The Host: A Novel by Stephenie Meyer
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Book Reviews of The Host: A Novel
Book Review: No Cullens To Be Found Here
Summary: 5 Stars
I admit, I was a bit biased when I bought this novel. I'm in love with the "Twilight" series--who isn't nowadays?--and admire her uncanny writing ability to no end. So when I heard she had written an adult novel, I was immediately interested.
As she describes it, the novel is "science fiction for those who don't like science fiction". And though I do enjoy a good sci-fi as long as it's well-executed, I was a bit wary at first when beginning the novel. I was afraid her skill at writing vampire-fantasy romance might not translate into science fiction. At first, you read many names and facts about "souls" and whatnot that can be, at first, just a bit confusing.
But let me assure you, it's well worth your time to continue on. Stephenie manages to pull off an alien's perspective with seemingly effortless success--very few writers can pull off a POV where it's "our" body or "we gasped", but she does it with perfection. As can be expected, her prose is beautiful, but also as real as though Wanderer were talking to you about her story.
Perhaps because it's so foreign to Wanderer, emotions are captured wonderfully and heartbreakingly in this novel. I have yet to read another novel where anger, jealousy, despair, and consignment to fate are described as acurately or as sympathetically--you feel her anger, and grieve with her when she grives. It's the essential ability any writer worth their salt must have, but Stephenie takes that and makes it her own. I stayed up far past midnight many nights, wrapped up in the book and quite reluctant to put it down. There were also several occasions where I had to stop reading to wipe my eyes, which for me isn't a very common thing. You grow to love the characters as much as Wanderer (and Melanie) do--it's small wonder you become so heavily involved into the story.
Don't you love it when a book has you ravenous for more? "The Host" is the type of novel that'll leave you craving more, but upon completion, you'll want to go right back and re-read everything. For there are many revelations in the story that make you want to re-read the novel to look into them more!
For anyone who loves Stephenie Meyer, this book does not disappoint (unless you're adament against not having Edward Cullen in here)! And even if you're not an establish fan of hers, "The Host" is sure to convert you. :)
Book Review: I gave it a chance and couldn't be happier!
Summary: 5 Stars
I LOVE WANDERER!!! I know for sure that I am overjoyed that I gave in and bought this book. At first I kind of felt like I was cheating on the Twilight Series by reading Stephenie's newest book but I am so glad that I read it.
Again Stephenie did a stunning job of giving us a range of characters that we could either love or dislike with a passion. Each character I read about I could just see them as I was reading through the pages. I`m not always happy that books are long but I was glad this one was. Straight from the beginning of The Host I was hungry for the answers to the many questions that were developing in my head. I was never bored because her writing is so vivid and she keeps you wanting more that it is like I was watching a great movie and I couldn't wait to eat it all up.
The book follows a "soul" who is implanted into a rebel human in an effort to locate other humans and pretty much dispose of them so that only the "souls" remain on earth. However the human won't go without a fight and that's when things get real interesting. This book had me feeling a roller coaster of emotions. I was happy, angry, sad, excited, and anxious. Stephenie's books always have me feeling like I am there with the characters.
You go with Wanderer and Melanie from Chicago, to San Diego, to the Desert, you love and you lose. You feel the love of mother and child and the confusion of having two minds in the same body each having its own needs and wants. You experience the depth of human emotions and capabilities from the best to the worst. You're frightened at one moment and feeling truly loved the next. You love both Melanie and Wanderer and you see the turmoil of loving both and knowing that only one can reside in the body.
The book is not just a story but it made me think about how an outsider to our world just might see the path that evolution has taken us. I got to see the depths of love, friendship, loyalty and above all else the sacrifices that are made to keep those you love safe. The feelings and emotions that you get while reading this book even the sadness was worth taking the time to read this wonderful book. I believed that I would hate the invaders but through reading this book my first statement couldn't be truer. I LOVE WANDERER & the desert rebel cell!!!
Book Review: The best and worst of humankind
Summary: 5 Stars
This book is thick! I had it a long time before I actually settled down and got into it after a few false starts.... but once I did, I stayed up most of the night and in bed the next morning to finish it FTW!!
A poignant tale of a desperate human being taken over by an alien parasite. At first "Wanderer"(the alien) is set on erasing Melanie, her human host. But Melanie is a fighter and too strong and gee, these human bodies have some overwhelming emotional aspects to them. Wanderer begins to sympathize with her human host after being subjected to her memories of the brother and love interest Melanie so desperately wants to protect.
Aliens have invaded the Earth and having determined the human race is too violent, has taken over their bodies in an attempt to eradicate them. Now it is just down to routing out the last few pockets of resistance.
Can Melanie win over her parasite? Convince her to take their body, that they share with their dual consciousness, back to the people she loves? Will she lead the aliens to those she loves, or can she turn this old "Soul"?
This book has some great science fiction aspects and quite a bit of romance. What happens when two beings in the same body love the same man? And will Wanderer betray her entire, peaceful, loving race for these both immensely brutal and immensely loving human beings?
This book really touches on the unique gift of being human and all the bad and good that goes with it. I was entirely engrossed and at times found myself tearing up. This reminded me a bit of Arthur C. Clarke's "Childhoods End". A very entertaining read but gets off to a slow start. If you read this, hang in there! It's worth it!
Stephanie Meyers really does provide a study of human nature in her writing. The only complaint I would have is that everything, not unlike the Twilight series does come to a very tidy end where it would seem that everyone gets what they want. To me, it seems like sometimes the more realistic approach involves some sacrafice.
Definitiely worth the read and if you liked the Twilight books you will enjoy this- much the same "eroticism of abstinence" theme prevails. Beware though, don't start reading if you don't have time to read it through- it is torture to put it down once you get into it!!
Book Review: All the virtues, none of the vices
Summary: 5 Stars
Meyers has not used any gratuitous violence (though there is some violence that is appropriate to the setting). No profanity. No explicit sex. No thrill-a-minute writing such as many readers have become accustomed to.
Instead, she has written a deeply insightful, yet entertaining, novel about virtues, particularly love. Love between lovers, siblings, friends, and even species. She illustrates compassion, loyalty, altruism even unto death, heroism...and even the villain of the piece, the Seeker, turns out to be other than the obnoxious character we thought.
Framed as science fiction, the storyline has a benevolent and civilized race, the Souls, taking over human bodies, the Hosts, just as they have done on other planets. But not all human spirits want to give up their bodies, and one of them, Melanie Stryder, is strong enough to remain, and fight the soul named Wanderer for control of her body. As Wanderer, through Melanie's memories, grows to love Melanie's mate and young brother, she is torn between her duty to her own species and her desire to find Melanie's loved ones.
The hateful Seeker, on the lookout for uninhabited humans, is hot on their trail. But Melanie/Wanderer manage to elude her long enough to find the tribe of humans, hiding in the desert. Then, a whole new series of conflicts arise.
Can the humans tolerate an alien in their midst? Can they believe that Melanie is still alive and well inside her body? Can Wanderer come to understand that, no matter how benevolent, her species is wrong to invade Earth? What happens when the man who loves Melanie, Jared, squares off against the man who loves Wanderer? They can't both have the one body!
When the Seeker returns, the pressure increases. Can there be a solution, both peaceful and humane, for the humans and aliens alike?
This is an absolutely wonderful book, and because it has been written so "cleanly", it is highly suitable for younger readers, even though it is aimed at the adult market. There are only 4 kisses in more than 600 pages, for instance! I am an adult in my 50s, and I recently had a lively discussion with a 12-year-old boy who was also reading this book. Though we had different takes on the subject matter, we both agreed: this is a keeper!
Book Review: Meyer refuses to be pigeon-holed with this sweeping sci-fi love story
Summary: 5 Stars
I read this book as a fan of the Twilight series, and tried not to be sullen as I picked it up from Borders. I didn't really want to be buying The Host - I wanted to be buying Breaking Dawn, the much-anticapted conclusion to Meyer's Twilight saga. Unfortunately, that finale wasn't scheduled to be out for another three months, so I bought this book to kill some time.
That said, I am so glad I "settled" for The Host. It's an amazing story destined to have a spot on my "books to re-read list."
Meyer said in an interview that The Host is science fiction for people that don't like science fiction. I DO like science fiction, but I see what she means -- the alternate universe posed in The Host is secondary to the relationships that just happen to be taking place in this dystopian society. The romance is center stage, as are the friendships and the journey toward self-actualization experienced by the central character.
I should more accurately say "central characters" because unlike any other book I've ever read, The Host boasts two narrators that just happen to inhabit the same body. One is the original "soul" of the human Melanie, a rebel that's been living off the grid to escape the invasion of alien beings who have decided to set up shop on Earth. The other is one of these aliens, Wanderer, who has been placed in Melanie's body.
Now, to their credit, these aliens are relatively nice -- no Predator-esque slayings or War of the Worlds-esque scenes of mass destruction. This invasion happens so quietly most people don't realize its happening until its too late.
Some people may find the dual voice narration confusing - but I think most readers will adapt to it quickly and enjoy the verbal sparring of these two minds sharing one body. The interesting love triangle (or is it a square?) that develops later in the story is also wonderful, and you can't help but love the characters.
In short, Meyer has done it again. I hope that she continues The Host with future sequels -- the door seems to be open for that extension of the story. Even if you were one of the crazies that didn't like Twilight or (heaven forbid!) hasn't read that series, you should still allow yourself to get lost in The Host.