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Stephen King Says Stephenie Meyer Can't Write
Filed under: In The News
/>Recently, famed horror writer Stephen King sat down with journalist Lorrie Lynch from USA WEEKEND to talk about his career, his new collection of stories called Stephen King Goes to the Movies and his influence on popular authors today like J.K.Rowling and Stephenie Meyer.
"Both Rowling and Meyer, they're speaking directly to young people," he said. "The real difference is that J.K. Rowling is a terrific writer and Stephenie Meyer can't write worth a darn. She's not very good." Ouch!!!
King just couldn't resist dissing Meyer. 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."
King has earned the right to express his opinions, but his remarks sting. He sounds waaaay jealous to me. Look, the guy spent his early years struggling with a drinking addiction and a slow-growing fan base. Only thanks to Carrie did his popularity take off. Meyer, on the other hand, is a firecracker with a movie deal.
What's more, Meyer appeals mothers and daughters, who often read her books together. As a result, many women and entire families have bonded over her books.
Bottom line: King sounds like a bitter old man. Stress on man. Maybe he wishes his work still inspires a frenzied media circus. Or maybe he wishes that teenagers were lining up in droves to buy his latest book. What do you think?
"Both Rowling and Meyer, they're speaking directly to young people," he said. "The real difference is that J.K. Rowling is a terrific writer and Stephenie Meyer can't write worth a darn. She's not very good." Ouch!!!
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King just couldn't resist dissing Meyer. 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."
King has earned the right to express his opinions, but his remarks sting. He sounds waaaay jealous to me. Look, the guy spent his early years struggling with a drinking addiction and a slow-growing fan base. Only thanks to Carrie did his popularity take off. Meyer, on the other hand, is a firecracker with a movie deal.
What's more, Meyer appeals mothers and daughters, who often read her books together. As a result, many women and entire families have bonded over her books.
Bottom line: King sounds like a bitter old man. Stress on man. Maybe he wishes his work still inspires a frenzied media circus. Or maybe he wishes that teenagers were lining up in droves to buy his latest book. What do you think?
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ReaderComments (Page 3 of 3)
9-21-2010 @ 10:03PM
Taco said...King? Jealous of Meyers? That's bogus! Honestly...he worked extremely hard to get where he was, and Meyers wrote a sappy romance novel as a hopeless romantic. King's genres of the books he writes varies. Also, she had a very bad plotline, as well as characters. King, as said before, varies. He varies all of his characters, as well as plotlines, from a girl who's a big fan of a baseball player and using his image to keep herself sane while trying to get home, to a man who lives to disprove the fact that ghosts exist, only to get himself into deep doo-doo when coming across a murderous, evil, haunted hotel room.
Yes, both mothers and daughters can read the Twilight saga together, and it is possible for families to bond over the books, but the same happens over Stephen King books. Speaking from my own expiriences, my dad, sister, and I would read Stephen King together just to put us to sleep. And as I got older, we continued to read them together and saw the movies together. So it's not just Twilight that can bond families together like that.
And as for your last comment:
King, in age senses, is in fact old. But more middle-aged than elderly. And to call him bitter, only based on the attempt to argue that he is 'jealous' of Stephanie Meyer? It's an illogical fallacy, the 'straw-man' argument, if I'm correct. So, in fact, you are just weakening your argument. Not to mention there are a few other illogical fallacies, serving to weaken your argument.
And finally, and I quote 'Maybe he wishes his work still inspires a frenzied media circus. Or maybe he wishes that teenagers were lining up in droves to buy his latest book' unquote.
Take this into consideration: What age group DOES King aim for? Teenagers or Adults? Simple. ADULTS. Don't make me eat my own words by saying 'You read Stephen King when you were little!' Let me just say that my father was an avid Stephen King fan. When he put us to bed, he summarized the chapters he had finished reading of whatever King book he was reading. So there.
I highly suggest that if you want to attempt and create a strong argument, here are some tips:
Beware of illogical fallacies. These are statements that can easily weaken arguments, so you might want to avoid them.
Use logical, emotional, and ethical statements to strengthen your arguments. Use facts and statistics as well.
Well, that's what I think. It was a good argument, but like I said, beware of illogical fallacies. Peace out.
Reply
11-30-2010 @ 1:44PM
NotAmused said......I think that whoever wrote this is another Twihard with no life. Because seriously, comparing Stephen King to Stephenie Meyer? Have you read the man's books??? He has talent that Stephenie can't even dream of. He also has a long and respectful career, and obviously no reason to be jealous. And this comes from a Twilight (still sane and down to earth) fan and a fourteen year old girl as well, in case you are wondering.
Reply
12-09-2010 @ 1:03PM
MK said...What sort of parellel world do you live in?? King JEALOUS of SM?, that is is the most preposterous things I've read in a while!!!
Do you have any idea of how many books he's sold? more than 100 times of that of SM!
You talk about families bonding over Twilight, IF that in is indeed a fact, do have how many people have started reading due to King?
Though Twilight was fin to read, doesn't change the fact that she is a terrible writer! If I ever read the word infinitesimal again, I'd puke! Reading that book was like rubbing sandpaper on my face! Forget her writing style! Have you understood the plot? For a creature who cannot shed tears, bleed, or sweat, Edward can still ejaculate- how ridiculous!!
SM should be delighted King deinged to mention her! And you, get your nose out of junk novels, and go read something wothwhile!
Reply
9-03-2011 @ 3:29AM
Amber said...I hate you Stephen King!!!
You are just as crappy a writer as Meyer!!!
Why don't you keep your sexist comments to your stupid books!
Your fans and Meyer's fans wouldn't recognize a good book if it hit them in the face...
Reply
11-20-2011 @ 10:45PM
Knlapptron bangs gone said...Your a fool Amber a real fool. How is he sexist?
How is he a crappy writer? You probably can't even read his books because they are too hard for you.
Reply