Stephen King Comments on JK Rowling and Stephenie Meyer
Celebs on HP
Posted by: sue
February 03, 2009, 07:52 PM
Scores of readers let us know about a new interview with acclaimed author Stephen King, who has made some new comments regarding Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling and Stephenie Meyer. Speaking with USA Weekend, Mr. King compared the two authors and had some blunt things to say about the Twilight author Meyer. Quotage as follows:
Both Rowling and Meyer, they’re speaking
directly to young people. ... The real difference is that Jo Rowling is
a terrific writer and Stephenie Meyer can’t write worth a darn. She’s
not very good."
"Somebody who’s a terrific writer who’s been very, very successful
is Jodi Picoult. You’ve got Dean Koontz, who
can write like hell. And then sometimes he’s just awful. It varies. James Patterson
is a terrible writer but he’s very very successful. People are
attracted by the stories, by the pace and in the case of Stephenie
Meyer, it’s very clear that she’s writing to a whole generation of
girls and opening up kind of a safe joining of love and sex in those
books. It’s exciting and it’s thrilling and it's not particularly
threatening because they’re not overtly sexual. A lot of the physical
side of it is conveyed in things like the vampire will touch her
forearm or run a hand over skin, and she just flushes all hot and cold.
And for girls, that’s a shorthand for all the feelings that they’re not
ready to deal with yet."
Thanks to everyone who emailed!
318 Comments
70 Points
So true. Stephanie Meyer is not a good author, but her stories are what attracts all of her readers.
229 Points
Stephen King, you’ve just made my day :) Although I’d hate to be you when the hoards of Twilighters are finished with you.
72 Points
Its pretty true. What King said is something we’ve all thought, but haven’t had to a chance to say in a way that would make an effect. Stephen King has done just that, and good on him for doing so.
1172 Points
Oooh boy, this is not gonna be pretty…
grabs popcorn
8577 Points
haha so true! He took the words out of my mouth! It is about time that twilight received some (very) public criticism!!!
47 Points
When I saw this article as I was signing onto my email I got happy butterflies! Thank you Stephen King for stating the obvious! =D
358 Points
On Twitter Stephenie Meyer was spelled wrong… glad that’s fixed.
Ok, I happen to completely be against insulting ANY authors work. I happen to really enjoy Twilight (Stephenie Meyer) and Maximum Ride (James Patterson).
3544 Points
i have to agree she’s not very good but man.. you’ll be dead when the twilight fans are finished with u let me spell that for u D-E-A-D dead!!!
297 Points
Thank you Stephen King.
258 Points
Yeah she isnt a great writer, I think the fans of Twilight must just get into it so much they can over look the mistakes?? I’m not sure hes made himself too popular though….not that he probably even cares.
1172 Points
Well, the only “sin” Stephen commited was in the “can’t write worth a darn” bit. It’s funny, but a bit harsh, and that alone caused all the fangirl rage you see in the comments. :rollseyes:
But you can see that he actually read the books by the comments he has on them. His description of the book’s appeal doesn’t seem to be based on some Graig’s list.
1172 Points
Well, the only “sin” Stephen commited was in the “can’t write worth a darn” bit. It’s funny, but a bit harsh, and that alone caused all the fangirl rage you see in the comments. :rollseyes:
But you can see that he actually read the books by the comments he has on them. His description of the book’s appeal doesn’t seem to be based on some Craig’s list.
970 Points
Well I think J.K Rowling is a better writter but I dont think Stephenie Meyer is bad. She just needs more experience in writting.
48 Points
YES hahaha awesome, thats why I love him.
494 Points
I don’t get obsessed over Twilight, but they were a nice read, and I think that Stephenie Meyer is a good author. So is James Patterson. But I’m hoping that Stephen King wasn’t completely serious, maybe exaggerating a little. I think that being able to get a book published is a great honor. Even though some books can be terrible, it is still a lot of effort
So true. Stephanie Meyer is not a good author, but her stories are what attracts all of her readers.