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~Tina~'s Reviews > The Awakening / The Struggle
The Awakening / The Struggle (The Vampire Diaries, #1-2)
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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 and when she doesn't she pouts like a 2 year old out to get revenge and sneak in her mothers pantry to steal chocolate!
Her character does improve through out the book, but she was very hard to relate to while reading.
Stefan spends half the book ignoring her ( yes, for a good reason, but still) then when he does finally talk to her...BANG! They are together and "in love"???
I like Damon, at least he's consistent as the "bad guy" in the book. His character is very sexy and very mysterious.
...I just felt like the books did not show just cause as to WHY these two love each other? Not to compare this to Twilight, but at least with those books, it showed the progression stage of Edward and Bella's relationship.
Elena and Stefan have nothing more then a ghost of a memory and some heated attraction for one another?
There was nothing to lead them up to there romance. Elena thought of him as a challenge and for Stefan, Elena just reminded him of a girl he use to love...
Damon is the only character that comes into play that I can understand. He was the one who lurked from afar and didn't try to disguise his obsession with love. His was purely lust. I think this is the first time I have ever rooted for the bad guy to get the girl. I want Elena to be with Damon, Stefan just isn't doing it for me I guess.
I don't hate the books, but I don't love them either.
The only reason I'm giving this two stars is for plot and writing style.
I just wish the time was taken for us to feel why they were in love and not just have it there.
It's sad to say that I think the T.V Series will be better then 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 and when she doesn't she pouts like a 2 year old out to get revenge and sneak in her mothers pantry to steal chocolate!
Her character does improve through out the book, but she was very hard to relate to while reading.
Stefan spends half the book ignoring her ( yes, for a good reason, but still) then when he does finally talk to her...BANG! They are together and "in love"???
I like Damon, at least he's consistent as the "bad guy" in the book. His character is very sexy and very mysterious.
...I just felt like the books did not show just cause as to WHY these two love each other? Not to compare this to Twilight, but at least with those books, it showed the progression stage of Edward and Bella's relationship.
Elena and Stefan have nothing more then a ghost of a memory and some heated attraction for one another?
There was nothing to lead them up to there romance. Elena thought of him as a challenge and for Stefan, Elena just reminded him of a girl he use to love...
Damon is the only character that comes into play that I can understand. He was the one who lurked from afar and didn't try to disguise his obsession with love. His was purely lust. I think this is the first time I have ever rooted for the bad guy to get the girl. I want Elena to be with Damon, Stefan just isn't doing it for me I guess.
I don't hate the books, but I don't love them either.
The only reason I'm giving this two stars is for plot and writing style.
I just wish the time was taken for us to feel why they were in love and not just have it there.
It's sad to say that I think the T.V Series will be better then the books.
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The Awakening / The Struggle.
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Reading Progress
Started Reading
August 1, 2009
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Finished Reading
September 20, 2009
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Steph | bookedinsaigon
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Dec 15, 2009 05:26PM
What a great and honest review. You've really convinced me that this series isn't for me. I can't stand insta-romances either. Tried reading the first 70 pages and I couldn't get much further. Perhaps I'll just check out the TV series and see what everyone's talking about... thanks! :)
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Thank-you! I really wanted to like the books but I just couldn't understand why the two had such instant love.The show on the other hand is very well done, it amazes me that a show could be better then the books, but in this case it's sad but true...
I agree with the WHY part of Elena and Stefan's relationship. I couldn't exactly point out the reason why they love each other so much. The only reason I'm rooting for this series is because it makes me squeal due to its romantic moments. Lol. Bad reason...but, you know. :PDamon is the best. I like him so much more!
And the TV show is amazing. I'm so, so, so excited for January!
I'm sure if I continued on with the series I probably would have found something worthy enough, but once I find something unshakably annoying, I just can't go on.Damon is sexy! In the books and in the show.
Can't wait for it to come back either;)
I also agree that the instantaneous true love between Stefan and Elena appears to have no basis. I tried not to get too hung up on it since we're already talking about an unrealistic scenario. However, I cannot agree that their relationship differs in any way from that of Twilight's Edward and Bella. Aside from an extra hundred pages or so, did they not also have that instant connection? Hadn't Bella already decided within a short amount of time that she would die without Edward? While Meyers is certainly the better writer, her storylines are pure romance in which the reader knows everything will work out. At the very least, the fear and manipulations of Smith's works do more to keep the reader engaged.
I'd have to disagree with you about Twilight. This has been debated on so many forums and the thing is know one is right or wrong. Everyone has there own views, so I guess this is mine; Edward was drawn to Bella from wanting to kill her at first...but then that turned into curiosity. Bella was merely attracted to him, like a normal seventeen year old girl would be.They got to know each other and talked, a lot, before they declared there love.
With Vampire Diaries, Elena and Stefan never even spoke to each other, in fact, they ignored each other. Till one day, he saves her from almost getting hurt and then he takes her back to his place, they kiss and claim there "In love"?
Twilight wasn't instant, it may have been obvious that there was love first, but actually a lot of struggle was in between them. In the end it just couldn't be denied anymore.
I guess it's just certain books people like, for Vampire Diaries, I was annoyed from the start, and couldn't go on...
Stefan spends half the book ignoring her ( yes, for a good reason, but still) then when he does finally talk to her...BANG! They are together and "in love"??? Okay, I'd just like to point out that that was pretty much how Twilight went down too.
Stefan had been watching Elena from afar and came to realize that Elena was nothing like Katherine and began to like her and they hit it off once they began talking.
I DO agree, however, that it was quite high school-like of Elena to obsess over Stefan that quickly.
But if you looked at Twilight, that's how it was with Bella too.
And another thing is that as the story progresses into the latter volumes, Elena no longer acts like the "snobby and gets-whatever-she-wants-when-she-pouts" girl.
And I DO think that Elena and Damon would be great together, but because she's so drawn to Stefan yet has Damon in the back of her mind makes it that much more compelling.
Vampire Diaries > Twilight.
I would have to respectfully disagree.On Stephan's part, he pretty much ignored Elena, because she looked liked Kathrine, and Elena went after him as a "challenge" they didn't even talk much till Elena almost got raped at the grave yard, that's when Stephan saved her, and pretty much they hooked up from there. In my opinion I felt it was to fast and I would have liked to see some sort of chemistry between the two characters before hand.
As for Twilight, Edward fought his inner battles to stay away from Bella, when he came back they became friends, friends who talked, and got to know each other, there was attration but not romance at first, hence it's a process...
Eventually there love became obsessive as the books went on, and while I have no doubt that Elena eventually grew up in the Vampire Diaries, I didn't continue on, considering I did not like the first book, so I wouldn't know or care if she did or didn't grow up.
How ever, I do absolutely love how they are doing the Vampire Diaries t.v show. I think it's much better then the books, we see Stephan be friends with Elena at first, we see progress, we see chemistry and attractions, these things were sorely lacked in the books but are being portrayed quite nicely on the show.
Sorry, but I 100% feel that VD is nothing like Twilight, it'll never even come close in my eyes.
Though we do disagree with each other on several things and like different books for personal reasons, I do respect your opinion and I'm glad that you do to mine.I DO love the TV show, it's very different from the book and I love how it brings out Damon's character so well. And I appreciate how Elena's character isn't snobby and is actually quite insightful in the show.
Thanks for letting me be able to share my thoughts. It's the first time I have disagreed with someone and did not feel attacked.
Haha :)
LOL I don't believe in attacking and actually love healthy debates on books. It's great to have different opinions and share them maturely with fellow book lovers. How boring it would be to agree on everything;) I absolutely adore Damon and I still can't believe how badly I want him with Elena, the show is one of my favorites. Very different from the book, but I'm not complaining:P
Feel free to disagree with me anytime hun:D
Regarding your previous comment about how the books could get better, I've read them all so far thinking the same thing but they pale in comparison to the tv series. I agree with your review completely but to be honest the books jus become ridiculously far fetched I wish I'd just stuck to watching it on tv.
i love the tv show series so i thought why noot try the books just to see and even tho the book is nothing like the show i like the books
