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.
From what I know of Meyer as a person, she seems cool. It’s sad, then, that one of the inadvertent messages of the Twilight series is an unfortunate one: That it’s fine for a teenaged girl to let her “one true love” lock her up ‘for her safety,’ save her butt at each turn, and basically give up everything and everyone for him. Bella is a vessel for reader self-insertion, as someone said above, and she needs to get some backbone and gumption (I almost typed ‘spunk,’ fyi. But I think that means something totallllly different in other countries than it does in America. hahaha).
I love both series and their characters… I think the stories are different so can’t compare them, but they are both great.
I just have to say that just because some people don’t like Twilight, it doesn’t mean it is not good, Stephanie Meyer wrote a beautiful love story
I love both Twilight and Harry Potter, but the latter is my favorite. Twilight is an excellent series, and I loved reading them. The story is well thought out and the character believeable and loveable. Trust me, I had my doubts, but I was not let down. I would never be as obsessed with Twilight as I am with Harry Potter though. Stephanie is right is saying that the stories are completely different, because they are totally different, yet I can see similarities.
I got the first Twilight book specifically because so many people in the Harry Potter fandom were recommending the series.
It was, without question, the worst book I’ve ever read. Other posters ahead of me have accurately described why. I’m very sorry to the people that like it, but I’m actually baffled that so many people seem to enjoy it especially after coming off such a brilliant and well-written series as Harry Potter.
Neither of the series are what I consider high literature, but they’re a good starting point for young people. (Although I’d rather recommend LOTR, Narnia, and His Dark Materials).
Um. I have read Twilight, and as much as I enjoy it on a sort of shallow, guilty-pleasure kind of level, it has very little literary value. I’m not saying these kinds of books aren’t fun to read, but they aren’t great works of fiction like Harry Potter. They aren’t even close to being on the same level as that. I read, once, of a professor who said people ought only to read great books, not good books. There are plenty of good books in the world, but the number of great books is far fewer and of much more value to read. Twilight is just good, it isn’t great. Harry Potter on the other hand IS great.
I wouldn’t discourage anyone from reading the Twilight series. I’ve enjoyed them, as I said, but they just aren’t that wonderful. They are not very well written at all, and the characters need work to be less 2-dimensional. Enjoy them if they’re your thing, but don’t expect the world’s best writing when you pick them up.
I love both fandom! BOth series are amazing but my heart is compleatly in the grasp of the Harry Potter series and most likely it always will be, not even twilight can change that. But they are amaing book s and it took me over a month after being given the book to read it. I was worried it would hurt my love of HP as stupid as it sounds. BUt it didnt i love them both but Harry POtter more. They are great books and are a SUPER FAST READ, nothing comparied to what this fandom has been thought, and are woth the time. People who havnt read the book please do they are good i promise.
lots of love-
coco
harry potter and twilight, well i love them both and like harry potter, when i was reading twilight i couldnt put it down, it missed out of some school because of those books, I asked my sister to read the first chapter of twilight and she read it in a day! if you havent read twilight yet then what the hell have you been doing? it’s a great read and with the movie coming out it’s even better. all i can say now is read Twilight now ! when your finished with that read the next book New Moon and then Eclipse, warning you may go twilight crazy.
I know I’m going to come off all schoolmarmish and high & mighty, but I do think it’s kind of sad that this comment thread has become all about how much some dislike the Twilight books, and how “ZOMG you got that right you better not EVER think you could be as great and talented as JKR, yo!”
It seems to me that what’s being overlooked is that in the interview, Stephenie Meyer makes no pretension to being as popular or successful or as long-lasting as Jo. She acknowledges that even though she finds it flattering, the two book series are completely different, and they can’t really be compared. She is nothing but humble and gracious about Jo. And frankly, after some of the snide, passive-aggressive comments made about Jo by other authors, I find that refreshing.
I’ve never even read the Twilight books, or for that matter even heard the name Stephenie Meyer until I read this article, and yet I’m feeling an overwhelming compulsion to defend her. She made such kind and gracious comments about Jo and HP, and she’s being repaid on this comment thread by more or less being told her books suck, and to stay in her place and NEVER think she can compete with Jo. Never mind that she never claimed such a thing in the first place. Quite the opposite, actually.
Twilight is a fun light read, there’s nothing wrong with them or enjoying them. they are not on the same level as Harry Potter by any means (and its nice to see that the author realises this) but the comparison is not comming from the books them selves, it’s the fandoms they’ve inspired.
HP struck just as the internet was making online socialising big, new fandoms of any series/movie/following ect. are simply working in a different league now. Mayer hit the nail on the head, the comparision comes from the level of enthusiasm of the fans, not from actual content.
i wish fandoms were like this when i was in middle school. i would’ve been all over the Christopher Pike fandom
Posted by Siyrean aka Ashley on April 11, 2008, 01:21 AM
report to moderator
Ugh. I hated the Twilight books (I coudln’t make it through the last one and nearly gave up quite a few times on the second one.) I think they send out terrible messages to young girls (just give up and stop living if your boyfriend leaves you, for example) and are poorly written.
It’s good to see that Meyer doesn’t have bad feelings about JK Rowling, I’m glad for that but her books will NEVER be on the same par as Potter. Potter appeals to all ages and both sexes – most of the Twilight fans are female.
Ok anon, what the hell? are you a girl or a boy because im a girl and its not sending as you say “the wrong message to girls” he’s a person (vampire) that she falls deeply in love with and she nearly kills herself because she loves him that much, wouldnt you be upset if the love of your life left u (and edward is bellas life) if you anon didnt like the first book then why did you continue to read it? stupid much?
i liked the books but i hate hate hate Bella, you can still like the books but dispise the main character. she’s a horrible role model and i don’t think much of Edward either (i do consider him abusive when he turned ‘stalker no you can’t see him’ on her).
being upset is one thing, being borderline suicidel is another, and such behaviour should not be promoted as “romantic”. fortunitly i believe most people can think for themselve and don’t choose to act a certain way just because a character in a book does, therefore the book can send whatever message it wants. its up to the reader to deside whether or not the protaganist is acting like an idiot.
that said, i’d be happy to take Jacob off her hands. her and edward deserve each other.
Oh dear. I shouldn’t have ranted – I apologise, I’m having a bad day and should have put more thought into what I said.
That said – yes, I do think that there is a message in these books that I am uncomfortable. (And for the record I’m a grown woman.) I was uncomfortable with how Bella simply gave up – and entered such a strong depression and I wished the issue of depression (one I have personal experience with which is why I was uncomfortable with how it was dealt with in this work) had been handled in a different manner.
I was also uncomfortable with the idea that nearly killing yourself over the one you love leaving you is something she considered. I’m not saying people don’t consider this everyday – it’s a serious issue and a sensitive one and I was dismayed by how it was portrayed in these works.
As for being stupid – I was curious to see how it ended. Despite not liking the storyline I will give Meyer credit in that she has a knack for making people wonder what will happen next. Have you ever read something you didn’t particularly enjoy but kept reading just to see how it would end?
"I haven't eaten for nearly four hundred years," said the ghost. "I don't need to, of course, but one does miss it. I don't think I've introduced myself? Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington at your service. Resident ghost of Gryffindor Tower.
From what I know of Meyer as a person, she seems cool. It’s sad, then, that one of the inadvertent messages of the Twilight series is an unfortunate one: That it’s fine for a teenaged girl to let her “one true love” lock her up ‘for her safety,’ save her butt at each turn, and basically give up everything and everyone for him. Bella is a vessel for reader self-insertion, as someone said above, and she needs to get some backbone and gumption (I almost typed ‘spunk,’ fyi. But I think that means something totallllly different in other countries than it does in America. hahaha).