I got through all 9 books and the companion short story collection, I think I liked Sookie more in the first few books but she gradually annoyed me more as it went along. The smut gets very strong by book 9 and I am quite partial to Eric now but I'm also finding myself comparing the books and show as I do like how certain things are done in the show more so than how the book handled it. I dunno, I think I felt like it was getting too predictable in some aspects and I knew what was coming a bit too easily. Maybe it is because Sookie became more of a Mary Sue as the books kept going... Hmmmz. Book 10 is out in May so I might have to see how it goes in there in determining my further viewpoint. :D