Hey all,

Just wondering if anyone else is watching The Vampire Diaries on the CW and/or read the books by L.J. Smith :) The show starts up again this evening!

Pittsburgh, PA

I havent seen it but Ive heard about it. Is it good?

The first couple episodes aren’t the best, but it gets a lot better.

When the show first started I was watching mainly because I had read the books in middle school (the first book The Awakening was actually out in 1991) and was attached to them. The books are good, but I actually like the show more (after getting past the initial shock of a few differences in the characters, etc.).

If you want to find out more about the show, here’s the IMDb link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1405406/

Pittsburgh, PA

I’ve heard about this show, and I’m a sucker for vampires (teehee.) I have not read the books yet, but my guess would be they’re the Babysitters Club version of vampire book series (don’t mock, I used to love those when I was in middle school!). Are the books more like Twilight or more like the Southern Vampire Mysteries?

TV and I don’t get along much. My idea of TV is the Youtube links Orlando sends me occasionally. BUT, if the books are decend and I read them, I’d give this show a go afterwards. I’m looking into True Blood now that I’ve read a few of the Southern Vampire Mysteries. Gotta say, though, books beat the show but I’ve only seen the first two episodes… Except I’ll admit, Bill Compton’s yummy in the show…

San Francisco, CA

I’ve heard about this show, and I’m a sucker for vampires (teehee.) I have not read the books yet, but my guess would be they’re the Babysitters Club version of vampire book series (don’t mock, I used to love those when I was in middle school!). Are the books more like Twilight or more like the Southern Vampire Mysteries?

I haven’t read any of the Southern Vampire Mysteries, but I would say the Vampire Diaries books are different than Twilight (I have only read the first one and watched the first movie). For one thing, L.J. Smith stays truer to vampire lore (i.e. vampires die in the sun, can’t go into homes without being invited in, etc.) and the main character (Elena) starts off kind of stuck up, but grows as a character and becomes more selfless through the series. There is a love triangle involving her and two vampire brothers, Stefan and Damon, but there is more to the books than that. The tv show is different from the books in that they made Elena more likable from the start, the Damon side of the triangle hasn’t manifested yet (but probably will eventually… maybe in a later season), there are added characters, more plot lines… Some of the characters are pretty true to the book, like Stefan, Matt (a friend of Elena’s and ex), etc. but that’s about all that’s the same. If you read them and start watching, you’ll see. You don’t have to read the books though to appreciate the show.

TV and I don’t get along much. My idea of TV is the Youtube links Orlando sends me occasionally. BUT, if the books are decend and I read them, I’d give this show a go afterwards. I’m looking into True Blood now that I’ve read a few of the Southern Vampire Mysteries. Gotta say, though, books beat the show but I’ve only seen the first two episodes… Except I’ll admit, Bill Compton’s yummy in the show…

I’ve heard good things about True Blood, but like you will probably want to try out a book or two first. Who is the author? Haha and I don’t watch much tv either actually… just The Office, the news and kids’ programs on PBS. (I catch The Vampire Diaries online because we don’t have cable.) Oh and if you’re looking for yummy, there is plenty of that on the show! ;)

Pittsburgh, PA

Oh yes, Yummies are always good! :-P

The Vampire Southern Mysteries, I think now they’re actually re-named the True Blood Mysteries or something like that, are written by Charlaine Harris. She, too, sticks to original vampire lore (inviting to house, sunlight, garlic, silver, etc) except she’s created a whole other universe in which Vampires have “come out of the coffin” and live among humans and drink synthetic blood. There are also other supernatural beings roaming Earth such as shapeshifters, werewolves, supernatural powers, mythical creatures and all that. So far I’ve enjoyed them. They’re definitely written for a more mature audience than Twilighth, some adult content in there heh.

The show is very close to the books,but they’ve definitely taken some liberty like creating a new character to be the main character’s best friend, when she’s more of a loner in the books.

Thanks for the info on Vampire Diaries, now I have to check them out!

San Francisco, CA

The Vampire Diaries starts up again next week, Thursday March 25! Here is a “trailer” for that episode:

Pittsburgh, PA

Just thought I’d bump this to see if anyone else is watching. :p

Season 2 has been great so far (just two episodes in… third one airs Thursday at 8/7 C on the CW).

Pittsburgh, PA