Lovelyish

I LOVE Stephen King, he is GOD of fiction writing, whatever he said, I agree, I’m not even going to bother reading it.

He definitely did not compare the two.  He was pointing out their distinct differences.  Lovelyish, these misleading titles are irritating.

I wonder if he’s ever really read Twilight.

I didn’t either Harry Potter or Twilight books, but I enjoyed the Harry Potter movies more than Twilight.  Kristin Stewart’s character was annoying me, she seemed like a little lost puppy.  I know it’s supposed to be fiction, even after convincing myself of that, I still couldn’t enjoy it.  @ohveryoung@xanga - I agree, Mr King was not comparing.  Besides, I cannot say that they could be compared.

Harry Potter is literature, whereas Twilight is a guilty pleasure.  Harry Potter has so much more to offer than Bella Swan.

@Spearmint - Don’t, the protagonist is an empty shell, Bella is emotionless, nondescript and shallow, whilst pages are spent describing other characters like Edward as “Godly”, and Jacob as some sort of angel, nothing depicts the protagonist in any way whatsoever. Stephanie Meyer’s novel made it to stardom on nothing but a branch of luck.

However, Harry Potter, is real talent, it has a flow, it has plans, it has lucrativeness from the first book to the last, and sustains a pattern of correct character personalities and growth throughout, it’s like the characters are real, living and breathing, and developing. That’s the amazement.

@JinnLedet@xanga - Hahahaha, there’s a reason they chose Kristen Stewert to play Bella.  Neither one of them have personalities, lol.

@JinnLedet@xanga - I’ve read Twilight already.  I’m just speculating on whether or not King has, because many people seem to jump to judge Harry Potter as the ultimate in literary magnificence and Twilight as trash without having read both.

I love Stephen King and he is definitely right about the comparison. I’m actually not a HUGE fan of either series. I read all the Twilight books (and have so have watched all the movies) but let’s face it–the read is so much simpler because literally, a 5 year old can get through it without difficulty. Harry Potter on the other hand… I just haven’t had the time to read… I finished the first book in sixth grade and I’ve seen up to the third movie but nowadays, I can’t keep up with it. I would love to find some time to get through all the books before seeing the movies again, but I highly doubt that’s going to happen anytime soon. 

I agree. I love Twilight, I love Harry Potter more. But I see them as two completely different levels of entertainment. Harry Potter is exciting, thoughtful, fearful, and so much more. Twilight is simply a love story. I never thought of it as something magical or other-worldly just because it had vampires and werewolves. To me, it was always a love story and only that, so honestly I don’t really even think they are comparable.

hahahaha stephen king does have truth in what he said

Harry Potter is a much better series than Twilight. Twilight is poorly written and unoriginal. I also think its dumb that Stephanie Meyer made up her own vampire lore.

Haha maybe an overgeneralization, but still funny!

I agree. I mean Twilight seems more like a romance novel to me than anything else. It didn’t have a very interesting plot, and it got boring. Harry Potter brought so much more to the table. I may be partial to HP since it’s been a major part of my childhood, but it is just much more deep than the Twilight series.

Comparing those two books would be like comparing “Christine” to “The Hearse” Both somewhat annoying  and yet amazingly BORING. Eve since the “accident” Kings writing has suffered (my opinion)  I do think THE STAND was one of his best works! I was saddened the movie was such a suck party but hard to do any book real justice! For Twilight…UGH smells like TEEN SPIRITS (can a vamp really get a boner?)  Harry Potter I never saw one or read one so I cant say but there are some television shows out now that are very well done! 

I admire Stephen King. For some reason the Twilight books seem so much more appealing than the movies, and yet, J.K Rowling’s books and the movies are both appealing. WEIRD XD I’m into teen romance and fiction and what not but the way Stephanie Meyers decided to describe the vampires in her books just made it seem not-readable for me. I like my vampires disgusting and merciless, not in love and “sparkly”. I just think that Meyer’s series got famous because young teenage girls feel in love with Edward and Jacob and the mushy gushy bad-girlfriend-icon story line 

Although I do enjoy a hot vampire on ocassion, like Selene from Underworld. 

Amen Stephen King.

@GrimRpr000@xanga - I think they’re being compared because they’re both a teen attraction. Although I do agree with you because they’re both very different XD

There is no way you can compare Harry Potter and Twilight, anyways. They are in two totally different leagues.

I’ve read all of both, but I lost interest in Twilight quickly. I still have the books and the DVDs, but I can’t bring myself to use the effort and actually read or watch them. Harry Potter, on the other hand, I read and watch even when I’m out of my “obsessed” stage, which is how I know I truly love it  

He did not compare the two. He contrasted the two series.

@gurlonfire2004@xanga - By making up her own vampire lore, doesn’t that indirectly make her original?  Think about it.

I love that Stephen King said this, though.  I’ve been reading his books since I was seven (starting with Pet Semetary – a difficult read at that age, but I got through it.  To this day I still remember, “She pulled him to her, and not by his hands.”  I giggled my face off at that.)

Having started reading the dark and maccabre worlds that The King produced, when Harry Potter came out I had very little interest in the books.  I think I was ten when I first picked up the first book and after reading half of it I found myself incredibly bored and wanting to bash my face against a hard object.  I gave it to a friend and have not tried reading it again since.

That being said, the movies are phenomenal. 

I read and loved Twilight, but as another subscriber has said – it’s a dirty pleasure and not actually a great piece of literature.

TL;DR

Stephen King is a genius and The Dark Tower is a better series than Harry Potter and Twilight combined.

pretty spot on

I’m definitely a potterhead. I read the first twilight and simply could not continue. 

Pure rubbish. 
Harry Potter has been with me through my childhood and beyond. I definitely plan on sharing it with any future children I might have. 
In 5 years no one will care about the Twilight series.

Um, he wasn’t comparing the two.. He’s saying Harry Potter has so much more meaning than Twilight…………..

@Erika_Steele@xanga - thank you. Lovelyish, could you hire an editor?  A competent one at that. It would be very much appreciated. 

I so agree. Twilight just wasn’t as well written imo; I could barely make it through the first book of Twilight.
Harry Potter >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Twilight

Stephen King = boss.

The end.

Truth!!!! He speaks the truth!!!

Agreed.

@Spearmint - Never read Twilight, but have read Harry Potter and it is nowhere near literary magnificence. It was a decent read when I was a kid, but after book five I lost interest. :/

Another great Stephen King quote:

“Both Rowling and Meyer, they’re speaking directly to young people. … The real difference is that [Harry Potter author] Jo Rowling is a terrific writer and [Twilight author] Stephenie Meyer can’t write worth a darn. She’s not very good.”

This is pretty old, to be honest. I saw it months ago and I agreed with what he said. He wasn’t comparing the two, but he still made Harry Potter sound better and that’s because it is. I’ve read the Twilight series twice through and both times it was entertaining in the moment. Then the movies came out and I’d be like, “Wait, I can’t remember what the book was about.” The difference with Harry Potter was I would nudge whoever I was with and say, “That wasn’t in the books!” Or, “That was different in the books!” Harry Potter is more memorable.

He didn’t read The Twilight Saga. I love him and he has written some of the best novels I have ever read but I’m sorry, Twilight is not about having a boyfriend. Bella faces fears, confrontations, and self discovery. Her finding her inner strength is what saved all their asses in the last book of the saga. I’m disappointed he would make such a comparison when it truly seems like he didn’t even bother to read all the Twilight Saga. 

Usually, whatever Stephen King says, I agree with, which is the case here too. It is definitely not a comparison but a distinction between the two. It is also one of the reasons I have only continued to read and watch Harry Potter (the storyline was epic and the character development was really well done- i.e. JK Rowling is a much more talented writer than Stephanie Meyer) …I couldn’t get through Twilight movie (seriously?! vampires sparkling?!   I am sorry I just couldn’t get passed that) and the book was way too romantic for me .. (Don’t get me wrong, I like some romance [love triangles, betrayal, etc are cool] but I don’t want to be drowned in it)

Yes. I agree completely.

Amen Stephen King!

Harry Potter > Twilight. Any day.

lol this guy. =) i can respect that. twilight is very much an intense love story and about her sticking by her man when you take out all the supernatural stuff. but hell, love both the series. lol.

LOL  Stephen King ftw!

Jeez, why are we so picky about words? Sorry that the title didn’t meet your expectations. Sure, Stephen King was just pointing out the difference saying that one thing was one thing, the other another thing, but the last time I checked (yes, I did check), that still counts as comparison. Can’t just bash Lovelyish for a so-called misleading title. In case you didn’t know, we have feelings too. Stephen King said that to end the whole Twilight being the next Harry Potter and when I read it, it was described as a comparison and that is how I saw it. 

muahahahaha i totally agree! that’s what i’ve been saying all these years

Go, Stephen King.
That man can write like its hot.

Personal favorite: The Stand

It was the first book of his I ever read and I only chose it because it was extremely thick and we had to choose a book for a book report and they always gave you freaking TWO WEEKS to read one book.. shoot.. so I wanted something that would LAST.
Didn’t expect it to be freaking awesome.. but it was!

Oh & Harry Potter is the bomb, and Twilight kinda sucks.
It’s just cheesy.

I’ve read both series and in my opinion they’re both written like crap compared to true works of great literature.

Neither, but i did enjoy HP, and all the books, saw about half of the movies.
I read the first Twilight book, and received the second as a random gift, but haven’t read it yet. I do enjoy Stephen King books though…even despite the twistednesss

well, thats one way to put it….

I haven’t read either of them or seen the movies. I read the first few pages of the first Harry Potter book and put it down- it just didn’t hold my interest.

I hate when they try to compare.  I haven’t read Harry Potter but I have no doubt it has more substance than Twilight, but whoever thinks Twilight is literary gold is highly deluded.  They’re just different.  I also hate when they put HP against LOTR.  I’m sorry, I’m a LOTR fan so I have my side, but really, they’re so different you can’t compare them.

i love both. i love the third twilight, but all of the harry potter ones. it’s kind of a pick-and choose thing with twilight, i can like some without the others, but harry potter is like all or nothing. twilight is more…simplistic.

HP > Twilight… always.

THANK YOU, STEPHEN KING. THANK YOU. 

I’ve read all the Twilight books but not a single Harry Potter one. The Twilight movies are terrible but Harry Potter = <3

@omfglikewhoa_surveys@xanga - Twilight is a tabloid magazine whereas Harry Potter is People.

Lol, you’re a little late bb. This article came out a while ago.

I read the Twilight series and thought it was one of the most boring and poorly written “book series” I’ve ever had the misfortune of reading. Harry Potter actually has a well written and intricate plot and well rounded dynamic characters.

Harry Potter stan for life.

@sexliesandcoffee@xanga - I is late, but what better time to come across this than on Harry Potter week!

@lilytran -  Very true! And it is still a very important article!

@sexliesandcoffee@xanga - Muahaha! 

Both book series I found boring, I didn’t get halfway through the first book of either series before I decided I didn’t want to waste my time anymore. I got dragged unwillingly to the first movie of each series, I wish I had my money back

neither. I’m a tim burton fan of his movies and quirky books

PREACH

hilarious, slightly mean, but very true.

He isn’t really comparing them in this quote….

though I admit I read the first book of Twilight and it was okay. I certainly didn’t read anymore about that, I only skimmed the other books. I really do love Harry Potter but I love  a Series of Unfortunate Events better. Hahaha

Twilight isn’t about romance. It’s about giving up everything for your “perfect” boyfriend. It’s about being beautiful, and nothing about strength.

They weren’t so emphasized in the later books, but remember how Hermione was described as bushy and unruly haired with large teeth? Ron a gangly, awkward ginger? Harry with messy hair and the general look of a loser? This is part of the reason why Harry Potter was so great; these were your normal, everyday misfits/normal loser kids who end up taking on the task of saving the entire world. Where do you see anything like that in Twilight? You don’t.

You can’t compare Twilight and Harry Potter because Harry Potter actually has a message while Twilight is a failed attempt at recreating old-fashioned, sexist, superficial romances that don’t exist anymore for a reason.

*high five* Stephen King. 

Stephen King has some funny quotes.

Twilight scares me.  Bella’s in an abusive relationship and refuses to do anything about it.  and then these little girls read about it and think it’s normal.  so they are gonna get into an abusive relationship and not know any better.  

agree agree!! 

I totally agree!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

haha that is an awesome thing to say, and so true. While I’m not a real fan of Harry Potter, I can see it’s literary value as compared to Twilight, which I have been guilty of being obsessed with at one time or another, but definitely not because it was literary genius -  New Moon was so hard for me to stomach! With such a boring main character as Bella, the only joy I got out of the novels were Edward
Anyway I can definitely see how much better Harry Potter is as far as storyline, characters, morals etc go, though I still can’t care less if I see the latest movie or not (I haven’t read the books), nor care what happened at the end of the series.

I wouldn’t compare the two. Twilight fits into a genre that I’ve always been a sucker for, the YA dark romance. I enjoyed the books but I enjoy most vampire romance books. Though the fourth sucked straight up. I am not a Twihard. Now, Harry Potter is just really well written and a good fantasy series. I can’t see how any fantasy fans (unless they are high fantasy only snobs) wouldn’t love Harry Potter.

Now, the movies. Yeah, Twilight movies are terrible. Harry Potter movies have been pretty good to freakin awesome.

I never read the fourth Twilight book, either, and there were lots of times during the first three that I wanted to throw the book across the room. Why did I keep reading, then? Peer pressure, I guess. I just didn’t want anyone to know how uncool I am that I secretly wish Bella Swan were real just so I could punch her in the neck.

Harry Potter, however…I read all those books without once wanting to chuck them at the walls. Twice.

@ohveryoung@xanga -  Yep agreed.

UMMMMMMMMMMMMM this is nowhere at all comparing this is contrast, he is in favor of Harry Potter and is pointing out Harry Potter’s value. I freaken love him he is epic always Stephen King rules!

After someone pointed out how Bella is like the complete opposite of a strong, female character I couldn’t really ignore it. I loved the first book when I read it… not so much anymore, especially after the stupid movies.

Harry Potter has so much depth. It’s impossible to even think of the two on the same level.

Stephen King is the man.

i’m a sucker for the hopeless romantic theme.
so i thoroughly enjoyed twilight. twilight is a romance novel; it’s about first love. that fact that meyer could capture the imagine of millions of people and encourage an entire generation to start reading is a good thing. harry potter, i definately can see where king comes from. i love both series.

Both are two different stories, so technically yes, Harry Potter is the most successful out of the two. I can’t say anything more for Twilight…

I agree with him. I did what he did too. I only read 2 books and half of the 3rd, I didn’t even bothered to watch the 2ND MOVIE INSTALLMENT WHIch was the new moon, I guess U will just be hooked to the 1st book which is the twilight, because for us readers, its something new, the exceeding love between bella and edward, but that does not hold enough, so some of the readers got bored on the 3rd and 4th book, unlike the HP books, it brought you into another world and not just facinates you with those words on the books but made you feel you belong, thumbs for rowling for a job well done….. POTTERHEAD here

uhh what’s up with this fight about comparison, he is comparing the two! He definitely saying harry potter is better than the other!

twilight is NOTHING

THANK YOU, STEPHEN KING!

@JinnLedet@xanga - LOL. This, times infinity squared.

@Spearmint - I used to do that, and then I tried reading both. I made it through one HP book and a half (Half Blood Prince fully, and the first one only half. It was lost on me, that first book, really) and then I tried to read Twilight. I could barely make it through the first chapter of the original Twilight.

I do believe whichever book holds my interest is the one I believe is better. Everyone else has their opinions, but I do favor Harry Potter for the fantastic nature of it all. Twilight is about vampires, but I never felt the fantasy behind it :/

My 2 cents

I’m not sure Twilight is entirely about “finding a boyfriend.” Though, frankly, Harry Potter and Twilight are simply not able to be compared to each other. They lie in different realms and different genres. Harry Potter is action, adventure, and fantasy. Twilight is paranormal romance. There’s too great a gap in the genres (and the writing styles) to compare them. But. I do agree that Harry Potter outshines Twilight. JK Rowling’s character development is superb, and her characters are realistic and believable. Stephenie’s Meyers characters are over emotional and needy.

I don’t understand…Why are these two series being compared? 

Great job showing his immaturity! Which is really ironic, seeing as he’s Stephen King. By that, I mean that this is the second time he’s insulted Twilight for no reason whatsoever. Aren’t people in the same industry NOT supposed to insult something unless it’s directly competing with them?(And even then, it shouldn’t be blatantly rude)

Potterhead, Potterhead!

Uhm, I totally agree with Stephen King.

I’m a Potterhead.  I just love it.

Ugh… Twilight. It’s obvious that the series was about how important having Edward was versus Bella actually making a decision herself or being useful on her own without that faux Swarovski arm-bangle boyfriend latched onto her like a shiny leech. Instead we’re treated to over 600 pages of descriptions about how hot it is to date and eventually fuck a corpse while a wolf breathes heavily over the body of a newborn baby. 

Stellar writing.

I might not particularly like Rowling’s style of writing (excess on adjectives and a propensity for portmanteaus), but she inspired an entire generation to pick up books and read in a largely digital age. No creepy people were borne from the Potter phenomenon, but I have to say the scope of Twilight female fans are fucking CREEPY. 

@RazielV@xanga - Also, the chick that wrote it is a Mormon, and I’m assuming it came from one of her wet dreams. At least that’s how I see it.

http://theoatmeal.com/story/twilight
enough said.

@bloggicus_maximus@xanga - Well her being a Mormon isn’t a problem, but if you take the series as a whole and look at everything it teaches and uses as allegory or metaphor it begins to look like an indoctrination piece into Mormonism. That’s a problem. It is also very obvious that Bella is actually molded around Meier herself. So you’re not too far off with that part.

@RazielV@xanga - Very true.

Contrasting, not comparing. XD 

I haven’t read the Twilight books yet, so i can’t comment on them, but HP will definitely be read for many years.

i could barely get through the fourth twilight book after bella got pregnant. it just got kinda stupid after that.

Twilight is for women. Harry Potter is for everyone. Please, show me a straight guy that’s a die hard Twilight fan… Because I sure as hell don’t know any that even like the damn series. On the other hand, I know plenty of guys and gals that LOVE Harry Potter. So there is nothing to compare. Tis a cheesy love story versus an epic life story. 

Not really a comparison.  But I do still agree with him.

I made a point to read all the Twilight books so I could formulate my opinion legitimately. By the final book, reading Twilight was like reading bad fanfiction. It was a flipping Mary Sue series with immature obsessions masquerading as love. 

I completely agree with Stephen King’s review. Harry Potter carried many themes and intricate story lines. By the seventh book, it blossomed into well-educated literature. Most importantly, those themes were not about obsessing over a controlling boyfriend, but about good vs. evil, friendship, and real love. 

I agree with Mr. King.  JKR is a master of both writing and story telling.  SM, is, well, good at telling an interesting story.  I’ve read all the books by both JKR and SM.  Twilight isn’t the best SM has to offer, IMO.  But the public is all about a good story, not necessarily a good writer. 

Yet another reason why Stephen King is one of my all-time favorite authors.

@ohveryoung@xanga - Pointing out differences IS WHAT A COMPARISON IS.

Shit, you’d think these people would remember this sort of thing from 2nd grade reading exercises.

Anyway, I agree with stephen king. Harry Potter at least has a point, where if twillight even has a point, it’s a rather petty one.

@Kyuketsuki_no_Megami@xanga - Comparing is pointing out how they are similar.  Contrast is pointing out differences.  I think you’re the one who should revisit 2nd grade Language Arts.  Not me.  Thanks and have a nice day.  From Dictionary.com:

Compare:  Point out the resemblances to; liken to.

Contrast:  Emphasize the differences of something.

@ohveryoung@xanga - And how many people do you know who go out of their way to say ‘compare and contrast’? They don’t. ‘Compare’ has become a catch-all. This is the morphology of language.

@Kyuketsuki_no_Megami@xanga - Just because it has become a catch-all does not make it the correct word to use.  Compare is a misleading word when used in a title.  It makes one assume that the two things will be likened to each other.  It’s just as easy to say contrast as it is to say compare.

@ohveryoung@xanga - As much as I love Harry Potter, it’s just not literature. I laughed when at the end of the final movie, it said, “based on the novel by J.K. Rowling.” Because none of the Harry Potter books are novels. They’re just books. They’re fantastic books: the plot is rich, yes, and some of the characters are developed, yes. But it’s not literature.

@mirsalient@xanga - I disagree.  According to the dictionary, literature is anything that is a written work, especially if it’s considered of superior or lasting merit.  I think Harry Potter is lasting.  Twenty years from now, people will still be reading Harry Potter.  Who are you to say what’s literature and what isn’t.

My love for Stephen King has been renewed.

@ohveryoung@xanga - Then, by your very definition, Twilight could also be considered literature. It certainly has generated a huge culture response in America, and could possibly have a lasting impact. Who are you to say what’s literature and what isn’t.

@mirsalient@xanga - Good point.

@ohveryoung@xanga - For the record, though I definitely know Harry Potter >>>>>>>>>>>> Twilight, and know that Twilight is a guilty pleasure. I spent New Year’s Eve racing through Eclipse. @_@

BUT DUMBLEDORE’S ARMY FOREVER.

@FairyDustLove@xanga - it’s because JK Rowling wrote her own screenplays and made sure the integrity of her books was captured in her movies. Whereas Stephenie Meyer let someone else write the screen play and had less say over her movies, making them go to shit. I hate the movies, but I enjoy the books….. 

“The real difference is that Jo Rowling is a terrific writer and Stephenie Meyer can’t write worth a darn,” he said. “She’s not very good.

“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 very 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.”

@Spearmint - I have read both, and while I do not (nor does, I suspect, anyone else) call Harry Potter the ultimate in literary magnificence, Twilight is pretty clearly trash.

@clumsyandunaware@xanga - Actually dictionary.com defines compare as: to examine (two or more objects, ideas, people, etc.) in order to note similarities and differences

(I’m just saying)