FDTW – Reread Wrap Up

We have just two days left until we complete our reread of From Dead to Worse.

As the original post is now quite choked with comments and getting quite difficult to follow, I thought we could do with a fresh place to wrap up.

Did the reread raise even more questions than it answered?

What are some of the questions you feel were answered, or that you might have gained a fresh insight into?

What’s your latest half baked conspiracy theory?

For me, I think this is one of my favourite books of the series. The focus is very much on the political machinations of the vampires, and the takeover and the subplot of Quinn’s involvement had me riveted. Sookie finally seems show a vague inkling that her fortunes are tied to those of the vampires with whom she chooses to associate – and for the first time she seems to really take an interest in what is going on above her head. Keep it up Sook…some political nouse will serve you well in the coming books, I think.

Before moving on to our Dead and Gone reread in the next few days, we’d love to hear your final thoughts about Book 8.

Amnesia Eric – Just Sayin’

“I’m cold,” I said gently, and he let me lie beside him, pulling the covers up over us. I propped myself up on one elbow and he lay on his side, so we were facing each other. – DTTW

There was a blanket at the end of the bed and he pulled it up over me. He turned his back to me for a moment and I heard his shoes hit the floor. The he got under the blankets with me and propped himself up on one elbow. – DAG
*****
“That confirms my bad opinion of humans in general,” Eric said. He pulled my coat off my shoulders, looked at it with distaste, hung it on the back of one of the chairs pushed in under the kitchen table. “You are beautiful.” – DTTW

“Don’t worry, you’re beautiful,” Eric said quietly. He leaned over to unbuckle my seat belt (to my astonishment), and as he straightened he kissed me again, this time on the mouth. – FDTW

*****
“When this witch is defeated, I would bring you to my side. I will share everything I have with you. Every vampire who owes me fealty will honor you.” -DTTW

“If I live through this,” Clancy said, “I’ll ask you to release me from my vow, Eric, and I’ll seek another master. I find the idea of dying in the defense of a human woman to be disgusting, no matter what her connection to you is.”
“If you die,” Eric said, “you’ll die because I, your sheriff, ordered you into battle. The reason is not pertinent.”
Clancy nodded. “Yes, my lord.” – DAG

…”Victor told our King that I was lying in an attempt to save my human lover from the fae. He said vampire lives must not be lost in the rescue of a human.” – DITF
*****
As I lay wrapped up in Eric’s arms, humming a little wordless tune as I traced the line of his shoulder
with an idle finger, I was bone-deep grateful for the pleasure he’d given me. A piece of happiness should never be taken as due.
“Thank you,” I said, my face pressed to his silent chest. – DTTW

“Eric leaned over on one elbow, and his big hand pressed my face against his chest” – DITF

*****

Dead to the World was written with a clear purpose in mind and reading it, you wonder how we could ever even doubt where Harris is going. Eric is the only suitor to have an entire book devoted to his character development.

He might have had amnesia, but this was not a “different” Eric. This was real Eric, stripped to his core being. Amnesia Eric was the Eric that is beneath the political animal forged of a thousand years of necessity. AE was a deliberate glimpse of Eric’s potential for growth and change.

Just Sayin’.

Image: aecr

Charlaine Harris – Is Eric “worth it”?

Here’s some teasers from an interview the girls at sookiestackhouse.com did with Charlaine Harris a few days ago.

You can listen to the full interview at their site, and I took the transcript from here (thanks J9!)

Such a great interview – the questions are really insightful. I’m so sick to death of reading interviews with Charlaine that are all about True Blood… it’s great to see some meaty questions about the books for a change.

Some interesting excerpts:

Q: When it comes to Eric, you have stated in the past that Eric is all about Eric, and we know that there are some Eric supporters who genuinely feel that Eric has genuine feelings for Sookie. And then there are other readers who feel that Eric uses Sookie as a means to an end. Is there a chance that you can tell us how you personally perceive Eric’s involvement with Sookie?
CH: I personally feel it’s a little bit of all of the above. I don’t think there’s any one right answer to that.

Q: Considering how Sookie is now married to Eric—according to vampire law—will Bill respect her decision, and is it possible for Bill to move on with his life?
CH: Well, he doesn’t really have an option with that.

Q: Despite the fact that Sam doesn’t want to be involved in supe politics, he seems to know everything that happens. How does he find out this information so quickly or when will we find out Sam’s role in the supe world?
CH: Well, he certainly follows the supe website very closely, and I think that’s how he gets most of his information. Plus, he’s got a lot of friends in the supernatural community.

[Ummm….WHAT? I’m telling you, there’s something coming down the line with Sam. Supernatural website? COME ON!!]

Q: Is there anything you really regret that you put into the book series?
CH: Oh, God, yes. The blood bond. I really regret that. You don’t know how much I regret that. I must have answered, like, a million questions about it until finally I just said, “Okay that’s it. I’m not answering any more questions about the blood bond.” You know, I wish I had really never, never, never thought about the blood bond.

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.

Q: We want to know if you want to leave a message for your fans?
CH: Well, I do hope they’re gonna buy the next book, and I also hope they’re gonna like it. It has a very big ending—an almost Shakespearean ending—and I hope that it isn’t, you know, too over the top. But it was a heck of a lot of fun to write. Just come along with me—I’ll show you a good time.

Anna has something to tell you…

And in other news, Anna Paquin has declared she is bisexual.

I shit you not.

Heads are exploding in fandom as we speak.

You go girl.

In a surprising move – that even took people close to her off guard – True Blood’s sexy star Anna Paquin is publicly revealing she’s bisexual for the very first time, RadarOnline.com has learned exclusively.

Paquin – who’s engaged to her handsome True Blood co-star Stephen Moyer –quietly made the revelation during a top-secret taping earlier this year of a Public Service Announcement (PSA) on behalf of the True Colors Fund, an organization dedicated to fighting for equal rights for everyone –gay, straight, bisexual or transgendered.

Source and video here.

just sayin’

Season 1, Episode 11: To Love is to Bury.

I watched season 1 of True Blood before I read the books. On the first watch I was oblivious to pretty much everything, including the scene below.

On my second watch of season 1, this shot came on screen and I damn near spat my wine out my nose.

That tiger would have stood out to a bookie regardless of where they stuck it – it’s not exactly subtle – but in ERIC’S office?

Let the cockfight begin!

Just sayin’…babe.