Stephanie Meyer's Twilight Saga vs. Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles
By skim40
@skim40 (60)
United States
June 9, 2009 9:47am CST
I love love love Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles. The way she describes a world with vampires, whether it is during modern times or ancient times, is so vivid that you feel as though vampires could possibly walk among you. She describes vampires as beautiful and ugly, good and evil, strong and vulnerable. You love and hate the characters that she creates.
I have read Stephanie Meyer's Twilight Saga. I admit that I see the appeal that is has on teenage girls but to those outside of this category... Bella is, to me, annoying. She constantly plays the "martyr" and absolutely lacks any sense of self esteem. I feel that she is a poor example for young girls to follow. Edward is cruel. He plays yo-yo with Bella's emotions and is a creepy stalker. Not what I would want in a boyfriend.
But that's just me. I may be completely unromantic which is why I don't prefer Twilight. If you're an Anne Rice fan, I would love to discuss. If you're a Twilight fan, I am open to being persuaded.
8 responses
@sweetseoul (732)
• Philippines
10 Jun 09
i just finished reading Twilight..and I felt like reading one of those high-schoolish "Sweet Dreams" love stories Ha!Ha! The only difference is that the lead guy is a vampire while the girl is human... It's definitely for teeners! But I still love it!!!
I still have to read Anne Rice's books...
@renemouche (843)
• United States
9 Jun 09
Well I have read interview with a vampire years ago. I want to read the books that true blood series is based on. I have read the twilight saga and loved it. But I look beyond the vampire aspect of the story. The main thing I got from the books and one of the reasons why I liked it so much was because its about big choices and consquences. That no matter what circumstances you find your self in, you can always choose something better. You can choose not to give into desires that will lead you down a dark path.
Yeah Bella can be annoying and Edward could be classifed as a stalker,and the romance is very high school but as far as there relationship goes(forgeting that he is a vampire) its shows teens that its ok to make the choice not to have a physical relationship, that just talking getting to know one another first and taking school serious is ok.
Remembering he is a vampire now... He chooses to be different, he chooses to control his desire for human blood, so he can live right. He cares about his soul(eventhough he thinks he might not have one) and the soul of the one he loves so he wants to do whats best for their situation. Thats a great lesson for people. No matter what your circumstances, you can fight to overcome them and do the things that you need to make your life right.
It may be corny but thats want i got from the books.
@skim40 (60)
• United States
9 Jun 09
Thank you very much for your great analysis of the book. I do agree with your observations. I will admit that I had read Twilight with some bias. But I don't think that it is all that it is hyped up to be.
Did you only read the Interview with a Vampire? Because if you have, that is the most boring book out of the entire series. I liked it but I started loving it after having read Vampire Lestat. Memnoch the Devil gets much influence from John Milton's Paradise Lost.
Thank you for commenting. i truly do value your opinion. =)
@renemouche (843)
• United States
9 Jun 09
That is what everyone says about interview with a vampire. My cousin has all the books in the vampire series and I've been meaning to get them from her, we had sorta a book club between us so we could read all the books we wanted without having to buy all the them ourselves, but she went away to college and its hard for us to trade now.
Then when I see her I never remember to borrow another book from the series.
@luvstochat (6907)
• United States
10 Jun 09
I have only read the Twilight Saga I really liked it. I have Anne Rice Vampire Chronicles but I have not had a chance to read them yet. I need to ge started. I just can't imagine anything being better then the Twilight series but we will see when I read the other series.
@silveralight (126)
• India
10 Jun 09
Well, its true. Anne Rice is a much more classy writer than Stephenie Meyer. Anne Rice's novels are very much dark and can be put in the category of "Gothic Literature". It is good for mature readers.
And "Twilight" is basically for teenagers. And it is a love story of a human and a vampire. Bella is not a bad example for anyone as the story shows that she sacrifices her comforts for others. I don't know what's so bad in being a helpful and self-less person. Then, Edward is a good vampire, he isn't at all cruel. And he doesn't stalk Bella, he is just worried about Bella's safety. So without her knowing he follows her to several places like Seattle only to save her from the bad guys. I know it is a but problematic for average people to understand what goes on in his head. I advice you all to read "Midnight Sun" which is written in the point of view of Edward. You can find the first 12 chapters of the book in Stephenie Meyer's Official Website!!!
@skim40 (60)
• United States
10 Jun 09
I have read Midnight Sun. I have a thing in which I have to finish what I started no matter what. I still can't agree with your assessment about how Bella is a good axample for teenagers. She lacks self-esteem, easily goes into depression and much more. I have not once felt that she sacrificed her comforts for others for the others. She loves to be the martyr and of what I don't know. And Edward may be a vampire but you have to also remember that vampires are humanoids. They're still somewhat human. And watching her sleep at night in her room without her knowing is by definition a stalker. But I digress. You may see this book in a different light because you like th series. I may dislike it because I already had a bias. But thank you for your opinion.
@NCMom9802 (1)
• United States
10 Jun 09
I love the Twilight saga but have wanted to read Anne Rice. I think it all depends on your age. Twilight is geared more to a younger crowd but any age can enjoy reading it.
@skim40 (60)
• United States
10 Jun 09
Anne Rice is definitely for the more mature. But I also don't think that maturity has much to do with age. I believe that Twilight had great promise. It was a good idea but it has been done before by other juvenile authors. I forget the author's name but there was a book called Silver Kiss a long time ago and it was about a love between a human and a vampire. If you want to go even further back, Dracula by Bram Stoker is another. But now I'm just rambling.
I encourage you to read the chronicles. Very dark and sensual and it attacks the everyday norms.
Thank you for your response.
@Daydreamer2 (470)
• Philippines
9 Jun 09
i am a twilight saga fan but i also want to read to Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles i'll open my doors of interest for it and thanks to this discussion now i know what is your opinion about twilght. i'll read the book as soon as i finish twilight :) thanks happy mylotting!
@skim40 (60)
• United States
9 Jun 09
Thanks for commenting. I realize that I am in the minority opinion but I do embrace all books whether I dislike them or not. I did read all of them because I believe that books are worth reading no matter what my opinion is because how else will I grow as a person. Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles are very dark books. It questions humanity, religion, and alot of other things that we take for granted. But I will warn you that Anne Rice is slightly perverse. Other than that, I hope you enjoy.
