YA Buddy Readers' Corner ♥ discussion

Elena Gilbert is a pretty, popular teen who was orphaned when her parents were killed in an accident. Despite the tragedy, her life has always been normal and wholesome. Until the beginning of the school year, when two new vampire brothers show up to shake the peaceful universe at Robert E. Lee High.

The Awakening (The Vampire Diaries #1) by L.J. Smith will be our 2nd GBR for July 2020.

Please read at your own pace, and hide any spoilers ☺ You are welcome to join at any time during the month ☺

Happy Reading Everybody!

Pre-Reading Questions -

Anybody got any thoughts on this one before we start?

Has anyone read anything similar to this before?

Anybody read anything else by this author previously?

I'm pretty new to goodreads and even more to group or group buddies but I saw that this book was on the list and I've been meaning to re-read. It's been years (before the show got was popular) since I read the book, is that ok for me to participate?

25 percent

(view spoiler)[ I love that Elena is feeling what lots of others feel right now - rejection. She seems shallow and pampered. Not my usual kind of heroine.

It’s bothersome to me Elena wants to do her report on the Italian Renaissance just to own Stefan. I mean, girl bye already. I can’t even imagine I’m going to like this girl any more later than I do now, which is not at all.

What was following them and talking through Bonnie!? (hide spoiler)]

50 percent

(view spoiler)[Ok so now Stefan wants Elena, but only because he can smell her blood and she looks like his old crush I think.

Now Elena is going to pretend she got it going on with an older French dude to make Stefan jealous and to solidify her social position. Really, just shoot me now. Lol, Caroline came to the dance with Stefan.

Stefan is saving her from getting raped.

And now just like that they’re in forever love with one kiss?
(hide spoiler)]

75 percent

(view spoiler)[ Poor Vickie. Whatever it was got her good.
Ooh, is another vampire in town, and is he compelling Elena? Is he the one looking at her through the crow? Is it Damon?

Knew nothing good would come of a haunted house, and now Mr Tanner is dead. (hide spoiler)]

Done!

(view spoiler)[ Tyler the rapist now wants to blame everything on Stefan. Sour apples there.
And now she caught him ravaging a dove.

Katherine was a vamp and turned both brothers!
Lol! Katherine wanted a reverse harem. But she killed herself!

I was super unimpressed with this book. (hide spoiler)]

Stephanie wrote: "I'm pretty new to goodreads and even more to group or group buddies but I saw that this book was on the list and I've been meaning to re-read. It's been years (before the show got was popular) sinc..."

I think it’s fine to participate! I’m sure the show is probably different than the book anyway.

Stephanie wrote: "I'm pretty new to goodreads and even more to group or group buddies but I saw that this book was on the list and I've been meaning to re-read. It's been years (before the show got was popular) sinc..."

Feel free, we're happy to have you ☺

Awesome thanks!

I just started the book, I’m 25% through. Elena seems very possessive-aggressive (if that’s even a thing but it feels right here lol ). I do remember liking the friendships Elena has in the book better than the show.

Let the scariness begin! 😱

How can I hide spoilers?

Stephanie, you type < spoiler > (without spaces) then your spoiler comment, then < / spoiler > at the end

I read this book about 10 times when I was young, so I'm excited to reread it!

ch 4 (view spoiler)[ I like that Stefan shut that teacher down ha. Caroline is definitely a frenemy, but I like Bonnie and Meredith. Elena is kind of self centered and thinks a lot of herself (hide spoiler)]

Deana ~ Organically grown, Fae dusted wrote: "25 percent
(view spoiler)[ I love that Elena is feeling what lots of others feel right now - rejection. She seems shallow and pampered. Not my usual kind of heroine.

It’s bothersome to me Elena wants to do her ..." (hide spoiler)]

Yes! (view spoiler)[ Elena isn't great and she keeps going after Stefan and it's sort of embarrassing (hide spoiler)]

I have mixed feelings about the book....specifically about Elena. I first read this book back in 2008-2009 so it’s been over a DECADE 😱 lol So I think that my maturity level is not what it was back then and I’m seeing this with different eyes...Still love Stefan and Damon, iffy about Elena. How does everyone else feel about her?

ch 8 (view spoiler)[ Elena makes terrible decisions. Lucky Stefan saved her, but now they're in love or whatever? Okay sure lol. What happened to Vicki?? (hide spoiler)]

Deana ~ Organically grown, Fae dusted wrote: "50 percent

(view spoiler)[Ok so now Stefan wants Elena, but only because he can smell her blood and she looks like his old crush I think.

Now Elena is going to pretend she got it going on with an older French ..." (hide spoiler)]

Yeah no kidding (view spoiler)[ they both have poor motivations. Just because she looks like his old love doesn't mean he loves her. And she knows nothing about him, mostly likes him because he's new I think (hide spoiler)]

Stephanie wrote: "I have mixed feelings about the book....specifically about Elena. I first read this book back in 2008-2009 so it’s been over a DECADE 😱 lol So I think that my maturity level is not what it was back..."

Same! I think I read this in 2000 and of course loved them all then. Now I'm irritated that Elena is self centered and the love at first sight is ridiculous.
But it still has a place in my heart (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)]

Noob question...in the comments I keep seeing [spoilers removed] and it seems like Aly and Deana can see them? Am I missing something?

Are you not able to click on them? Or do you mean when a comment replies to another?

Usually when you reply to someone's comment that's tagged spoilers, it will say spoilers removed so that they're hidden in your comment. Otherwise the top couple lines in italics might show the spoiler above your reply

Aly wrote: "Are you not able to click on them? Or do you mean when a comment replies to another?

Usually when you reply to someone's comment that's tagged spoilers, it will say spoilers removed so that they'r..."

My mistake, the iOS app doesn't show links for the spoilers, just got on my computer and it's there. Thanks, Aly! :)

Okay, cool.

ch 12 (view spoiler)[ Uh oh, Stefan is in trouble now. Pretty sure he didn't hurt anyone, seems like he's being set up. (hide spoiler)]

Deana ~ Organically grown, Fae dusted wrote: "75 percent

(view spoiler)[Poor Vickie. Whatever it was got her good.
Ooh, is another vampire in town, and is he compelling Elena? Is he the one looking at her through the crow? Is it Damon?

Knew nothing good ..." (hide spoiler)]

Yeah (view spoiler)[ I feel really bad for Vickie. Tanner was a huge dick, but didn't deserve to be murdered like that (hide spoiler)]

finished (view spoiler)[ Kind of anticlimactic ending, but I love Damon and this makes me want to read the next one.
It was so messed up of Katharine to pick both brothers and then kill herself, what did she think would happen? (hide spoiler)]

Deana ~ Organically grown, Fae dusted wrote: "Done!

(view spoiler)[Tyler the rapist now wants to blame everything on Stefan. Sour apples there.
And now she caught him ravaging a dove.

Katherine was a vamp and turned both brothers!
Lol! Katherine wanted ..." (hide spoiler)]

It's very early 90's for sure (view spoiler)[ I've definitely grown as a reader since I last read this. I still like Damon and might read more of the series (hide spoiler)]