Title: The Vampire Diaries: The Awakening and The StruggleAuthor: L.J. Smith
Pages: 492
Series: Book 1 and 2
Published: June 26th 2007 by HarperTeen
Rating: 2.5/5
Source: Own
Summary (Goodreads):
Elena, the golden girl, the leader, the one who can have any boy she wants. Stefan, brooding and mysterious, he seems to be the only one who can resist Elena, even as he struggles to protect her from the horrors that haunt his past. Damon, sexy, dangerous, and driven by an urge for revenge against Stefan, the brother who betrayed him. Determined to have Elena, he'd kill to possess her.
My Two Cents:
My Two Cents:
I was totally frustrated at the end of the second book in the volume. Of course I'm intrigued to know what's going to happen to Elena after she's turned into a vampire herself soon. When I took the book to read, I have such a high hope that it will be at least as good as the show, because who don't love the show, right? First of all, Elena is totally annoying to me. She's not like Elena I know on the shoe but, sickening, irritating and whatever miss-so-popular to me. Her parent just died and she's not really acting like how a person feel when they lost their parent. In fact, she just jumped into wanting a mysterious guy which ignored her. And acted pretended like she don't care? Is this really happened to anyone? So, okay, she fall in love with a guy that so hot and being ignored, make a fuss over it just because everyone at school want her to be their girlfriend and Stefan is not? She is totally annoying! She is not likeable, think only of herself and I think she's rude to her family. Stefan on the hand, is so dull, and I don't understand him at all! I know that Stefan is quite 'emo' on the show but he's so good at portraying a guilty brother, in remorse, for what happened for the past 1 and a half century. In the book, he seemed kind of lost and I don't feel his love to Elena to be pure or true. But Damon and Caroline really saved the day. Their characters were mean but also quite believable, I'm not so into bad boys, but in this, I totally like Damon. Maybe it was easy to write bad person's characters perhaps?
The truth is, I found the story line is very very interesting, but I don't know, there's so much lacking in the stories and I felt it just a bit dragged and I have to forced myself to finish it because I can't read a book halfway no matter how bad the book is. Nonetheless, at some point, the book actually has quite great scary and deadly actions that made my heart pounds a little. So, it's not that the book is totally wasting a time, maybe if Elena is like the Elena on the show, I will totally recommend and re-read it. Elena's character is just like a parasite that make us hate the book totally, slowly.
I don't know why I read the book at first place. Funny but I think maybe I want to read it ever since I read negative reviews on Twilight series last few years, how the vampires are so lame to sparkle when the sun shines on them, and wrote that Bella was so annoying, clumsy, selfish and 'begged' to be a vampire (well trust me, Elena was totally has all of the list!). And even compared that the Vampire Diaries is actually 'greater' than that. Well, good news, they're NOT. At least I think Twilight series has an honest writing and it totally can make butterflies ruffle in my stomach and I love that some vampires has certain powers.
My last verdict? I DON'T KNOW. Well, if you have read Twilight, maybe you want to read the Vampire Diaries. Some find they're good but I personally will not recommend you to read it. I just let you make the judgement since I've only read two books. I'm planning to keep going reading the rest of the series. I hope I will get better view of the book at the end of the reading. Though I bet Anne Rice should take all the verdict if you want to find the pleasure in reading about true vampires, no?
Have you read Twilight and The Vampire Diaries? What do you think about both of the book? Leave a link if you already post anything on your blog about this. Would love to read your thoughts on this one.
Note: The review participate in Book Review Party Wednesday hosted by Cym Lowell.
I have been enjoying watching the TV series but have never read the book. Sounds as if they are more different too, which is usually the case. With so many books to this series I doubt I will ever read it, but great review!
ReplyDeleteI read these when the TV series started, and I'll just say that the TV programme is a lot better than the books - and that's not something I often say. These books seem very dated.
ReplyDeleteTwilight, on the other hand, I love! I think the books are a lot better than the movies! :)
I haven't tried these books or Twilight because they really don't appeal to me. I have a feeling I'd feel the same way you do.
ReplyDeleteI didn't like these at all because I could not connect to the characters. It was hard to care about the story when I was hoping all the characters would die LOL
ReplyDeleteI love the TV Show but this is one of the few times I won't be finishing the books ;)
Hey you! I know it has beena while but I cannot resist commenting on this one =)
ReplyDeleteI recently re-read this book and it got me thinking - "How could I really enjoy this book when I read it for the first time?". It lacked quite a lot of things and IMO, the sequels are not as impressive as I hope it will as well.
Do let us know what you think on the following books after you finish with them!
Have a good day, mate ;)
i couldn't get into this series either, the books or the tv show. thanks for the great review!
ReplyDeletei prefer the VD tv series instead of the book. and love the twilight book and films.
ReplyDeleteDo not even get me started on Elena, she was so annoying! Were we meant to like her? Cos I sure did not
ReplyDeleteJan and Bermudaonion: I'm not going to be so negative to discourage people from reading it, but great to know you wont waste a time on it. LOL
ReplyDeleteLeanna and Velvet: Me too! I LOVE TWILIGHT!
Felicia: Haha! I would rather they all die faster too at some point. Just Thank God, the show is great!
Shy: Hey doll! Been a long time. Feel like if read it when I was 13 years old, I would probably like it. but yeah, there's so much lacking. Would read the rest but I don't know when!
Carrie: Oooh, I think these kind of thing don't really appeal to you since I know what your preference in reading!
Blodeuedd: Same here! I keep asking why is that her character is so annoying. No, we were meant to kill her! LOL.
I dont have plans now to read the books anytime soon but I do love the TV show :)
ReplyDeleteI came from Cym Lowell's Book Review Party Wednesday (BRPW).
ReplyDeleteI got Vampire Diaries 1-6 sitting in my TBR pile...guess they have to move down the queue then... Thanks for sharing your honest opinion!!
Cherry Mischievous
hi darlyn! thanks for the review. i haven't read any of the books or watched the series because i'm not into vamps--especially YA vamps. but my sister enjoyed the first two books in the series. she said the newer addition to the series were unnecessary though and the author stretched it longer than she should. hmmm...
ReplyDeleteI love your honesty, Darlyn. I'll be honest - I love the books for what they are, but this is a rare instance where I love the show more than the books :)
ReplyDeleteI still don't have any mood to read vampire stories. I've been in a vampire slump for the longest time. But I do like Twilight, though.
ReplyDeleteI did not like the two books above and was not interested in reading the books that followed. It was a drag for me and I had to struggle to get through them. The second book is what it is: a struggle. haha.
ReplyDeleteThinking about it, I prefer Twilight. It had a certain pull in its storyline which made me want to continue reading unlike the Diaries. But like Alice, I also don't have the mood for anything vampirish now. :?