I just finished the first three books. There are aspects of the books to recommend them to the TV viewer (better wit, fewer soap-opera romances, more gruesome MO for Dexter's hobby), but after the first book, they are completely different creatures. The books are told from Dexter's POV, so the supporting cast must be less developed as seen through Dexter's "not a human" perspective - but once you get the hang of his filter, the depth is there, Dexter simply doesn't pick up on it.
Cody and Astor, in particular, are much more interesting as portrayed in the books. I won't spoil it in case you decide to read them.
Also, while Dexter of the TV is becoming more human, more in touch with his emotions, Dexter of the book is willfully becoming less so.
The biggest let-down, however, comes out of the blue in the third book. Your line, "this show doesn't deal in the supernatural" is true of books 1 and 2 as well. Book 3, suddenly not so much. I'm hoping Jeff Lindsay can retcon away a major tone shift when he releases book 4 by explaining the plot as a manifestation of deep psychology rather than the mystical, magical explanation given at the close of Dexter in the Dark.
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branchandroot
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Date: 2008-12-16 08:18 pm (UTC)Cody and Astor, in particular, are much more interesting as portrayed in the books. I won't spoil it in case you decide to read them.
Also, while Dexter of the TV is becoming more human, more in touch with his emotions, Dexter of the book is willfully becoming less so.
The biggest let-down, however, comes out of the blue in the third book. Your line, "this show doesn't deal in the supernatural" is true of books 1 and 2 as well. Book 3, suddenly not so much. I'm hoping Jeff Lindsay can retcon away a major tone shift when he releases book 4 by explaining the plot as a manifestation of deep psychology rather than the mystical, magical explanation given at the close of Dexter in the Dark.