Hello once again, everyone! :) Welcome to another installment of Fangtastic Friday, a weekly meme started by Beth Ann Masarik that allows us to talk about everything vampire-ish! :} Today, I'm expressing my opinion to this very simple question:
Vampire Diaries - Books or CW show?
I read the first book of this series when it first was published circa 1995. I was an impressionable teenager at the time and I fell in love with the Salvatore brothers and Elena. Even though I only read the first book at the time, 15 years later, I read the full four books that began this series. I loved them. I love L.J. Smith anyway (mostly because no matter what, her books have a happy ending), but TVD was just amazing to me. I loved the conflict of the books, the pacing, everything that happened, even how Elena eventually ended up as a vampire. And of course, I loved the love triangle (because I'm a weird girl like that). I was smitten with both Stefan and Damon when I read these books and I really enjoyed how the author introduced both of them in the beginning and how the relationships fluctuation throughout the novels (though of course, Elena and Stefan always ended up together).
When I found out The Vampire Diaries was coming to the CW, I was super excited. Like everyone else, I counted down the days to the first episode. I watched it with bated breath, having just read the first book a few months prior, I had a good idea of how everything was supposed to go. And then, 45 minutes into the show, Damon showed up in Stefan's bedroom. I hated it. That whole scene happened on page 244 of the first book - how could they have it in the first episode?! I lamented about everything that was left out and debated watching the following week.
Let me just say, I'm very glad I stuck with it. Since that somewhat disappointing first episode, I have learned that a lot has to change when a book goes to Hollywood (whether in movie or TV). I can honestly say I've enjoyed watching the show on the CW 100 times more than reading the books. In fact, now the books seemed too slow and a little dull compared to everything that has happened on the show!
What's your take on it? Have you read the books? (I'll admit, I haven't read any of the new books that have popped up since the show began.) How do you feel they compare to the show? Which do you like better?
Happy Friday!
EM
