Recap 2009: My Favorite Book (Sookie Stackhouse)

Today’s Best of 2009 Blog Challenge is to discuss the the book you loved this year. The DL on the challenge: “Share your best moments of 2009 over the course of December. Don’t get hung up on details or length – if there’s an aspect of the question that doesn’t resonate, change it to meet your needs.”

I’ve been so busy writing a book this year I haven’t been able to read as much as I usually do. I’ve missed it. In fact, I have a whole stack of books next to my chair that are just waiting for Christmas break. TypePad for Dummies goes to the printer in a few weeks (it’s being proofed right now) and when it does, I am going to hole up and read like there’s no tomorrow. I’m not allowing myself to start the books until TPfD is at the printer because I’m certain something HUGE will come up and then I’ll be forced to stop my reading. I don’t want to jinx it. You understand, I’m sure.

All of that to say: I didn’t read much this year. I did, however, get sucked in to one series: The Southern Vampire Mysteries aka The Sookie Stackhouse books aka True Blood. Y’all? I cannot tell you how much I’m in love with this series. Also? I’m Team Bill all the way. I know many Sookie readers are Team Eric. If you’ve read the books, let’s discuss that and how we came to our team decisions.

I wrote about my addiction to Sookie earlier this year, but in case you missed it I’m re-printing that article today. I really talk about both the books and the HBO series–I don’t think you can be hooked on one without being hooked on the other.

Favorite Book (series) of 2009: The Sookie Stackhouse Novels

I’ve known for the better part of my life that I have some issues. Plural.

One of those issues is OCD. I have me a serious case of the obsessive compulsive disorder.

When I start something and enjoy it, I have to immerse myself in it completely and find every part of it and make it part of me. Case in point: Trueblood.

In June I was looking for something to watch on Netflix. I’d heard a bit of buzz about the HBO series Trueblood and figured what the heck? I received the first three DVDs the next day. I watched the first episode, laughed hysterically, then thought, “No. I cannot allow myself to be sucked into this madness! It is embarrassing to even admit that I like this.”

It’s campy. There’s a lot of gratuitous sex. (Hey, I’m not prudish in any way, but really, Season 1 of Trueblood has more sex than I’ve seen in TV or my own life in two years. Just sayin’.) But even the sex is funny (one character is known for his sexual prowess and routinely checks himself out in the mirror during the deed). And, honestly, I could not look away. I became absorbed with these characters and watched the full season in short order.

When I told people I what I was doing and how absorbed I was, I laughed uncomfortably and uncontrollably. I turned bright red from my ears to my toes. My embarrassment at not being able to stop was utter and complete.

Trueblood is based on the Sookie Stackhouse books by Charlaine Harris. Once I’d finished watching the series, the next logical step was to buy the first book, Dead Until Dark, just to see how it compared to the DVDs. I read it in seven hours. I returned to Borders every day (sometimes twice a day) for a week buying one book at a time, lying to myself that if I only bought one at a time, I was pacing myself and it wasn’t the OCD talking.

Then Amazon.com sent me an e-mail that Trueblood, Season 1 was on sale for $30. I bought it. I’ve watched it more than five times, thankyouverymuch.

I have every Sookie Stackhouse novel. I’m in the process of re-reading them all (I’m on book four again), thankyouverymuch.

Trueblood, Season 2 is in full swing, but I hadn’t watched it. I had reigned in my obsession. My issue. My addiction. Mostly because I didn’t have HBO and I couldn’t find any downloadable episodes online (and don’t think I didn’t spend several hours trying to find them, illegal though it may be). (What I did find, though, is that Vampire Bill & Sookie are dating in real life. Which makes me happy. Which also goes to show just how far I’ve gone into the deep. Comic-Con, here I come!)

I bought HBO Friday. I watched seven episodes (one hour each) in one day (mostly after 9:00p; yes it was a long night).

My name is Melanie. I’m a Trueblood and Sookie Stackhouse addict. It’s my dirtiest, guiltiest pleasure.

Tagged as: 2009 Recap, best of 2009, Bill Compton, Sookie Stackhouse, True Blood