In a new interview on MTV.com Stephenie Meyer, the author of the popular “Twilight” novels, discusses Harry Potter author J. K. Rowling along with the similarities she finds between the “Twilight” and “Harry Potter” series. While Mrs. Meyer notes she has not yet had the opportunity to meet her fellow author, she does say she “would love to sit down and talk with her.” She continues, noting the fact that while both series are hugely popular among younger readers, comparing one series to the other is something she finds difficult to do. She states:
“The interesting thing about the comparison is that I think you can compare my fans to her fans more easily [than me to her]. I do think that we both have people who are just really really enthusiastic, and will come miles to see you and be involved, and everybody really cares about our characters. But the [’Harry Potter’ and ‘Twilight’] stories are just so different.”
“J.K. Rowling’s audience is everybody, so that means we all have a piece of her audience,” Meyer laughed. “It’s terribly flattering to be compared to her, but there’s never going to be another J.K. Rowling; that’s a phenomenon that’s not gonna happen again.”
Finally, Mrs. Meyer goes on to talk more on topics she would like to speak with J. K. Rowling about if given the opportunity, including Jo’s thoughts of the Harry Potter films, her fans, and her experience of being a popular writer. As readers will remember, actor Robert Pattinson (Cedric Diggory) has been cast as leading man Edward Cullen in the upcoming “Twilight” film. All three previously released novels in the “Twilight” series are available for purchase in our Cauldron Shop.
Once again, I don’t tell you not to like it but to know that it is not great literature. How many time will I have to repeat this ? Until you understand it. Every book/film/music has its bad and good reviews. That’s how the world works. (And it really relate too much to the Amazon Reviews Problem o_o)
What does make a bad book is plot/characters/style…etc. And this what we have the right (and duty) to criticise.
” What do you mean by that? If something is very popular and widely enjoyed by many many people, surely that means its good right? All those people can’t be wrong right? “
You know this is a logical fallacy, right ? Something popular and widely enjoyed in our times when everyone can publish whatever s/he wants is not a sign of qood quality !
Let’s take an exemple that shall prove this point :
The Harlequin books. Popular, millions are sold, widely enjoyed by readers all over the world.
Does that means they’re good ? A clue : No. I don’t think anyone with even the tiniest bit of common sense would not say that Harlequin is good literature.
Try to step away from the ‘I like it so it’s gooood’ and the ‘It sold millions so it’s gooood’ argument, it’s null and void for every medium in the actual present.
Studios always choose good literature to make fadaptations and it’s not because of the amount of money they could make with it.
As if. (Think of Eragon.)
Pixie : Well, I think anyone has its own levels of tolerance towards characters and their possible ‘sueishness’. I can see a bit the very subtle defaults. It’s not enough for my liking but if it for yours, it’s a good thing :)
In the end, it’s ‘to each his own’. We can like the books we want, even if they’re not the ‘best thing ever’ ;)
CAIN: I never said that Twlight was great literature! In fact i said the opposite. I KNOW its not perfect writing or great literature but does that mean its a bad book? No of course not! Its still good enough that lots of people love it and continue to read the rest of the series. The story is one that lots of people enjoy and appreciate, wheather the writing is perfect or not. Its obviously not terrible literature or else why would so many people like it. I would consider Twilight a great story with above average writing skills. The more exciting scenes in the book are actually quite well written to be honest but then there are chapters that can be boring (e.g. the first couple of chapters of Twilight are not good at all but once you get into it, its really hard to put it down). For a love story, its very exciting and compelling. Not like some awfull love stories out there that are 100% boring and pointless.
I just finished reading Twilight because both PotterCast and MuggleCast people had recommended the series…I did enjoy the book, however, I have to agree that it seemed like a cross between “Interview with a Vampire” and Harlequin romance novels. Having avidly read all of the above at some point in my life, IMO the HP books are by far the best. They certainly have more depth and detail, as well as better writing.
Having said that, it is entirely possible to enjoy Twilight for what it is—a story about a damsel in (frequent) distress who is always saved at the last moment by her adoring admirer, who also happens to be the world’s most handsome 17 year old.
Did you see the latest interview regarding Twilight and Harry Potter? It is soooo absurd!!!! It calls our favorite wizard wimpy!! The actors were asked whether the vampires or the wizards would win and the actrees who plays Alice said that the vampires would kick ass!!! Now I am a Twilight fan, but after that interview I am not so sure. Go to www.twilightlexiconblog.com for the link to see how horrible it is!
i completely agree. i just finished reading the first Twilight book yesterday and it was pretty good. it started off a little slow and i got a little annoyed because the writing is a little confusing because she doesn’t use as much description as JKR does so it’s harder to imagine exactly what the scene looks like. but once you adjust to that it’s a really good story and i can’t wait to read books 2 and 3 and probably 4 when it comes out. She’s also writing a companion book to Twilight that will be from Edward’s point of view and i read a preview of it and it sounds like it will be even better than the first book because Edward is pretty interesing.
I decided to give the Twilight series a chance after reading a bit about it lately, and I am not impressed. Not only is the story slow, but I cannot for the life of me fathom why all of the male characters fall for the lead female character, when she’s not only annoying, not not likable at all. If I’m to buy the fact that she’s so irresistible, she had better be pretty extraordinary, but she’s not. She’s rude, she lacks charisma, and she’s just plain mean. Why should I root for this girl when there’s no reason to like her? And I don’t understand the comparisons to Harry Potter. That is just an insult to JKR, who is far better by leaps and bounds. IMO, there is no comparison. HP is a modern day classic, the Twilight series is mediocre at best.
Hey guys! Could you do a favor for me? go to http://www.twilightlexiconblog.com/?p=771#comments
Now these are the comments that TwiHards who are also HP fans gave to the same article that we are arguing about! Can you spot the difference? My favorite comment:
Leggers:
Stephanie Meyer + JK ROWLING= explosion of awesomeness
That is my dream right there.
THEY ACTUALLY AREN’T FIGHTING AND SAYING THAT JK ROWLING AND BOTH SERIS ARE KOOL! Wow what a difference than on here! But as on here they are also saying that they can’t be compared because they are too different! They are not bashing, they are not arguing, they did not turn it into a “Who is better Rowling or Meyer” page! PLEASE lets be a little more mature and stop fighting!
Why is it always immature to debate ? There’s nothing unhealthy in a calm and well-argumentated debate.
For my part, I was not comparing the two authors. It was never my point since Stephenie Meyer never brought it up. The two series don’t come from the same genre, there not to be compared ;) I was arguing a whole different point.
Jenn, I had quite the same reaction to you to the book and to its main character. I hate the ‘everyone was in love with her’ plot device is just so common and undeserved in that case.
The only people who like “Twilight” are tweens who love bad fan fic and fantasizing about gary stu vampires and middle aged women who love bad fan fic and fantasizing about gary stu vampires.
Laura: I bet you only say that because you are a tween who loves bad fan fics! WE all know Fanfics are annoying is all get out! and we all know how much tween can be annoying. Yeah so what if they Like twilight. It shows they are pretty cool in all their annoyingness. As for the middle aged women… yea so ur right about them.
OK I love how pathetic Cain is for keeping this up. Debras right, D+B do have class for stopping. They didnt give up, they left because they wanted this to stop, and they probably couldnt stand arguing with a loser. I think that I should say the same thing about Charlie, but she hasnt posted in a while. Cain STOP! YOUVE said your word. Youve said your word countless times. YOuve repeated yourself many times, and if you think you can persuade those opponents the millionth time youve repeated yourself, you are crazy!NO one wins! No one Loses! Every one has their opinions, and their opinions about othere opinions! Dont you (Cain) have better things to do than argue with people you have never met, on a fan site?This has gone on too long, and Cain, you arent helping.
Kerrie :
Once again, I don’t tell you not to like it but to know that it is not great literature. How many time will I have to repeat this ? Until you understand it. Every book/film/music has its bad and good reviews. That’s how the world works. (And it really relate too much to the Amazon Reviews Problem o_o) What does make a bad book is plot/characters/style…etc. And this what we have the right (and duty) to criticise.
” What do you mean by that? If something is very popular and widely enjoyed by many many people, surely that means its good right? All those people can’t be wrong right? “
You know this is a logical fallacy, right ? Something popular and widely enjoyed in our times when everyone can publish whatever s/he wants is not a sign of qood quality !
Let’s take an exemple that shall prove this point :
The Harlequin books. Popular, millions are sold, widely enjoyed by readers all over the world.
Does that means they’re good ? A clue : No. I don’t think anyone with even the tiniest bit of common sense would not say that Harlequin is good literature.
Try to step away from the ‘I like it so it’s gooood’ and the ‘It sold millions so it’s gooood’ argument, it’s null and void for every medium in the actual present.
Studios always choose good literature to make fadaptations and it’s not because of the amount of money they could make with it.
As if. (Think of Eragon.)Pixie : Well, I think anyone has its own levels of tolerance towards characters and their possible ‘sueishness’. I can see a bit the very subtle defaults. It’s not enough for my liking but if it for yours, it’s a good thing :)
In the end, it’s ‘to each his own’. We can like the books we want, even if they’re not the ‘best thing ever’ ;)