It's been some time since I watched Death Note, but what I remember was that the series really followed the books, for as much as that is possible in the translation to TV. I liked both the books and the series. (Apparently there also is a movie with actors (no animation) but I haven't seen it yet).
Yes, it's starting to scare me. I had one goal for 2014, reducing the TBR, and instead I more than doubled it now that I've got an eReader and everything. And I was quite busy with university, so I allowed myself to buy more 'comfort books' but haven't had the time yet to read them...