Stephanie S. (skywriter319) -
There's honestly nothing exceptionally literary about DEAD UNTIL DARK: it reads like many other poorly written pulp fiction mystery series. What makes it so popular, however, is its appeal to the secret dark sides of ourselves--the part of our minds that longs to read about vampires, stalker-like brooding male love interests, and heaps of lust and romance.
The characters are rather unbelievable in their predicaments, static until they are suddenly declared in a particular state of mind for the sake of plot and entertainment. There is an uneven development of romantic interest between Sookie and Bill, and much is left unexplained in Sookie's relationships with various people in her life.
However, I enjoyed DEAD UNTIL DARK much the same way I enjoy stupid, brain-numbing movies about characters I'll never be able to empathize with: because I can't relate to them, and instead am able to sit back and observe them through a microscope without their being able to object. I didn't feel close to any of the characters, and so I was able to secretly enjoy their dramas and love triangles and whirlwind emotions. And when you think about it that way, it's actually quite an enjoyable story. Despite the lackluster writing, I was unable to put it down, and had to read it straight through.
Definitely not quality vampire literature--turn to authors like Richelle Mead for that--but as pleasurable as watching MTV with a bowl of the most fattening ice cream in your lap.
The characters are rather unbelievable in their predicaments, static until they are suddenly declared in a particular state of mind for the sake of plot and entertainment. There is an uneven development of romantic interest between Sookie and Bill, and much is left unexplained in Sookie's relationships with various people in her life.
However, I enjoyed DEAD UNTIL DARK much the same way I enjoy stupid, brain-numbing movies about characters I'll never be able to empathize with: because I can't relate to them, and instead am able to sit back and observe them through a microscope without their being able to object. I didn't feel close to any of the characters, and so I was able to secretly enjoy their dramas and love triangles and whirlwind emotions. And when you think about it that way, it's actually quite an enjoyable story. Despite the lackluster writing, I was unable to put it down, and had to read it straight through.
Definitely not quality vampire literature--turn to authors like Richelle Mead for that--but as pleasurable as watching MTV with a bowl of the most fattening ice cream in your lap.
