A few weeks ago, the lovely sisters at Rather Barefoot Than Bookless (a name which I love, by the way), were hosting a couple of giveways, open to all readers 'round the world. I was the lucky winner of two books from The Vampire Diaries series by L. J. Smith. One of my best friends, Liz, is smitten with the TV series adapted from the books, and she got me interested in watching them--that Ian Somerhalder is so hard to watch, isn't he? Actually, the whole show is nothing but eye candy, no matter what your preferences and inclinations. When the opportunity came for me to read these two books, it seemed quite fun.
Thank you, Cecilia, Jessica, and Sandra for hosting the contest and being willing to send these by international post from Sweden to the US! The books arrived last weekend and I have read them both now. They're *quite* different from the tv show, most notably in the characters of Katherine and Elena, and in Stefan & Damon's provenance in Renaissance Italy rather than Civil War-era American South. These are two books that I would not normally have ever picked up on my own, but since I won them in a giveaway I read them for my guilty pleasure. They're very quick reads, and though the books aren't particularly well written, the pacing is good. I don't think I'll be on the lookout for more of The Vampire Diaries--unless they just show up in my PO Box once more!
These books came out when I was a teen and I loved them! My friends and I seriously could never get enough of LJ Smith. I haven't reread them as an adult -- I'm a little afraid they'd not live up to my teen adoration at this point. I am glad that a new generation of teens have access to them. My own teenage sisters are now reading my hand me down copies.
ReplyDeleteMe too! And so when my new posting goes up today you will have to visit. I am doing a give-away of The Literary Ladies Guide to the Writing Life. I felt like I was visiting Jane Austen, George Sand, Madeleine L'Engle and others as I turned the pages.
ReplyDeleteHope you are well and happy.
Sharon Lovejoy Writes from Sunflower House and a Little Green Island
I haven't read these yet, but I really want to. They sound sooo awesome :) I also love the covers.
ReplyDeleteI seriously just read the first in this series. It was enjoyable enough. I'd say 'better than Twilight,' but that kind of says zero, doesn't it?
ReplyDeleteI agree the writing isn't the best in these books, and they are very different for the show, but the plots are amazing - more in the following books than in the first two, and it becomes clear later on where the TV show writers get the ideas.
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