what are the differences between the book and the show?

The story is developed differently. Damon is not in love with Katherine, he likes Elena. Katherine is the sweet innocent girl and Elena has a strong personallity. Damon is a lot better in the books, he's my fav character. I believe you should read the books they're awesome!

Ok everyone forgot that Meredith does not exist in the show! and so many many other differences. The show is amazing as are the books but they are almost uncomparable as the same story. Everything is really different. Also Tyler is a smallwood they are the founders of Fells Church which is the name of the town. In the books the actually "diary" parts are a lot more important in the show I havent seen Elena write in her diary since the first show. Which maybe they should keep up with that because is it in the name after all. In the books strong vampires can turn into animals Katherine turns into an owl and a tiger. Damon can turn to crow and a wolf. Elena is a completely different person in the books she's kind of an a**hole really. I like Elena in the show a lot better. The whole deal w the tomb and other vamps doesnt exist so no pearl or anna or any of the others. No Uncle Mason. There is no Sue Carson as in the books. I kinda feel like Caroline is playing that part in the show now. Carolines supposed to be her enemy in the books. Alaric Saltzman dates Elenas other best friend Meredith not her aunt. Her aunt is older and has a fiance. Of course there is little Margaret Ann and no Jeremy, but i'm lad for Jeremy cause he is a sexy beast. They havent brought up Klaus yet, hopefully they work him in somehow and do it right. He was Katherines maker. The brothers are from Italy originally not Mystic Falls. Um Tyler looks different and is more of a creep in the books but is still a Werewolf. Elena becomes a vampire in the books. That may or may not happen in show, no one knows at this point. Bonnies totally different. Matts about the same. Vickys story was totally different. Damon is way more diabolical in the books, like they (him and Stefan) don't get along like that at all. He goes after Elena alot. Damon and Elena hook up some what. Stefan is pretty similar in books as to the show. What else.. Bonnies not exactly a witch but more of just a psychic she has visions and spirits speak through her. Like the town founder Honoria and that whole deal in the tomb. Ya everyone else covered the rest. Just everything is different. But read the books they are awesome! OH but not the new books! the ones she just released, they are horrible horrible garbage and the woman has seriously gone senile I couldnt even get through them she ruined the whole thing. Just read the original 4, trust me on that. While youre at it read the Forbidden Game if you can find it.

In the books Elena has blue eyes and blond hair, Bonnie has red billowy hair with brown eyes, Elena has a little sister Margaret in the book, Caroline has green eyes and aburn hair, in the books Elena and Caroline are former friends and current rivals, her aunt is called Judith in the books, Stefan and Damon were born Renaissance Italy in the 1500's, the town they live in is called Fells Church, virginia not Mystic Falls as it is in the show

in the books elena is blonde, not a brownhead,in the books bonnie is a redhead, but in the show she's a cute african american girl. in show stefan has lite brown hair, but in the books he has black hair. in the books elena has a lil sister, but in the show she has a brother, a year, or two younger than her. in the books stefan lives in a boardinghouse , but in the show he lives in a house with his uncle. in the books elena has another friend named meredith,but in the show elena's friends are just bonnie and caroline. plus in the books matt and bonnie have different last names.

The show is more Twilighty, as the book is original.

I wish they didn't make it so similar so that people would watch it because of the Twilight resemblance. I bet it would be a greater show if it stuck to the book a bit closer.

besides what the other comments have said:

-Zach never existed

-Carolines Mom was not mentioned to much and her relatioship with damon was never mentioned

-Mr. Tanner died at the halloween party instead of the football game

-Vickie was not killed by stefan or at the halloween party

-Vickie was not turned into a vampire

-Alaric Saltzman was introduced differently.... in the books he was more approchble and embraced troubled teens

-Logan Fell was non existant

-Aunt Judith was older and about to marry Robert but in the book it was Aunt Jenna

-Tyler Smallwood in the book was portrayed as a bad guy and Elena went to a dance with him to make stefan jealous and assaulted her. Stefan of course came to Elenas rescue

-Bonnie and Emily never happened (with the crystal)

-Damon never told the story of how Katherine was underneath the church when it was burned and needed to be set free.

-MANY MORE... if you want more you can ask... these are a few of the major ones

*************the books are definately worth reading. they explain so much about the show and the characters. I am the type who normally likes the show better than the book but the books are outstanding and so is the show. i like the books more than the twilight books and i am partially obsessed with twilight. they are great and you will benefit from them in the show!!!!

xoxo naleyluv23 xoxo

Definately. The books have lots of differences and it goes deeper with the details of the story. In my opinion, both, the show and the books are amazing but at the end, i believe the books are better.

i got utterly confused (:
i read the books before watching the show (when i was still on TVD 1 & 2) and i though i either missed something & or happened in the later books.
but this really cleared it up,
i personally thought they made is more market-able, but if you have read the books it twists ur brain a little bit.
people who havent read the books, READ THEM (:

thanks for posting this question :)

This is a 2 year old question, but I feel like answering because I just started reading the books, and I'm a big fan of the tv show. I was soo surprised at the many differences. I'd have to say both are totally different stories in a sense.
They changed up some characters to add extra storylines into the tv show, like Elena's sibling. In the book she's a 4 year old sister, in the show he's a teenage brother closer to her age.

Elena's look is different. I think in the show they make her more approachable to everyone I guess, and not the stereotype since in the book she was a popular blonde(queen of her school)

The Salvatore brothers are vastly different ha ha. Not originating from America, but from Europe(Italy) and much older than the characters in the tv show! :O Daman having dark eyes, while Stephan has green eyes. Their hatred for each other is very very strong, and apparently was evident even before they met Katherine.
Katherine was around their age back when they were humans, her dad was still alive, and she was a freshly made vampire. This was in the 1500s as someone else said.
She was a German and not from that other European country.
Also what really bowled me over, was in the books, Elena had another close friend plus Bonnie(who was a redhead), named Meredith who I really wish I could have seen come to life in the tv series.

Over all, the only character that seemed the same lol, was Matt; as in looks and personality. Oh but the difference being Vickie wasn't his sibling.

Bonnie has a big family it seems. Both parents, so far(from what I've read) two other sisters.
As does brunette Caroline, both parents married, and she has a brother.

Then the names of the town; Fell's Church in the books, and Mystic Falls in the show.
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I'm really enjoying the books too. I'm seeing it kind of as different from the tv show. The tv show is its own thing with some similar named characters and title lol, but that's it.

bonnie has no sister in the tv-show(Not That we Know of )
Elena Chooses Damon not Stefan in the tv-show
there is no Power of Destruction in the tv-show( not yet any way) there is no kat or shinichi or Sue or misao or etc in the tv-show yet and there is no Malach in the tv show yet
as you can see books and tv-show are in random order

Elena is a brunette but she's is a blonde in the book.
Tyler Lockwood is called Tyler littlewood in the book.
In the bookl Stefan appeared in a red Porsche not in the show. And so many more!!