Sookie Stackhouse

Sookie Stackhouse is a fictional telepath and the main character from "The Southern Vampire Mysteries" series of novels written by Charlaine Harris. The novels have been adapted into the popular HBO television series, True Blood, where the role of Sookie Stackhouse is played by Canadian actress Anna Paquin. Sookie Stackhouse is a twenty-five-year-old woman who works as a waitress at Merlotte's Bar and Grill in the fictional town of Bon Temps, Louisiana. Sookie has a gift (which she actually considers a disability) in which she can hear the thoughts of everyone around, whether she wants to or not. With practice, Sookie has learned to screen out the thoughts of those she does not wish to listen to, but it takes a lot of patience to control this power and she does not always succeed. She has come to learn that she cannot read the minds of certain supernatural creatures such as vampires, which allows her to get into a romantic relationship with a vampire named Bill Compton. Bill and Sookie's relationship goes through many ups and downs, but in short order, she finds herself immersed in the vampire subculture as well as that of the other strange intrigues that plague the town of Bon Temps.

Early years
Sookie Stackhouse was born in 1983, the second child of Michelle and Corbett Stackhouse. When Sookie was still a young child, her parents died in a flash flood and her brother Jason and she were raised by their grandmother Adele. Thanks to a trust fund left in their names, Sookie and Jason were both able to support themselves while still taking care of their aging grandmother. Jason inherited the old family house, while Sookie remained on the farmhouse with her grandmother.

Shortly before the death of her parents, Sookie discovered that she was a telepath; a person who could perceive the thoughts of others. Though many would consider such an ability a gift, Sookie regarded it as her "disability". The power came with an exacting price, as it was nearly impossible for her to block out the voices. With patience, time and practice, Sookie learned to gain some measure of control over her telepathy and could periodically close her mind off to the voices inside her head. She also learned to control her facial reactions so as not to give any indication of whatever she might perceive by reading another's mind.

As a young woman, Sookie began working as a waitress for Sam Merlotte at Merlotte's Bar and Grill. Although she was good at her job, it proved trying for her, especially when she had to screen out the incoming thoughts of those around her. She made a concerted effort to shield her mind from Sam Merlotte's thoughts as she did not wish to perceive anything that might jeapardize her employment or her friendship with him.

The Vampire
In 2008, Sookie Stackhouse met her first vampire -- Bill Compton. Compton had paid a visit to Merlotte's and Sookie immediately recognized him as a vampire. Curiosity forced her to introduce herself and she was impressed with the man's politeness and gentility. A short time later, Sookie overheard the thoughts of two of her more loathesome customers, Mack and Denise Rattray. The Rattrays likewise recognized Compton as a vampire and intended on abducting him and draining his blood so they could sell it on the black market. Sookie tried to warn Bill, but the Rattrays lured him out of Merlotte's before she had the chance. She followed them into the parking lot where the Rattrays wasted little time incapacitating Bill with a thin silver chain. Picking up a chain of her own, she attacked Mack Rattray, wrapping the chain about his neck. She then took Mack's knife and used it to force the two to leave Compton alone. Once the Rattrays left, Sookie removed the silver from the injured Bill, enabling him to recover.