The Vampire Diaries: The Awakening and the Struggle

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frankiemckenna, October 24, 2009 (view all comments by frankiemckenna)
I read these books as a YA and really enjoyed them. I was- and still am- usually willing to read anything with nighttime beasties that go bump in the night. It is a YA Fantasy type novel, and delivers on that. I am sure that if the author had meant to write something "realistic" that had a "meatier" storyline, she is well equipped enough for it.
This book shouldn't be compared to neither Meyer's books nor a more "classic" story by Stoker. The former because Smith wrote her books first. The latter because the stories have different intentions all together, so really are like comparing apples to bananas. Stoker's Dracula was a "one hit wonder" that sold because of the popularity of confronting taboos in literature. His intention was to horrify his (adult) readers, rather than present a paranormal romance-type book for young adults. His editor was asleep at the job for that one, because it is truly poorly written. I concur that it is a great story, but it is by no means a great literary masterpiece that other works should be compared to. If you want that, I suggest reading Blake or Keats instead.
Either way, there is no reason to compare books like that. You pick up a YA novel, you should expect it to address things they are interested in. Read an adult novel if that is the content you wish to entertain yourself with.
However, there is nothing wrong with wanting to read a book that is an escape from reality. All books by L.J. Smith were great to read when I was younger. Even as an adult, I have a special place on my shelves for them and I am looking forward to the ones she is finally coming out with now.

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Christy Valentine, September 15, 2009 (view all comments by Christy Valentine)
L. J. Smith's series is, overall, very simplistic and insipid. It's an easy read about a beautiful, popular girl and her brooding vampire boyfriend. That's about it.

Those who read this book or want to will know exactly what they're getting into: The prose is on par with nearly every other YA novel ever written. The heroine and hero are so incredibly gorgeous they could be models and every other character is madly in love with them. The romance is squeezed into a few brief encounters, resulting in Elena pledging her undying love for Stefan before they've shared even a hundred words. Elena's actions are pretty problematic, not simply because Stefan cuts through her hard despondency so easily, but also because she is willing to forsake all her friends and family for a boy with whom she has an obsessive and unrealistic relationship, and the reader is not meant to question the nature of this romance.

There is not much to recommend about this series aside from its quick-readability. It's cliched and vapid, like a story written for a high school English class. It's certainly better than Stephenie Meyer's vampire novels, if only because this series acknowledges the connection between vampirism and sexuality, and Smith probably had an editor, but it offers nothing new or honest.

For those who enjoy one-dimensional YA fiction or devour vampire fiction indiscriminately, this is probably a perfect pick. For those readers who want something meatier and more interesting, it's probably better to go back to Stoker and Lefanu.

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chelee33, March 20, 2008 (view all comments by chelee33)
Easy read. Pretty good at some parts, but a little boring in others. The writing is a little choppy. I did have to reread a couple of parts to understand what was happening.
I wouldn't say it is a must read, but its a quick read to waste some time.

Other books I recommend: The Twilight series, the Uglies series, and the Marked series. I also enjoyed the Blue Blood series.

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Product Details

ISBN:

9780061140976

Author:

Smith, L J

Publisher:

Harper Teen

Author:

by L. J. Smith

Author:

Smith, L. J.

Subject:

Horror & Ghost Stories

Subject:

Love & Romance

Subject:

Brothers

Subject:

Vampires

Subject:

Supernatural

Subject:

Horror 3.99

Subject:

Horror tor and for every person who has one.” <i>-- <i>Philip Yancey, author of What Good is God</i></i>

Subject:

Children s-Scary Stories

Copyright:

2007

Edition Description:

Paperback

Series:

Vampire Diaries

Series Volume:

01

Publication Date:

20070131

Binding:

TRADE PAPER

Grade Level:

from 7

Language:

English

Pages:

512

Dimensions:

9 x 6 x 1.09 in 17.28 oz

Age Level:

from 12