Stephanie Meyer changed the essence of pop culture when she published her novel Twilight in 2005, a decision that sparked the start of the infamous film series of which it was inspired by. But the question some people may wonder is:  which is better and how do they compare? 

Well, you’re just in luck! In this article the gazette has interviewed a variety of people and asked them which version they prefer, some contrasts and comparisons, and of course: team Jacob or  Edward? *Spoilers Ahead*

Twilight’s story essentially follows a 17-year-old girl named Bella Swan who has just moved from the sunny and warm environment of Phoenix, Arizona to the cold and rainy Forks, Washington. She moves in with her father Charlie and begins school, where she runs into a strange boy named Edward Cullen. Something’s strange about him but she just can’t put her finger on it, even after much discussion with her friends and pondering in her thoughts. One faithful evening, after much research, she confesses that she knows what Edward and his family are; a group of vampires, explaining his odd behavior from before. 

What follows is a tetralogy (four books) of the adventures of Bella throughout her town, Forks, and trying to navigate the confusing life of a teenager in love with someone they probably shouldn’t be in love with. While the first four books are in Bella’s POV there are more novels in the view of Edward and more details during and after the fact, in the eyes of others. 

After interviewing a die-hard Twilight fan at GV, Mrs. Varela, a history teacher, one of her favorite moments from the series was in the first novel, where Bella and Edward are getting to know each other; an aspect not shown as often in the films. Varela’s favorite part from the film series was in Eclipse when Edward proposes to Bella. And when asked team Edward or Jacob, she passionately proclaimed that she was always an Edward stan and rooted for him. Some comments that were given include that Varela loves that Bella subsequently turns into a vampire in the end. Varela also includes her opinion, that she doesn’t find that Edward watching Bella sleeping is weird or creepy. And Mrs. Varela adds her final remark, that the soundtrack throughout all the Twilight films were great. 

Another teacher that has been interviewed is Ms. Mann, a history teacher at GV. One factor that stood out to her was in the novel, she loved the feeling of wanting to know what happens next and anticipating what will happen. Mann’s favorite part or element of the film was the casting, as she enjoyed the characters that were played. She also points out how silly the tone of the movie is compared to the novels, she believes that the books portray a more serious tone while the movies are just straight ridiculous. And when asked if she was team Edward or Jacob, she decidedly said Edward. When asked for further comment, Ms. Mann expressed that people should “read books for fun” which is indeed something people should be doing more of as it’s a great pastime. 

Now to compare the novels to the films, one major difference during the film that didn’t occur in the novel; is during Breaking Dawn Part 2 (just breaking dawn novel wise) where the epic showdown between the Volturi and Bella’s side occurs. This is where Alice has a vision of the mass massacre of each other, where the audience is convinced to think that Carlisle is dead. Another detail is that in the novels, Bella and Charlie don’t eat at the diner; Bella actually makes cooked meals, while on the contrary, the film depicts them often going out to the diner. Another difference between the film and novel is that the friendships of Bella are not shown or emphasized as much in the films and are seemingly more pushed to the side. Meanwhile, in the novels, Bella’s friends mean much more and play a larger role in the plot.

Overall, the Twilight series has left its mark, whether in the film or book department, and holds a special place in many people’s hearts. While the films are a mixed bag, meaning for some people the films are cringe, and really awkward, some people find the movies a great masterpiece. But there is no doubt that the novels played a role in many people’s youth and still have a significant impact today. And to answer which is better: it truly just depends on your personal opinion.