book 4.

At the rate I will be going, this challenge will carry over into the next couple years.

~*~
The books in the Sookie Stackhouse (aka Southern Vampires) series by Charlaine Harris are (including short stories and novellas):

Dead Until Dark (Book #1) - May 2001 - my review

Living Dead in Dallas (Book #2) - April 2002 - my review

Club Dead (Book #3) - May 2003 - my review

Dead to the World (Book #4) - May 2004

"Fairy Dust" from A Touch of Dead - October 2004

"Dancers in the Dark" novella from Night's Edge Anthology - October 2004

"Dracula Night" from A Touch of Dead - September 2007

Dead as a Doornail (Book #5) - May 2005

"One Word Answer" from A Touch of Dead - December 2004

Definitely Dead (Book #6) - May 2006

"Tacky" from My Big Fat Supernatural Wedding - October 2006

All Together Dead (Book #7) - May 2007

"Lucky" from A Touch of Dead - December 2008

From Dead to Worse (Book #8) - May 2008

"Gift Wrap" from A Touch of Dead - October 2008

Dead and Gone (Book #9) - May 2009

"Bacon" from Strange Brew - July 2009

"The Britlingens Go to Hell" novella from Must Love Hellhounds - September 2009

"Dahlia Underground" from Crimes by Moonlight - April 2010

"Two Blondes" from Death's Excellent Vacation - August 2010

Dead in the Family (Book #10) - May 2010

"A Very Vampire Christmas" by Glamour Magazine - December 2010

"Small-Town Wedding" novella from The Sookie Stackhouse Companion - August 2011

Dead Reckoning (Book #11) - May 2011

The Sookie Stackhouse Companion - August 2011

"Death By Dahlia" from Down These Strange Streets - October 2011

Deadlocked (Book #12) - May 2012

"If I Had A Hammer" from Home Improvement: Undead Edition - August 2011

"Playing Possum" from An Apple for the Creature - September 2012

Dead Ever After (Book #13) - May 2013

After Dead: What Came Next in the World of Sookie Stackhouse (Book #13.5) - October 2013

"The Blue Hereafter" from Weird World of Sports - release not announced yet

Stacking the Shelves - 10.4.14

Stacking the Shelves
hosted by Tynga's Reviews (details)
Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

~*~
Bought:

Horrorstor: A Novel
by Grady Hendrix
-horror, art, unique
Amazon | Goodreads
-----> I have an ebook review copy, but decided to buy the print version for best reading experience.

The Clockwork Scarab
(Stoker & Holmes #1)
by Colleen Gleason
-mystery, steampunk
Amazon | Goodreads
FREE for kindle:

This Night So Dark
-short story that connects the first two novels in the Starbound trilogy,
These Broken Stars and This Shattered World
by Meagan Spooner and Amie Kaufman
Amazon | Goodreads
-----> GET yours: this is a pre-order and will be available Oct 7, 2014

FREE ebook:

Sacrifice
-gangs, thriller
by Coral Russell
Amazon | Goodreads
-----> GET yours: from BookBunnyPR, available until Oct 10, 2014

For Review:

Drowning
by by Jassy de Jong
-erotica, south africa
courtesy of publisher
Thanks Stephanie!
Amazon | Goodreads

The Spiritglass Charade
(Stoker & Holmes #2)
by Colleen Gleason
-mystery, steampunk
courtesy of publisher
Thanks Lara!
Amazon | Goodreads
Library:

A Discovery of Witches: A Novel
(All Souls Trilogy)
by Deborah Harkness
-vampires, witches
Amazon | Goodreads
Deborah Harkness’s sparkling debut, A Discovery of Witches, has brought her into the spotlight and galvanized fans around the world. In this tale of passion and obsession, Diana Bishop, a young scholar and a descendant of witches, discovers a long-lost and enchanted alchemical manuscript, Ashmole 782, deep in Oxford's Bodleian Library. Its reappearance summons a fantastical underworld, which she navigates with her leading man, vampire geneticist Matthew Clairmont.

-----> listening to the audio version

Dreaming about getting soon:

To All the Boys I've Loved Before
by Jenny Han
-romance, YA
Amazon | Goodreads
Lara Jean’s love life goes from imaginary to out of control in this heartfelt novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Summer I Turned Pretty series.

What if all the crushes you ever had found out how you felt about them…all at once?

Lara Jean Song keeps her love letters in a hatbox her mother gave her. They aren’t love letters that anyone else wrote for her; these are ones she’s written. One for every boy she’s ever loved—five in all. When she writes, she pours out her heart and soul and says all the things she would never say in real life, because her letters are for her eyes only. Until the day her secret letters are mailed, and suddenly, Lara Jean’s love life goes from imaginary to out of control.

OTHER things on my shelf: kinda book-related

True Blood
dvd tv seasons 5 and 6
-----> Netflix binge-ing and enjoying the last two seasons of True Blood which are based on the vampire books series by Charlaine Harris -- still have to catchup on reading these.

~*~
* some of these may be offered as giveaways within the next two months

* comment and TELL me what you have acquired for your shelves recently

* per usual, check out the sidebar for my current giveaways offers

Shapeshifter Collie

Inspired by Misty of Book Rat's Helluva Halloween Spotlight On: Shapeshifters,

-and this post is also part of my Helluva Halloween challenge

I would like to share my current favorite shapeshifter.

Sam Merlotte in HBO’s ‘True Blood’ tv series based on the Sookie Stackhouse novels by Charlaine Harris.

Sam lives in the fictional town of Bon Temps, Louisiana, and is the owner of a bar named Merlotte's. Sam has strawberry blond hair with blue eyes. He is both a close friend of and the employer of mind-reading barmaid Sookie Stackhouse. Sam is a shape shifter and likes to spend some of his time as a collie. Although his preferred shape is that of a collie, he can change into any animal he sees. On nights when the moon is full, Sam - like all shapeshifters - feels a strong urge to change, the rest of the time he can do it at will. - wikipedia excerpt

What I like about Sam is his loyalty towards Sookie.

What shapeshifter encounters in books, tv or film have you come across that you like?

*image source

True Blood season one - eps 1-6

True Blood (2008)
The Complete First Season

Based on book: Dead Until Dark
by Charlaine Harris
Creator: Alan Ball
DVD Released: 2009 - 5 discs - 12 episodes
Genre: Horror, Mystery, Vampires
Official site: True Blood
Rating: 5

Tagline from imdb: Thou Shall Not Crave Thy Neighbour


Inspiration: Sookie Stackhouse Reading Challenge hosted by Beth Fish Reads

Awards: Won a Golden Globe, another 3 wins and 8 nominations (details here)

Description from Borders:
Vampires have come out of the coffin and are now living among us. Surviving on synthetic blood, they no longer need human blood to survive. Or so it seems... The small town of Bon Temps, Louisiana boasts a wide array of colorful locals. Meet Sookie Stackhouse (Academy Award winner Anna Paquin), a sweet and innocent waitress who hides her powerful ability to read minds; Bill Compton, a 173-year-old vampire who's just moved back to town; Sookie's brother Jason, a ladies' man who can't seem to stay out of trouble; tough-as-nails Tara, Sookie's loyal best friend; Sam, the owner of Merlotte's who tries to keep his feelings for Sookie to himself; Lafayette, a man about town who's always cooking up something illicit and off the menu and a quirky cast of characters who each hide their dark secrets in the shadows of night in the series that's like no other.

My thoughts:
In-a-word(s): "What are you?" -- Bill Compton

First of all, beware! This show does not hold back in the graphic violence, sex, language and bloooood.

I decided to give my review of the first 6 episodes because it is taking me awhile to get through the DVDs.

I like the intro song. Sounds very Elvis-y. However, the disturbing images of underground America creeps me out.


I wanna do bad things with youuuuuu

This show follows Charlaine's first book, Dead Until Dark, pretty well. The cast and setting are perfect. You get to see more of what is going on with the other characters. There are some racy Jason scenes.

The regional accents are great to hear. My tendency is to pronounce Sookie and Sue-key. But on the show I hear a lot of Suh-kay.

Favorite character portrayal (besides Sookie and Bill):
Rene Lenier played by Michael Raymond-James
He is Arlene's (Sookie's friend) beau and is Jason's friend. I love his Louisiana French accent.

Things to note:

Episode 1: The mystery begins with a whodunit murder. This series has a great ensemble cast. Unlike the book, you get to see the lives of each character. It is not too Sookie-oriented.

Episode 2: Ch-ch-ch-changes going on with Sookie.

Episode 3: Sookie is mine -says Bill
Some things were added to the show that were not in the book per usual. I wasn't too keen on the Sam and Tara relations in this episode.

Episode 4: V juice and Jason dilemma is amusing and gross.

Episode 5: I liked this one because we find out how Bill became a vampire.

Episode 6: Poor Gran. I started to warm up to Tara and Sam's relation.


HBO Series:
Season One - my review for eps 1-6
Season One - my review for eps 7-12, coming soon
Season Two

Off-topic: Stephen Moyer who plays the vampire Bill Compton would make a good Mr. Darcy for a Pride and Prejudice movie. At first glance, I mistook him for Elliot Cowan who played Mr. Darcy in Lost in Austen. He's got that same smoldering look. sizzzle.









If you haven't heard it already, Tru Blood is being manufactured for human consumption.

Tru Blood for Mere Mortals

Sookie alert:

If you are familiar with Charlaine Harris' Sookie Stackhouse series or with the HBO True Blood TV show, then you know that Tru Blood is the drink of choice for vampires.

Well now, non-vampires can partake of a Tru Blood wannabe. According to the July 26, 2009 post on OMG! - A blood orange beverage, Tru Blood, will launch this fall.

It is said to be a "uniquely carbonated, slightly tart, lightly sweet" drink.

I'm not much of a soda drinker, so I won't be indulging in this concoction. Will you?

I love this poster of Bill for the True Blood season 2 promos.

To see posters of Sookie, Eric, Tara, Jason and Sam go here. There is also one other poster of a dark-haired woman that I did not recognize, maybe Pam? (please comment below and let me know) These posters are just as good as Bill's with the blood trickles on different parts of each person.

I don't get HBO so I won't see these episodes until they're on DVD. Meanwhile, I'm working my way through the season 1 eps.

Club Dead Giveaway - Winner

Thanks to all contestants! (original giveaway offer)

The Sookie Stackhouse series is such fun! If you haven't already, come join in the Sookie Stackhouse Reading Challenge hosted by Beth Fish Reads.

and the winner of the Club Dead giveaway is...

( drrrrrrrrrrummmmrolllllllllllllll )

Fiona

of a reader's random ramblings...

whose favorite Elvis song is Blue Suede Shoes

I shall be emailing you for your snail mail. If you don't receive it, please feel free to send your info to me vvb32@yahoo.com -- enjoy the read!

Please note: The winner was selected by name out of the nose mug.

The book giveaway prize:



You can read my review here.












Giveaway results:

Wikipedia has a list of over 800 songs that Elvis Presley has been known to have recorded and/or performed between 1953 to 1977 - whew!

Favorite Elvis songs mentioned per entries:

All Shook Up

Blue Suede Shoes

Suspicious Minds

and mine is: Heartbreak Hotel

and if you haven't already said, what is your favorite Elvis song?

Club Dead by Charlaine Harris bk3

Club Dead
by Charlaine Harris

Published: 2003
Genre: Horror Mystery, Vampires
Warning: not a YA book
Paperback: 292 pages
Rating: 4

Inspiration: Sookie Stackhouse Reading Challenge hosted by Beth Fish Reads


Description from the book:
Sookie Stackhouse is having man trouble. Her vampire boyfriend, Bill, has been distant and inattentive lately. Then he announces that he is going on a business trip, which clearly is more than it seems. After a werewolf tries to abduct Sookie at work, Bill's boss, Eric, tells her that Bill fell under the sway of his--Bill's, that is--ex, a sexy vamp named Lorena, and has been kidnapped. Eric wants Sookie's help in getting Bill back, and despite her hurt over Bill's betrayal, Sookie agrees to go to Jackson, Mississippi, to find her wayward lover. Eric has persuaded Alcide, a dashing werewolf, to get Sookie access to Josephine's, aka Club Dead, the local hangout of Jackson's supernatural element. In between dodging kidnappers, the advances of amorous Eric, and her growing feelings for Alcide, Sookie has to find out who kidnapped Bill and figure out a way to rescue him.

My thoughts:
In-a-word: Danger

A big LOL for the ending of this book. I enjoyed this continuation of the series. Although there is more uncertainty with the relationship between Sookie and Bill. I guess they've got to go through the growing pains that all relationships go through. Eric and Alcide provide entertaining distractions for Sookie.

I liked learning more about werewolves and shapeshifters.

Unfortunately, Sookie's mortal-ness comes to the forefront. She realizes that to be a part of the vampire/paranormal world she puts herself in danger that could lead to her death. So, Sookie says no more. But, I think not because there are more books in this series!

Favorite Sookie-isms:
I was almost packed, and I'd put in a couple of romances and a mystery in case I got a little time to read. I am self-educated from genre books. (page 55)

Vampires seem, as a whole, to be extremely tolerant of any sexual preference; I guess there aren't that many taboos when you've been alive a few hundred years. (page 182)

Southern Vampire Mysteries Series:
Dead Until Dark
Living Dead in Dallas
Club Dead
Dead to the World
Dead as a Doornail
Definitely Dead
All Together Dead
From Dead to Worse
Dead and Gone

Other cover versions:


Ah yes, gotta have the True Blood tie-in.













This German cover is interesting.

For upcoming September re-release.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Do you need this book?
I have an extra copy for a lucky someone who comments below and answers me this:

What is your favorite Elvis song?

Entries: open to all countries

Deadline: Saturday, July 25, 2009, Midnight PST

Prize: Club Dead by Charlaine Harris

Winner announced: Sunday, July 26, 2009
The winner will also be contacted via email and the prize will be mailed within a week of receiving mailing address.
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Giveaway has ended - winner is here
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Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris bk2

Living Dead in Dallas
by Charlaine Harris

Published: 2002
Genre: Horror, Mystery, Vampires
Warning: not a YA book
Paperback: 291 pages

Inspiration: Sookie Stackhouse Reading Challenge hosted by Beth Fish Reads

Description from the book:
Cocktail waitress Sookie Stackhouse is on a streak of bad luck. First, her coworker is murdered and no one seems to care. Then she's face-to-face with a beastly creature that gives her a painful and poisonous lashing. Enter the vampires, who graciously suck the poison from her veins (like they didn't enjoy it).

Point is, they saved her life. So when one of the blood-suckers asks fro a favor, she complies. And soon, Sookie's in Dallas using her telepathic skills to search for a missing vampire. She's supposed to interview certain humans involved. There's just one condition: The vampires must promise to behave--and let the humans go unharmed. Easier said than done. All it takes is one delicious blonde and one small mistake for things to turn deadly...

My thoughts:
In-a-word: Maenad

This book was just as fun as the first. Sookie got to learn about new creatures and met more vampires. I'm glad she is starting to harness her "powers" for the good.

I wasn't too crazy on how the relationship between Sookie and Bill was moving. It will be interesting to see how their relationship develops in the coming books. I do hope they are soulmates.

Southern Vampire Mysteries Series:
Dead Until Dark
Living Dead in Dallas
Club Dead
Dead to the World
Dead as a Doornail
Definitely Dead
All Together Dead
From Dead to Worse
Dead and Gone

Other covers:

True Blood show tie-in

Has the True Blood feel to it.

Upcoming re-release

Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris bk1

Dead Until Dark
by Charlaine Harris

Published: 2001
Genre: Horror, Mystery, Vampires
Warning: not a YA book
Paperback: 292 pages
Rating: 5

Inspiration: Sookie Stackhouse Reading Challenge hosted by Beth Fish Reads

Description from from the book:
Sookie Stackhouse is a small-time cocktail waitress in small-town Louisiana. She's quiet, keeps to herself, and doesn't get out much. Not because she's not pretty. She is. It's just that, well, Sookie has this sort of "disability." She can read minds. And that doesn't make her too deateable. And then along comes Bill He's tall, dark, handsome--and Sookie can't hear word he's thinking. He's exactly the type of guy she's been waiting for all her life...

But Bill has disability of his own: He's a vampire with a bad reputation. He hangs with a seriously creepy crowd, all suspected of--big surprise--murder. And when one of Sookie's coworkers is killed, she fears she's next...

My thoughts:
In-a-word: Soulmates?

Not so sure if this is YA, but a lot of YA readers are getting into this series. This is my first post for the Sookie Stackhouse Challenge.


I first encountered this series last year while browsing for books at the bookstore. The True Blood series was hyping itself up a storm and all the books were in the spotlight. The cover with the close-up on the woman licking the blood on her lips caught my eye. I was intrigued. When I read the description on the back I was hooked.


As I read the book, I couldn't help but compare it to Twilight by Stephenie Meyer which I had just recently finished. It was interesting to see some similarities. However, Charlaine's book was published before Twilight. And, Charlaine has definitely created her own special vampire universe.


Dead Until Dark does a great job in telling its vampire tale and solving its murder mystery. The characters are colorful - even the dead ones. Sookie has such sass and independence you can't help but love her.

Southern Vampire Mysteries Series:
Dead Until Dark
Living Dead in Dallas
Club Dead
Dead to the World
Dead as a Doornail
Definitely Dead
All Together Dead
From Dead to Worse
Dead and Gone

Other covers:


This is the cover that I had. But I love the original cover art by Lisa Desimini.












I'm not too crazy about this one which is for the re-release.

Audio version

Omnibus for books 1 to 3.

Whimisical one that was created here.

Sookie Stackhouse Reading Challenge

Sookie Stackhouse Reading Challenge
hosted by Beth Fish Reads

I first saw this challenge at Everything To Do With Books and thought it was a great way to finally work through my stack of Sookie books. Also coincidentally, I just got the True Blood DVD disc one from Netflix last week. So, I'm totally ready to get into Sookie mode.

Details: The challenge runs July 1, 2009 - June 30, 2010.

No matter if you're starting with book 1 or book 8, you have a year to read all about Sookie. more info

The Books:
Dead Until Dark - my review
Living Dead in Dallas - my review
Club Dead - my review
Dead to the World
Dead as a Doornail
Definitely Dead
All Together Dead
From Dead to Worse
Dead and Gone





TV Series:
True Blood: Season One (2008)
-my review for episodes 1-6

True Blood: Season Two (2009)








For more Sookie...

Short Stories:

A Touch of Dead
(Sookie short story collection)
-Ace, October 6, 2009

Unusual Suspects
(contains short story, “Lucky” with Amelia and Sookie)
-Ace, 2008

Wolfsbane and Mistletoe
(contains short story, “Gift Wrap” with Sookie and Niall)
-Ace, 2008

Many Bloody Returns
(contains short story, “Dracula Night” with Sookie, Eric and Pam)
-Ace, 2009

My Big Fat Supernatural Wedding
(contains short story "Tacky")
-St. Martin's Griffin 2006

Bite
(contains short story "One Word Answer” with Hadley featured)
-Jove 2005

Night's Edge (novella)
(a Sookie-universe story, although Sookie herself does not appear in it)
-Harlequin, August 1, 2009

Powers of Detection
(contains short story, “Fairy Dust” with Sookie, Claudine and Claude)
-Ace, 2006

Websites:

Charlaine Harris

Sookie Cover Art by Lisa Desimini

HBO's Official site: True Blood

==end result==
got a few, however, challenge not completed