The Awakening and The Struggle (The Vampire Diaries, #1-2)

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The Awakening and The Struggle (The Vampire Diaries #1-2)

by L.J. Smith

3.68 · rating details · 27,507 ratings · 2,546 reviews

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 ...more

Paperback, Stated First Edition, 492 pages

Published June 26th 2007 by HarperTeen (first published 1991)

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Sep 08, 2009

Shawna rated it

Recommends it for: Twilight fans; vampire lovers; YA readers

Shelves: young-adult, pnr-vampires, lj-smith, 2009-reads, hero-abused-scarred-tortured-angst, hero-antihero-gamma, i-read-no-longer-own-sold-swapped, hero-beta, hero-cold-cruelbrute-dark-dangerous, blah-meh, love-triangle-vying-courtships, 2stars-or-less, fiction-made-into-movie-tv-series

2 stars – Vampire Romance/Young Adult

Although the Vampire Diaries precedes Meyer’s Twilight Saga, it’s impossible not to compare the two series, and I have to say that I much prefer Twilight.

This felt a little bit too much like a vamped out version of “Mean Girls”, and I didn’t really get into the story or care about any of the characters at all. They’re all so selfish, juvenile, and petty, and okay, I get that it’s a young adult series, but it felt really immature and...more

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Mar 10, 2008

Jeanne rated it

Recommends it for: people who like Twilight

Shelves: vampires, young-adult

It's another teen vampire/romance novel. Yay!

Actually, it's kind of cheesy. When Stefan Salvatore shows up at Elena's high school, it's love at first sight. He's gorgeous and exotic, and she's looking for someone new. She's fair-haired and popular and closely resembles his ex.

Oh, there's one more thing: Stefan's a vampire. From renaissance Italy. And another thing: his older brother, Damon, has also shown up. And they're battling for Elena's affections.

...more

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Mar 15, 2008

April rated it

After reading the "Twilight" series, I have been hooked on Vampires! The problem is, it is really hard to find vampire stories that are clean, relatively un-evil (if there is such a thing when talking about Vampires) and not too gory! Well I think I found another great series. Again, young adult, (I have decided that I am not interested adult fiction anymore)This series is a little younger, same age group as in Twilight, and another Romeo and Juliet type theme. At first the story seeme...more

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Sep 24, 2009

Shannon rated it

Shelves: ya, vampires, 2007, paranormal, romance

Elena is the most popular girl in school, her boyfriend Matt a classic all-American sporty, nice boy. Then she sees the new boy, Stefan, dark, sensual, and totally oblivious to her. She determines to have him, and promptly gets rid of Matt. There are a few complications, though: one, Stefan is a vampire from the Italian renaissance period; two, she looks a lot like Katherine, the girl he was in love with who made him a vampire before killing herself, thinking he and his brother Damon, whom she a...more

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Aug 30, 2009

Kia rated it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jan 04, 2011

Andrea rated it

Recommends it for: people who like twilight

Shelves: read-in-2011, annoying-character, young-adult, vampires, paranormal-or-supernatural, series, own-it, love-triangle, romance, southern-fried, now-on-television

I either read an interview or saw one with Stephenie Meyer who remarked that she got her plot to Twilight from a dream that she once had. After having read this, I can say in all certainty that if she got the idea from a dream, it was at some point after reading this series. Look no further for her source material, here it is.

Just a few of the parallels that I noticed: Stefan (Edward) can read minds. Stefan and Elena fall splendidly and exquisitely in love with each other despite the f...more

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Mar 07, 2009

Kati rated it

Shelves: 2009, in-english, het, paranormal-rmnc

This omnibus carries the first two books of Smith's tetralogy - "The Awakening" and "The Struggle". I would give the first one two stars, the second one four. The first one was namely too much of a sugary teenage romance - I'm probably too old to read young adult stuff anymore.

There were some things that really annoyed me in these books: Elena was perfection incarnated, the prototype of a Mary-Sue, she had everybody wrapped around her little finger, she always got...more

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May 18, 2011

Aleeza Rauf rated it

· review of another edition

i don't think there's any way of getting around the fact that i really, really didn't like this book AT ALL. which sucks because i spent quite a bit of money on it, thinking it'd be a great read and fun to read before i dove into the first season of the t.v. show.

alas, it irked me so much i didn't even get past the first part. boooo.

love the cover though. paul wesley + ian somerhalder = HELL. YES.

also: i love the tv series. i should probably have stuck to that...more

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Nov 18, 2011

Kristy rated it

Shelves: supernatural

Spoilers throughout this bad boy:

This was so extremely different from the Vampire Diaries Show and not really in a good way. Elena was not very likeable and she was blonde?!?!?! Weird. She is strong and Katherine is weak?!?! Katherine is dead??? (I believe stefan and Damon believed her to be dead for a while in the beginning of the show, but she most certainly did not choose to kill her own self for their sakes) Stefan wasn't as nice as he is in the show. His darker side defini...more

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Mar 07, 2010

Anna rated it

Shelves: young-adult, paranormal-romance

I humbly admit that when I had first picked up this book, it was after all the Twilight/Vampire buzz - though personally Harry Potter trumps vampire - I had it in my mind that it was going to be just like Twilight a sappy romance that I adore. Seeing as how in my life romance is moot reading about other people, fictional or not, is the only substitute I seem to have. Much like everything else in my life, I turn to the books, to get my excitement and I mean the excitement where your body literall...moreI humbly admit that when I had first picked up this book, it was after all the Twilight/Vampire buzz - though personally Harry Potter trumps vampire - I had it in my mind that it was going to be just like Twilight a sappy romance that I adore. Seeing as how in my life romance is moot reading about other people, fictional or not, is the only substitute I seem to have. Much like everything else in my life, I turn to the books, to get my excitement and I mean the excitement where your body literally trembles with it and her heart races until you have to physically move around your bedroom or patio or backyard, wherever it is that you fellow good-readers go to enjoy an oh so lovely book. Anyway I had a mental picture in my head about how this book was going to play out, I even thought I would make it to page fifty and then close the book uninterested. That however, is not what happened.

Stephen Salvatoreis the new transfer student at Mystic Falls and with his good looks, reserved attitude, and secretive nature everyone there seems to fall under his spell, that is of course until the sexy steadfast Damon Salvatore comes to steal Stephen's fame. However, though they appear to be the normal fighting brothers underneath the service lies something no one in Mystic Falls is prepared for, will only destruction and chaos from these to dangerously handsome brothers or will it be them who saves the day.

And then filed away in her little bubble you haveElena Gilbert, who writes in a journal because she has no one to talk to. A horrible accident last year took Elena's parents away from her and left her in the hands of her aunt, but somehow Elena miraculously survived the crash leaving her with grief and guilt. The town looks down at her with pity and for the new year Elena is determined to make a change but little does she know that the change Elena is searching for so desperately just might be the death of her. Will she uncover Stephen's secret before it's too late for her to come back from it or will she dive head first into uncharted and dangerous waters to follow her heart?

This book just might have been one of the best books I have read in a long time. I have been debating about the differences and similarities between this and Twilight, if I am being frank I would say there really isn't many similarities. Yes they both are books about vampires and they do have a romance in each of them but other than that they are completely different in many, many ways. I can't quite put my finger on why but I would have to say that I personally liked The Vampire Diaries better than I did Twilight. Though for some reason I have yet to add it to my personal collection. In other news I fully recommend that you read this book, if you have yet to pick it up that is.(less)

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Feb 15, 2010

E DB rated it

Recommends it for: Anyone I dislike immensely.

Usually I can't resist these YA supernatural fiction series but Vampire Diaries is actually too wretched for me to enjoy and, oh man, that's saying something. Laughable prose, characters who are inconsistent at best and numbingly dull at worst, and a nonsensical plot cobbled together from various bits of mediocre films like some wrong Frankenstein. No, no, no!

Okay, but, see, I might still watch the TV series. Just one episode to see whether it's as bad. Um. Right. Well. Onward.
...more

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Jul 11, 2010

Alyssa rated it

Shelves: ya-loved, own

This book, was one I had been eagerly awaiting back at Christmas time. I'd been really looking forward to reading it, as the TV show had been fabulously debuting on the CW, and I'd been a massive fan before the hiatus. I asked for the first two books in the series for Christmas, almost guaranteed that I'd like them - I'd also read The Night World by the same author the previous summer, and had fallen in love.
To say the least, I was a tad disappointed.

This was a flat, boring om...moreThis book, was one I had been eagerly awaiting back at Christmas time. I'd been really looking forward to reading it, as the TV show had been fabulously debuting on the CW, and I'd been a massive fan before the hiatus. I asked for the first two books in the series for Christmas, almost guaranteed that I'd like them - I'd also read The Night World by the same author the previous summer, and had fallen in love.
To say the least, I was a tad disappointed.

This was a flat, boring omnibus. Top reviewers across the nation spoke about this book as if it were the best teen vamp-fiction out there, when all I have to say is that I would most likely not reread this, unless the upcoming books in the series prove to be better.
I despised Elena. She was so artificial, and her love for Stefan (if that's what she wants to call it instead of weird, stalker-ish behavior) was insulting to read, and her obsession with Damon even more disturbing. She was a colorless girl - one-sided and calculating, with a true mean-girl mind - and I found myself hurling every time she spoke. The friendships in these two novels were totally unrealistic - I'm not sure, even back in the 90s', when this series had begun, if groups of teenagers were so annoying in their "we'll always stick together" ways - and I, for the second reason in the books, wanted to retch at every mention of them "making it through the tough" together. Blah. It's even more pathetic to say that I liked Matt Honeycutt the most, even him being the small secondary character, he had a lot more character than our main protagonists.
The relationship with Stefan and Elena was purely based on looks and appearances, popularity and selfishness. Elena had wanted Stefan for all the wrong reasons - his unavailability, his sexiness, his automatic, unreasonable quick jump into popularity - and Stefan has been searching for Elena because he looked like some dead girlfriend from way back when. Elena, the blond, plastic, bitchy cheerleader had, after only a few encounters with Stefan, found herself "head over heels in love" with our brooding, intelligent, TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE vampire hottie, who was feeling the same, likewise.
Oh yeah, so Elena's parents' death had made us want to feel bad for poor, poor Elena. Ha, I felt no sympathy. With other orphaned characters, I felt sorry and I wanted good for them; in Vampire Diaries, I wanted Elena to fall. And fall hard. She traded some who-knew guy for a lifelong friendships, for the lives of her best friends who would travel to the ends of the earth for her, and she thought nothing but a thin wall of guilt for that - not enough to make me fully understand this blond goddess.
Damon comes in now, the bad, bad vampire (the only real vampire I've realized in the past few series, leaving out my beloved Vampire Academy, though) and he sweeps her off her feet (LITERATELY!) and Elena considers him another fraction in her love equation, in deciding whether or not to embrace the vampire in Stefan's really, truly good soul. God, I must've rolled my eyes three hundred times reading this pair of horribly written books.
In the reviews I'll continue writing for LJ Smith, I'll probably have this part mentioned countless times - I HATE her writing style. Truthfully, I don't like third-person narrations, but for some reason, Miss Smith writes more differently, aggravating me in the worst of ways. Plus, it doesn't help that all the slang is long past, and all the descriptions and products have no meaning to me.

I did like it, for the vampirism. It showed the different complications of being a vampire, and I liked having a peek into more vampire fiction. I also enjoyed the presences of Elena's close friends: Meridith, Bonnie, Caroline, Matt ( ! ). and their characters. They were more advanced than the main characters, and even they had their own problems.(less)

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Sep 24, 2009

~Tina~ rated it

Shelves: struggled, wanted-to-love-but-couldn-t, bite-me, yuckola, gave-or-give-away

Since these books are going to be a T.V show in Sept, I thought I'd buy the books...

Some people have read it and compared it to Twilight, but I have to say that these books are NOTHING like Twilight except for the part where she's human and the brothers aren't. But that's about it.

So I've read the first one "The Awakening and The Struggle" and I have to say that I was kind of disappointed.

Elena is an uptight snobby girl who gets what ever she wants a...more

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Jul 15, 2008

Rebecca rated it

Don't let the 4 out of 5 stars fool you into thinking this is good, inventive writing. I picked these books up for nostalgic purposes. Back in the early '90s, when I was an adolescent (oh how I date myself), I read and reread these books. They were so romantic and exciting. I remember even then being annoyed by the hack writing, but overlooking it because of the fantastic nature of the stories. I mean come on, who wouldn't fall for a tall, dark handsome vampire with an Italian accent. I'm ...moreDon't let the 4 out of 5 stars fool you into thinking this is good, inventive writing. I picked these books up for nostalgic purposes. Back in the early '90s, when I was an adolescent (oh how I date myself), I read and reread these books. They were so romantic and exciting. I remember even then being annoyed by the hack writing, but overlooking it because of the fantastic nature of the stories. I mean come on, who wouldn't fall for a tall, dark handsome vampire with an Italian accent. I'm only human.

Reading them again as an adult was part experiment but mostly fluff fun. For whatever reason, I'm seemingly incapable of getting through "beach reads" or other books with no real substance and sub par writing...with the exception of Young Adult books. There is a soft spot in my heart for those angst-ridden horror-lite, forbidden romance themes that weave their way through the pages and into the minds of pre-teen girls that are waiting to have their braces taken off and dream of such huge life events like homecoming and (take a deep breath) prom. I am not criticizing girls for this. As I've already implied, I was one of them.

My peeve with this particular series is really more of a concern. The greatest attributes of the primary characters are their beauty, elegance and grace. Love is always a reaction to someone's beauty or passion. The protagonist is "queen of the school". In short, each book is like reading a 250 super model photo shoot. There's just no way you'll ever be these fictional characters. Perhaps that is part of the allure for many kids who read these, but I distinctly remember talking with my friends about which character in the book we'd want to be...and frankly, all are either shallow or wracked with glamorized self-loathing.

The remaining question is why on earth after all this criticism did I give the books 4 stars. Well, they were a welcome regression back to days of summer reading, of staying up too late to find out if the heroine would get the guy and save the town against forces of evil. As simple, mindless entertainment goes, they work just fine. I don't know how a reader first approaching them now would feel about them, but with my childhood link to them, I was rather forgiving of the many glaring problems.

Apparently a new book will be coming out in this series early next year. I must confess, I will most certainly be reading it.(less)

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Aug 11, 2008

Lynny rated it

Recommends it for: Anyone who loves a good love triangle including vampires :)

Recommended to Lynny by: Good Reads reveiws

I have to say, that the only bad thing that i found in this books was the undeveloped relationship between Stefan and Elena. Otherwise i loved the book and it definitely deserves 5 stars. i am getting the second soon and i am freaking! i finished this book within hours of starting it, the plot twists and the endearing characters kept me reading. it had just enough conflict in the romance that it actually made me doubt a happily ever after. Although i still am not sure where the series will go. I...more

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Sep 10, 2008

E.B. rated it

Recommends it for: Potential Twilight readers. READ THIS INSTEAD!

A pre-Harry Potter young adult series that was a guilty pleasure for me at age 26 to be reading in public. But I couldn't put it down. L.J. Smiths characters were a little flat, yes. Her settings felt 2 dimensional to me and I often couldn't get a grasp of what exactly the characters were really like as people, sure. But that doesn't mean the story wasn't spot on! Once I ignored the flaws in Smiths construction of her Sunnydale-esq town with it's Vampire drama lurking in the shadows of a popular...more

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Nov 29, 2008

Michelle rated it

Shelves: ya-fiction, 2008-read

I loves me a vampire story! This one is good for younger YA as it is not soaked in vampire sex. Good for readers who handled Twilight. Surprise ending: I have to get the next book!

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Nov 05, 2008

Megan rated it

Recommends it for: anyone who likes suspenseful love stories

Recommended to Megan by: me.

This book was a really good book. I enjoyed the way it kept me on the edge and the way it made me want to keep reading more. The book was like a love story/suspenseful tragedy about a vampire falling in love with a human. But, like every story, there is something holding them back from being happy together, one is an evil enemy, and the other is the lack of acceptance from people in the community for the vampires immortality. I am not usually a big fan of the magical type books, but this one was...more

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Oct 30, 2011

Jamie rated it

One of the very few times that the book is not as good as the show. Two books in and I still feel like Elena is a flat character. Blah.

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Nov 11, 2011

L.danielle rated it

I enjoyed the book but don't know that I want to read the rest of the series. I'll just enjoy the CW show, even though I know it's different. =)
I honestly wanted to read this because of the Twilight phenomenon. Not because I'm just craving more vampire romance, but because I was honestly curious as to what it was about Twilight that triggered so much adoration when teen vampire novels were honestly nothing new. L.J.'s Vampire Diaries came around long before Twilight, so I wondered, "...more

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Aug 10, 2011

Bmw2jkc2cwc added it

I just finished "The Awakening," and I already can't wait to begin "The Struggle!" I can't wait to see what happens. I guess I really enjoy vampire novels. I loved this novel. It's a teen novel. I'm 23 years old, but I still really enjoyed it. I love a good love story plus some excitement. Stefan seems so irresistible in my mind. I just began watching the new Vampire Diaries TV series on the CW, and it's good as well. Many of the characters and relationships (family) as well ...more

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Aug 05, 2011

C. Teresina added it

Spoiled Elena sets her sights on new boy in town--Stefan. Determined to have her way, she discovers his secret.

As she comes to terms with Stefan's vampirism, she learns about the woman he once loved--Katherine. At the same time, his brother, Damon, comes to town, charming everyone he meets.

Elena is torn between both, drinking a bit of each of the brother's blood. Then an accident changes everything.

Smith's vampires are slightly different than the others. In order to become a vampire, they must h...more

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Feb 19, 2012

Melissa rated it

Shelves: put-down

I watched the first 3 episodes of the show and just didn't get into it. I didn't like how the girls were portrayed as either a mean girl and/or a doormat. The story in all 3 episodes was the same...my evil brother did something evil, but I'll give him another chance...oh shocker my evil brother did something evil, but I'll give him another chance...

Anyway, story in EW last week and several people talking about how good the show is and how great the book is led me to pick this up at t...more

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Jan 28, 2012

Felicia rated it

Shelves: 2010-read

What I Loved: Not much really and I think this totally has to do with me being a fan of the show. So this is one case where the show ruined the books for me.

What I Liked: In comparison to the first novel, I like that they have given you more of Damon and Stefan backstory. Matt is actually a very likable character in the books, so he is a bit of a joy to read.

What I don't like: I think L.J. Smith must have gone to a very small school with only shallow type of girls in it ...moreWhat I Loved: Not much really and I think this totally has to do with me being a fan of the show. So this is one case where the show ruined the books for me.

What I Liked: In comparison to the first novel, I like that they have given you more of Damon and Stefan backstory. Matt is actually a very likable character in the books, so he is a bit of a joy to read.

What I don't like: I think L.J. Smith must have gone to a very small school with only shallow type of girls in it because most of the women in this book are annoying. I find myself not caring if anything bad happens to any of them....except Meredith (she appears to be a truly caring character).

Why it got a 2: Plain and simple--I enjoy the show 20 times more than I am enjoying the books. Will I finish the books--eventually since I do own them. These are not badly written and they are somewhat quick reads. I would say check them out if you are curious or better yet if you haven't seen the series. Otherwise, don't bother bumping them up on your TBR list, just read them when you get to them.

Author Website: http://www.ljanesmith.net/

Review: This might be one of those times it hurt me to see the show before reading the books.

What I loved: I didn't really love anything about this book. I did think it was a quick read and really well written though.

What I liked: I liked the amount of detail put into the scenery, something I think is missing from alot of book. I liked Stefan, Matt, Bonnie, and Meredith. I thought Caroline was sufficiently *itchy.

What I didn't like (still not warmed up too): Elena. I am sorry but at no point do I think she deserves to get the guy. She is shallow, self-serving, manipulative, and a little to much like Katherine from the show. All I kept thinking is Stefan and Matt have the worst taste in women. I might start to like her as the series progresses but right now I just don't like her character at all. Which could be a problem since she is the center of the series.

Overall I gave it a 3, there was enough good parts to outrank my dislike of Elena.

Author Website: http://www.ljanesmith.net/ (less)

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Nov 06, 2011

Christina Thornton rated it

Shelves: series-not-worth-finishing

I decided to read these books after watching the TV series. There were some times in the show that I felt like they were leaving details out, so I thought I'd turn to the books to piece more of the story together.

First of all, there is very little similarity between the TV show and the books. Not like, two different mediums so they're different, but as in I can list the similarities between the two on one hand: the names of the characters, some of the setting, and vampires. That's a...more

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Oct 17, 2011

Layal Zaidan rated it

The Awakening is the first of four novels in L.J. Smith’s popular Vampire Diaries series. Written for the Young Adult (YA) market and originally published in the early 1990’s, The Vampire Diaries were re-released by HarperTeen last year (2007) as a result of the flurry of popularity that YA vampire genre novels have received since Stephenie Meyer’s huge success with the Twilight series.
The Vampire Diaries were popular at the time of their original release but seem to have gathered a new f...moreThe Awakening is the first of four novels in L.J. Smith’s popular Vampire Diaries series. Written for the Young Adult (YA) market and originally published in the early 1990’s, The Vampire Diaries were re-released by HarperTeen last year (2007) as a result of the flurry of popularity that YA vampire genre novels have received since Stephenie Meyer’s huge success with the Twilight series.
The Vampire Diaries were popular at the time of their original release but seem to have gathered a new following 17 years later with a whole new set of teen fans. Seriously, I can’t count how many emails I have received telling me about these novels and asking why they are not listed on the LoveVampires site. L.J. Smith’s fans are legion and to all the site readers who asked, this review is dedicated to you…
The Awakening gets the series off to a solid start. The opening pages of the book see Elena, the protagonist of this story, returning home from her European vacation at the start of a new school year. Even from the first chapter there is a feeling of hidden menace running through the narrative although Elena shakes off any dark feelings as she returns to school and resumes her rightful place at the top of the school’s social hierarchy.
This year the school has a new student, the mysterious Stefan, transferred from Italy and looking good in his designer Italian threads. Driving a Porsche and having a whole man of mystery vibe going on he proves to be irresistible to Elena, although he is aloof and standoffish and he repeatedly spurns her attentions. Determined to have him at any cost, Elena plots and plans with her girlfriend clique ways to obtain the elusive Stefan. While she is busy plotting a number of mysterious attacks occur in Fell’s Church increasing the sense of menace in the story.
There is a superficial similarity between Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight and The Awakening. Girl meets vampire boy, is instantly attracted and can’t work out why he is so aloof with her, etcetera, etcetera. The similarity is only very slight though, Elena is no Bella, unsure and unconfident but effortlessly engaging the reader with her narrative - and The Awakening lacks the lush romanticism of Twilight.
In fact Elena’s character is probably the greatest impediment to enjoyment of The Awakening because she is just so hard to empathise with. A privileged and popular girl, the beautiful Homecoming Queen and centre of everyone’s attention, she is vain and self-centred. She’s more of a Scarlett O’Hara than a Bella Swan any day of the week. Upon seeing Stefan, who appeared not to be interested in her, she decided that she had to have him - even on the pain of death. It is her sense of entitlement, that he should be lucky to have the opportunity to worship her, which really alienated me as a reader.
Still this is the first of four novels exploring the deadly love triangle that occurs between Elena, Stefan and Damon, Stefan’s black sheep vampire brother. The Awakening ends on a cliff hanger and events leading up to the end of the story suggest that Elena (like Scarlett O’Hara) may find that she doesn’t always gets everything she wants even if she thinks she is entitled to it.
For me, the most intriguing character is the one that we, the readers, know the least about – Damon. Maybe I’m just being perverse but he excites me the most of all the characters and I’m sure there is a reasonable explanation for his evil ways…!
Certainly, I can see why The Vampire Diaries are still popular teen reading today. The creeping sense of menace embodied in the wild woods, the old graveyard and ruined church used for the story’s setting and the feeling of doomed young love is pretty much a winner whatever way you look at it. (less)

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Sep 18, 2011

Bianca rated it

The Vampire Diaries is darker than Smith's other books, but every bit as enjoyable and entertaining. The dark edge actually allows for a wider audience... I vividly recall when, over ten years ago, I noticed my copy of The Awakening was missing from my bookshelf, only to find it in my 27 year old brother's room!

To be quite blunt, IMO, Vampire Diaries is what Twilight wishes it could be (sorry, Twilighters, don't kill me!).

As always, Smith is very skilled at showing the dept...moreThe Vampire Diaries is darker than Smith's other books, but every bit as enjoyable and entertaining. The dark edge actually allows for a wider audience... I vividly recall when, over ten years ago, I noticed my copy of The Awakening was missing from my bookshelf, only to find it in my 27 year old brother's room!

To be quite blunt, IMO, Vampire Diaries is what Twilight wishes it could be (sorry, Twilighters, don't kill me!).

As always, Smith is very skilled at showing the depth of her characters. The lead heroine, Elena, is beautiful and the most popular girl in school, but she silently doubts herself and the life she's made for herself so far. She doesn't know where she belongs. As the story continues, she grows as a character as she realizes how much the people in her life mean to her, and how much she is willing to give up in order to protect them.

Stefan, the vampire and romantic interest of Elena, is self-loathing and blind to his own good heart. He lives off of animals, and even then feels guilty when he accidently kills his prey. This conflict with himself only deepens when Elena enters his life, and he is convinced he doesn't deserve her love. Yet, despite this, Stefan fights for what he believes is right, even if it's against his own brother, Damon.

To complete the little triangle, we have Damon, who is also a vampire (and my favorite character... Damon = *swoon*). Damon is snarky, cold, handsome, and darkly hilarious. He knows what he is and he doesn't apologize for it. He also knows what he wants, and that happens to be Elena. But don't write Damon off as a one-dimensional character... Smith manages to write him as all of the above, while still capturing the reader's sympathy as we begin to see aspects of Damon that he himself refuses to acknowledge.

Just as a warning, these books can get a little scary, though never so much that I had trouble sleeping or anything. However, my older sister (who was around 16 at the time) had to crash in my room one night after reading a scene where Elena and her friends encounter a menacing presence in the local graveyard. So parents of younger readers might want to preview the chapters to make sure their daughter or son can handle it.

As both a teen and now as an adult, I love these books. They are well written and intruiging, especially compared to most of the other young adult books available today. L.J. Smith has yet to disappoint me! I very highly recommend Vampire Diaries.(less)

· see review

Sep 18, 2011

Emma rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: paranormal-romance, teen

I was sceptical of reading this series as I love the tv series, and many people have said how different it is. And since the tv series has been on I have got used to the characters in that, therefore I would naturally picture them in the roles. Its been difficult to get my own take on the cahracters as the actors keep popping in my head. But after continuing to remind myself that the people are not the actors I got through this one very quickly. Its currently my secret addiction. I started ...moreI was sceptical of reading this series as I love the tv series, and many people have said how different it is. And since the tv series has been on I have got used to the characters in that, therefore I would naturally picture them in the roles. Its been difficult to get my own take on the cahracters as the actors keep popping in my head. But after continuing to remind myself that the people are not the actors I got through this one very quickly. Its currently my secret addiction. I started the second bind up and I am almost finished. Haven't really put it down to be honest.

So what I thought of this first bind up? Firstly what struck me was how much I hated the main character of Elena. She was selfish, arrogant and one of those popular girls that many would hate. But in the end you start to sympathise with her, and like her when she becomes a different person after meeting, and falling in love with Stefan. What I also noticed was the complete difference of the book to the tv series, This is the only place I will mention it. The characters have been radically changed, removed or edited. I was shocked, but I suppose since this book is 20 years old it needed modernising? This is the only thing I can think for such a dramatic change.

Anyway the stroy was fast paced interesting and very addictive, I found myself liking all characters, and disliking those that you were meant to. Obviously from seeing the tv series I guessed the outcome of a couple of elements, but Elena becoming a Vampire completely threw me. And now currently reading the 4th book (The Reunion) I was surprised to see Elena taking a backseat...but very interesting. I also loved how the books ended on a cliff hanger and then the next book just starts straight away. Very intriguing and engrossing. I was also shocked to see so many elements of Twilight in this book. The pain and torture of Stefan and Damon, the complexity of the main characters, I was disappointed to see so many similarities because Twilight is no longer as original or poignant as I had hoped. Just sort of shows you that Meyer doesn't deserve all the credit she has been given.

Since reading Night World by L J Smith I have loved reading her books (Forbidden Games however lacked interest and intrigue which was a real shame, as her Dark Visions was immense) and this series doesn't look as if it is going to disappoint. Stay tuned, it won't be long till I have finished the next, then I have the next three to enjoy!(less)

· see review

Sep 15, 2011

Faye rated it

I know that a lot of people really loved this book And I'm fairly certain that even more loved the show but I didn't like either. I initially picked up 'The Vampire Diaries' book because it was recommended to me to read after Twilight. Now, I don't know if it was because this series pales in comparison to 'Twilight' or what it is but I really didn't like it. I actually couldn't even read the second book in this book because I didn't like it that much. And the only reason I went out and got it wh...more

· see review

Aug 03, 2011

Amandalynn rated it

Shelves: chick-lit

I read these because they were acquired from a friend who was moving and didn't really enjoy them(first clue). My second clue should have been that the WB has made a TV series that has been running the past couple years. The third clue was when I got to looking at the publishing dates(which also explains the inconsistency). It got 2 stars probably out of "no other option to put books down for something else to read options" I decided to take all 3 books that said friend gave me on v...more

· see review

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topics	posts	views	last activity
Book Boyfriends: Damon Salvatore	12	11	Feb 20, 2012 10:09am
Should Bonnie be with Matt or Damon?	13	39	Feb 18, 2012 04:10am
Team Srefan or Team Damon	30	69	Feb 17, 2012 08:54am
TV Series v.s. Books	4	14	Feb 15, 2012 07:42pm
tv series?!	82	141	Feb 11, 2012 01:58am
Book Boyfriends: The Vampire Diaries	11	2	Feb 09, 2012 07:37am
Elena a Mary Sue	3	15	Feb 02, 2012 03:08am

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About L.J. Smith

L.J. Smith recently changed her name because she got tired of being one of a googolplex of Lisa J. Smiths. Her attempts to get people to call her by her new name have not, so far, been successful. Despite initial disappointments, she will not give up the fight! She also wonders if many people out there realize that “smiths” were revered in ancient times for their ability to take bits of rock and m...more

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Books by L.J. Smith

The Fury and Dark Reunion (The Vampire Diaries, #3-4)

Night World, No. 1: Secret Vampire; Daughters of Darkness; Spellbinder (Night World,#1-3)

Night World, No. 2: Dark Angel; The Chosen; Soulmate (Night World, #4-6)

Night World, No. 3: Huntress, Black Dawn, Witchlight (Night World, #7-9)

Nightfall (The Vampire Diaries: The Return Series, #1)

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“The name is Salvatore. As in savior.” — 291 people liked it

“You always were selfish. Your one fault. Not willing to share anything, are you?" Suddenly, Damon's lips curved up in a singularly beautiful smile. But fortunately the lovely Elena is more generous. Didn't she tell you about our little liaisons? Why? The first time we met she almost gave herself to me on the spot."
"That's a lie!"
"Oh, no, dear brother, I never lie about anything important. Or do I mean unimportant? Anyway, your beauteous damsel nearly swooned into my arms. I think she likes men in black." As Stefan stared at him, trying to control his breathing, Damon added, almost gently, "You're wrong about her, you know, You think she's sweet and docile like Katherine. She isn't. She's not your type at all, my saintly brother. She has a spirit and a fire in her that you wouldn't know what to do with."
"And you would, I suppose."
Damon uncrossed his arms and slowly smiled again. "Oh, yes.” — 194 people liked it

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