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Title: Darkly Dreaming Dexter
ISBN: 0786267534
Author:
Jeff Lindsay
Publicate Date: 2004-10-19
Publish: 2004-10-19
List Price: $28.95
Average Customer Rating: 4.0
Format: Hardcover
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Amazon Lowest Used Price: $28.95
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| Customer Review: |
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1: I WANT MORE!!!
I just can't get enough of this character. Jeff Lindsay isn't writing fast enough, I want it NOW!
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2: Forget the book - Just watch the show.
I'm a huge fan of Dexter the TV show, so when I found out that it was an adaptation of a novel, I really didn't think I could go wrong by checking it out. Turns out that I could most definitely go wrong.
The interior monologue in the show that makes Dexter come across as sweet, despite the fact that according to all societal standards he's a monster, just doesn't come through on the page. Instead, it's more a battle for the reader to keep going as the words keep piling up and the same messages about Dexter's "hunger" seem to repeat over and over again.
Now, please believe me when I tell you that it is RARE for me to ever advocate a video representation of any kind over a book. 99.9% of the time I believe that a book will be better than a movie or show. Unfortunately, Darking Dreaming Dexter represents the other .1% - The story should have gone straight to script.
Honestly, the only reason I even gave this 2 stars is because of Showtime's success in transforming it into a very entertaining and provocative series. So, as I said in my title (and may never say again in my life), forget the book and tune in on Sunday nights at 9!
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3: My favorite serial killer!
What can I say about Dexter - he's a wonderful character! Its amazing that a monster can be so likeable and so sympathetic. I listened to the audio version and I really loved it. The story is great and Dexter is so amazingly well developed, that you really feel like you know him. One tiny complaint, and this is only for the audio book recording, you can hear the reader swallow and sometimes it even sounds like he's taking a sip of water. Its kind of distracting. He's a good reader, but the editing should have removed the swallowing sounds.
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4: A heartless killer with heart
How do you make a serial killer likeable? First, make him not only intelligent, but classy as well (Hannibal Lecter is perhaps the best example). Next, add some dark humor, to make it clear that he is not to be taken TOO seriously. And as a final touch, make sure that the folks he kills are unpleasant and when dead, will be unmourned (at least by the reader). In a nutshell, this is Dexter Morgan, Jeff Lindsay's amiable sociopath who makes his debut in Darkly Dreaming Dexter.
By day, Dexter works as a blood spatter technician for the Miami police. Every now and then, however, he is driven by his "Dark Passenger" to kill someone. Fortunately, his foster father, a veteran cop, recognized Dexter's murderous nature early and, knowing it couldn't be stopped, had it redirected instead: Dexter would focus his homicidal tendencies on killers and other low-lifes, using his father's instructions to execute perfect crimes.
As Darkly Dreaming Dexter begins, it's evident that he is not the only serial killer in Miami. There is another murderer who is specializing in prostitutes; this killer drains them of their blood, cuts them into pieces and arranges the corpses in an artistic fashion. Dexter is torn between wanting to help his cop sister catch the killer and admiring the man's work. Complicating matters is that this unknown killer seems to know all about Dexter's own deeds and seems to approve of them.
Darkly Dreaming Dexter was the basis for the first season of the well-received TV series, and though a fun read, is actually not as good as the show. This is principally because the show provides more detailed characters and plotting than this relatively short book, allowing the revelation of the killer's identity to unfold more gradually and logically; in the book, it seems to almost come out of nowhere. For that reason, though I am recommending the book, it's better if read before watching the show; however, if you liked one version, you should like the other, regardless of the order.
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5: Deeply Disappointing, Dexter
I can't remember the last time a book inspired such mixed emotions in me. I was simultaneously charmed by Dexter and bored by the plot. (The television show turned out much the same way.)
Dexter is witty, charming, and manages to connect with the reader despite the fact that he's dead inside. Jeff Lindsay's character development with Dexter is brilliant and results in an engaging, endearing serial killer.
The plot, conversely, is dull, tired, and uninspired. Not the worst thing I've ever read, but nothing to write home about. I was glad that the length of the book was relatively short -- and it still managed to seem endless at times.
Ultimately, I would recommend the book with the caveat that the plot is something you have to get through in order to enjoy the company of Dexter for a few hours.
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