True Blood or True Junk?

In keeping with my plan to review those works that had inspired TV spin offs first, I next moved on to the series that inspired the much loved HBO show, TrueBlood. So I picked up a copy of the first in the Sookie Stackhouse series, by Charlaine Harris. Here is the info:

Title: Dead Until Dark
Author: Charlaine Harris
Published: 2001
My start date: 10/27/10
My finish date: 10/28/10
Book count: 65

The reason I chose to start with those books that had inspired spin offs was that I assumed that they must be pretty good to get that kind of attention. I was also intrigued by this series because it is not YA lit and also because I discovered that the author is from Arkansas, and having grown up there myself, I feel bound to defend other Arkansans. However, Harris has effectively cured me of that connection. This book was among the worst that I read all year.

Seriously, it was painful. I just kept plowing on in the hopes that it would either a) get better or b) be quickly finished. It never got better, but fortunately it did eventually end. So, now to examine what went wrong. So wrong, so very wrong.

To put it shortly, I have to imagine that this book is the product of a lonely middle-aged women putting pen to her, hmm, let's say her pent up fantasies. It felt cheap all around. It even felt sleazy. And I know it was kind of the point, but it just screamed trailer park. The writing made me embarrassed for Arkansas/Louisiana, and I absolutely hate it when people perpetuate stereotypes of a place I know to be different.

The one slightly good thing about this novel was a likable protagonist. Sookie Stackhouse was interesting, albeit stupid. I hated the way she was written, but a strong personality shone through and I can imagine an actress like Anna Paquin could take this material and improve on it enough to explain the popularity of the TV show. The male vampire lead,Bill had very little depth, although I did give the shapeshifter/boss character,Sam a little more credit. The rest of the characters were little more than cartoons of what everyone assumes small town southerners should be like.

Oh, and I could also explain the show's popularity in another way, especially considering that it plays on HBO. Sex. Like I said, it leads one to assume that the author is living out her (rather unusual) fantasies through writing. To each their own.

So, my two final questions:
Would adults like this book? Well, it is actually for adults, but then again, I can't see how anyone would like this book.
What grade does it get? D. And that is generous.

Let's hope for something better next. Otherwise this project might not last long.
Keep reading! (Even when the books stinks!)
Sarah