True Blood True Confession

My name is Gretchen, and I read the Sookie Stackhouse books.

It is sort of shameful (sidenotepoll: what is more shameful, Twilight or True Blood?), and I really only feel okay about it because there are so many parts about the books that make me mad. One of these parts is from early on in the series (SPOILERS, I GUESS?): Bill's infantalization of Sookie. Namely, when he brushes her hair. Over and over. And washes it. And then brushes it. And then of course they have the mindblowing sex, but the hairbrushing, the hairbrushing! I am creeped out by this so much. I can never imagine a situation where I would want one of my s.o.s brushing my hair. Part of this may be due to the fact that I haven't owned or used a brush in approximately 8 years, but whatever.

Disclaimer to all: even though I am thoroughly creeped out and annoyed by parts of these books, I still enjoy them, and will probably read them again and again. I've already bookmarked the release date of short stories so I can put in my request at the library.

So this is usually the point I bring up when I say I feel uncomfortable full endorsing the Southern Vampire Mysteries, blah blah blah. And usually people agree with me, and then I feel smart and very literary critic-ish.

However, I noticed a funny thing when I got my hair cut yesterday. The hair-washing is my favorite part. There is something incredibly relaxing about someone washing your hair: making sure the water temperature is just fine, using deliciously foreign-to-me shampoo and conditioner, and massaging my head. It's incredibly relaxing to have someone clean your hair and you don't have to do anything at all - you don't even have to make small talk if you don't want to. And to give credit to Ms. Stackhouse, I suppose it would be even better if it was a vampire you found incredibly attractive doing the washing and brushing.

So once every couple of months, I will indulge my inner Sookie, and surrender to the pleasure of someone else washing and brushing my hair. Just know, Ms. Sookie, that this does not change my opinion of all your cute midriff-baring tops.

(image from here and uses this license)