Southern Vampire Novels vs. True Blood TV Series

A Comparison of The Translation of Harris’ Work Between Genres

Apr 15, 2009
Jessica Gleason

Harris' full-bodied characters and intriguing plots were an obvious choice for the transition from the written page to the small screen.

Harris’ writing technique is laden with imagery making her characters very visual.

The transition should have been seamless, but this was not the case. Charlaine Harris obviously had very clear pictures of what her characters would look like, beyond the visual, she also clearly defined the spirits they would embody. This representation was slightly skewed when Sookie and the gang made their transition from book page to the television screen.

Sookie From Page To Stage

Physically, Anna Paquin, wasn’t exactly the storybook Sookie -potential- audiences were also skeptical about the choice of Paquin as it was uncertain whether she would be able to fill the large shoes of Miss Sookie Stackhouse.

One of Sookie’s major gripes is her size and Miss Paquin was a bit too slender to accurately represent Sookie, n the physical sense. Though, HBO did a great job altering Anna’s appearance to more faithfully represent the character. Anna surprised viewers by honoring Harris’ depiction of Sookie and playing the part very well.

Vamps, Tramps and Other Oddballs

Very few True Blood characters were spot on. Jason Stackhouse, Granny Stackhouse and Lafayette were excellent physical representations of Harris’ work, both in body and spirit (though writer’s took some liberties with Lafayette’s character.)

Among the more troublesome selections were Bill Compton and everyone’s favorite Norseman, Eric. True Blood’s Bill wasn’t exactly what more readers would have pictured. He was a little less handsome and fragile, though once the series began Compton fangbangers were a bit more accepting. Actor, xxxx, didn’t exactly look the part, but he played the character very well.

While Skarsgaard is very Nordic in appearance, he was not what anyone had anticipated. Eric was a Viking--big, bold and beautiful. What viewers received was a small, slight and brooding Norseman – a severe disappointment.

Plot Bastardizations

Occasionally, the plot of True Blood would mimic what Harris’ wrote in her novels, but more than often, writers went way off course. Charlaine Harris provided provocative action packed stories, and obviously as a television series, these plots would need to be expanded, but hacking them up was a poor choice.

There are a few examples of how Harris’ work was bastardized on screen. The character of Tara in Harris’ novels… does not play a large role. She is Sookies friend, eventually opens up a clothing store called “Tara’s Togs” and winds up marrying Hoyt. There isn’t much else known about the character of Tara.

In the series, Tara plays a large role as Sookie’s best friend who is in love with Jason and winds up shagging the sexy shifter, Sam. This didn’t sit well with Harris enthusiasts. Jason’s subplot, with the insane drug addict girlfriend is also way off track. Jason is a ladies man who didn’t settle down through many of the novels -skipping- from bed to bed until he shacked up with a were, married her and lived oddly ever after. True Blood writers should have at least attempted to honor Harris’ work.

The Verdict

When compared to the Southern Vampire novels, True Blood falls flat on it’s face. Many Harris readers were turned off by the visual interpretation of the novels. Though, when considered as a separate entity, True Blood is an engaging and interesting new vampire series which will hopefully last a few more years.

It is hard for some people to separate the two and consider them as individual creations (which they aren’t) but in doing so, audiences give True Blood a chance to shine. So, is it a great adaptation: No. Is it a good series: Yes.

First novel in the series: Dead Until Dark -Charlaine Harris (ISBN: 9780441015979. Publisher: Ace Books.)

Read more: "Must Read Paranormal Romance Novels: Three Suggestions for The Paranormal Romance Novice or Seasoned Vet" - http://jessica-gleason.suite101.com/must-read-paranormal-romance-novels-a109685#ixzz0DPmrjXbl&A

Jessica Gleason - Jessica Gleason is merely a woman walking through life with words. She lives to write and writes to live. She has an affinity for cats and ...

Comments

Apr 16, 2009 7:51 PM

Guest :

I can understand your points. I was at first disappointed with the choice to play Sookie. Reading the books I always envisioned her as a Jessica Simpson type. Curvy, busty, tanned and blonde. But she's doing a great job.

I LOVE that they changed the character of Tara. Alan Ball said himself at PaleyFest that he thought Sookie needed a friend and not be the only female with all these hot guys.

Rutina Wesley as Tara is doing an excellent job. Love her! :)

Things aren't going to be 100% the same as the books and people need to realize that and get over it. Continue reading the books and stop watching the show. Or vice versa or do both.

Apr 16, 2009 11:33 PM

Guest :

"a small, slight and brooding Norseman--a severe disappointment."
What? Alexander Skarsgard is not small and slight. This is way off the mark. The man is 6'5". Perhaps leaner than book Eric is written, but hardly small and slight.
TV Eric didn't seem very brooding to me. I guess people see things differently.

Apr 19, 2009 8:50 PM

Jessica Gleason :

To clarify, I loved what they did with Tara (though the Tara/Sam love affair sort of bothered me as Sam is in love with Sookie, but that's a small price to pay for what they did with the character.

I also visualized Sookie as a curvier woman (not exactly Jessica Simpson) but Anna Paquin is an awsome actress and I think she paid tribute to the character.

On the Eric subject, personally I wasn't happy. Alexander doesn't give off the goofy but in charge vibe, I also don't get norseman off of him at all. He's tall and blonde but doesn't do much in the way of traditional norseman... he should have had broad shoulders, muscles and a pretty face. I don't think the man is pretty enough to be Eric and I didn't like his portrayal of the character, perhaps next season will change my mind because we didn't see tooo much of Eric this time around, but as it stands I don't approve.

The series was great and I was addicted, but I was not able to enjoy it until I let go of the notion that it was based on the books.

Jul 11, 2009 6:45 AM

Guest :

The series follows the book(s) early on by diverges significantly about halfway through. In general, there's a lot more focus on vampire blood (a la the Rats) than there was in the book.

I loved the character of Tara in the series. I was surprised to find her absent from the books. But I found the first book to be more race conscious, much like rural Louisiana, than the series is. (Note: That's race conscious, not necessarily racist.)

Having watched the series before reading the book, I thought all the characters were well done by the actors. Lafayette is more fleshed out, so to speak, in the series. I do have to disagree with Jessica regarding Eric. I thought Alexander Skarsgård made a fabulous Eric (and I hope he gets the role for the upcoming Thor movie too). You'd be hard-pressed to get someone better for either role.

In general, I'd say the series diverges more from the books through addition than subtraction. The Jason subplot, which I agree is out of character for his book persona, is an addition. So is Lafayette's subplot and the entire character of Tara.

The biggest loss from the books is Bubba. But, frankly, I was glad they left him out, at least at this point. The King appears as a supporting character in other novels, and is usually better done (cf. Koontz "Odd Thomas" series). The depiction in "Dead Until Dark" was probably deemed too unflattering for mainstream viewing.

Jul 12, 2009 1:22 PM

Jessica Gleason :

The character Tara is actually present in the novels...though not in a large roll.
She is one of Sookie's friends, but they have a sort of falling out. Tara eventually marries Hoyt (I believe) and opens up a clothing store called Tara's Togs.
I don't remember any physical descriptions of Tara from the novels. So, I don't know how accurate they were on that, but I'm willing to bet...not very.
Again, I do love the Tara character and the series...though as a separated entity.

Aug 3, 2009 9:47 AM

Guest :

I kno ppl hate the saying "the book is soo much better," its usually true tho. The show is still great, but eric is a disapointment.He's a huge viking and the biggest attraction is his huge muscles, long hair, and perverted personality. Eric wldnt cut or highlite his hair. That's a lil much. Different or a twist is a good thing, but creating whole new characters, plots etc. Sum things just don't make any sense. The whole reason the maenad arrived had nothing 2 do w/ sam, he was a bonus!

Aug 21, 2009 4:29 PM

Guest :

I agree with the last commment i believe that the series is a good series on its own. I like how the show is nto soley focused on what sookie is doing this way we get to witness what all the other characters go through rather than learn it through sookie. It makes for a more interesting plot, especially for a tv series. The one person perspective works very well for the books but for a tv show adaptation, its much better to have an objective view point.

Sep 4, 2009 6:51 AM

Guest :

I agree to a point, Eric has not yet appeared over hereso I can't comment on him but I do think Jason and Bill are very good as is Sam (I think that is a prefect representation of Sam Merlotte) but I just wanted to clear something up. Having voraciously read every single book now apart from the last one (waiting for my delivery from amazon). Tara marries JB Du Rone, who does not seem to appear in the TV series, Hoyt is single for a while and eventually starts dating another Merlottes waitress. He is very much attached to Jason in a non-homosexual but loving way.

Oct 4, 2009 7:16 AM

Guest :

Tara marries JB du Rone not H3oyt

Jun 8, 2010 6:42 PM

Guest :

I accept the the series being separate from the books... but Bill's character, I think, is such a wuss (in the series) and therefore not as attractive. I figured they did it to rush the romance... considering events happen in a more condenced time period than in the book.

Jason meshing with JB for the series was cool... which also explains why they had Tara love Jason (since Jason is JB)... Though her (Tara's) character didn't need to be there... Sookie's and Tara's friendship doesn't seem real to me while I view those scenes where they are togather and "best buds."

Lafayette is a blast on the show! :)

Sam, out of all the characters, is closest to the book in character... He gives off the same vibe and has the same heart... (except for screwing the best friend of the woman you love thing... that was out of whack... not like him at all.)

Sookie and Eric:
Sookie id much more emotional numb which I think is great... Having to her cry on every episode would have been annoying. Her body is decently curvy for "TV standards", so I don't mind that..
Eric is HOT!!! I think, his body is perfect... I think that we must remember that this isn't a book but TV, and you want to find someone that looks like the character but can still act... (or you will end up with a completely unbelievable meat-head.) (As someone mentioned) I didn't like that they cut his hair either... Though, I think he did it to appear more modern and appeal to Sookie a more...
(*Though, in the book Bill comments on his side burns... how he can't cut them... so I thought the same rules would apply to hair, as well... but, oh well, they just ignored that..)

I can write forever... but, point is, both are fantastic with their pros and cons... I enjoy each of them immensely. :)

Jun 23, 2010 9:30 PM

Guest :

I haven't seen True Blood but it sounds like it's different. Tara is a minor character in the books. She dates the vampire from Mississippi who's name escapes me who eventually turns her over to Micky.Tara is involved in one of the climaxes of the novels in which Eric helps Sookie get rid of Micky to help out Tara.Tara eventually marries JB du Rone, a friend of Sookie and Tara's from highschool, not Hoyt. Hoyt eventually gets engaged to Holly, Sookie's Wiccan co-worker. Another difference I've read about is that in TrueBlood, Eric's maker is the vampire Godfrey. In the book's Godfrey is a very minor character and Eric's maker is Appius Livius Ocella who is introduced and dies in the 10th novel. Another difference is Lafayette is a main character in the series and has a sub plot. He has a small role in the first book and is murdered at the beginning of the second book and stored in Andy Bellefleur's car. I've also heard that Bill made a vampire named Jessica in the series? Nothing like that happens in the book. My sister told me that Bill proposes to Sookie in the TV series. In the books it isn't legal for vampires to marry, not that anyone's asked her. Eric does end up tricking Sookie to "marry" him although it isn't a legal marriage . He does this to protect her from the King of Nevada, Felipe de Castro who takes over Sophie-Anne, the Queen of Louisiana and Arkansas's territory.

Jun 28, 2010 8:00 AM

Guest :

I have read the books and watched the series and i have to say i way prefer the series.
The series takes the good bits an adapts it to a wider audience, i really hope true blood doesn't follow the same lines as the books or the suspense is lost.
I also think sookie should stay with bill as they've adapted the characters and its seems unrealistic for them to split.

Mar 14, 2011 12:17 PM

Guest :

I am a huge fan of the books and the series. There are a few things from the series that I prefer:

1. I love the fact that Tara's character has evolved and the actress who plays her is fab!

2. I starting watching True Blood before I read the novels and was disappointed that Lafeyette's character was killed in the first book. I'm glad True Blood decided to keep him and allow him to have a central role in the show.

3. The Maenads character in True Blood had a stronger, more powerful and sinister role which I preferred. In the novel her involvement was sort of just a back drop to the book.

4. I think the actor Alexander is a perfect Eric. In the book he's tall just like Alexander.

5. I think they picked a terrific actress for Sookie but in the books she does come across as being more curvy. Anna's acting makes up for it, in my opinion.

Things I would've changed in the True Blood:

1.In the series Sophie was a teenager when she was changed and the actress looks much older. Sophie in the book is a very young, ruthless queen. In True Blood,although shes a vamp she still doesn't look like she was changed so young.

2. I really loath the relationship between Bill and Sookie. I'm so glad that relationship ended pretty early in the series. I kinda whipped through the books to get Sookie's relationship with Eric. I LOVE True Blood and I know they have stretch things out to continue the series. I only wish the series had two seasons per year instead of one! waiting a whole yr to see a show again is so hard!

Apr 2, 2011 7:37 AM

Guest :

eric is a badass. they should have stayed true to the book.

Apr 6, 2011 7:12 PM

Guest :

I only read the first book, and while the story was very engaging I thought the writing style was weak. It bothered me so much I was embarrassed to be reading it. I think the dialogue in the TV series is much better written, and more enjoyable.

15 Comments