SOOKIE STACKHOUSE BOOK SERIES

These cheesy book covers are AWESOME!

I admit, I didn't start reading the Charlaine Harris "Sookie Stackhouse/Southern Vampire" books until True Blood's first season ended and I was missing my hot vampire Eric.  Although I love the show, I'm only going to be speaking about the book series here. 

Quick fun side note: Two years ago I was at the San Diego Comic Con (nerd alert!) and was lucky enough to hear the True Blood panel. Charlaine was on the panel and someone asked her if she told the producers of the show storylines she liked or didn't like on the show and she said no, she doesn't tell them how to write the show and they don't tell her how to write her books.  She's a 60 year old Sookie. Very sassy!  She's the opposite of George R.R. Martin and Game of Throne the tv show. More on that later.

Since the first season I've read six of the eleven books currently out.  They're all sort of the same, same feel, same easy read, and all from Sookie's perspective.    I like that but some may find it a bit dull.

For those not familiar, the books center around telepathic barmaid Sookie Stackhouse.  Sookie falls in love with Bill, a two hundred year old southern gentleman vampire who comes back into town after over a century. Good news for Sookie is she can't read vampire minds, which makes dating a whole lot easier.  Sookie spends the first few books getting into lots of trouble and falling in and out of love with Bill and Vampire Sheriff Eric Northman. Not to make these sound like romance novels, because they're far from it (trust me).  Each book finds Sookie faced with a new enemy, mystery or danger (usually all three at the same time!) she has to figure her way out of.  And for those of you who like the supernatural, vampires aren't the only supes that show up. 

My only true complaint of the book is Sookie is so lonely, it's actually detrimental.  I feel a little too sorry for her because she really doesn't have anyone to confide in, which is just sad.

That said, the Sookie Stackhouse books are perfect for summer reading or cozying up next to a fire during winter.  Actually, you reading a Sookie Stackhouse book is good no matter what you're doing. 

THE WAR OF THE WORLDS

This is easily the most classic alien invasion novel of all time, and probably one of the most well known. 

If you have any interest in sci-fi books, The War of the Worlds is a must-read.  Of course it's well written, but it's also exciting and suspenseful and extremely imaginative.  Published in 1898, the premise and execution of the story are almost unimaginable for the time period. Plus, it's an amazingly easy read. 

Written by H.G. Wells, the book follows an unnamed narrator in London at the turn of the century as  "Martians" suddenly attack and begin decimating the city and countryside.  This isn't a book of fighting back, it's a book of pure survival.  The tripod aliens (Spielberg got it right in the 2005 movie) do not communicate and our narrator spends the entire book running from them and trying to survive, meeting interesting people along the way.  This is the perfect book to curl up with at the fireplace or lounge with by the pool with.

THE HUNGER GAMES TRILOGY

The Hunger Games (Book 1, Catching Fire, Book 2 and Mockingjay, Book 3) is probably my favorite closed ended series to date.  I read all three in a little over three weeks. Yes, it's that good.  Not only were they an easy read, but they were fun, exciting, heartwarming and full of action.  I know I'm slightly (ahem) older than the young adults she writes for but she writes in a way that everyone can enjoy. 

Set in a post apocalyptic United States, the story follows Katniss Everdeen, a teenager who lives in District 12, the poorest of the twelve districts.  In this new society, instead of going to war, each year two children, a boy and a girl, from each district, participates in the "Hunger Games", where they fight to the death in a "there can only be one" scenario.  In an act of desperation Katniss ends up on the train to the Capitol as the girl from District 12, hoping that she's not riding to her death.  With only the limited skills she learned from her now dead father and best friend Gale, Katniss is forced to use her wits and determination to outwit, outlast and ultimate kill, the other 23 opponents.  

Although all three books work together with one main arc, I'm going to stop the description right now because I don't want to spoil it.  Suzanne Collins weaves this world and these characters together in the most descriptive, emotional, and complete way that after I finished the last page I already missed it.

STEPHANIE PLUM BOUNTY HUNTER SERIES

That title doesn't even begin to describe the absolute hilarity that is Miss Stephanie Plum.  Janet Evanovich writes this character with humor, humility and in a way that when I started reading the series nearly 10 years ago, surprised the hell out of me.  Similar to how I read Anita Blake, I was introduced to Stephanie knowing I had seven books to catch up with.  Where Anita makes me want to go out and learn how to shoot a gun, Stephanie makes me feel ok if I don't.  Stephanie is a bounty hunter who, more often than not, accidentally catches the bad guy.  Between her flirty Grandma Mazur to her sexy as hell on-again/off-again boyfriend Joe, not to mention her bounty hunter, sometimes partner Ranger, these books usually have me laughing hysterically and wishing I had a life full of Stephanie Plum craziness.  Again, I'll review her books separately, but feel free to start "One for the Money", which is perfect for a fun Summer (Fall, Winter and Spring) read.

ANITA BLAKE, VAMPIRE HUNTER SERIES

In my first review/recommendation, I had to start with Anita Blake, written by the brilliant Laurell K. Hamilton.  This is one of my favorite book series (it's a tie with Stephanie Plum) that I discovered a few years ago.  At the time, the best parts about it was looking forward to the 17 books I had ahead of me.  I'm currently on book 19 (there are 20 now, she writes about one a year) and it's like I'm home again. Everytime I start reading about Anita I feel a warn cuddly feeling inside.  Anita is easily my favorite kick ass heroine from all the book series I've read.  She's a vampire executioner and necromancer (she raises the dead) who's power and appeal grows throughout the series.  Not only does she face down evil vampires/shapeshifters/witches/trolls, kicking their asses thoroughly, but she also deals with her attraction to these creatures, whom she ends up seeing as people, the more she gets to know them. Okay, maybe not the trolls, but definitely the vampires and shapeshifters.  Be warned tho, at about book 5 things turn, uh, racy, to say the least.  I was already hooked by then, actually, by the second chapter of book 1, so I didn't care.  It adds to the story in a way that I never expected.  Anyone who is into genre fiction, this is certainly a place to start.  I will review her books, individually, but until then, definitely pick up the first "Guilty Pleasures". I promise you it's a good read.