The vampire diaries books?

The TV show is not like the books AT ALL. They have the characters names and stuff, but the rest of it is pretty much all made up by the TV show producers. Elena is very different from the show, shes got blonde hair and blue eyes. Stefan and Damon to me are pretty much the same, but they a way older in the books. and whoever told you Damon doesn't play a big part in the books is WRONG. He is in all the books, but his bigest roles are in The Return books. I read the books then watched the show and I thought it was pretty good even though it dosent follow the book plot. I imagine Damon as being Ian Somerhalder in the books too so it shouldn't spoil your intrest :D