Let me just say, right off the bat, that I had a love/hate relationship with this installment of Sookie's life. This one was another good read, story-wise, but it frustrated the hell out of me. We're steadily learning more and more about Sookie, and her life and love(s), and not all of those things are good. This book completely engrossed me, even while I was getting more and more upset with it. At times I felt myself winding up the old throwin' arm to chuck the damn thing at the wall, but that wouldn't have made the outcome any different, and it probably would dented the wall just to spite me, even though I'm reading a paperback. **Possible spoilers** After a heartbreaking revelation about Bill and the origin of their relationship, Sookie now feels completely betrayed and duped. She is also being ridiculously unreasonable and irrational, in my opinion. To be honest, Sookie has an annoying habit of running away from anything that upsets her. She would be much better off if she would stop making assumptions about people and their motives and just let them actually TALK to her. It is insanely frustrating to me that this story is told in first person, so we only get Sookie's lopsided and biased view of everyone around her. This is true of all books told in 1st person, of course, but this book really seems to have taken that to another level, since Sookie is being so stubbornly stupid and spiteful, even. I really think that her ability to hear other people's thoughts has made her more than a bit jaded, and so she is more than ready to see the bad in people, which leads her to just shut them down, utterly and completely. Perhaps there are people out there who will disagree with my saying these things about Sookie, and I can understand that. She is generally good, and tries to do the right thing, and I do like her, most of the time. She's gutsy and fun, smart but naive. But, when it comes to her heart, she's all-or-nothing. Bill is no saint, but I truly believe that he loves Sookie and would do anything for her. I feel for him the most, even though Sookie was hurt so badly. Bill really had no choice in any of the things that Sookie is angry with him about, and he is possibly losing her because of his role in Vampire society. Eric cares for Sookie, but in a self-serving, hey-look-at-the-cute-puppy-can-I-keep-it? kind of way. I'm not a big fan of a Sookie/Eric relationship. That's just personal preference though. I see nothing wrong with either Alcide or Quinn (yet...) so I am still rather baffled by Sookie's anger at Alcide, but I'm glad that she is being more cautious with Quinn.Maybe the next book will resolve some of these issues for me. I sure hope so.
I didn't know whether to give this book a 4 or a 5.Before I start, I want to say there is a short story that I have not read before reading Definitely Dead that seemed pretty significant to the book but it's not so bad that you'll be lost. It came with my ebook version (I have ebook as well as the book for those long moments I'm doing my hair) called "One Word Answer", I'm guessing that's it. I don't think it's necessary because like I said, you don't get too lost but you'll probably be more comfortable *shrug*A small tiff I have about about these books is that sometimes they're not pretty accurate about the description of the book but whatever, its no big thing (Not much bothers me)The "Plot" doesn't get up and running until about the first hundred thirty pages when Sookie makes her trip to N'awlins (New Orleans, I'm a foreigner can't ya tell? hahaha) with Bill, her still estranged bf, Mr. Cataliades and Diantha (Demons!). Before all that, there's a mini mystery involving Holly that we could've done without and a teeny bit focus on Quinn and Sookie forming a relationship, then the ball gets rolling...One night with Quinn, Sookie and her date are attacked (After seeing such a delightful production such as The Producers, might I add) in Shreveport. By bitten Weres. Whoa-oh. Time to take it to the pack! Now after the ending of Dead As A Doornail, I haven't been too right with Alcide and he is only briefly in the book and this is it. Now with that hanging over her head and a murder takes place on Sookie's property (naturally), then Sookie gives in on the "required" trip. Now the juices are simmering on low. You meet another witch, who kinda grows on ya like a fungus, and things start to get really interesting and I won't tell you why. This is just one of those "You must read" books because spilling too much ruins the element of surprise then it's not really much now, is it?The reason why I was stuck giving it a 4 or a 5 because there were quite a few parts that was mundane to me but whatever. Let me just say the ending made up for all of that! Plus there was an actual bayou and Quinn shifts into a tiger and trots around in it! AWESOME.
Do You like book Definitely Dead (2007)?
This series is one of the most mind-numbingly stupid things I’ve ever read. And believe it or not, I mean that to be a highly complimentary statement. Weird, I know. Before starting book number six, track down a copy of the short story titled “One Word Answer” that appears in the anthology Bite. Randomly, (and I say randomly because it’s been sitting in my house for about two years now and since I really don’t like anthologies, had very little desire to even crack the cover) so I spent the extra 15 minutes reading the ultra-short “One Word Answer” before starting Definitely Dead and saved myself some confusion—granted, not major confusion, but enough that had I not read the short story first, I’d have been scratching my head. Okay, officially they're spoilers, but I'm not going to give away whodunnit, so they're probably spoilers-lite, mm-kay?***spoilers past this point***Here are some important facts:--The new bartender at Fangtasia is a lesbian vampire.--Vampire Bill sucks.--Quinn the weretiger has purple eyes and he’s packing heat (and I'm not talking about a gun). --Quinn and Sookie engage in a heated session of dry-humping, but there is no actual sex.--Quinn is cool…but…he’s not Eric. I’m not partial or anything, right?--Sookie’s definitely dead (and murdered) cousin, Hadley, was a vampire.--Hadley was also a lesbian vampire.--The vampire queen of Louisiana was Hadley’s lesbian lover.--Sookie is on her period for most of this novel.--Obviously this opens up the door for all sorts of strange vampires and supernatural creatures to comment on the ethereal scent of her blood. --It turns out Sookie has fairy blood. --Amelia the witch is cool. I dig her. Okay. And now for the most tasteless joke you’ll hear all week…Q: What did one lesbian vampire say to the other lesbian vampire?A: See you next month. I know, it’s gross. But admit it, you laughed. And if you didn’t, you probably shouldn’t read this book.
—Beth F.
This is a book I've read a couple times in the past and realized I never actually wrote a review for it. If I'm remembering correctly, this is the Quinn book. He's a pretty hot weretiger. Of course, he's not as hot as Eric Northman, but I did like him more than book Alcide. I remember enjoying this one, but not enough Eric. I do like the Queen. She is an interesting character in this world. I don't remember too many specifics from this honestly, so this is just a generic review. I am not sure if I will re-read these later ones again because it just reminds me of how bad the series ended. After the next couple, they aren't even worth reading anymore, in my view.
—Sh3lly (Not all those who wander are lost)
I knew it would only be a matter of time before Sookie began to annoy me a little, and this book marked the beginning of it. To be fair, though, I'm not sure it if was her so much as her interaction with Quinn that didn't sit that well with me. After the previous book, it was kind of a no-brainer that Quinn would become the next addition to Sookie's growing parade of suitors. I didn't really care for him or his relationship with Sookie. The whole "I shall compliment you at any given moment, and you'll glow with happiness" routine is good and fine, but it's just not interesting to me. So, I'm not particularly looking forward to seeing more of him in the next couple of books.(At this point, I've also developed a definite preference for what man I want Sookie to end up with, and I'm leaning towards Sam or Eric. Naturally, I realize this may have biased me against Quinn, but oh well, so things go.)On the plus side, I like how things came together at the end of the novel, but I spent so many pages keeping up with meandering storylines that it was kind of a killjoy. Well into the 100s, we were still getting briefed by Sookie on her past with such and such character. It's probably a result of the series growing in scope and characters still sticking around, but it was a tad tiresome and resulted in the book not holding my attention as well as the previous ones did.Bill's revelation was raw and painful, and I think Harris did a good job with Sookie's reaction. There was a good balance of agony and humor to make the revelation work well in the context of the story.Anyways, this was a decent book, but a far cry from the best.
—Ashley
