Laurell Hamilton

[quietwoman187]

This is slightly inspired by the 'what do you read' poll and also by my own desire to post on it. I hesitated to post as I assumed 511 threads already surrounded her, but since I'm a bit of a noob and found it difficult searching through the 5xx posts from the search engine, I'm going to post 512.

I loved L. Hamilton's first 5 Anita Blake novels from the perspective of kickass girl power and plot cohesion. Initially, I wasn't a fan of her newer style. While, yes, she has improved as a writer, she has lost any type of thread cohesion. Although I enjoyed the hotness of the erotic elements, I wished she could combine the directness of A.B. 1-5 with the erotic imaginings of A.B. 6+. However, I discovered her Merry series by accident and was slightly surprised that it maintained narrative cohesion while maintaining lovely naughty bits.

So, has anyone read the Merry series? If so, what are your thoughts. Also, has anyone read the other texts merely for the naughty bits and attempted to act them out?

Or you can just point me in the way of the other posts

 

[bailadora]

While, yes, she has improved as a writer, she has lost any type of thread cohesion. Although I enjoyed the hotness of the erotic elements, I wished she could combine the directness of A.B. 1-5 with the erotic imaginings of A.B. 6+.

That and I thought Anita just became entirely narcissistic - on and on ad nauseum about how tough and kick ass she is......

So, has anyone read the Merry series? If so, what are your thoughts. Or you can just point me in the way of the other posts

Loved, loved, loved the Meredith Gentry books. They were entertaining and imo, a more balanced mix of plot and sex than the AB books. I was very happy with the way things were resolved in Swallowing Darkness and hope we haven't seen the last of Merry and Co.

Although no one's posted to it since January, you may want to try the paranormal book club thread on the playgrounds forum. Lots of good recommendations there. Click here.

 

[quietwoman187]

I do agree about the overtly egotistical Anita. While I would love to have her multi-tiered paranormal powers and the ability to have multiple orgasms from hot sex with multiple well-hung men simultaneously, eventually, her boasts of 'strength' really went absolutely nowhere i.e. 'Narcissus in Chains.' Seriously, how long did it take her to eventually save her lover? First, she has to make out with Jean-Claude. Then, she has to make out with Jean-Claude beside a bed. Eventually, one hundred pages in she gets to save Nathaniel, but I'm surprised the guy hadn't bled to death by then.

I haven't read 'Swallowing Darkness,' yet, although I noticed people feared it would serve as the last, despite Hamilton's assurances. Thanks for the Paranormal forward. I didn't think I'd get into supernatural erotica but after having read the Merry series and the Mary Janice Davidson series, I've definitely started to warm up to it.

 

[Evil_Geoff]

I'm a huge fan of the Merry Gentry series. If LKH isn't in the lifestyle, she has damn fine resources. Balancing the plot, the kink, the poly... RAHR!

 

[bitchee62]

Divine Misdemeanors new Meredith Gentry novel, comes out in oct 2009. I can't wait. Oh and I love this series. My favorite book so far in the series was Mistral's Kiss.

 

[cromsgirl]

I love all of her books. I was a little disappointed in "Micha." I think the stories were better before all the sex, but I've always preferred plot driven stories to character driven ones, which is where she has headed in a few of them. Not that I dislike the books with a lot of sex in them, I just think the stories aren't as good. "Nightseer" is also a good read if you like fantasy, even though it doesn't have any sex in it.

 

[quietwoman187]

I don't think LH is polyamorous, although one poster stated that she switched to sex in the Blake series post-divorce. However, I do believe she's aware of the bdsm domain either through a friend or research, and this gets back to what everyone's saying i.e. CG & B, about the lack of plot. In Narcissus in Chains (which somehow is fresh in my mind), the title, cover, and opening chapter implies a foray into the bdsm world, but after it initiates 3 separate sex scenes, she kind of drops it and focuses on other mystical/sexual issues that have no relation to the opening or each other. I might not be into bdsm, but if her book description implied it, it'd be nice if she used at least 1 uniting theme. Hence, my new interest in the Merry series. I never read Micah, so I guess I should be glad of small favors , but I'll definitely look for Divine Misdemeanors in the Fall -

 

[Wings27]

Ohhh, a thread on something I know/like! I love Laurell K. Hamilton, although I am a much bigger fan of the Merry books than I am of Anita.

 

[christabelll]

Heads Up!
Laurells Character of Anita Blake is being brought to Film!
Yep a full length feature hopefully evolving into a TV Series.... If you go to her Myspace Page and check her blogs its all posted there!

Yay for Vamps everywhere Lol

And another Gentry Book? ooooo Can't wait!

 

[quietwoman187]

I finally read the Anita Blake graphic novel, containing issues 1-6, which springs from Guilty Pleasures. It's funny, I always thought the first 5 novels possessed more plot cohesion than the later texts, but in reading the graphic novel, I can see a lot of Hamilton's later rhetorical tendencies sprouted early in novel 1. This includes the attraction of multiple men to Anita whom she must suddenly 'make out' with (Jean-Claude & Phillip), nonsensical plot twists (Jean-Claude's inexplicable desire to fight with the master), and the reuse of characters where Phillip, the stripper vampire junkie, later becomes Nathaniel. Admittedly, the hints of sexual openness in novel 1 still related to the plot (maintaining her 'cover'). Additionally, considering I loved Phillip and enjoy Nathaniel, I can't really contest that literary reincarnation. However, I previously viewed the first 5 novels as highly unrelated to the later texts. But, now, I realize they aren't. I wonder if I happened to read the latest AB if I would view it as containing more plot cohesion than earlier.

And, I checked LH's website after your post. I remembered someone else mentioning that. I think an LH tv series will be good. And the first 5 novels do lend themselves to a 'BTVS' mentality. However, after that, either the writers could veer away from Hamilton, rewrite the later novels to have more focus, or just revamp the series to something akin to True Blood or a late night Cinemax series.

On a side note, it's interesting that she continues to protect the later novels, which, yes, shows her development as a writer, but it lacks control, but she hasn't noticed that commercial interests only focus on the first 5 and tend to obfuscate the latter ones. Then again, we'll see, maybe the comic and series will veer into erotic territories. Either way, despite my bashing, LH does put out good stuff. Is there anyone who wants to talk about what they like about the later AB series?

 

[christabelll]

The first few novels were awesome with plot and detail outside of the erotic aspect. The last few have been almost completely about how many ways Anita could feel guilty and resistant yet obviosly enjoying having sex with so many partners. The plot was there but it was lost within so much carnality. That said they were still of solid, good writing -

I have only looked at one Manja of hers and wasn't impressed enough to buy it. Unlike Feehans Manga of the Carpathian series.

The Gentry Story Line also got lost in how many men and for what reasons good or bad she had to sleep with in order to save the world. But I was pleased to see that the last two changed it up from that and if there really is another installation in the series I look forward to it.

I tend to read lighter romance with a more mysterious bent (fantasy) but when I want my darkness fix I turn to Laurell and Feehan... such Dark Guilty Pleasures as these help keep me balanced

 

[bailadora]

I have only looked at one Manja of hers and wasn't impressed enough to buy it. Unlike Feehans Manga of the Carpathian series.

Oh yeah! Hawt, Hawt, Hawt!

I tend to read lighter romance with a more mysterious bent (fantasy) but when I want my darkness fix I turn to Laurell and Feehan... such Dark Guilty Pleasures as these help keep me balanced

If you like LH and Feehan, may I suggest JR Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood series and Gena Showalter's Lords of the Underworld books. Dark yes, but also very yummy!

 

[quietwoman187]

What I'd love to do is have a mini-Laurel Hamilton reading group where people decide to read one of her short stories maybe from her recent text and post on it -

 

[DaveRidesAgain]

I really liked the earlier books: 1-5 or 1-6 maybe, but she's gone over the top on the erotic side in my opinion (strange thing to say here, maybe, but that's how I feel), to the point where it interferes with the storyline. Just my opinion. I'd still like to "do" Anita, mind

 

[quietwoman187]

Hey DRA,

I'm slowly realizing that perhaps the only books I really like in the AB series are 1 and 2. At first I included 3-5 under the umbrella, but going back to look over them again, I've changed my mind. In 1 and 2, we see Anita's personality, her interaction with her clients, and her various quirks. In book 3 & 4, it's all about the character's needless toughness and her relationships more than her job. What I liked about 1 & 2 is that although she carried the gun with her, she used it sparingly. But, in 4, she blatantly kills a guy for no reason. Sure, he wanted to take her weapon, but she could've knee-capped him. But, Blake clearly wrote it in to exhibit A's 'dominance.' Plus, while grandstanding existed in book 1, there's even more in book 4. Anita and J joining to tame the snake seemed unnecessary to the plot and a wee bit lame. The over the top demonstrations of J's power as the 'master' deviated from the plot a bit too much, as well. And, I'm finally realizing he's a bit too one-note. So, I think there's always a place in my heart for AB in books 1 and 2, but I'm starting to question anything after that. However, I'll definitely watch for the TV show. LH has admitted to using the AB series as a bit of a personal journal and I'm wondering what would happen if LH's publishers suddenly refused to publish them in hard cover and only in limited doses.

 

[Shadowann2]

Hey DRA,

I'm slowly realizing that perhaps the only books I really like in the AB series are 1 and 2. At first I included 3-5 under the umbrella, but going back to look over them again, I've changed my mind. In 1 and 2, we see Anita's personality, her interaction with her clients, and her various quirks. In book 3 & 4, it's all about the character's needless toughness and her relationships more than her job. What I liked about 1 & 2 is that although she carried the gun with her, she used it sparingly. But, in 4, she blatantly kills a guy for no reason. Sure, he wanted to take her weapon, but she could've knee-capped him. But, Blake clearly wrote it in to exhibit A's 'dominance.' Plus, while grandstanding existed in book 1, there's even more in book 4. Anita and J joining to tame the snake seemed unnecessary to the plot and a wee bit lame. The over the top demonstrations of J's power as the 'master' deviated from the plot a bit too much, as well. And, I'm finally realizing he's a bit too one-note. So, I think there's always a place in my heart for AB in books 1 and 2, but I'm starting to question anything after that. However, I'll definitely watch for the TV show. LH has admitted to using the AB series as a bit of a personal journal and I'm wondering what would happen if LH's publishers suddenly refused to publish them in hard cover and only in limited doses.

Have you read the Meredith Gentry Series? I think it's better and instead of getting worse with each book, I think it gets better.

 

[DaveRidesAgain]

I definitely agree that 1&2 are best. I'll have to go back and read 3-6 to see whether I agree with you. Tja, it's a hard life, 'eh? I can't even remember who "J" is so that might either tell you I am old and senile or it has been a long time since I read them. Or both You can keep Anita in your heart, as long as you lend her to me to keep my bed warm occasionally, how's that?

Ah. Not "J", "J-C"? I know she keeps describing his white skin, but I always think of him as being black. Weird.

Anyway, I didn't know there was to be a TV series, so thanks for that, I'll keep my eyes open for it. They'll probably mess it up though.

There have been a number of books/series of books with a "modern fantasy" setting in the last few years, which I find really interesting for some reason even though the only ones I've read are the AB series and a couple of Jim Butcher's "Dresden Files". Can anyone recommend any others?

 

[bailadora]

There have been a number of books/series of books with a "modern fantasy" setting in the last few years, which I find really interesting for some reason even though the only ones I've read are the AB series and a couple of Jim Butcher's "Dresden Files". Can anyone recommend any others?

I just started Charlaine Harris's Sookie Stackhouse series (the basis for HBO's True Blood series). Although I've only read the first book, I've liked it well enough that I've recommended it to others.

 

[DaveRidesAgain]

has anyone read the other texts merely for the naughty bits and attempted to act them out?

*laughs* Now there's a thought! Yeah, let's hear more about that

one poster stated that she switched to sex in the Blake series post-divorce.

LH is single? Where's my stalker kit? I have a weakness for dark haired women anyway, but she's hawwt. I wonder if we could tempt her to visit us on Lit

 

[DaveRidesAgain]

I just started Charlaine Harris's Sookie Stackhouse series (the basis for HBO's True Blood series).

Never heard of the books or TV series. Thanks.