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Heather ~*dread mushrooms*~'s Reviews > The Awakening
The Awakening (The Vampire Diaries, #1)
by
by
Heather ~*dread mushrooms*~'s review
bookshelves: lj-smith, own, ya, vampires, series, favorites, before-gr, hot-bad-guys, book-boyfriend, 2016
Apr 20, 2011
bookshelves: lj-smith, own, ya, vampires, series, favorites, before-gr, hot-bad-guys, book-boyfriend, 2016
Picture the scene. It's 1996, I'm 12 years old. I'm at the library down the street, perusing the single shelf that makes up the YA section. I find this little paperback that promises deadly love. Vampire brothers, you say? Unspeakable horror, you say? I take the book home and read it in the course of an afternoon. I AM AWESTRUCK. WHAT IS THIS MAGICAL BOOK??? I've never read anything like it.
Immediately I make my dad take me to the bookstore in the mall so he can buy me the rest of the series. I spent the rest of my life (or the next few months) in various bookstores tracking down all L.J. Smith books.
And I've been obsessed ever since. And everyone thought I was weird for liking vampires. But I didn't care! I went on one of those early, early fansites where you could be a keeper of something, and I became a keeper of Damon's ring. I joined some email list of L.J. Smith news, where every email ended with Noblesse Oblige. I own multiple copies of this series.
This may be my favorite series of hers, although I love them all. But this was my gateway drug. I know people don't like Elena because she's selfish and shallow but that doesn't bother me. It's not that I think people should approve of her behavior or anything, but it's rare to see this type of character as a teenage girl. Her behavior wouldn't be out of place for, say, a late twenties/early thirties womanizing rich businessman or something. More power to Elena, I say.
I literally don't understand how people think this is bad. WHAT??? I get that they might not like it, but bad? It has a good buildup of creepy events, a tragic backstory, high school drama, a creepy atmosphere, a haunted house scene, a mysterious Power, and vampires!!! Elena is determined, Bonnie is adorable, Meredith is snarky, Matt is a nice guy, and Stefan is somehow not as bad as I remembered. This was top-notch YA back in the day! It ends on a cliffhanger, but if you're reading the new two-book edition, you get to jump right into The Struggle!
Anyway. I love it. I may have blinders on when it comes to this series but no, obviously I don't, it's amazing.
Damon, you have no idea.
Immediately I make my dad take me to the bookstore in the mall so he can buy me the rest of the series. I spent the rest of my life (or the next few months) in various bookstores tracking down all L.J. Smith books.
And I've been obsessed ever since. And everyone thought I was weird for liking vampires. But I didn't care! I went on one of those early, early fansites where you could be a keeper of something, and I became a keeper of Damon's ring. I joined some email list of L.J. Smith news, where every email ended with Noblesse Oblige. I own multiple copies of this series.
This may be my favorite series of hers, although I love them all. But this was my gateway drug. I know people don't like Elena because she's selfish and shallow but that doesn't bother me. It's not that I think people should approve of her behavior or anything, but it's rare to see this type of character as a teenage girl. Her behavior wouldn't be out of place for, say, a late twenties/early thirties womanizing rich businessman or something. More power to Elena, I say.
I literally don't understand how people think this is bad. WHAT??? I get that they might not like it, but bad? It has a good buildup of creepy events, a tragic backstory, high school drama, a creepy atmosphere, a haunted house scene, a mysterious Power, and vampires!!! Elena is determined, Bonnie is adorable, Meredith is snarky, Matt is a nice guy, and Stefan is somehow not as bad as I remembered. This was top-notch YA back in the day! It ends on a cliffhanger, but if you're reading the new two-book edition, you get to jump right into The Struggle!
Anyway. I love it. I may have blinders on when it comes to this series but no, obviously I don't, it's amazing.
Damon, you have no idea.
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Reading Progress
April 20, 2011
– Shelved
April 20, 2011
– Shelved as:
lj-smith
April 20, 2011
– Shelved as:
own
April 20, 2011
– Shelved as:
ya
April 20, 2011
– Shelved as:
vampires
April 20, 2011
– Shelved as:
series
April 20, 2011
– Shelved as:
favorites
November 22, 2011
– Shelved as:
before-gr
January 3, 2013
– Shelved as:
hot-bad-guys
February 19, 2015
– Shelved as:
book-boyfriend
May 27, 2016
–
Started Reading
May 27, 2016
–
11.23%
"She'd have him, even if it killed her. If it killed both of them, she'd have him.
Get it, girl."
page
31
Get it, girl."
May 27, 2016
–
19.57%
"I know everyone hates on Elena, but I think Meredith is the actual bitch here."
page
54
May 27, 2016
–
63.77%
""Did you come looking for somebody?"
With his eyes on her lips, he murmured, "Oh, yes."
Damon, you fiend!
"
page
176
With his eyes on her lips, he murmured, "Oh, yes."
Damon, you fiend!
"
May 28, 2016
–
85.51%
"Who is this boy standing between us, this prating, mouthing paragon of virtue? I can barely stand the sight of him now. I wish to God that I should never see him again, never hear his voice again!"
Damon is such an ass. I love it."
page
236
Damon is such an ass. I love it."
May 28, 2016
– Shelved as:
2016
May 28, 2016
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-16 of 16 (16 new)
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Lol, I am. :DI'm NOT a fan of the show! I like Ian Somerhalder well enough but his portrayal of Damon is way off from the book.
Good because from what I can tell, I wouldn't like Damon (this role is the reason I don't like this actor). My sister started watching it during her I-even-love-Twilight-phase.
I think he plays it for comedic effect. Book Damon is quieter and dangerous and sophisticated. You would never know he used to be an aristocrat watching Ian's performance.
Mmmmm. Ian Somerhalder.
I've always wanted to read this series and now I really can't wait. Might have to be my next library trip.
I hope you enjoy it, Cai! It's a pretty quick read.
Heather *live on coffee and flowers* wrote: "I think he plays it for comedic effect. Book Damon is quieter and dangerous and sophisticated. You would never know he used to be an aristocrat watching Ian's performance."Muhahahahaha. An aristocrat?! Nope, no hint in the TV show - the comedic effect was lost on me too, sadly.
Well, I'm sorry you don't enjoy the show! I try to ignore it as much as possible except when I need to use gifs, lol. I just pretend the book and the show have nothing to do with each other. :)
Seems to be better that way. At least you seem to be able to enjoy the show nevertheless. That is something.
message 11:
by
Karlyflower *The Vampire Ninja, Luminescent Monster & Wendigo Nerd Goddess of Canada (according to The Hulk)*
(new)
Heh. I'm glad you still loved it, heatherdoll <3
Thank you, Karlypants. :)
I totally agree with your review Heather Crews. I actually came by this book when I found that my stepmom was watching the tv show. We watched some of the show, which I love, and then let me read the books from her bookshelf. It doesn't bother me that the characters aren't built solidly, if you know what I mean. Damon was my favorite character from this series. I can't believe that you have Damon's ring. Lucky you. *pout* May I have it? ;)
Thanks, S! Alas, Damon's ring is lost to some forgotten corner of the internet.
Oh, darn. I'm sure that there are replicas of it. It was worth a try though. :) I was kidding though, because it was yours.
But I completely understand that warm and fuzzy feeling you must have when you dive back into this story, after all: you two have history. :)