New Obsession!!!

Happy Birthday to me, Happy Birthday to me!!  Ok, it isn't really my birthday, but it feels like I just got a great present!!  

When I was done reading the Twilight series, I wanted to read more, of course.  I started several books, but nothing held my interest like Stephenie Meyer's tales.  Borders, like everyone else, was trying to cash in on the sudden interest in vampires, so they had huge displays set up showcasing other related young adult books.  I took note of the following series: 

Blue Bloods by Melissa de la Cruz

Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris--inspired "True Blood"

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

The Vampire Diaries by L.J. Smith

I hadn't thought much about them for several months.  I looked for a few of them at the local library, but they had waiting lists.  On Tuesday night, we were in Half Price Books and I spotted the first two books in The Vampire Diaries, so I bought them...and read the first one that night.

I finished the second book last night and I'm hooked!  They aren't as good as Twilight, but they are a nice time-waster until Meyer gives in and writes some more.  There are some STRIKING similiarities to Twilight, but I suppose there is only so much one can imagine about vampires.

The characters aren't as developed as Meyer's, probably because these books are shorter.  Meyer is very fond of building the back story and giving you everyone's history.  It slows the books down in some places, but I was always grateful to have that extra information that gave the characters more depth.  

Smith's books are darker and focus more on the supernatural aspect and a little less on the love story.  The love story is, of course, the reason we loved Twilight. Smith's books are very sexy, though!  Hot vampire brothers fighting over the same girl!!  HE-llo!!!   The "bad" vampire in these books does actually kill people and occassionally the "good" vampire does, too, though he prefers to be a "vegetarian" like the Cullens.  While there hasn't been any SEX yet, there are a lot of innuendos and near nudity and you know the characters are totally thinking about it, whereas Meyer's books purposely shied away from that.

A lot of the vampiric lore is different from Twilight, but I will now point out that Smith's first book in this series was published in 1991.  Only after the success of Twilight were they rereleased under the Harper Teen label.  The series was on the New York Times Bestseller List, but I don't know if that was with the first printing or the most recent.  And now I present to you, a passage that sounds an awful lot like the "meadow scene" from Twilight (chapter 13: Confessions).  

The Vampire Diaries, "The Awakening", chapter 14:

"That's why you've been so distant with me, isn't it?" she said, holding out her hands to him.  "Because you're afraid of what you might do.  But there's no need for that any longer."

"Isn't there?"  ... You think there's no reason to be afraid?... You don't know what I've thought about you."

Elena kept her voice level.  "You don't want to hurt me, " she said positively.

"No?  There have been times, watching you in public, when I could scarcely bear not to touch you.  When I was so tempted by your white throat... Times when I thought I would grab you and force you right there in the school."

"There's no need to force me," said Elena.  "I've made my decision, Stefan," she said softly, holding his eyes.  "I want to."

He swallowed thickly.  "You don't know what you're asking for."  ... He was standing rigid, his face furious, his eyes anguished.  "If I once let go, what's to keep me from changing you, or killing you?  The passion is stronger than you can imagine.  Don't you understand yet what I am, what I can do?"

She stood there and looked at him quietly, her chin raised slightly.  It seemed to enrage him.

"Haven't you seen enough yet?  Or do I have to show you more?  Can't you picture what I might do to you?"  He strode over to the cold fireplace and snatched out a long piece of wood, thicker than both Elena's wrists together.  With one motion, he snapped it in two like a match stick.  "Your fragile bones," he said.

Across the room was a pillow from the bed; he caught it up and with a slash of his nails left the silk cover in ribbons.  "Your soft skin."

Huh, huh?  :)  ANYway, still good stuff.  If you've read all of the series listed above, here is another list.  It sounds like several of the series will be turned into television shows or movies, so that everyone can get their share of the vampire pie (not that I'm complaining.)  I am going to check out the first season of "True Blood" and then the new season starts June 14 on HBO.  And then, I will be counting the days until "The Vampire Diaries" comes to the CW this fall!  I can tell there are already some changes made from the books, but it still looks pretty hot!!  Check out the preview below and then tell me you aren't going to watch that.  I predict that my sister will be over at my house at least once a week to partake in this joyous-ness.  Now, if only I can get my mother interested....