The Host: A Novel by Stephenie Meyer
|
List Price: Our Price: $6.95 You Save: $19.04 (73%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $0.01 (click here) Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of The Host: A Novel
Book Review: A True Masterpeice of Literature (A+ Grade)
Summary: 5 Stars
Classic, is a word I don't use too often when I talk about books. Only a select few can be given that term. In my case I have one such book that I compare all others to. If any book I read can come close to my number one cherished book of all time, that book will be called a "classic".
Stephenie Meyer is no fluke of author. Forget everything you know about her from her Young Adult vampire series. With The Host, she has written a near masterpiece about the worth of an individual's soul crossed with a spiritual element that most of us find within ourselves. I would not be surprised in the least is this book is taught in schools and is considered as one of the most influential novels of the 21st century.
The Host is a spin on aliens taking over the Earth much like the movie, Invasion of the Body Snatchers. These beings travel from planet to planet to bring peace and well being to the creatures that live there. The aliens do this by inserting their souls in the host bodies and essentially eliminate the original being's soul. From that point the new alien soul lives the life of the host, but tranquil and happy. These invaders have done this on multiple planets and now they have set their sights on Earth. Humans are known as being destructive where they enjoy killing and starting wars. The invaders will take over the humans and make Earth a balanced planet full of peace and joy.
It has been five years since the invasion and most of humanity has been overtaken. A new soul will be inserted into a host. The host was a young girl who rather than be taken alive, tried to kill herself by jumping down an elevator shaft. But the aliens have a higher form of medicine and are able to save the girl's body. The soul they place inside is called Wanderer. Wanderer is a special type of soul because she has lived on more than six other planets. Wanderer has been a flower, bear, sea weed and even a dragon. Yes, there are many other life forms in this huge universe and Wanderer was lucky enough to see and be many things. When Wanderer awakens, she (and you will come to see why she is female) is very much out of sorts. She understands she would know the memories and feelings of her host body but something is so very wrong. In the past when a new alien soul takes over a host, the host's original soul is thought to have been erased. But this is not the case with Wanderer. Her host body, which was once Melanie Stryder talks to her in her mind and won't give up without a fight. Wander controls her body, but Melanie is like a ghost in her head and won't leave her alone.
Wanderer is a very kind and essentially peaceful being. But with Melanie, Wander can't stand her. Wanderer just wants to live a simple life as a human till she grows old and can move onto her next life cycle. But Melanie wants out and because Wanderer feels the same things as Melanie does and experiences the same memories, she and Melanie decide to go on a journey. Melanie wants Wanderer to find her people, meaning her younger brother Jamie and Jared, the young man who helps Melanie and Jamie survive from the aliens. Also, Melanie is in love with Jared and needs to get back to him. Since Wanderer is being pulled much like Melanie is into finding her family, Wanderer will go out and search for these humans even though it is very dangerous and she could be killed by them.
Wanderer will travel from Chicago, Illinois to the deserts of Arizona where he Uncle Jeb may be hiding out and here Jamie and Jared have gone to. Melanie had originally come alone to Chicago to find her cousin Sharon and that is where her life has ended. Wanderer treks through the desert and comes close to death until she is found, and by Jeb. There Wanderer's life is on the line. Jeb doesn't kill her right away but brings her to his "house" where he lives in some man made cave, very intricate ones where other humans are living and hiding out. That is where Wanderer and Melanie find Jared, Jamie and other humans who want her blood. She is the enemy and must be killed because they believe she may have brought the seekers (the alien police who round up the humans) to their hiding place. Jeb won't put Wanderer out of her misery but leaves that decision in the hands of Jared.
From that moment on, Wanderer is caged much like an animal or some could say a possible terrorist. The group of humans want her gone and it all comes down to Jared. Why Jared? Melanie belongs to him as he belonged to her. He alone holds her life in his hands. But there is one who doesn't want to see Wanderer hurt and that is Jamie. Jamie believes Melanie is inside, still and will not allow any body to harm his sister, even if it is only her body that remains.
As things progress between Wanderer, or as Jamie names her, Wanda, she and some of the humans has a tentative truce. Jeb does his best to assimilate her into their clan, but always with and eye and a gun point at her. There are Kyle and Ian, brothers who have very different distinct feels for Wanda. There is Doc who is the only doctor they rely on. There is Sharon, Melanie's cousin who was safe all along and her mother Maggie and Melanie's aunt. This group initially thinks of Wanda as an "it" but as time goes on "it" because a she to them. By Wanda speaking of her past lives, she becomes more human to them. And that is where Wanda's beliefs and ideals change. She is becoming more human everyday and even thought Melanie is so very much alive in her head, speaking to her, Wanda has become her own person. Whereas she has feelings for Jared because Melanie did, she has new feelings for Ian who returns them. And Jamie is the key to both Melanie and Wanda's humanity.
But the outside world is still overtaken by Wanda's people and the seekers are looking for her and the humans still in hiding. She must make a decision to stay within the body she was given or let Melanie come back. And if Wanda does leave, whose lives does she change forever?
At over 600 pages, The Host raises so many ethical and moral questions about the importance of a life and human nature. These questions are asked about Wanderer and her sacrifice for the greater good. But is the greater good served by eradicating a race of beings just because another set of beings believes it is right?
This is one of the many situations that arise that will keep you on the edge of your seat, turning page after page as you try to find out what will happen to Wanda and her new founds friends that were once her enemies. Some will remain enemies, while others cross that line into love.
Katiebabs
Book Review: Searing Suspense
Summary: 5 Stars
2008 has most certainly been Stephenie Meyer's year. Author of the wildly popular young adult "Twilight" series (the first of which was published in 2005), her books have sold over three million copies in the US alone with one adapted to film (Twilight) and another (New Moon) in pre-production. "The Host", Meyer's first adult fiction novel, debuted at #1 on the New York Times Best Seller list in May and has remained on that list for a whopping 30 weeks thus far. Suffusing nail-biting tension with morality, love and courage, it is a strikingly suspenseful novel that puts all of the Twilight books to shame.
"The Host" begins some time in the far distant future and the human race has become almost altogether extinct. Alien beings called Souls have overrun the planet Earth as well as other civilizations in far distant galaxies, their species prolific and dangerously intelligent. Entwining their silvery centipede-like forms within the spine and brain of human bodies, the Souls rob people of their free will and replace it with absolute conformity, actions they view as a necessary purgation of Earth's most volatile inhabitants. Virtually ridding disease and pain with technologically advanced medicines and eradicating crime with their pacifistic conduct, Souls have made the human race ideal but at the cost of a higher consciousness they will never know nor understand.
Melanie Stryder is one of the few "wild" humans left, a woman barely out of her teens who has escaped death-by-body-snatching time and time again in the course of her short life. When she is fatefully caught one day by Seekers (a particular type of Soul), Melanie awakens to find her consciousness intact but her body ruled by a Soul called Wanderer and their two minds are at war with another from the very beginning. Melanie purposely overwhelms Wanderer with vivid memories and in the process reveals a yearning for a man named Jared, an amalgam of emotions that Wanderer finds hard to control or deny. Though Melanie tries desperately to hide information that could lead the Seekers to other surviving humans, Wanderer manages to extract a few clues and ends up in a literal and figurative human underground run by Jeb, Melanie's uncle. Despite her familiar face, the silvery reflection within her irises (depicted on the book's cover art) gives away her true identity and every refugee within Jeb's camp is intent upon her death lest she escape and expose their hideout. Certain she will die, the compassion of Jeb and Jamie saves her and Melanie's intense feelings towards her family steers Wanderer's moral compass, compelling her to fight for what she loves despite her betrayal to her governing species.
Meyer does a superb job this time `round with characterization, her characters wholly evolving along with the story line. Everyone's personal growth is distinctly depicted - Wanderer, in trying to understand humans, becomes more human herself and Melanie gains a greater sympathy for Wanderer's plight despite being a prisoner inside her own body. Characters such as Kyle and Jared curb their animosity in favor of compassion when Wanderer demonstrates an unanticipated protectiveness of their small band as well as giving them hope for the human race itself with her "secret". Ian and Doc are the most humane of the group and demonstrate the highest sense of decency and preservation. Some characters remain stubbornly antagonistic but then this is part of the package, an all-around analysis that only skims the surface of human nature.
The description of the sentient Souls is quite interesting and the way in which they take control of their hosts reminds one of many stories/films similar to this premise, the most obvious being "Invasion of the Body Snatchers". The book even throws in a nice love quadrangle between Melanie/Wanderer, Ian and Jared, proving most odd and fascinating given each entity's feelings towards the different men.
In conclusion, Meyer gives the reader a happy ending and a sense of hope for her characters' futures. It also leaves a perfect opening for any sequels and Meyer has already mentioned that she is working on a follow-up that will be appropriately titled "The Soul", as well as a possible third book she would like to call "The Seeker". Though these books aren't sure things just yet, there is one certainty - if "The Host" does spawn a series (and it's looking that way), it will be every bit as popular as the Twilight Saga.
Bottom line: Readers who were soured on the Twilight series will be recompensed if they take a chance on "The Host", a novel that truly demonstrates Meyer's skill as a suspense writer. I eagerly anticipate the possibility of a sequel and I will be one of the first in line to purchase a copy when it hits bookshelves (and the New York Times Best Seller list, no doubt) sometime in the next year or two.
Book Review: The Best Book I've Read in a While
Summary: 5 Stars
THE HOST was truly one of the best novels I've read in my life.
I'm a moderate fan of Stephenie Meyer, meaning that I like some of her Twilight books, but only barely - they're a silly guilty pleasure. I picked up THE HOST expecting yet another thoughtless read to snuggle up with and giggle at, but I certainly wasn't expecting anything spectacular. I thought the protagonist would be a Bella Swan remake in a futuristic universe. I was not expecting Wanderer, or Melanie Stryder, the two strongest, most intriguing and spellbinding characters that Meyer has ever created.
Earth has been invaded by Souls - strange, kind-hearted aliens who had taken over dozens of planets, each one different and unique. They live in an impossible utopia which used to be our planet, taking our human bodies as their hosts so they can survive. Nearly all of the human species had been subjectified to the invasion of the souls.
But some have not, and Wanderer, an experienced soul that had earned respect through living in eight different planets, is inserted into the body of Melanie Stryder, a ferocious human with a life she has left behind that she will not abandon. Wanderer is shocked and frightened when Melanie sticks in her head, speaking with her and showing her memories she does not want to see. Those memories are that of her life before being caught by the souls, of Jared, a man she had loved, and of Jamie, her beloved younger brother. As Wanderer grows to know them as much as Melanie does, she grows to love them as well, and decides to go on a journey beyond the comfort of her home in the midst of her species, into the unwelcoming hands of a human rebel group. As time goes by, Wanda grows closer and closer to Melanie, and to her new unwilling human allies.
THE HOST is an astonishing tale woven with such great skill that it is literally impossible to put it down. The story is so well paced that the reader actually feels like he has been sucked into this crazy world, where humans live underground in secluded caves, and feels for the unlikely pair - a soul, shoved into a human community that despises her, and a human, trapped in her body with someone she could only consider an enemy. The story is complex, intriguing and thrilling, to the point of breaking a sweat as you turn the page or having tears well up in your eyes in sympathy or sadness. Stephenie Meyer has greatly surprised me with this incredible novel, which is much, MUCH better than her popular Twilight series, and feels like it was written by someone else entirely than the person who wrote of the Mary Sue-ish Bella Swan and her sparkly vampire boyfriend. THE HOST is a story for adults, no doubt, and is devoid of the irritating teenage angst scattered all over the Twilight books. The crucial pain - physical or emotional - Wanda and Melanie experience together is staggering, and the fascinating story of the Souls will keep you up all night in thought. Every page of this spectacular novel is filled with hope and light, intertwined with fear and darkness. I hate myself for not savoring this creation - I read it in less than twenty-four hours for fear of losing the vibe, and I will surely be running for the next installment. I only hope Meyer had fully jumped up from her writing style in the 'Twilight' saga and will not disappoint with THE SOUL... I can't wait to see what further difficulties Wanda and Melanie will have to face.
Oh, and there's plenty of romance as well, for those of you just out of the Twilight phase.
The last thing I will say of this novel is that it was fascinating to read of the human race from a perspective that certainly was NOT human. Somewhere in the book, Wanderer comes across an old newspaper from the time where humans still ruled, and her righteous alien soul is apalled by the crimes and cruelty committed by humans, at which point Melanie tells us that humans first became suspicious when the world started 'cleaning up'. It is difficult to think of ourselves as monsters, but with all this food for thought, we will certainly be contemplating the option. And then there's the other side of the Alien point of view; no other species feels emotion, either scorching anger or piercing love, the way a human does, and no creature is so committed and devoted to their loved ones. This book will keep me thinking for weeks, and babbling to anyone who would listen.
In a nutshell: THE HOST is truly a fantastic novel, worthy of much more appereciation than Twilight and its sequels. No reader, even a reader who does not like science fiction one bit, will be disappointed.
Book Review: The Host of Humanity
Summary: 5 Stars
Stephenie Meyer's The Host: A Novel is a fantastic science fiction novel for even those who do not read science fiction. While Meyer creates another world to immerse her characters in, the storyline is believable and captivating. Melanie Stryder, her brother Jamie, and Jared Howe along with all of humanity are thrust into a fight for their way of life and their humanity in Meyer's first attempt at an adult novel. I hope this too becomes a movie someday.
***Spoiler Alert***
Melanie Stryder is a tough go-getter who is caring for her brother while on the run from the Seekers. She meets up with Jared unexpectedly, and they both mistake one another for a soul--or a human possessed by an alien soul. Jared, Jamie, and Melanie end up on the run together, sort of like an instant family in these desperate times. She falls in love with Jared and vice versa. However, once they are separated when Melanie seeks out her cousin Sharon, all hell breaks loose. Melanie is captured and implanted with the Wanderer.
Wanderer struggles to gain full control over Mel, but it becomes a loosing battle for some time. When she finally gets into a routine at her Calling as a teacher at the San Diego university, Wanderer begins to grow uncomfortable with her host and her seeker. The seeker constantly follows her and harasses her about whether she has learned about any other humans that Mel may have been with or hiding. Wandered grows weary of these interrogations and makes an attempt to head east to Tuscon, Ariz., where she will see her Healer, who attached her to Melanie.
On her way through the desert, Wanderer decides its time to pull over, get something to eat, argue with Mel, and then decipher the lines on a map from Mel's memories to find a possible hiding spot for Jared and Jamie. Mel wants to be assured they are alive and to keep her promise to Jamie that she would return. Wanderer is not entirely comfortable with the plan, but succumbs to the urge because she has grown fond of Jared and Jamie through Mel's memories.
Once Wanderer and Melanie enter the cave dwelling of the rebels, they both face serious harm and torture. Jared is angry and frustrated and elated to see Melanie's body, but he is distraught that Wanderer is inside. Ian and Kyle, the brothers, are ready to kill Mel to prevent Wanderer from telling the Seekers where they are. The believe they are the last human rebels on the planet and they want to survive at all costs.
***End Spoiler Alert***
The interplay of the characters at the end of the book in the last 250 pages is infectious. You get caught up in the intrigue and the action. While the action is great, the evolution of the characters is fantastic in this novel. Wanderer remains true to herself and is altruistic to the end, and her anger toward Melanie softens and transforms. Melanie's anger toward her softens and transforms as well; there grows an understanding between the two who share one body. Their friendship grows as does their affection for one another, and this friendship helps turn around the reactions and actions of the other humans in the caves.
Many of the reviews I saw have talked about the love between Jared and Melanie and Wanda and Ian, but I think that this book is more about how many people judge books and people by their covers before they get to know and understand them.
Souls take over the planet because humans are too violent to truly enjoy their world, and by taking them over, the souls are doing humanity a favor. Humans view the takeover as an invasion as the souls take over bodies and push the personalities and human minds out of those bodies, essentially killing those humans. However, souls are not all bad and in many ways they do not realize the extent of the devastation they cause on Earth because previous hosts have been so different and less individualized--less human. Humans also are not all bad and prone to violence as Wanda learns with Ian and others in the book.
After reading Breaking Dawn, I sped through this book. I didn't find any ruts in the narrative and the action was well worth the ride. The one drawback for me was the intractable characters of Sharon and Maggie, who do not evolve at all. They maintain their hatred of the Wanderer regardless of her altruistic behavior and her hardcore work ethic.
Book Review: An engaging and thought-provoking sci-fi novel from the author of the Twilight Saga
Summary: 5 Stars
The Earth, in the not-too-distant future, has been taken over by alien "souls," parasitic worm-like beings that wish to experience life as humans. Some years after the occupation, only a few scattered human resistors remain. A young human survivor, Melanie Stryder, is captured during an unsuccessful attempt to rescue a family member. Her last-ditch attempt to kill herself rather than be taken fails, and the souls heal her battered body through their advanced healing techniques. Wanderer, an ancient soul and intrepid explorer of galaxies, is then transplanted into Melanie's body.
Wanderer expects to experience the lingering traces of Melanie's memories and emotions after the transfer but is taken aback to find Melanie's mind still active and fighting for control over the now-shared body. As Wanderer probes Melanie's unwilling mind to learn the whereabouts of other humans, she comes to know of the existence of Jared, the man Melanie desperately loves, and her young brother Jamie, who are still in hiding. Under the influence of Melanie's love for Jared, Wanderer finds herself irresistibly drawn to seek him out. The two women thus set off on a journey across the desert that puts them in deadly peril from humans and aliens alike.
The events that unfold when the Wanderer/Stryder pair meets a band of human resistors and is taken to their underground hideout form the crux of this story. The humans initially are repulsed by the presence of an alien amongst them. Will Wanderer and Melanie be able to convince them that Melanie still lives? Can the humans find a way to destroy Wanderer without losing Melanie as well?
THE HOST gets off to a slow start but picks up pace after the first 30 or so pages. This is not a conventional science-fiction novel, although the basic plot element --- the invasion of a human host by a worm-like parasite, through the nape of the neck no less --- is a classic sci-fi theme. Meyer has crafted a book that, while by no means lacking in suspenseful plot elements, is greatly concerned with the development of relationships. The complicated and evolving relationship between Wanderer and Melanie, who are forced to share one body, and each woman's relationship with the man they both pine for, are particularly fascinating. The existence of these two women in one body is an emotional three-legged race fraught with discomfort, frustration, flashes of jealousy and growing sympathy for each other, which Meyer captures extremely well. The interactions between the pacifistic Wanderer and the wary, hostile humans she encounters are also well-sketched and nuanced.
Coming on the heels of Meyer's successful Twilight trilogy, this book will draw the inevitable comparison with the vampire fantasy series. Although billed as a stand-alone for adults, there is nothing here that is unsuitable for the author's young adult fan base. Readers will find many elements that have defined the earlier books --- charismatic heroes, plucky yet self-effacing heroines, suspenseful romance, complicated relationships and an engaging cast of supporting characters.
Unfortunately, the sly humor that permeated the Twilight series is somewhat subdued here. The characters in the new book are essentially serious people, consumed with nothing less than the survival of an entire species. Meyer does a good job of conveying the stoicism, creativity and strength it would take for a small band of human survivors to last under such circumstances. The story is light on technical and scientific descriptions, such as of the extraordinary healing techniques practiced by the souls, but it is to Meyer's credit that the reader is able to be drawn into the plot without needing to know the details of how things work. It also speaks to her skill that she is able to make the reader as invested in the survival of the silvery centipede-like alien that inhabits Melanie's body as that of the human resistor herself.
THE HOST is a nicely-paced, well-written novel with an engaging theme and interesting characters. Overall, this is an excellent (if slightly hefty) book to take to the beach this summer.
--- Reviewed by Usha Reynolds