Thanks for this!

Yay! I'll probably keep up with this one. I always intended on reading the other one but it was a bit overwhelming and was always being added to -not that that's bad. just difficult for starting at the beginning- so I'll probably read through it slowly as I keep up here.

YAYAY A new thread!!!  Now maybe it will open in less than 5 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yay is right!

Oh yea and I got to thinking about something related to "the love she thinks she feels" nonsense. In D&G Sookie's immediate reaction to being intimate with Eric again is: "He slid inside as if he'd never been gone, as if we'd made love every night for the past year."

I mean seriously there's a reason it felt like that...theres a reason it wasn't just "sex" to her but "making love." Do people normally "make love" with someone for shits and giggles? Or out of appreciation or lust? No. So, at this point I'm no longer concerned. After D&G I'm actually looking forward to confirming Sookie is still capable of "thinking"...Amelia hit the nail on the head with the self-knowledge thing!

And CH's PR people really need to get with the program and evolve with their tactics. I bet they added on a few True Blood publisists. Ugh.

After D&G I'm actually looking forward to confirming Sookie is still capable of "thinking"..

LOL!  Too true!

if he'd never been gone

that's actually, the most important thing in all the love scene in D&G becouse from Sookie's pov Eric is gone, form book 4, never realized that he was always there, just with the Sceriff ability.......

in this book he is back, she understand that he is never gone, not for real, she always keep him with her.......

it's really a big thing, that kind of thing that CH uses to say what she thinks between the lines.

I do think that once Eric remembers, for him, things are back on. If Sookie had let him talk in DAG, he might have told her that.

she was not ready for listening to him and maybe tell her that actually he loves her, remember when he said his women were upset only if he tell them the truth.....and Sookie saying she was not ready for his answer.....i guess in this bokk they will go on together and just the fact that she is with him, that she's thinking about her love for him it's such a big deal...^^

Tomorrow Harris is here in italy, Rome, i sent friends with many answer for her, and recorder everything.....i will tell you what she reveal....I even prepared a question for the car's scene book 3....ahahah^^

I think the fact that she is really thinking is a really really good thing.  I also think that in this book Eric and Sookie's making love will be even better because she realizes she loves him.  I think that CH is going to really leaving us wanting more

Has anyone discussed the cover of DITF? The rose between Sookie and Eric is covered in thorns. From what I've read about roses and what it symbolizes is that roses with thorns means that "Love is not without risk. Ecstasy does not come without it's share of agony."

I also just found this:

http://www.columbia.edu/cu/augustine/arch/frear/rose_img.htm

"A rose bush with thorns is a symbol of flawed and mortal humanity"

I've thought about the symbolism myself. I found an interesting site: http://www.astrostar.com/articles/Roses_ColorSymbolism.htm

I'm very optimistic regarding the cover. I don't think that love is ever truely without risk--so the your first quote is fitting. The one about the rose bush doesn't seem to fit in with the "single" rose that is shown on the cover.

Here are a couple things I found most relevent from the site I mentioned:   

Sookie is not a virgin, anymore. I think it is also important to note that a "rose without thorns"--by association to the Virgin Mary--is rare and associated specifically with the white rose and not the red.

Interesting right? I mean it's not the most romantic of comparisons but these themes have been seen throughout the series.

Isn't that what CH stated Sookie was looking for? True love and mutual respect...yes. And who is that blond vamp reaching from the rose with her? Oh yea...that would be Eric. Yeah!

I had to do some research to find out whether the rose in question is a tea rose. This is what I found: "In a "typical" Tea, pointed buds produce high-centred blooms which unfurl in a spiral fashion, and the petals tend to roll back at the edges, producing a petal with a pointed tip; the Teas are thus the originators of today's "classic" florists' rose form."

I think it is a tea rose...but maybe I'm wrong.

I think you see where I'm going with this.hehe. Eric and Sookie were far from love at first sight

This is what I found most pleasing. This seems to be more in line with what is shown than a rose "bush" so I'm hopeful.

What I am wondering about is the intertwining stems that merge into one rose bud. Anyone?

Now I'm on symbolism kick!lol

• In mythology, rose meaning is associated with Aphrodite (Greek) goddess of love who was often depicted adorned with roses around her head, feet and or neck. In lore, we track down this association when we discover that a rose bush grew within the pool of blood spilled from Aphrodite’s slain lover (Adonis). We can interpret the symbolism here several ways. The most common interpretation is that the rose symbolizes an immortal love or a union that will never fade - even through time or death.
• In addition to being a symbol of love, the rose is also symbolic carrier of secrets or tacit understanding.
• Seeking symbolic meaning of the rose from an esoteric perspective, we can look at the Tarot, in which the rose is considered a symbol of balance. Here the beauty of the rose expresses promise, new beginnings, hope. This beauty is contrasted with its thorns which represents defense, physicality, loss, thoughtlessness.
• The rose is seen in the major arcana as: Magician, Strength, Death and Fool cards. All of these cards hold strong meanings of balance and equilibrium.

In further looking she describes the rose themes within each of the mentioned cards:

• In the Fool card of the Tarot, the white Rose in the Fool's left hand is a symbolic urging for purity and order. The left hand is symbolic of the conscious mind - the facet of our understanding that seeks order - sometimes even control. The Rose symbolism in the Fool's left hand says: "Get a grip on your thoughts - don't let them grip you." The white of the rose encourages purity and asks us to cleanse our mind for optimal results on our path.
• Roses are often associated with magic, and so seeing its bright blossoms in the Magician card is fitting. Ancient orders, occult groups, theosophical branches of all kinds hailed the rose as a secret symbol of unfolding wisdom. With delicate prompting, the rose unwraps its luscious layers to reveal the heart-center of profound beauty. It's the same with the human soul. Spiritual groups of all ages recognized this. In fact, the Rose is often considered the "lotus of the west" because it reminds the observer of the sweet smell of illumination. Indeed, in alchemy, the rose is symbolic of the spirit that grows within each of us when proper care and attention is applied.
• In the Strength card, the rose symbolism speaks to me of balance. With all this delight and heady beauty, the Rose also comes supremely equipped for defense and protection. We can all understand the parable inherent in the Rose and its thorns. Where there is great loveliness, there also resides the potential for great ferocity. In the Strength card, the rose reminds us of the nature of duality, yin-yang, polarity - whatever you want to call it. There are twins to every aspect in life - the rose is a symbol of that universal rule.
• Traditional imagery in the Death card indicates a white rose which hearkens back to themes of purity, clarity and transparency of intent. Jumbled up with the other symbolic edicts of the Death card, we can also interpret the presence of the rose as a conveyance of impermanence. "Nothing lasts forever" says the old adage. Rather than take that fatalistic stance, I like to consider things in cycles - to everything there is a season, and the rose in the Death card features the idea of transition - moving from one phase of life to another. Death is just a doorway, and the white rose prompts clear understanding about that entrance into new perception/existence.

I found these definitions very indicitive of the crossroads that Sookie is at right now. The roses in the strength and magician cards are red...the death and fool cards are white.

Yeah I really didn't think the rose bush related so much but what I found interesting was the metion of mortality.

I'm still trying to figure out the 2 stems myself. This is what I've come up with so far. The single rose obviously symbolizes their love for each other while the 2 stems each represent themselves. The thorns are their own issues they bring into their relationship. From this, I think we're going to see them face the issues in this book since they are both reaching for each other.

We did discuss this cover quite a bit in the first thread.  The discussion starts about halfway, but I realize it would take alot of you guys to find it.  I actually noticed that one of the stems has leaves and one does not.  That made me think of one alive and growing - Sookie - and one dead - Eric. I also wondered if it could symbolize the blood bond as through it, E&S are intertwined?

Did you also notice a face in the background.  It's hard to see at this size but it looks somewhat threatening to me and reminded me of the Gustav Klimt painting Love, where there are two lovers surrounded by roses and threatening faces in the background.  It's a great cover, IMO!

Whoah. I did not see that face! You're right.

Isn't that what CH stated Sookie was looking for? True love and mutual respect...yes. And who is that blond vamp reaching from the rose with her? Oh yea...that would be Eric. Yeah!

Also the color red has always been related to Eric. His car is red, when Sookie was hiding him in DTTW she woke the next day and wore a red shirt. He got her a red phone, a red coat, and when she went to see him she painted her nails red. Hmm...

I'm still trying to figure out the 2 stems myself. This is what I've come up with so far. The single rose obviously symbolizes their love for each other while the 2 stems each represent themselves. The thorns are their own issues they bring into their relationship. From this, I think we're going to see them face the issues in this book since they are both reaching for each other.

 I actually noticed that one of the stems has leaves and one does not.  That made me think of one alive and growing - Sookie - and one dead - Eric. I also wondered if it could symbolize the blood bond as through it, E&S are intertwined?  

I thought the same thing Liann, the individual stems representing their own feelings individually and the single rose being the bond.

To take it further, it appears that they are reaching for eachother and the rose is between them. Maybe this could mean that their togetherness is what seperates them. Allow me to attempt to elaborate:

Stripped of titles and restictions their relationship seems to thrive, the only time Sookie has drifted was when Eric suggested talks or figuring things out, solidifying what it is between them (acknowledging the rose and seeing it). So maybe the commitment and acknowledgment of being together is what keeps them seperated, or has in the past. But the fact that they're reaching anyway does give me hope, Sookie is reaching past it finally! Maybe she's turning a new leaf, which would relate to her side of the rose having leaves...

Sorry this seems kind of all over the place, I just finished working and I'm pretty sure my brain is a tad fried lol.

So... you think that the rose symbolizes a defined, solidified relationship?  Something that would be acknowledged and known by all.  It is the huge issue that keeps them apart, because a) Sookie balks at the mere mention of it and b) it's an enormous step for both of them to take.  So they are reaching towards each other in an attempt to face the issue and try to deal with it.  Have I understood you?

Yes! Wow you really summed up what I rambled on about lol.

The reaching thing is somewhat true, I think Eric has always been reaching out to her figuratively despite the issue while Sookie has ran because of the issue. Now she's doing the same as Eric (reaching out, and facing it rather than turning her back to it). It's still an issue, but it is no longer Sookie's issue. Maybe more political, or even other people's/ supes.

Loving your observations. I didn't notice the leaves until you pointed it out. One thing that popped into my head was Eric's "I'm hoping I'll grow on you" line in LDID...her response is "like a fungus?" but the intertwining of the roses suggests otherwise. I could be reaching here and I'm not a rose expert but I think they also grow onto or around things. Am I just talking crazy?lol

That's a great thought Trish! I'm not sure either, but the vines growing together or around something makes sense to me!

Well, there are climbing roses - I have one in my yard - and their branches do intertwine and cling on to whatever structure or support they are near to.  So, not crazy talk at all!!

Well then it's settled!lol Atleast to me: symbolically through their love, respect and a tacit understanding, they have grown on/into each other.

"I'm hoping I'll grow on you" line in LDID...her response is "like a fungus?" but the intertwining of the roses suggests otherwise. 

I find that funny considering the majority of rose diseases are caused by fungi.

Ok. I know this is settled but I wanted to see if there were anymore symbolisms regarding the rose and found that the leaves of a rose represent hope. To take this further, you can say that Sookie is at least hopeful in book 10.

Two more little tidbits:

Two roses entwined so there is only one stem shows commitment or that you are joined. Traditionally, two red roses entwined in this way are used as an engagement or wedding gift.

Giving a rose bud shows young love or innocence whereas a rose in full bloom shows fully blossomed love.

I find that funny considering the majority of rose diseases are caused by fungi.

That is random...where did you find that?lol

The fact that the two entwined stems are showing but only one rose is an interesting take on it.

That is random...where did you find that?lol

Hahah. Yeah I looked up roses and found lots of gardening tips and read about some of the problems gardeners run into, which happens to be fungi very often. It's even stated on some of the sites. 

Any idea what type of rose is on the cover?

There are over 100 different species of roses but I would stick with what you found. It looks like the other tea roses google image pulls up.

Yes...I'm no rose expert. The double knock out rose looks similar too. Oh hell, CH probably doesn't even know!lol

I have a question, I post it here before I think it was one of Trish's posts. I'm looking for the one where you or some1 explained why instead knight in shinning armors we now pin after bloodsucking vamps. But I can't remember in which thread it was said. If anyone remembers, please point me in the right direction. Thanks!

Atleast to me: symbolically through their love, respect and a tacit understanding, they have grown on/into each other.

 Giving a rose bud shows young love or innocence whereas a rose in full bloom shows fully blossomed love.

Absolutely, to both of these thoughts put together. Given the events that took place in DAG they've been through a lot together. And Eric's somewhat emotional response ("You're killing me") proves that she isn't just sex, or business. They've definitely grown to know, respect, and love one another in completetly new, different, and deeper ways.

Ok. I know this is settled but I wanted to see if there were anymore symbolisms regarding the rose and found that the leaves of a rose represent hope. To take this further, you can say that Sookie is at least hopeful in book 10.

I'm with you here. The first chapter ended with Sookie looking forward to the future. 

Did you also notice a face in the background

I cant see it! haha is it a large face under the rose??

It's really hard to see because of the small scale of the picture.  It's in the background, behind and above the rose and E&S.  Faint, almost like it's made out of mist.  It is really hard to see.

I can see it, it's more the bottom half of a face with a big grin and lots of pointed teeth. Perhaps it's the wicked fairy. One of the fae who captured and tortured Sookie were described as having a mouthful of the longest, sharpest teeth Sookie had ever seen (quite something given that she has been in regular contact with Were's, werepanthers, a weretiger, and a range of vampires), some of the teeth were capped in silver (which poisoned Bill).

I never noticed the face either. My thoughts.... The face is the real story. The rose is what we notice because it is where all of the detail is and it is relatively easy to put some meaning to it, but the face.... THE FACE is something else, maybe the real story, the person in the background pulling all the strings? So who is the face?

I am not sure that I agree that the face could or would be the Fae, but it is a great point Geefull. I am guessing that the face is either FDC or Appius... Since FDC is the one that is causing all the trouble by trying to get Sookie away from Eric, my guess is that the face on the cover is him. Of course it could be Appius because him being around is going to cause problems in Sookie and Eric's relationship, but didn't the summation of the book say that Eric is taking some heat from his bosses because of his relationship with Sookie?

The face is the real story.

That is good!

I don't know if the face is supposed to be any particular character in the book, It's definitely there to give you a sense of foreboding. You have a picture of something beautiful in the center to focus on (the rose). You see the 2 figures and their gesture makes you see the yearning for each other in the way they reach. Then you have the background face, or possibly faces (a face within a face if you look at it long enough). The presence is huge and all around them. I see it like "the fates" are watching at laughing.

Not sure I agree... could be, and I am not saying that you are wrong, but if you look at the other book covers in the series that have been done in this style, there are clues to the overall story in the background.

• Dead until Dark - there is a house burning in a field (the one that Bill's friends lived in).
• Living Dead in Dallas - Dallas...
• Club Dead - outside a Night club with a wolf and an owl.
• Dead to the world - a cemetery (the one near Bill's house) with wolves in it
• Dead as a Doornail - a fire
• Definitely Dead - night sky green grass and vamp hot on sookie's tail (this one not so clear, but is when Sookie escaped riding Quinn after the ball)
• all together Dead - daylight clouds from an explosion
• From Dead to Worse - A storm is coming (takeover... vamps and weres)
• Dead and gone - Lots of little things.. Eric and Bill, the knife, the country side in the distance....

Point being.. All of these covers illustrate something in the books and as much as there is some symbolism, they correlate to something tangible in the story... So maybe it is the fates but it is a fate that is in the story and plays a part in the progression of the story... Make sense?

I'm so glad you went through the covers.  I had been looking at them on Wikipedia and saw the house on fire on the first one and was confused since I picture Sookie's house in the middle of a field like that and it didn't burn in the first book.  It was the vamp's house - duh - which (to excuse my not getting it) I picture in a more suburban setting.

Re: the Definitely Dead cover... I see the vamp on it as Bill, finally losing his hold on Sook.

Great catch...

I can see it, it's more the bottom half of a face with a big grin and lots of pointed teeth. Perhaps it's the wicked fairy.

Yes Fairy! I was actually thinking it might be the specter of the fairies who tortured her being the big underlying issue as to why Sookie & Eric can't get to one another. She is still haunted & it's keeping them apart..lingering in the background of their lives.

• Living Dead in Dallas - Dallas...

And the metaphor of Sookie flying on top of the coffin. She flies for the 1st time ever b'c of the job, Bill was asleep in her cofin & she almost gets carried away by the FOTS man..??

I think there is some symbolism to the covers too b'c I read CH said that Lisa D. only reads snippets of the book & then paints her interpretation. So I defo think she hones down on putting something literal in her work but also symbolic.

Also - I think that on CD, it's not actually meant to be Bill? I have to try & find the bit b'c I must have read something to think that.

• From Dead to Worse - A storm is coming (takeover... vamps and weres)

Never could get this one! makes sense. Now that you put it this way - do you think there is a cheeky reference to Sookei being 'floored' b'c in this book she finds out about Niall?

• Definitely Dead - night sky green grass and vamp hot on sookie's tail (this one not so clear, but is when Sookie escaped riding Quinn after the ball)

Both the vamp & Quinn are after her so maybe the fact that they both want her & are chasing/competing for her?  The whole book has little moments of the suitors all trying to up one another around her.

She is still haunted & it's keeping them apart..lingering in the background of their lives.

That's it! The face is like a haunting, so ghostly and creepy.

CMAC I agree with you about the cover art of each book. I also noticed the art brings to mind idioms, such as in "FDTW", you see an image of Sookie and Bill facing each other upside down. They are looking "eye to eye" and the feeling you get looking at the 2 of them is they seem "calm". You also see the storm in the background so you think about the "calm before the storm".

Then in DITF you see the rose covered in thorns and think "every rose has it's thorn".
Sookie loves idioms and finds humor when Eric misunderstands them.

If these were intentional, it's very clever of CH and the artist.

Anyone else find these in the other covers?

WOW! The idiom every rose has it's thorns is awesome! And Sookie does love idioms and the fact that Eric takes them literally... So the face, regardless, is maybe a the thorns of their rose?

Could be. I can't wait to read it now!

DD cover idiom.

Grab the tiger by the tail.

It means "take the chance", or "run the risk". Go for it!

Sookie took a chance with Quinn. 

I thought maybe it was Alcide on the cover with Sookie for Club Dead... although I never pictured him wearing that!

I thought it was Alcide on CD too.

I must have a closer look at the covers again.

Just had a quick skim-read through all your thoughts and couldn't see if anyone said this, so I thought I'd add it:

Given the fact that the rose is so large, are we sure it's between them?  What if they're reaching for each other and the rose is actually in the foreground of the picture, giving it the appearance of being so huge.

Maybe what the cover is telling us is that Sookie and Eric are finding their way to each other, but they'll always be stuck in the middle between true love/happiness (the rose) and true horror (the ghostly face/shadows/whatever it is) and their's will never be an easy road.

Anyone else find these in the other covers?

CD - Maybe the idiom is To Cry Wolf? Alcide is howling at the moon, toward Sook & Vamp & the owl. Or, It Takes Two to Tango?

DTTW - High as a Kite, Head Over Heels, Finding Your Feet

Do you think FDTW - could also be Level the Playing field? B'c it's in that book which Bill finally sees Sookie's true worth...??

I think the rose symbolizes their love - they still have issues to deal with and those issues stand between them which makes sense since CH confirmed they will not find resolution in this book. what I'm comforted by is that they are reaching for each other which is a huge development IMO. There are a few evil 3rd parties who are looming over them, possibly adding thorns to their love (FDC, Appius, vindictive fairies) and thus their journey in the book will not be a smooth one (when is it ever) but hopefully they will stand by each other.
One question on the rose - there are two stems but one flower... is that normal for roses? I am no expert but would assume you get a stem per flower and not 2 stems for 1 blossom... Would this mean that one's (Eric) love has blossomed and the other's (Sookie) is yet to flower? This could be far fetched...

Maybe what the cover is telling us is that Sookie and Eric are finding their way to each other, but they'll always be stuck in the middle between true love/happiness (the rose) and true horror (the ghostly face/shadows/whatever it is) and their's will never be an easy road.

OMG, I love this interpretation, Ellen! The face is defo behind them, in the background.  I'll have to go look at the cover more closely, but in all art perspective is key, so it's entirely possible.  I think it would define E&S's relationship really well.  Didn't CH say something like Sookie would find her HEA but it wouldn't necessarily be all roses?  I don't think she used the term "all roses", I just have roses on the brain now.

lmb1309  - All of those sound great!
In DAG, Notice Sookie's hair is covering the side of her face and her eye towards Eric. I think the idiom there is "turning a blind eye" to Eric.

Luvinleif that is GOOOOD... Laura Lu... all great ones...

Should we start a Sookieverse /  Sookie Stackhouse book cover Idiom thread? Maybe have what they mean and what Eric thinks that they mean..

New thread created to discuss book covers -Don't Judge A Book By Its Cover

Yes Fairy! I was actually thinking it might be the specter of the fairies who tortured her being the big underlying issue as to why Sookie & Eric can't get to one another. She is still haunted & it's keeping them apart..lingering in the background of their lives.

Love it! I'm on board with this. 

 thus their journey in the book will not be a smooth one (when is it ever) but hopefully they will stand by each other.

Oh yea, their relationship may not be perfect or smooth as you put it, but if their commitment to it (reaching for eachother) remains, that's what matters.

  In DAG, Notice Sookie's hair is covering the side of her face and her eye towards Eric. I think the idiom there is "turning a blind eye" to Eric.

Very good! Sookie has never wanted to see that fact that Eric actually cares. Maybe it's on the cover because that aspect of the story was finally acknowledged. Sookie confronted Eric about not saving her (thinking he doesn't care), thus making him assure her that he does.

I am excited about the new thread, can't believe this hasn't been done!

And kudos to everyone! You guys are on top of this one! I've found everyone's posts very insightful!

I posted in Q&A an article....she said we're gonna se a new creature in book 10.........

Publishers Weekly - Dead in the Family - Charlaine Harris. Ace, $25.95 (320p) ISBN 978-0-441-01864-2

Still reeling from the deaths of her fairy cousin, Claudine, and many others in 2009's Dead and Gone, Sookie Stackhouse struggles with paranormal politics in her entertaining if slow-moving 10th outing. When Claudine's triplet, Claude, appears at her doorstep, Sookie reluctantly allows him to move in. The government threatens two-natures with mandatory registration, and tensions run high in the local Were pack. Then Eric's maker, a Roman named Appius Livius Ocella, arrives without warning, bringing along Alexei Romanov, whom he rescued from the Bolsheviks and turned into a vampire. Though the action often builds too slowly, the exploration of family in its many human and undead variations is intriguing, and Harris delivers her usual mix of eccentric characters and engaging subplots. (May)

http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/452778-Fiction_Book_Reviews_3_15_2010.php

Hmmm - Pub Weekly was pretty on the money for me in regard to DAG  (called it 'disjointed', that CH tried to 'cram too much in' & that even die hard fans will complain about plot gaps).

So I am really wondering about this next outing. Although it sounds promising that it's exploring more emotional territory & is possibly less less frenetic & overstuffed.

if I am entertained, then usually I don't find what I am reading slow moving ...at least I don't think. I have to think about that.

I'm actually encouraged by this!  Family being so important to Sookie, I'm glad this book seems to be focusing on the inner workings of that.  If things move slowly, I get tempted to flip forward - it's like a compulsion I have to seriously resist.  But if I'm entertained, I really don't mind it, so yes, I'm feeling quite positive about this review.

I flip forward anyway. I can't help it. For me, it's a compulsion as soon as I pick up the book - I have to read all the Eric sections.

I also find this review encouraging. I don't mind the slow pace as long as it's entertaining. I figured this book would be slower and it needs to be. Hopefully, this way, there will be less side stories and more plot and character development.

This review seems better to me for mainly the reasons Laura mentioned.  They were right on the money with DAG.  I also liked that we have a name for Eric's brother and his origins now.  I wonder if Eric and he had any dealings before or if he is new to Eric?  I guess we will find out soon.

The fact that they say it is slow moving toward action is a relief for me.  I would love to have more dialog and less action. 

Hmm... In CD while Eric & Bill are tidying up after the Maenad, Eric mentions being in Saint Petersburg, I think; maybe he and his "brother" do already know each other.

I'm thinking that Claude living with Sookie might work out so that he would be available to help protect her during the day, as well as emotional support for each other?

my thing is with reviews popping up about the book before it comes out is a little weird and untrustworthy in my eyes how can you write a review on a book that hasn't come out yet? how do they know the action is slow? i mean do Harris and other author's publish the book and hand it out to a few reviewers and ask them to write a review? otherwise than from that thought it sounds intriguing and i can't wait to read it.

I don't trust reader reviews but Pub. Weekly is legit.

They usually get books months ahead of time. It's weird it posted this early but then again they had the Pub. Weekly review on DAG on Amazon and  B&N about a month or so ahead of time too.

If Pub Weekly is legit--as Laura says and I trust--I am pacified by this review. I'm encouraged for a couple reasons.

Namely, Eric is the only male suitor specifically mentioned--which leads me to believe his position in Sookie's life is significant (not that it's not already). The issues with the two-natured seem more general. However, for Sookie to be involved in the issue of Eric's family, it would have to be personal.

Also it seems the escapades with Bill and his poisoning--FDC and his politics, take a back seat. Thank god. I would assume they would have been mentioned if they added or impacted the reception of the book.

The only thing that struck me as really odd was Claude moving in. We know that we'll finally see Eric's house...might that be bc Sookie's house is no longer an option, due to the fairy? It would be too dangerous/risky for Eric or any other vampire to be around.

Oh, really good point!!  Eric and Claude are never going to be able to "hang out" so yes, I guess he and Sookie would have to go to Eric's in order to get any quality time!!  Or any time at all, actually... if Eric and Claude are in a room or even house together, all I can imagine Eric doing is drooling and going glassy eyed... and not over Sookie!

We know that we'll finally see Eric's house...might that be bc Sookie's house is no longer an option, due to the fairy?

Genuis! Makes so much sense!

I kinda like the idea of Claude moving in with Sookie.... He is a gruff son of a bitch and extremely vain, but is certainly sincere in who he is and is mostly honest with himself.... Plus I get the sense that his feelings may run a little deeper than the average Fae...

Oh and Claude might be spending a good deal of the night at his club... Of course he would leave his sweet smell behind, Which could be good or bad for Sookie, depending on Eric's self control... So yeah, makes sense that they would spend time at Eric's (until Appius and bro move in?)

Yea it will be interesting to see how they get around it. I hope that CH and her continuity police don't disregard such an obvious contradiction.

I don't mind a slow moving book, but I hope that all the questions remaining from DAG are answered!  That is what I have been waiting for the most.  They were so many open-ended plots that I won't be happy until all those issues are addressed.

Oops - wrong thread!

I am not sure how I feel about that review. It doesn't seem to highlight all of the same things the summeries did. I am not sure which one to trust more lol. I can't wait for May to come so I can read it for myself.

I still cant wait!!!! I love CH and the books

There is apparently a proof copy of DITF on ebay.co.uk

wait so there is a copy of the book on ebay that someone is trying to sell off before the book is actually released? hmm im not sure i should be excited about this or displeased..

I can not wait til May. From what I have read it is only 42 more days to get my hands on the book.

DAG, left me with a bad taste in my mouth, and I am hoping that DITF, will be much lighter. I want my questions resovled. I bet that won't happen until book 13.

wow that seems too long for me thank goodness there are a few other books coming inbetween then that i can read to keep my mind off of thinking about eric, sookie, bill, claude, sam etc

Just had a thought so I'm throwing it out there!  After reading that the half-elf will make an appearance in DITF - I think that was found in a CH interview from Italy, no? - could the haunting, scary face in the background of the cover picture be the half-elf?  I believe she said he was someone you would definitely not want to meet.  I believe that Caroline suggested that that face in the background may be the real story, so I thought if it is the half-elf he could be the threat in this book.

Also, just occurred to me that if the theme is family and how they work and interconnect perhaps Appius would view Sookie as part of his family, as she "belongs" to Eric, and would step in to protect her as such?  Would be a different spin on Appius - I don't know about anyone else, but I've been dreading his appearance - and I don't think it would be a totally altruistic, generous act on his part.  Just that you don't mess with what he considers his.

the half-elf i think was in an interview in Europe, she is here speaking about book 10 and others books to....well, as we know from the synopsis a angry fairy, a far relative, wants to may put his hands on Sookie...who know who is he?Hope book 10 is a good one, i'm sure it will be^^

For those of you who can't wait. There are people on ebay selling the book. They have a publisher's copy of it.

Do you have a link? Most of these say "pre-order"

Isn't that illegal? I mean the book isn't due out until may a whole month from now and these people that got a hold of the book earlier to make reviews are selling it on ebay?

It looks like it's just a couple of copies anyway. The bids are starting to get pretty high. I'm not willing to pay over $76 for a copy. I can read other books and ff while I wait.

Dude, I just wouldn't do that. That's serious fanage to pay that much.

It looks like they have it on the UK Ebay site for £0.99 & the auction ended & it didn't sell! 0 bids!

I would think the person selling would be damn well sure to check but people can be really stupid when they think they can make a buck.

I have a ebay store- I'm one of the ones doing the preorder- that part isn't illegal.

I'm not sure about the ones that have the early copy. At the very least I know that's frowned upon.

It seemed like a bit much to me to pay.

Jeram was that you with the auction that already ended? Or am I getting the 2 confused?

So there are those that are selling uncut version to send out now & then those that are selling for pre-order?  Pre-order being that the bidder will get it on the offical release date?

LOL No that wasn't me. LOL

(incase you're wondering mine is http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270556018184&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT )

There are people doing both. I'm preordering several copies to my house to sell at a later time and I'm also setting up preorders for people that would like release date delivery.

I am not selling a publisher's copy.

Keep in mind I'm not making a big profit off it. I started it at 13.00, which if it goes for that I'm making maybe fifty cents.

Ahhhh - OK now I see. yes big diff. between what you are offering & those with the uncut pub. copy now.

It looks like there are 2 of these on ebay. Whoever these people got them from, they probably won't be getting future copies after this. At least it wasn't a really early leak like what happened with Stephenie Meyer's Midnight Sun. Is it just me or did anyone else enjoy the few pages of that better than the original Twilight? Because of the leak, the readers suffer since Mrs. Meyer decided not to continue the project.
http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=charlaine+harris+arc&_sacat=0&_odkw=charlaine+harris+advance+reader+copy&_osacat=0&_trksid=p3286.c0.m270.l1313

Midnight Sun was already infinitely better fo' sho', I was loving it.

I almost had a heart attack that it was cut off right at the Meadow scene. I thought it was such a big publicity ploy.

I also thought it was waaaaaay lame for Meyer to punish millions of loyal readers who helped to make her dreams come true - b'c of one asshole who she thought she could trust. I wonder - one one of her kids acts up does she spank all of them? I thought her reaction was too far considering you KNOW everyone was still going to buy that! And the whole - you know, being grateful aspect. With the good comes the not so good, fact of life. Deal with it.  Sorry...ranty. I digress.

Getting back to DITF - Here's the UK uncut:

Forget it  I realize I shouldn't do that. Aiding & abetting a felon probably.

no i agree. the people pulling the unpublished copies- if those are TRUE copies- i'm not really okay with that.

yeah I actually liked midnight sun a lot- i didn't read the twilight books until new moon was out, but i am kind of p.o.ed at the jerk that screwed the pooch for the rest of us.

I'm doing the same preorder stuff for the 2nd season of tb on blu ray and dvd.

imb- TOTALLY agree

I loved Midnight Sun. I wish she would publish it.

I know it's wrong for people to be selling the advance copy they got, but is it wrong that I'm wishing someone buys one and shares it online? I'm a bad bad girl...

Midnight Sun was much better then Twilight actually. I hate that she hasn't even said she would finish it. I think her posting it was cruel because it left me wanting the rest you know. I wish DITF was more then 300 odd pages. I think CH does a good job keeping things short but I could use a bit more fluff lol.

I just read an interview with CH where she says that DITF has a very big ending, almost Shakespearean ending - and she hopes it isn't too over the top.

Now I am not only speculating the answers to the questions left from DAG, but I am anticipating the end of DITF.  The suspense is getting to me.  However, not enough to order an illegal copy.  I will just hold my breath until May 4th.  I pre-ordered from amazon, but now I am considering going to the bookstore on the 4th because I don't know when amazon will ship the book!

I just read an interview with CH where she says that DITF has a very big ending, almost Shakespearean ending - and she hopes it isn't too over the top.

I'm not sure what to think about that. Kinda worries me. She hasn't done OTT at this point and if she is hoping that her ending isn't too OTT, then that means it has the potential to be. Shakespearean, eh? Does that mean this ends in tragedy? Hmm...

Where is this interview?

DITF is being released in a little over a month from now. I don't see a point in paying extra bucks just to get it earlier. DAG didn't leave me begging for more, so I think I'll wait.

ott?

amazon is actually who i work through. about a week or so before it's due to ship out cancel and reorder it selecting 2nd day/release day shipping. if you have a prime account it will be free. if you don't, i don't know.

for you kindle readers out there, if you pre order it will automatically download. (isn't that awesome?!)

OTT = Over The Top

A big ending? I don't like the sounds of that. Where is that interview posted? I'd love to read it. I really want more fluff in DITF. That would be a great change from DAG.

i have a lot of hopes for ditf- different theories, but we'll see what happens in about 5/6 weeks. i'm so excited!! my poor hubby is going to be a sookie stackhouse widower for a while!

I know it's wrong for people to be selling the advance copy they got, but is it wrong that I'm wishing someone buys one and shares it online?

I'm right with you there VampAngel, I was hoping someone was thinking like me! As for the 'Shakespearean' ending the warning bells are ringing. Huge OMG ending I'm thinking and I wouldn't be surprised if it has something to do with Eric and then a year to wait again. I wouldn't mind that if there's more than 300 pages.

I just read an interview with CH where she says that DITF has a very big ending, almost Shakespearean ending - and she hopes it isn't too over the top.

Well maybe she'll redeem herself for selling out & not killing Bill this time. NOT that I want Bill dead. I could care less - it just would have made a much, much better book.

She hasn't done OTT at this point and if she is hoping that her ending isn't too OTT,

Girl. Seriously. Give me some of what you're smoking. Let's do a summary of how over the top Sookie's life has been.  It's been full of tragedy, murder, mishaps, battery, attempted murders, sexual manipulations, emotional manipulations, rape (or would you call it date rape), molestation (a step away from incest), telepathy, being considered crazy her entire life,  etc., etc....

When I sit back & look at what that character has gone through, practically since the day she was born - my head hurts. Then you add the craziness that was DAG - Fairies, obsessive murderous homosexual love, Nevada, torture, people dying for you or on your behalf, mutilated family members....the list goes on.

I can only imagine what this might mean. Good lordy. I hope it's good.

May i ask if it's possible to read this interview?i really would like.....

especially today that it's Aprile 1st you know.......

I found it on the CH website.  It was a transcript from the Last Bite Podcast interview with her.  It had a bunch of other stuff like, Alcide does something really devious in DITF.  This is where you can read it:

interview

I hope I did it right. I am not sure if it is allowed to give the website, If it is not, I apologize.

Laura, I agree, she has been through so much, my head hurts just reading it!

Well maybe she'll redeem herself for selling out & not killing Bill this time. NOT that I want Bill dead. I could care less - it just would have made a much, much better book.

Don't think it's gonna happen.

Girl. Seriously. Give me some of what you're smoking.

LOL!! You're summary is a pretty good list of OTT. DAG, period, was OTT. But in terms of endings - how she has chosen to end the books - nothing has really been too "Did she really just go there?" (besides DAG). That's what I'm referring to.

But in terms of endings - how she has chosen to end the books - nothing has really been too "Did she really just go there?" (besides DAG). That's what I'm referring to.

OK, I believe you. You did not inhale.

LOL!!!

I hope I did it right. I am not sure if it is allowed to give the website, If it is not, I apologize.

Yes it's fine Ronni. The only  thing that we're not to put on the site is copy written material. So actual full pages of text.

You know, I wish she hadn't said anything about the ending because - not that I don't do this anyway, very single time - but it's going to be inevitable now. As soon as I get the book, I'm going to flip to the end.

I always try to convince myself not to read all the Eric scenes and spoil the ending. It's a feeble attempt and completely useless. I'm not even going to try this time 'cause I would only be lying to myself. Nor will I attempt to read chapter 1 beforehand, like I do every time before the skimming begins. I'm just going to flip to the end.

Q: If you were Sookie, what would you consider?
CH: I would consider whether the good part of being Eric’s girlfriend was worth the bad part of being Eric’s girlfriend. I would consider what the future was likely to hold if I stayed that close to him.

Why do I have such a BAD BAD feeling about this statement? *sobs*

Q: If you were Sookie, what would you consider?
CH: I would consider whether the good part of being Eric’s girlfriend was worth the bad part of being Eric’s girlfriend. I would consider what the future was likely to hold if I stayed that close to him.

That's logical. Is it bad that when I consider it, I'd be all aboard that gravy train? Think about it this way - most of us have considered all that he does & continues to do.

We all have given heavy consideration to what her life is like & what it would be like without him in her life in close capacity right?

IMO - the worst part is the political aspect. Esp. b'c most of the supe world know what he feels for her. Lets face it - there will always be manipulations & politics in any of the various supe worlds. We've seen that. For me - at least Eric has work damned hard to be in a position of independence (we'll see what happens w/Appius but. as of now, he has). He also knows that what she wants the most for herself.

So - I would stick with him. Unless he cheated. Then I wouldn't.

I agree 100% Laura, but I still have this sinking feeling that CH is gonna f*ck them up in a big big way. I hope to all that is holy and to all the Viking gods that I'm wrong. I guess we'll have to wait and see, but it's killing me. Argh.

I feel so dejected right now...

I agree with Laura. Being Eric's girlfriend means "a lot" of things. Many good and many bad. It offers Sookie protection w/ Eric's vampires while she also becomes a major target, not that she hasn't been. It's most logical to consider these things and not a bad thing.
Also, Shakespearean doesn't always mean "tragedy". A lot of his plays were also comedy mixed w/ a little tragedy. The real question is, which Shakespearean play would most likely be the inspiration?

Hamlet? I have no idea.

But I'm thinking, what if Eric has to kill Appius to protect Sookie? That would be fairly dramatic and awesome, imo.

Well let's see (thanks to Wiki Cliffs Notes):

Titus: Known as the most savage of his plays. A revenge play. Has rape & cannibalism.

Othello - about a general, his lover & his 2nd in command. About jealousy, Love, Betrayal racism, manipulation, power.

Macbeth - actually I can kind of see it being about this b'c this work focuses on Macbeth's ambition & it's usually interpreted that his his most dominate trait. Sound familiar? "Macbeth has not a predisposition to murder; he has merely an inordinate ambition that makes murder itself seem to be a lesser evil than failure to achieve the crown."

Hamlet - "Hero as Fool" theme (makes me think of Bill actually). One of the most used outlines used for ST's.

King Lear - OK guys, this could be it. DITF is about family. King Lear is about an elder who wants to retire & divide his realm among his 3 daughters. The largest one to the one who loves him most.

Cymbeline - a romantic tragedy. All about manipulation, innocence, & jealousy & at the end of the play every person comes forward to add  a piece to the puzzle. I have not studied this one.


The History of Troilus & Cressida - this one is diff. b'c the hero doesn't die! Uh-oh. Switches from bawdy comedy to tragic gloom throughout. Joyce Carol Oates calls it "modern". It ends with the death of a a noble character & the destruction of the love between the 2 MC's.

Essentially, two plots are followed in this play. In one, Troilus , a Trojan  prince (son of Priam , woos Cressida , another Trojan. They have sex, professing their undying love, before Cressida is exchanged for a Trojan prisoner of war. As he attempts to visit her in the Greek camp, Troilus glimpses Diomedes  flirting with his beloved Cressida, and decides to avenge her deceitfulness.

Julius Ceasar - about conflicting demands of honor, loyalty, & friendship. It was written about the anxiety England felt over succession of leadership.

Frankly  it could be any of these!

I don't think it could be Romeo & Juliet unless Bill were to die. Not Antony & Cleopatra b'c Cleo commits suicide.

And I don't think it's The Life of Timon of Athens b'c it's supposed to be a very obscure & complicated work.

Have you guys seen this: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7091488-dead-in-the-family

Jen (silentjen) rated it:

Read in March, 2010

This review is for an ARC.

I would say that Charlaine wasn't joking when she said the title for this book was very apt. It is all about family. Blood families and packs alike. I liked how each corner of the Sookieverse gets a look in, and something about that family is developed - the humans, the fairies, the weres and the vampire families all get story time.

The character of Eric is filled in wonderfully in this book, and his fans will be delighted with how he, his history, and his family are written. I won't say more and ruin anything, but I thought it was fun that we finally got to find out a little about where the great man rests his head.

Bill, Sam and Alcide all get appropriate chunks of the story, and the virtues and vices of each become clearer to Sookie. I feel like I can now see a glimmer of who she will end up with when all is said and done.

Speaking of Sookie herself, she is a much darker character in Dead in the Family. She has suffered a lot, and struggles on a daily basis to keep that suffering in check. She has more moxie than before (if that was possible) and seems to be developing a new catchphrase... 'geez Louise'. I'm not sure I like that, but it sure is a Sookie-phrase! She speaks her mind more, and is inevitably more wary.

At 295 pages, the book is about the right length, and it is split into 3 definite parts. The start deals with Sookie's recovery from the events at the end of Dead and Gone, the middle delves into the family theme in detail, and the ending is very Shakespearian.

At times I felt like the story was meandering, and lacked the clear focus of other Sookie books; the mystery in this one is smaller, and less pressing. However I feel that in order to continue the series, this book is absolutely pivotal to collect up all the many threads which have been written, tie a few together, and leave us ready for the next installment - which must surely focus on the legal implications of the werecommunity's revelation.

I'd give this 4.5 stars if possible, as I really really enjoyed it, but I felt the necessary meandering stole a little of the urgency away from the story.

Personally I am getting to the point now where I feel that if Eric is not the clear and obvious choice at the end of this book I'm just going to stop bothering.  I feel the strong desire to slap Sookie as it is, and maybe CH will turn Sam completely around, but it would have to be an amazing u-turn to make me go "Wow! Yes! Sure! Sam's the guy you should throw yourself at and have puppies with!"

I totally agree Elby, but I'm pretty sure Sam in the HEA, much to my annoyance.

At this point, I'm just hoping for ONE good book with a nice relationship between Eric and Sookie before CH breaks them up. That has to be book 10, if it's not and she screws them over here I'm done. I've had enough.

If she breaks E&S up she'll suddenly see her pre-sales for bk11 plummet.  But since she's sold as many as she has I'm pretty sure she doesn't care now.

I wont read any more books if she does

Reading that review I've come to the conclusion that I'm at least as interested in how Eric's story progresses as I am in Sookie's, ( and I can sympathise with those who are irritated with Sookie's attitudes and the poor choices she makes - poor choices which have cost not just herself but others such a lot). I know she's written as doing these thing to fit in with the drama of the story...but...'geez Louise!

Plus Eric's been so well and so engagingly built up as a character throughout the series so far.

That was good Gee. Very clever.

I know that reviewer says she doesn't really like like Geez Louise but I do!  I say it all the time! I like it better than Oh My Stars. But then  I guess I would, I suppose.

I checked out her other reviews she gave the 1st 3 Sookie books only 3 out of 5 stars ( I give them 5). I have to say they rocked the house for me so I am really curious if I end up being aligned with her in the end.

I have a friend that says "Oh Father" instead of Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus H Christ (my personal favorite) or God Damn it (another favorite)... And Oh father is annoying / a little weird, but I love her so all is forgiven... I don't mind the geez Louise to much either, though curses are still my stand by....

I will hold out on an opinion of the reviewer... I was less a fan of Dead after Dark when I got to the goods (club dead & Dead to the world being all time favorites and living dead in dallas being up there), so she has one out of three that I am with her on... if she is right on with this review that would only bring her up to 50/50 which still ain't great odds...

Thankfully, after D&G being a bit of a disappointment (all over the map with the feeling that nothing was really accomplished except some wrap up of the Fae story line) I am not about to wet my pants waiting to read this one and will not go in with HUGE expectations... I will buy it the day that it comes on and spend two days tearing and re-tearing through it, but I might not scout the web for spoilers (probably, but with more sanity)... And will try like hell to enjoy it for whatever it is....

I also saw that ARC review. In the comments to her review, she also said that she was disappointed with the ending. I have a hard time understanding why CH would spend more time fleshing out Eric in a positive way only to dump him later.

I think CH is meandering around because she's run out of ideas for the series. Now maybe she is just tying up loose ends to try to bring the series to an end, but she seems lost and in search of a plot. I think it was a big mistake for her to sign on for those extra books.

Frankly, unless Sookie goes into the witness protection program, I don't see how it would be wise for her to distance herself from Eric, since there will always be vamps that will try to seize and control her for her telepathy.

Frankly, unless Sookie goes into the witness protection program, I don't see how it would be wise for her to distance herself from Eric, since there will always be vamps that will try to seize her and for her telepathy. 

That's how I see it as well. Even with Sam, Sookie wouldn't be living a safe, quiet life in Bon Temps. She is still a target whether she is with Eric or not.

And if the series ends with Sookie in witness protection, I'm holding a bonfire. That's a cop-out.

She is still a target whether she is with Eric or not.
Witness protection doesn't sound like a happy ending to me. 

She may be a target when she is with Eric, but he is better positioned to keep her safe, especially if he becomes king. But even as sheriff, he can protect her better than Sam could.

And I guess the gist of this is that leaving Eric wouldn't change her status as target, so why leave.

Why if she said that Erc's fans will love this book, the end should be so bad?i mean for me even the end of book 9 was not bad, couse of course Niall was talking about Eric, it was logical considering the past between Niall and Eric...in Harris's books be logical it's what makes you not get in panic attack i guess....

Maybe she will broke their bond, as i've read she wanted to do maybe, and it's not a bad thing 'couse then they will finally know how real their feelings was even before...

Yeah, maybe she will have a liason with Sam, stay away from Eric fo a while will be good for both of them.....

But, seriously, if Sam is supposed to be her man, and book 10 supposed to be the end, what we had about Sam in the others 9 books?about what...20 pages in 9 books?you cannot decides that he is her choice and not want to talk about him, becouse if you think Sookie and Sam are meant to each other and you are a writer who loves your characters you defenitly want to talk about them....and i'm sorry, but despite how much i care for Sam i have no feeling for him, becouse there are no feelings in the books when I read about him....

So yes, in the very end, after all the dramas that we will have (of course we will...), i think Sookie and Eric will find a way to stay together....i'm not  a poor otpimistic girl, it's just what the books said and where the books are going...

I am holding out hope that whatever CH has decided about the ending a long time ago, her characters as she wrote them have a natural storyline by now. That storyline makes Sookie/ Eric the most heartfelt pairing, and I hope CH sees it herself as she approaches the finish line,even if she does not now. In the end, though, CH will choose what SHE would want for Sookie. For me- as many people have already said here- the books have become just as much about Eric's journey as about Sookie's, which is quite remarkable considering that Sookie is the narrator. Together or not, I just want Eric to be happy, LOL!- but together would be much better!.  Looking at many CH's comments, at her ambiguity towards Eric and her acknowledgement that he is so fun to write, I think he might be a character which - in a way- grew out of his Makers ( CH's) control and became bigger than originally planned. If that's the case, I hope she sees it in time and writes the HEA ending for the characters the way they are now, and not based on some artificial idea which has not been fleshed out in 9 books.

Reading many others famous couples as Anita and Jc by Hamilton i feel that everybody here and everywhere are scared becouse of 3 more books E/S will break up.....well that doesn't happen always and we should remember that E/S started to be a couple just in book 9...and book 10 will be maybe a book wich will tell us how they are fixing all the bond thing and the fact that they are married....I see in a future both of them want to break the bond...and so hope they will do it, becouse both Eric and Sookie are not themself 100%, he loves her or at least he remember that he loved her and now loves her but i guess Eric wants to be free to love in his way.....Sookie loves him, she always did, she tried so hard to forget him...but she needs to know that what she feels is 100% real...she is a woman, and a woman with a doubt is always a drama!!!

So not in this book, but maybe 11 or 12 they will broke the bond.....and come back S/E as they wanted to be, not knowing what the other part feels everytime, fighting hard....have their special moments.....

btw breaking the bond is not breaking the marriage, they cannot do it....

So may hope and what i think is that they will find a way to fix everything....and CH hates happy ending so the very end would probably be just a normal book as the others....not soul revelation.....E/S will probably stay away for a little, at least they were apart fo many books, when she stayed with Quinn most of all...and now here we are with them together, finally.....

CH knows how Eric is, his good side and bad side....she warns Sookies as a mom.....but she knows they love each others....she's just playing her cards with intelligence.

Novella, I love it... My biggest issues have not been the fact that Sookie might not end up with Eric... Another series that I love has the main character with someone other than the suitor that I have fallen for hook line and sinker... It is a minor disappointment, but the books are so strong that it becomes almost irrelevant.

The issues for me have become that I am afraid that I will no longer recognize the characters because the changes that they seem to have made are not organic (don't seem to be part of a character progression).

And as far as Eric is concerned, I completely agree. He has taken on a life of his own... Karen Marie Moning's character, Barrons, is a lot like that too. KMM has said that he is more than she thought he would be, but instead of questioning it or throwing him under the bus with veiled comments, she revels in what he has become and relishes in the unexpected complexity of her character... CH could take a few notes... 

Regarding the earlier comment from CH about Sookie deciding on her HEA based on her longterm goals. What the hell are Sookie's longterm goals? As far as I can tell she wants to be a barmaid and have lots of kids. If that's the case then she'll pick Sam. Of course one of her goals ought to be not becoming controlled by some evil vamp who wants to use her telepathy. Another one of her goals should be to live to beyond age 30.

The issues for me have become that I am afraid that I will no longer recognize the characters because the changes that they seem to have made are not organic (don't seem to be part of a character progression).

Yeah, that's it exactly!  I want the characters to act in a way that I can recognize and respond to.  If they all of a sudden behave in a way that has not been set up, or things happen that are so way out there as to be unbelievable, then it will kill the emotional connection I have to the characters and the books.

I think at this point, Eric is just as important to me as Sookie - no big surprise there! LOL  If for whatever reason they don't end up together, as long as she works it out well and it makes sense, then, I agree, so be it.  However, I think the moment that happens Sookie will - should if she's abiding by the rules she's set out in her stories thus far - be snapped up by FDC or some other vamp.  Why wouldn't she be?  And at this point, she has done so many stupid, reckless, self-endangering things I'd just have to throw my hands up.  I'd just like to see something good for Eric 'cause he's done everything he can for her, and been as up front a good guy as a vamp can be IMO!!

Is it just me, or does anyone else wonder what   the next installment - which must surely focus on the legal implications of the werecommunity's revelation. means?  It could just mean the revelation that there is a shapeshifter/were community out there, but I'm thinking after the comment that Alcide does something very shifty, perhaps his pack reveals something, like about Debbie Pelt, and there are legal implications of that?!  Maybe I'm just paranoid?

Is it just me, or does anyone else wonder what   the next installment - which must surely focus on the legal implications of the werecommunity's revelation. means?

I think that part is referring to the government proposing a law that requires Were/shifters to register in the state they live in as a way of identification.

Any revelations about Debbie will be handled by the Weres, I would think. When she went missing, it wasn't law enforcement that came sniffing around, it was the local pack. The supernatural creatures have never been friends of the law (especially right now), I doubt - even out of bitterness - that Alcide would call the police. He would act personally.

Any revelations about Debbie will be handled by the Weres

I've wondered if the FBI will use Debbie's death to get Sookie under their thumb.

CMac, I have not read KMM, but I completely agree with you! One moooonth, one moooonth.... I like everything I hear about DITF so far. The trouble is, after May 4th there is still 3 years to wait till the resolution, LOL:) Wishing us all patience!

I've wondered if the FBI will use Debbie's death to get Sookie under their thumb.

They could. That could be a possible storyline later.

Oh no, please, no more Debbie Pelt... so bored of that now!

Its the storyline that just won't DIE!

I agree.  I think I'm more sick of Debbie Pelt than Sookie is.  LOL  However, she's mentioned almost every book and I'm sure she's going to do something with her.  Although if it was something with the FBI then she could have used any of the other corpses that have been piling up.  So, maybe Debbie is used with one of the pack storylines.  It would be a way to give Sookie a storyline that would involve Eric too since he was there and hid the body.  If he left it somewhere obvious, then that might make her mad and cause them to fight (and later make-up).

I think that "obvious place" in this case is not related to Eric or Sookie, nor even Debbie or pack business. I think it's got more to do simply with what do you do with a body? You hide it in the best place posible, somewhere nobody would look for it or some place nobody would be surprised by finding a body. Considering they have a cementery close by, it would be my first choice.

Considering they have a cementery close by, it would be my first choice.

LOL.  That was my first thought on the "obvious" place.  Then I wondered if I was being too obvious.  Maybe I'm over thinking it.  Like most things.  

I felt the random need to find the meaning of the name Sookie.  Here's what I found out:  Sookie is the English form of Susan, which is from the Hebrew Soshana and means a lily or a ROSE.  So . . that made the cover a little more interesting to me.  I think I could read so much into the cover now since the rose is between Sookie and Eric.  

I don't think that's the meaning in the cover. The covers often have broad meaning, but it's really only the fans who put more elaborate meaning into them.

I am also sick to death of the Debbie Pelt storyline. Debbie, had problems, yes, Debbie died at Sookies hands, yes, Eric hide her. Her family hunted Sookie, yes, They got there answers, yes. After her parnets death's Debbies sister, hunted Sookie, yes. Just let it die already.

CH has not given us Bill's maker every book, why Debbie? I am going to try to skip that part of DITF.

29 more days people, I can't wait.

Another arc summary.
http://books.blogs.starnewsonline.com/11716/dead-in-the-family/
"In the meantime, she’s trying to patch things up with her vampire boss and on-again, off-again boos, Eric Northman (a 1,000-year-old ex-Viking and still a big blond hunk), whose relations with Sookie have put him under suspicion of the new vampire king of Louisiana. (That’s WAY too complicated to explain.)"
Too complicated to explain???

Eric Northman (a 1,000-year-old ex-Viking and still a big blond hunk)

Is this their way of saying he has remained unaffected by aging?

Too complicated to explain???

General laziness?

Well, I guess that "scrutiny" will be coming from FDC then, not Appius...?

whose relations with Sookie have put him under suspicion of the new vampire king of Louisiana. (That’s WAY too complicated to explain.)

Well, I guess that "scrutiny" will be coming from FDC then, not Appius...? 

Unless they mean Appius is the new king of Louisiana because he killed FDC. I'm just kidding, totally kidding.

Something I'm confused about is how the review that mentions Appius as a vampire king says that he is the "newly named" vampire king.  Does that strike anyone as odd?  So far, we've seen vampire's become king/queen through takeovers/wars - not being named.

For me it wasn't so much the wording of the sentence but just that Appius is a new king. I said something similar in another post, but I would think with his age he'd already be king if that was his goal. Did something change in his life that made him want the title? And I'm wondering if he is a king of one of the countries in Europe.

I think the review used poor wording. I suspect the problems with Appius are separate from Eric's problem with the newly named king--FDC. It was just an awkward run-on sentence that seemed to conflate the two ideas. Other reviews have made it more obvious it was FDC they were referring to as king.

I am new, so I apologize if this is in the wrong thread.  But could it be possible that Eric called in a favor from Appius to take care of his problem with Victor and FdC?

Some reviews that have been released state that Appius arrives without Eric's knowledge or invitation. Appius may end up helping him, but I don't think that's the reason for his visit at first.

Thanks Ashmarie

I don't see a face at all. What I see is another rose, but misty and foggy.

this appius visit sounds an awful lot like the Niall visit...powerful realtives arriving on the scene, pledging thier help and causing havoc.

sorry sp error: ..."their" help...

Could you delete and re-post in the spoilers thread?

Of course. Sorry.

It's cool. I know there are some people that don't want to be spoiled (Ahem, Laura) and I'm at that point now since the book is very close to release.

I can't control myself with spoilers. Even when I get the book, I ALWAYS hit the last couple of pages. It's weird that I don't do that with ebooks and audiobooks however.

I mean I always read the last few pages first before really diving into the book. I know..it's a problem of mine. My husband gives me a hard time about it.

Oh, I do too. But I can manage to live in denial if I can convince myself they aren't there. Like right now, I can avoid going to the spoilers thread because I don't really have to.

But as soon as I physically get the book, I always try to psyche myself out. I convince myself that I can actually read the book like a normal person. Then, after chapter one or not even really into chapter one, I read all the Eric scenes and skim the last chapter.

It's a compulsion when it's right in front of me. I go all Bill Compton.

I also manage to not do that with ebooks. I wonder what that's about...

Haha. How funny. Now I can tell me husband I am definitely not the only one! He didn't know anyone else who does that.

When I get the physical book I'm able to read it without looking at the end. When the book gets boring I usually skim ahead until I see Eric's name (or it its another book whatever character I love) and then I estimate how many more pages I have to read to get to that scene and it motivates me.

But I'm like Judy when it comes to spoilers, I can't help myself. I get all excited when I hear something new. So far, I haven't felt guilty about reading any of the spoilers...yet.

Those of you who skip ahead and read the end first, etc., are so brave! I am so cowardly, and so petrified now for/of the fates of the SVM characters, that I am working myself into a phobia about reading DITF. I will be so nervous that it is going to go all wrong, I'll probably have to come here and hope you guys calrify my thinking. I am going to get it all wrong out of carelessness/fear. How silly is that?

Before I knew that CH said that Eric would survive the series, I would skip to the end to make sure he was still undead.

I am going to get it all wrong out of carelessness/fear. How silly is that?

It happens. Completely understandable. That's why I need to do multiple re-reads and discuss things.

I am going to get it all wrong out of carelessness/fear. How silly is that?

Not to worry. Really, the best part about these series is how open things are to discussion. There is only one GOD in the SVM universe and she's not telling, so we like to speculate things. Sometimes I wonder if she lurks here. She's got her own discussion forum, but there have been way more interesting discussions here. Ever wonder if she has a list of ideas and says "ah-ha!" and possibly marks them off as being too obvious?

So...conspiracy theory number gazzilion

Doing my re-read AGAIN....DD.  I forgot that Mr. C is the one who suggested to the Queen that Quinn could be helpful to her.  Then Quinn says that his partners at EEE were glad to give him extra time to perform any duties she might like.

So . . . what if the Queen was surrounded.  Mr. C and Quinn were both in on it with whomever the "partners" are in EEE. Mr. C knew about her relation with the Fae.

Yep. There are already some conspiracy theories floating around about Quinn and Mr. C. Check out the Quinn thread.

But what if the "partners" are FDC and the other Nevada vamps?

E(E)E is partially vampire owned, so we have speculated that his partners could be Victor/FDC.

I'll have to check out the Quinn thread.  Thanks!

yeah i thought of that a while back and i think i may remember reading some about it, but why wait, they couldnt have planned the bombing in Rhodes and SA was already weak from Katrina, why not take over before the summit? And why would Sookie be needed at all, at that time? Ok I dont think this goes here..........I will find the right thread

Here is the thread. I thought I'd make it easy since there are 171 of them. Quinn thread

LOL Thanks

Actually, Brina - put your post in the ATD thread.

thanks ash..... you are the woman!

Thanks for the responses.

Does anyone know what the plan is for next week (NEXT WEEK!) - do we wait a certain time to post, or is a haitus going to be called until everyone is finished reading? Like, we can't discuss it chapter by chapter or anything - in real time - right?

What about those who have to wait longer for the book release  (UK) ?

No, Laura will put up a thread close to release day. You can start posting your thoughts on DITF as soon as you finish reading.

I doubt we'll go chapter by chapter because I'm sure there is going to be something that occurs in DITF that takes precedence over issues in previous chapters. Really, you can just discuss what you want when you want.

Anyone who hasn't read can either avoid that thread (spoilers! obviously) or wait to read/discuss once they have read it.

Hey ladies - so what we'll do is have one general Book 10 thread (like we did for all the others) the day the book comes out.

As Ash said - as soon as the book comes out you can start posting your thoughts as you read and when you are done, in that thread.

It will NOT be a speculative thread so anyone who enters will read at their own risk.

I am also in the UK lala but I am confident we'll at least be able to get an ebook from another site. Just b'c it won't be a Peguin on Amazon doesn't mean other ebook sites won't have it.

Like here for example:

http://www.diesel-ebooks.com/cgi-bin/item/parent-9780441018642/Dead-in-the-Family-eBook.html

I ordered my copy here in Italy on line, seems that before May 4th it will be in my hands!!!!i'm so excited!!!!!!

Really?! Do you know how much before?

ok, terrific! So then no restrictions to posting. Thank you so much. Looking forward to sharing with all of you.

I remember when i ordered book 9 i had the copy 3 or 4 days before...i do not know why, but i guess i could have it a couple of day before or  May 4th at least!!!!!

You can also get the eBook from B&N. I think that Diesel ebooks charges too much. They charge full retail and the B&N eBook will cost half that. Unless B&N can't doesn't sell to your country, so then the extra price at Diesel won't matter.

WTF charges $25 for an ebook? That's more than the cost of the audiobooks. There is no reason to charge so much for a file that is less than 1MB. That really chaps my hide!

Diesel books also use DRM and you have to use the Mobipocket Reader which you can download from there. But frankly, I'd rather pay less for the book.

I just realized that it's only a week away!!!!!  I can't believe it, I've been waiting and waiting and it's practically around the corner... I hope I don't spontaneously combust before next tuesday!!!

It is only one week and I'm going nuts.

I went into my local bookstore a couple of weeks ago and asked about prepaying so I could have a book put aside for me the day it comes out.  The woman just looked at me blankly.  I explained that I had no idea about the popularity in this neighbourhood, or how many books they were getting, but I wasn't taking the chance of coming in on May 4th and them all being gone.  She clearly thought I was nuts, but was humouring me.  She looked it up on the computer and told me that it was coming out in August!  No, I countered, that's the next short story, DITF is coming out May 4th - I felt like I was in a bad sketch show or something.  She finally rang it through for me.

I swear to God that if it isn't there on May 4th, I'll go postal!!!!  LOL

I know, it's like every conceivable nightmare scenario until May 4 with book safely in hands. With my luck, I'll spill my coffee on it.:)

I can hardly breathe Its sooo Close!

I had this crazy thought last night when I was trying to fall asleep. CH said she regretted the blood bond and I started to realize why. Well there's a lot of things I think about it, but the one that really got to me was the fact that it was used to "enslave" Sookie and it was "forced" on her. Regardless of the fact that Andre is dead, it will always be a thorn in her relationship with Eric because of the negativity associated with the bond. That is why it has to be broken in order for them to be happy.

Judy that's a great idea.

Good point, Judy. The fact that she has stated the blood bond is overanalyzed and now wants to get rid of it tells me the mechanics of it are simple and nothing nefarious is taking place. It just allows them to know what the other is feeling and enhances what is already there. The bond allows some influence on emotions, but their will is still their own. The feelings are real.

Well there's a lot of things I think about it, but the one that really got to me was the fact that it was used to "enslave" Sookie and it was "forced" on her. Regardless of the fact that Andre is dead, it will always be a thorn in her relationship with Eric because of the negativity associated with the bond. That is why it has to be broken in order for them to be happy.

Great Point. Plus CH has always said she thinks he work & her intent speaks for itself (like the whole the curse. It should've been obvious that in her opinion etc..). 

Maybe she is tired of all the in fighting & the crazy bullying she sees on her board b'c The BB is used as a great excuse to discount what to CH, should be apparent. It's gotten out of hand & so maybe she is just a bit tired of it & thinks it's gotten to the point of ridiculousness. B'c really - it b'c less about Sookie, her MC, & more about the suitor choice which probably in her opinion is losing sight...??

Aside from the whole BB being thrown out of proportion and being overly romanticized, I think CH realizes she screwed up with the logic of how the blood bond was supposed to be used. Yesterday I read DeeDeeINJF's Eric (new chapter up) where they discuss Renfields. After reading that I had to open up the real DAG and read through that scene again. Eric stated that he's never given blood to another since Pam but had the blood of many and almost had complete control over them, just not exercising that control.

So, going back to ATD. Andre initiated this blood bond, to control Sookie. He may have just wanted her to take his blood so he can sense her feelings to know if she will stay honest.

BUT

If a vampire can just take blood from a human and control them without giving them their own blood, why bother finding out what that human feels? Andre did say he couldn't care less what Sookie's feelings were. He just wanted her ability. If he could control her, he would have had use of it, so why bother..??????

We discussed this at one point somewhere, but yeah...

The whole Andre thing in ATD leaves me scratching my head. He was very persistent about her drinking his blood, while he could have just bitten her at any time. I don't know if he actually intended on creating an actual bond. I don't know...

Yeah...the logic is kinda screwed. He could have just made her a Renfield and solved that problem. He would have complete control over her. His whole plan was to take away her independence anyway.

I don't think Andre actually wanted to a create a blood bond with Sookie but only wanted to keep her honest. Giving her just a little bit of his blood would allow him to know if she's lying. It's something I thought was messed up when I read DAG the first time when Eric mentioned Renfields but after CH stated she really regretted it, I figured she really must have written herself into a corner with the blood bond because it's obvious it was used to facilitate Sookie and Eric's romantic relationship.

The whole Andre thing in ATD leaves me scratching my head. He was very persistent about her drinking his blood, while he could have just bitten her at any time. I don't know if he actually intended on creating an actual bond. I don't know...

My friend and I have speculated that he wasn't going to create a bond with her at that time. He wanted Eric to because their tie was already strong, so a bond would work out for Andre's purposes.

Also, CH said that SA and Andre would have eventually turned Sookie so they could continue to use her talents. I guess they'd be taking a gamble on whether or not she'd still have her telepathy. But if Andre made her a Renfield I think it would it make her a lesser vampire if turned, so he probably didn't want that.

I was confused too about what Eric said about controlling women when he had only had their blood.

But if Andre made her a Renfield I think it would it make her a lesser vampire if turned, so he probably didn't want that.

Good point, Sami.

Thanks Ashley. 

Also, CH said that SA and Andre would have eventually turned Sookie so they could continue to use her talents.
 
Really? I didn't know that.

Yes. I believe it's in the 1st CH Q&A thread if you want to take a look.

The whole Andre thing in ATD leaves me scratching my head. He was very persistent about her drinking his blood, while he could have just bitten her at any time. I don't know if he actually intended on creating an actual bond. I don't know...

According to CH - SA did not know what Andre was planning. 

  He could have just made her a Renfield and solved that problem. He would have complete control over her. His whole plan was to take away her independence anyway.

SA wanted to turn her. She would never make one of her children a Renfield for 2 reasons - what she went through (the story she told Sookie) &  b'c her power is to bind them to her by love. She realizes that gets the most loyalty & results (which - funnily enough, we see with Sookie. To know her is to love her).

My take on why Andre was doing a bond is so that Sookie could feel the love that Andre has for his Queen & it would effect her so she would be more cooperative.

My take on why Andre was doing a bond is so that Sookie could feel the love that Andre has for his Queen & it would effect her so she would be more cooperate.

Makes sense.

That's why he allows Eric b'c he knows he is loyal to SA & has sworn fealty so he says: "the results will be the same"... or something to that effect.

it would effect her so she would be more cooperate

I agree and must admit at first reading I didn't  second guess myself much as to Andre's reasons for wanting to bond to Sookie. I just thought it was to give him more control/ influence because, unlike Barry's position with Stan, Sookie wouldn't work full time for them and live as part of SA's entourage. Andre had seen first hand how much Sookie's talent could benefit them if it was freely available on tap and would prefer to own her rather than chance her working as a freelance and also possibly for others. He wanted to tie her allegiance to SA's interests and only agreed to allow Eric to do it instead because Eric and Sookie had already shared blood and the tie would be that much stronger. Eric's allegiance is already to SA.

He wanted to tie her allegiance to SA's interests and only agreed to allow Eric to do it instead because Eric and Sookie had already shared blood and the tie would be that much stronger. Eric's allegiance is already to SA.

Those were my first thoughts when I read it. I only started doubting it later and confusing myself.

The whole Andre thing in ATD leaves me scratching my head. He was very persistent about her drinking his blood, while he could have just bitten her at any time. I don't know if he actually intended on creating an actual bond. I don't know...

According to CH - SA did not know what Andre was planning.

Sorry - Ash, I was reading through & my point in bringing this up was to say that I didn't think the intent was to ever turn her Renfield, esp. b'c SA didn't OK it b'c of her plans to eventually turn Sookie.  I just didn't segue properly.

ME = CONFUSED

I think the more CH says about this, the more confused I get.

ME = CONFUSED

You are? Why so confused?

I love your emo cons. You have special ones.

I got really busy w/ work all of a sudden and only had time to skim over the thread so I got all confused. Some of this sounds more like CH backtracking to me.

Some of this sounds more like CH backtracking to me.

No, I don't think so. SA not knowing Andre's plan is apparent after the incident happens. She really was unaware of what the fuss was about, which is why she asks Andre to explain. Of course, CH did need to clarify whether or not SA was legitimately clueless, but it's in the text.

You know Judy, I don't think she is b'c the bond features so heavily & she built it up.

I think she regrets it b'c it ended up interfering too much.

I mean - it must not be too much fun as an author that your readers are constantly bringing up something you write with a specific intent in mind & they use it to blast one another & argue non-stop to prove their points & miss her point entirely.

Her frickin' site is exhausting with that shit. And honestly - she gets tons & tons of questions about it each day (I bet based on what I had seen from the short time I was there) from newly converted readers who are confused & want to understand. I'd be sick of it too I bet.

A lot of her material is intentionally misconstrued as well, which is frustrating. I agree that her regrets about the blood bond are purely due to it's misinterpretation and the fact that it became something she never intended.

Yeah, I understand why she doesn't talk about the blood bond because of all the questions. I've lurk over there once in awhile and people get really intense about being right. The mods have to step in a lot to quell everyone. But sometimes the mods are the ones doing the arguing.

All in all, the blood bond is very important to the story, but some readers put too much emphasis on it. I think fanfic has something to do with it as well.

You know thinking about it more - I also think she regrets it b'c she kind of painted her MC into her own very small box & based on her behavior & course of action thus far - it would be hard to realistically justify her snapping out of it so suddenly. So the best way to do it at this point is to break the bond so this issue can just be done with.

I was happy to learn that the bond would be broken at some point. I had suspected that would be the case. And I know a lot of people have already said this, but I think Eric and Sookie will reform it by the end of the series. That way it won't have so many negative connotations.

I like that Sami. B'c I love the fact that he wanted to bond with her. IMO, it put them on a more even keel.

It would also be some character growth, because right now Sookie hates their bond. Partly because it was made forcefully, and partly because she is afraid her free will is being threatened, and probably some more reasons I can't think of right now. (I'm so tired..DX)

But I think by the end of the series she (and we) will understand it a lot more and be happy about it. Eric too. Well, he already likes it.

I'm glad you guys are around to discuss this. I had to go put out some fires at work (working from home today), while watching my toddler, who is at home with me. I was getting all confused because my head is trying to do too much at once. I see what you all are saying now that I've had some time to digest it.

Sami, I also think Eric likes it because with it, he was able to feel things from Sookie. His brooding pretty much ended when the blood bond was formed.

Yeah, it did. After the bond he finally accepted his feelings, and he could feel her feelings for him obviously. So the bond was a great vehicle to further their romance as you said Judy.

Sookie tried to confuse the issue with eric a second time when she complained the attraction he felt for her was due to the bit of fairy blood. Thankfully, he quelled this paranoia immediately by just saying "No", and disappearing. See pgs. 93-94, All Together Dead.

while I'll agree that CH regrets the bond and it is misunderstood, Ch herself is responsible for thaT. She continues to write Sookie questioning every action and feeling so no wonder many think it is controlling her.  She could downplay it in her writing but she doesn't. Also the way she answers questions about the BB are so darn condusing and ambiguous. With just a few well answered questions she cold downplay it's importance, but she doesn't.  So color me confused, aboout CH"s response, at least.

I don't think Eric can controll Sookie thru it. Like others have said I think it evens the playing field. Not only that but I think Eric putiing himself out there like that showed his feelings for Sookie and what he is willing to do for her, though if you are a BL it was strictly done to manipulate her!

Your analysis sounds good to me, LKC