Pages: 240, paperback
ISBN: 9780340945018
Publisher: Hodder Children's Books
Release Date: July 5th, 2007 (first published September 28th, 1991)
Genre: YA / romance / paranormal / vamps
Source: library
Premise:
Elena is the school beauty, but she's bored, until a new boy turns up in her class. Stefan is dark and mysterious - and she's determined to get to know him better. But Stefan is just as determined to resist her...until a series of attacks in the area terrify the town and Stefan is held responsible. Elena is the only one who offers to help and, falling in love with her, Stefan tells her his terrible story. He is a vampire, on the run from his evil brother, Damon, who doesn't share Stefan's qualms about drinking human blood. And Damon is the one Stefan suspects of really being behind the recent attacks...Can Elena help prove his innocence - without revealing his secret?
(Taken from Goodreads)
Buy it From: Book Depository / Amazon
So, I'd been seeing all this fuss about the TV show, and when I finally got around to to watching it, I was blown away. It was really good--well, at least compared to my expectations of it. After a few episodes, I decided that I should check out the book that it was based on.
Now, this book is rather poor compared to the show. Maybe I think that because I was exposed to the show first. I don't know. But despite the poor quality of the book, I found it ridiculously entertaining.
Elena is a bit of a horrid bitch in the book. She sets her eyes on Stefan and decides that she must have him despite already having a boyfriend. And, despite showing absolutely no interest in her, Elena is still set on 'winning' him, so to speak.
I found her to be a really difficult character to relate to. I just kept hoping that something horrible and painful would happen to her, because her overall attitude towards people is just atrocious. She acts like the stereotypical cheerleader bitch cut-out.
The writing is nothing special, the only redeeming features being that it's really quick and easy to read. You could probably read the entire book in an hour or two.
I noticed a lot of similarities between this and Twilight, which was a bit jarring, though it was interesting, since this book was released, what, 15 years before Twilight?
I ended up reading the rest of the series, for continuation's sake, and man, they read like a cheesy vampire drama for teens... Oh wait, that's exactly what they are. Nevermind.
It's hardly quality literature, but there's something weirdly addictive about them.
10 Second Review: The original Twilight. Cheesy, with a bitchy main character. This is a quick read, that's a good filler for a bad day.
Cover Art: 3
Plot: 2
Characters: 2
Writing: 2
Level of Interest: 3
Total Rating: 2.5/5 stars
I adored VD when I read it in middle school, but I have come to see the error of my ways haha... Glad you like the TV show, I've tried a bit of it, but it wasn't my thing.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, though, I think the book series gets progressively worse and worse ._. And I know what you mean about the Twilight similarities. I was like... Stephenie Meyer, you little copier.
Lovely review!
Yeah, I think I would have liked this a lot more if I was still 14 and broody.
ReplyDeleteAnd the series does actually get worse. It ends up feeling like a bad American daytime drama featuring vampires. Ick.
Thanks!