Top critical review
3.0 out of 5 starsOne line can kill a whole book...
Reviewed in the United States on December 10, 2010
After being largely disappointed with the first book in this series, I promised myself to not read any of the others. Despite the great reviews, despite friends and family recommending to me, despite my love for (more like obession with) the True Blood series. Well, a few months ago, I found myself in a cabin in the woods and I forgot to bring any books with me. My husband offered me his copy of Faulkner's Absalom! Absalom!; at that point I knew I had to be resourceful, or be stuck reading the same blasted Faulkner text I could never manage to finish in college. A previous cabin occupant had left a copy of Dead to the World in the bookcase. Faulkner or Harris? Both write gothic Southern fiction, but I was in the mood for something light and fun. And so I proceeded. This book was every bit as disappointing as the first book in the series. But, I felt compelled to finish it. Bad witches, memory loss, Eric's cute rear end, yada yada yada. At some point, I came across this phrase in the book: "her breasts, which were practically quivering like puppies who wanted to be petted." Seriously? Breasts quivering like puppies????? Who writes that? What publisher/editor approves that? I felt like I needed a stiff drink after reading that line. Actually, I wish I had a drink in my mouth while reading that line, just so I could spit it out, sitcom style. That single line/ridiculous metaphor killed the book for me. I could read no more. I cannot imagine how Alan Ball read these books and thought they would make a good series. However, I'm glad he did take them on because some of the story is good (I'll give Harris credit for having a good imagination)..it is just poorly written.
