Sookie Stackhouse is a young woman with the mysterious power to hear other people's thoughts. She finds this ability overwhelming around other humans as she struggles to block out even their most mundane musings. Although the power gives her insight into people, it is often insight she would prefer not to have, as she hears even their cruelest opinions and creepiest thoughts. As a result, Sookie sometimes keeps to herself, and doesn't have much patience for social niceties, because she knows too well when someone is just being polite.She can come across as stand-offish, sarcastic and blunt. When she was a child and even as an adult, sometimes people mistake her withdrawn nature for stupidity and treat her as though she is less intelligent than she is. Because she has been ignoring what people think of her her whole life, she does not have a hard time blocking out people's judgment when she begins openly dating vampire Bill Compton.As she begins to learn more about the supernatural beings living around her in Bon Temps, she is drawn to them, in part because she cannot hear their thoughts and finally gets some peace and quiet when she is around them. Although she does not know where here ability comes from, she does know that this sets her apart from her fellow humans and most likely makes her supernatural in some way. As time goes on, she learns more about her heritage and her abilities and the role she plays in the supernatural world.Her best friend is Tara Thornton, who was also a social outcast growing up because of her mother's alcoholism.Sookie is independent, capable, brave and headstrong. She values sincerity and honesty.Background: Sookie was born May 24, 1983. Her parents are Corbett and Michelle Stackhouse. When Sookie was a child, her mother was frightened by her abilities and put her into the mental health system, later dismissing her gift by saying Sookie was just very perceptive. Her parents were killed in a flash flood when Sookie was seven-years-old, although she has questions about the circumstances surrounding their deaths.From that point on, Sookie and her brother Jason were raised by their grandparents, Earl and Adele Stackhouse.When she was in their care, Sookie was molested by Adele's brother Bartlett, her uncle.She works as a waitress at Merlotte's with Arlene Fowler. The owner, Sam, has a crush on her.Something about Sookie's abilities draws vampires to her, including her first supernatural boyfriend, Bill Compton. Show less «