Sunday, June 21, 2009

- TRUE BLOOD -


Since finishing my dissertation, its been nice to read books that don't have complex footnote/reference systems! After realising I'd read everything I already own (and haven't picked up anything new since last year) I went on a hunt through my house to see if my mother or brother had anything decent... I quick scan of my mother's books showed nothing of interest, but my brother's bookcase was much more promising. He'd just purchased the Sookie Stackhouse Boxed Set by Charlaine Harris. The Sookie Stackhouse novels read like a (much) more grown up Twilight. Vampires have just come out of the 'closet' and revealed themselves to the world and the books follow Sookie's interactions with them as well as wereanimals (wolves, tigers and more!) and shapeshifters. Part romance, part fantasy, part mystery, the books are a interesting look at how people deal with otherness and ideas of humanity. This isn't a masterpiece of literary fiction, and like Twilight could have been better written, but worth picking up nonetheless. If reading ain't your thing then never fear - the series has now been turned into a TV series on HBO called True Blood. I've only seen the first episode and can't wait to see the rest - especially when they bring in the shapeshifters. I'm intrigued to see how it will be done and how it compares to the digital effects of the big screen. You can take a look at the opening credits here (I love the song they used!).


Image available here.