The Host (Hardcover) by Stephenie Meyer - Reviews, Discussion, Bookclubs, Lists

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05/08/08

Britt rated it:

bookshelves: fantasy-sci-fi, fiction, identity, relationships, romance

Read in May, 2008

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

I originally had not planned on even reading this book because the Twilight series instills much rage within my soul (though I love it, how frustrating!), but I was in a dry spell for reading, so I decided to give it a try. I have to say I really enjoyed it much more than the Twilight series. I have seen a lot of people complain about how slow the beginning was, but I didn’t really notice. It sucked me in pretty quickly. It was very clearly a Stephenie Meyer book, though, which did lead to cer...more

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05/02/08

Jenne rated it:

bookshelves: didnt-finish

Read in July, 2008

Okay, so I was reading along, and thinking all, hey, this is pretty interesting! Not bad, Stephenie!

And then I got to about page 80 or so, and OH MY GOD THERE IT IS AGAIN, THE HORRIBLE HORRIBLE SAPPINESS OH MY EYES MY EYES

I just can't do it. CAN'T DO IT AGAIN! Not the older man, and the younger woman, and the 5-page discussion of why they can't have sex yet because NO DEAR YOU'RE JUST NOT READY EVEN THOUGH YOU REALLY WANT IT BECAUSE LOOK, YOU'RE A GIRL AND YOU CAN'T P...more

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11/04/07

Holly rated it:

Read in May, 2008

It's no secret that I did not jump on the Twilight bandwagon. I put my name on the hold list at the library for The Host, however, because I wanted to see if Stephenie Meyer had improved in her storytelling. I'm happy to say, "Yes, she did. To a point."

I would like someone tell me what her fascination is with sappy, overly dramatic dialogue, 17-year old girls and over-protective older men who carry them while running? Because there are some definite similarities here.
...more It's no secret that I did not jump on the Twilight bandwagon. I put my name on the hold list at the library for The Host, however, because I wanted to see if Stephenie Meyer had improved in her storytelling. I'm happy to say, "Yes, she did. To a point."

I would like someone tell me what her fascination is with sappy, overly dramatic dialogue, 17-year old girls and over-protective older men who carry them while running? Because there are some definite similarities here.

I find it interesting that this novel is pegged for "adults" where the Twilight novels were pegged "young adult" as I don't see a great deal of difference, except for one main fact: Wanda and Melanie are likeable. Thank goodness. If one of them had shown up as whiny and annoying as Bella, I never would have finished the book. Well, I would have finished it, but only to say, "I told you so."

While I found a lot of similarity to the Twilight novels in her storytelling and in the details (over-protective older men, teenage girls, dramatic sappy dialogue, etc.) this was a much better story. Far more developed than I would have expected. It still takes her a long time to get to her main points, but I wasn't as bored with this one in the beginning as I was with Twilight.

I found the storyline fascinating: that aliens who invade other planets and take over the species, invade earth and take over the human bodies and then live as humans. Wanda is one of those aliens, a "soul" who takes over Melanie's body, only to find out that Melanie isn't quite ready to give it up. This is where Meyer's storytelling has improved. She crafted a story where the romance was secondary to the main plot, and I think that is why this book is so much better than her earlier attempts. She explores the idea of a person's soul or spirit and how an individual is defined as much by that spirit as by their physical body.

I thought her character development was well done. I liked these characters. I cared about them. I don't need to tell you that I never cared about Bella. I enjoyed the complexities that the storyline created. Wanda was affected by Melanie's memories and feelings and couldn't help but love the man Melanie loved. Then, when she found herself caring for a different man, the conflict is believable. The humans have a difficult time accepting Wanda, but when they do, she truly becomes one of them.

The novel ends neatly, with hope. Predictably there is room for a sequel, which I no doubt expect.

I'd actually re-read this book. I won't re-read the others.(less)

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05/20/08

Annalisa rated it:

bookshelves: chick-lit

Read in May, 2008

recommended to Annalisa by: Melinda

I wanted to like this book more than I did--to see that Stephenie Meyer can pick a topic not meant for shallow teenage girls and write on a deeper level--but I think this book is more of the same, sans the vampire excitement. I liked the idea: an alien soul inhibiting the host body of a girl who doesn't want to relinquish her control and the conflicts that arise, particularly in romance. There are some interesting topics, like what defines humanity and are we living worthy enough for the planet ...more I wanted to like this book more than I did--to see that Stephenie Meyer can pick a topic not meant for shallow teenage girls and write on a deeper level--but I think this book is more of the same, sans the vampire excitement. I liked the idea: an alien soul inhibiting the host body of a girl who doesn't want to relinquish her control and the conflicts that arise, particularly in romance. There are some interesting topics, like what defines humanity and are we living worthy enough for the planet we are entrusted. The story isn't as page-turning as Twilight, but mulling nonetheless.

My problem with Stephenie Meyer is her characters. They seem shallow, unbelievable, and small variants on her same cookie cutter. Her girls in particular are, well dumb, always jumping to the wrong conclusions, never wanting to believe they could be loved. Your damsel in distress. I am often exasperated by the emotion and stupidity of her female characters. I tried to allow for the alien learning curve, but when solutions and realizations are painfully obvious to me chapters before they are explored by the characters it creates frustratingly slow plot progression.

The mold for guys is more frustrating because they exhibit none of the characters I am drawn to, and even ones I despise. They are always big, strong, forceful verging on the abusive side of controlling with a scary tendency to irrational jealousy and anger. They are emotionally immature, intense, and display their passion with an abnormal display of affection and cheesiness to the women who make them crazy with love. I don't trust intensely passionate men. (I did like Jeb's character but he wasn't a main romantic interest characters so he didn't need to be intense.)

Because of this conversations were unrealistic. I could not imagine real people speaking this way so the story felt childish at times. This is supposed to be a more adult-themed book, but in many ways I found it less adult enticing and more juvenile in tone. Her choice of juvenile-enticing characters is proof enough that her style is not intended for a truly adult audience.

Plus the middle dragged with insignificant humdrum and a lack of good character development. There was more that could have been explored with a two-spirit/one-body complex. And there were holes in this parasite species theory that bothered me. So creative idea, but the delivery and details didn't quite hit the mark.

What I did like in story development was the relationship between Ian and Wanda, how slowly and deeply it changed, until he could read and understand her better than she could and he could completely differentiate between the two souls. As for Wanda herself how she changed from first juxtaposing her ingrained annihilation justification with her extreme pacifist views to sympathy for humans and eventually protective love for the planet. What Stephenie Meyer is good at is passionate taboo romance.

I still don't think Stephenie Meyer is a good writer, but she's a decent storyteller. Had Twilight not brought her fame, I doubt this book would go far. I liked the story idea, the creative plot aspect, but it could have been so much more if she had explored the conflicts between Melanie and Wanda more thoroughly and left a morally obvious choice without a happy ending. Then it would have been a book for adults. The book was too shallow and slow enough that I probably wouldn't read it again. (less)

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11/01/07

Shannon rated it:

bookshelves: 2008, sci-fi

Read in May, 2008

Aimed at the adult science fiction crowd, as opposed to the Young Adult Twilight fanbase, The Host isn't about science or where the human race is headed, but about what it means to be human, here and now.

Earth has been quietly, non-aggressively conquered by a kind, pacifist species unable to lie or deceive, who go by different names on different planets in different languages. Here they call themselves "souls", while the rebel humans who have slipped through the net call th...more

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06/04/08

Rai rated it:

Read in July, 2008

Talk about an emotional roller coaster!!!! This book was very difficult to rate. If someone were to ask me, "Was it good?" I'd have to think for a long time and then say, "No.... Well... yes, sorta.... No... It was ok." But if someone were to ask me if I'd enjoyed it, I'd instantly reply, "Yes!" Would I read it again? Probably not. Was it exciting? On occasion. Was in interesting? Very much so, in my opinion. Was it weird? YES! Were the characters well-developed?...more Talk about an emotional roller coaster!!!! This book was very difficult to rate. If someone were to ask me, "Was it good?" I'd have to think for a long time and then say, "No.... Well... yes, sorta.... No... It was ok." But if someone were to ask me if I'd enjoyed it, I'd instantly reply, "Yes!" Would I read it again? Probably not. Was it exciting? On occasion. Was in interesting? Very much so, in my opinion. Was it weird? YES! Were the characters well-developed? ... After the first half of the book, yes, I suppose.

The Host is about a species of aliens who call themselves Souls. They are born without bodies and can not live very long without one, so they live like parasites inside the bodies of other creatures, completely taking them over. These "souls" come to earth and take over the bodies of mankind, living peacefully as they experience the new world around them.

The main character of this book, through whose eyes the events of the story are witnessed, is a soul named Wanderer who takes over the body of a young woman formerly known as Melanie. When Wanderer realizes that Melanie is still alive inside of her body, she tries desperately to fight her out, along with the painful and wonderful memories of the man Melanie is in love with. Eventually, Wanderer falls in love with this man, too, through Melanie's memories and the two of them set out to find him.

I don't usually read Science-fiction, and so maybe that's the reason I found this book so odd. I wouldn't have picked it up, knowing the storyline as I did, except that my sister had it in her room and I was bored. As weird as the whole alien/possession thing was and is, I found that it was interesting to read about. It was interesting to read the descriptions of human emotions through a character who's never felt them before. This book was VERY EMOTIONAL! Happy, sad, angry, jealous, confused, hurt, obsessed, offended, frustrated, loved, hated, admired, rejected... all feelings were vividly described and painfully lived as I read this book. It ended the way I wanted it to, which made me happy, but.... I don't know. There were just a few things I would have changed had I been the editor of this book.

1) Stephanie Meyer seems to be developing, more and more with every book, a strange fascination with writing graphic make-out scenes that are slightly embarrassing to read. There were two in this book that were completely pointless, like she just wanted to write them. There was one that was almost pointless, but I can see why she would think it necessary. I'm not against kissing in books or anything like that, but there is such a thing as overdoing it to the point of ridiculousness.

2) I wished that she would have spent less time with the first half of the book and more with the near-end of the book. I wished there would have been more after "the problem" was fixed. Hopefully anyone who's read the book knows what I mean by that. To me, the book really got interesting near the middle, and it kind of dragged a little before that. But it wasn't really boring.... Just... uneventful....

That's it! This book was uneventful for how long it is! But I wasn't ever bored, exactly. Stephanie Meyer is too good of a writer to allow that. There was always something I enjoyed about it, but there was just enough that was weird or not quite right about it that I can't say that I loved it.

In conclusion: I don't know exactly what I think of this book. It was enjoyable! I'm not sorry that I read it! But it was weird, and I would have liked it better with a few changes here and there.(less)

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02/20/08

Karin rated it:

bookshelves: 2008-reads, favorites

Read in March, 2008

Wanderer has just arrived on Earth and been implanted into her new host. She has lived on seven worlds before coming here. She is arriving toward the end of the alien invasion when very few humans remain. The aliens are known as “souls” and are a peace loving type that don’t know of violence or lying.

Very few humans remain on Earth. When the remaining humans are discovered, they are captured by Seekers - the closest thing to a police force the “souls” have. Once captur...more Wanderer has just arrived on Earth and been implanted into her new host. She has lived on seven worlds before coming here. She is arriving toward the end of the alien invasion when very few humans remain. The aliens are known as “souls” and are a peace loving type that don’t know of violence or lying.

Very few humans remain on Earth. When the remaining humans are discovered, they are captured by Seekers - the closest thing to a police force the “souls” have. Once captured, they are prepared for implantation where a small cut is placed at the base of the skull and the “soul” is put in the body. The “soul” connects to the body and takes control. The first experience the “soul” has is the receiving of the host body’s memories. Typically, the host recedes and leaves the “soul” alone to continue life as usual. For Wanderer, this didn’t happen.

Since the only humans left are ones that are rebels, placing a new “soul” into an adult has become risky. The rebels seem to resist the implantation since they know what is happening. The Wanderer was granted this request because of her experience on so many other worlds and has proven herself as a strong and brave “soul.” Melanie is the name of Wanderer’s host and Melanie doesn’t go away quietly.

Melanie remains active and talks to Wanderer all the time. Melanie bombards Wanderer with her memories of life so much so that Wanderer feels the same feelings that Melanie did when she had control over her own body. Melanie hides the memories that Wanderer needs though. A Seeker has been assigned to Wanderer in order to get information about the human rebels that worked with Melanie. Melanie is strong enough to block those memories from her.

Eventually, in a weakened state, Melanie allows something to slip through the wall she has constructed to keep Wanderer away from the people she loves. She shows her memories of Jared, the man Melanie desperately loves, and Jamie, her younger brother. These memories overwhelm Wanderer and she physically aches for Jared and Jamie herself. Melanie knows where they might have gone into hiding since she was captured. She convinces Wanderer to go search for them and when the chance presents itself she slips away from the Seeker and sets off to find the people THEY love.

When Wanderer finally stumbles upon the rebels she is both elated and terrified. She is so relieved to know that Jared and Jamie are both alive and well, but at the same time, is frightened for her own life. Wanderer endures weeks of isolation and deprivation once in custody while the rebels decide what to do with her. Slowly some people warm up to her and begin to allow her some freedom around the hideout, but she is never alone. They are afraid she is there to get information to take back to the Seekers and then come back and capture them all. It takes a very long time for them to see that she has no intention of turning anyone in to the Seekers.

The story is complex. Not only is there the issue of Melanie loving Jared and the Wanderer loving Jared because of Melanie’s memories; we also have Ian, another member of the rebels. Ian takes it upon himself to become a permanent fixture in Wanderers life. He is friend and protector and begins to have feelings for her and her alone (not Melanie since he didn’t know her prior to the invasion).

The story ends on a note of hope. It is an emotional ride from beginning to end - all 631 pages. Any science fiction fan will enjoy this story, but I think Stephenie Meyer may have done for science fiction what she did for fantasy when she wrote Twilight. THE HOST is set in enough of a realistic setting that even people who aren’t sci-fi fans will enjoy this story. I want to read it again, but I have so much else to read that I can’t right now, but THE HOST is definately on my “to be read again” pile. I hope Stephenie Meyer writes another novel after she finishes with the Twilight Series.

(less)

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05/06/08

Kris rated it:

Read in June, 2008

I am having so much trouble reading this book, and who am I to judge? I am just a lowly reader and spender, not a publisher. But there is just something about the writing in this book that is making the voices in my head scream. I had the same experience when I read "Twilight."
Ms. Meyers is over-the-top descriptive where there is no need to be. If I had to count how many times she wrote, "I winced." or, "I flinched." or, "I sighed." or, "Ian ...more

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12/06/07

Becca Jane rated it:

Read in May, 2008

Let me start off by saying that I wanted to like this book sooooooo very much. But unfortunately I was disappointed. I was excited about Stephanie’s description of a love triangle with only two bodies, and that the book was advertised as an “Adult” book. But when the main female character, Melanie, is 17 and the main male character, Jared, is 26, I was put off. I do not have a problem with the age difference just how young she is. It would not have detracted at all from their relation...more

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04/20/08

♥ Brigid ♥ rated it:

bookshelves: 5-star-books, books-of-summer--08, scary-books

Read in August, 2008

OMG OMG OMG!!!! Okay, so... wow. I don't know what to say. First of all, this book is just AMAZING!!! Gah, it gave me CHILLS!! So original, and exciting, and scary, and romantic, and thought-provoking... so many things at once! I loved it so much!
I'm just so happy that Stephenie Meyer has proved that she has more than one story to tell. A lot of authors just write dozens and dozens of books with the exact same plot. But Meyer has definitely proved to me that her mind is full of brilliant i...more

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08/22/08

Famin rated it:

Read in August, 2008

recommended to Famin by: J-boo

It's no secret that I have a love/hate relationship with Stephenie Meyer's Stephenie Meyer writing. I've read three of the four Twilight books (with plans to read Breaking Dawn at some point). I haven't quite decided if I like them or not. I love the plotting. The action scenes are good. The line writing reads fast and is clearly well-edited. What drives me crazy is any emotional scene; any internal dialogue in a character's head, the dithering back and forth over an issue, because it goes on an...more

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06/18/08

Spooky Cookie rated it:

bookshelves: audiobooks, claimed, futuristic, xoxo

Read in June, 2008

recommends it for: no-one

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

It's really bad. Twilight was awesome, it had good ideas, great dialogues, lovely characters. Even New Moon was nice even though Bella became more and more annoying. Eclipse was okay, too but made it obvious that nothing would ever compare to Twilight and its awesomeness.

Remember the Twilight series audiobooks? They were beautifully read, weren't they? Well, go and write angry letters to the person who decided that The Host would be read by someone else. Maybe the Twilight voice coul...more It's really bad. Twilight was awesome, it had good ideas, great dialogues, lovely characters. Even New Moon was nice even though Bella became more and more annoying. Eclipse was okay, too but made it obvious that nothing would ever compare to Twilight and its awesomeness.

Remember the Twilight series audiobooks? They were beautifully read, weren't they? Well, go and write angry letters to the person who decided that The Host would be read by someone else. Maybe the Twilight voice could have saved something. Because the The Host voice only helped destroying the story. Don't get me wrong, the reader is very talented, she does different voices and so on but they are all so ... dislikable. So if you have enough patience read the book instead and make up your own voices in your head (or if you made them up already, let them read the story to you).

Maybe it's not so much the voice that made the characters so dislikable but the characters themselves. They're so flat and boring. I hardly cared for any of them. I kinda grew a sympathy for Ian and maybe Jamie (oh and Sonny!) but the rest? I wasn't even sad a little when Walter died ... and the Seeker in the beginning ... I got told the whole time how annoying she was but I never really was given much reason to find her that annoying o.O

STEPHENIE MEYER WHAT DID YOU THINK? YOU CAN DO SO MUCH BETTER!

I mean, there were some cool ideas. All the stuff about the other planets and its creatures was amazing and really interesting, the way the souls are described (I always imagined them kind of like that) was great and I liked some other things, too I don't remember right now.
But why I disliked the book:
- shallow characters
- too many useless scenes (when Wanderer is trapped by the humans and put into that "hole" at the beginning, that went on way too long), paragraphs and sentences
- the "I'm in love with 2 men and can't decide who I love more" theme again *rolls eyes* (except that Jacob and Edward actually are adorable ~~men~~ ~~boys~~ creatures to fall in love with)
- declamatory phrases all the time, so boring and used and *chokes*
- the whole Bellaness of Wanda, being all "I don't care about myself, nobody wants me anyway, I only harm people, I should suffer, please don't do anything for me, I want to sacrifice myself" uuuurgh -.-

So apparently Steph Meyer has some great ideas but she should get a new (stricter) editor... or a ghostwriter.(less)

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03/08/08

Elizabeth rated it:

Read in May, 2008

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

OH MY...(deep breath) word.
No book has ever made me want to run so much -- just to feel my muscles working, ever made me treasure the rise and fall of my lungs, feel the wind on my face, or treasure the feel of water as it gracefully slides down my throat, no book has ever made me understand so fully how... just how we should be treasured.
Words cannot express how much I love this bood. If you havn't read the book yet, exit out of this RIGHT NOW because here come some major spoilers...more OH MY...(deep breath) word.
No book has ever made me want to run so much -- just to feel my muscles working, ever made me treasure the rise and fall of my lungs, feel the wind on my face, or treasure the feel of water as it gracefully slides down my throat, no book has ever made me understand so fully how... just how we should be treasured.
Words cannot express how much I love this bood. If you havn't read the book yet, exit out of this RIGHT NOW because here come some major spoilers from about here on!!
The whole Mel and Jared thing just totally rips your heart up! When Wanda goes to die, I was not able to see, that was so freakin'... ouch.
I totally love Jeb, his personality is so... unique and... hilarious.
My heart goes out to Jamie, he's such a cute kid! I just love his, Mel's, and Wanda's relationship!
Ian, what can I say to give Ian justice... I totally love him, he's so kind, compasionate, understanding. He's so protective and... deep.
At the end I just couldn't take it any longer, it was so sad. But I don't exactly like how she lies about her age, Meyer seemed to go a little closer to the line this time...
I also really love how much strength Wanda has and yet how she's so... gentle and protective (minus her mourning period, that was... horrid, I love how Stephenie Meyer described that sickening experience so that you were in Wanda's head). For some reason I just don't think that her new body suited her, it was too week, but then again she'll grow, but that's kinda creepy 'cause you don't really know Ian's age, but I guess that doesn't really matter... I guess. I think latter on the body will suit her more, but it's kinda weird with no Mel.
I think that I relate myself most to Wanda, but also a lot with Meline (I completely love that girl to death!). I guess I just have duel personalities like they do, I'm both of them at once, but I have to admit I'm with Wanda on a lot of stuff... a lot. I love how far she was willing to go for the people she loved, the way she thought. I love that they say that she was so beautiful, it goes with her, it's like seeing someone's soul (no pun intended) and you just know how... pure she is, she was willing to die trying to save Kyle when he tried to kill her. But it was also awkward with Jared and Ian fighting all the time, Jared knew Mel and Ian knew Wanda(I like it when he calls her Wanderer, I think it goes with her better then Wanda). I was goint to say something else about Wanderer, but I seem to have forgotten and I believe the memory has no intention of coming back. But I love how she wants to run down a field with bare feet while it's raining, I think that is when I truely broke, she never wanted anything for herself and the things she wanted were denied her(minus Ian...).
I laughed at so many parts and cried just the same, such depths of depression and leaps of joy.
I think (how many sentences have I started with I think or I also or I totally?) that Stephenie was smart with how she ended the book, it gave her a lot of options. One she could write a book in Burn's perspective. Two, she could write a sequel. Or three, just leave it where it is, but that would make me sad and also strangly relieved.
So, I think my goal here was reached, I just totally spilled my guts out to you about the book. If any one really cares to read all this (PLEASE TELL ME YOU HAVE READ THE BOOK ALREADY IF YOU'RE READING THIS!!!)and if you're about to explode, talk to me about it, maybe you'll be able to help me remember that amazing, stupid quote I forgot (not likely...).(less)

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05/25/08

Heather rated it:

Read in May, 2008

recommends it for: late teens/ adult

Before I get into details, let me just say this: Stephenie Meyer is an excellent author and i would gladly recommend ANY of her novels. She posses the ability to pull the reader into the story and allow them to feel like they are actually there with the characters, experiencing what they experience and feeling what they feel. She paints a vivid picture of the characters and their lives in the mind of every reader who is fortunate enough to be touched by the worlds that she creates. Reading one o...more Before I get into details, let me just say this: Stephenie Meyer is an excellent author and i would gladly recommend ANY of her novels. She posses the ability to pull the reader into the story and allow them to feel like they are actually there with the characters, experiencing what they experience and feeling what they feel. She paints a vivid picture of the characters and their lives in the mind of every reader who is fortunate enough to be touched by the worlds that she creates. Reading one of her works is like being in 3-d theater but better, its actually more like being in a 6-D theater, touching all of the human senses and emotion at once. It is hard to find a flaw in the novel by itself, when not being compared to her other works. Now having said that, there are a few criticisms that i have for this novel in comparison to her other works.
The quality of the novel does stand up to the standards set by her preceding works. But, despite the creative story line and captivating emotions shown in The Host, there are some flaws to be found in the depth of the characters. I am a fan of the Twilight series, also by Stephenie Meyer, and could not stop myself from finding many links between this novel and the Twilight series in regards to the characters, their emotions and their interconnected relationships. For example, the character Jared (from The Host) is very similar to Jacob (From Twilight). Both have a tendency to let their emotions get the best of them, both are somewhat selfish creatures in regards to the one that they love, and both are extremely stubborn. The characters Ian (The host) and Edward (Twilight) are the same way, comparatively. Both are overly protective and somewhat irrational when it comes to the people that they love, both have the ability to love unconditionally despite the fact that both men love someone of a different species, and both men's brothers try to kill their partners. The greatest character similarity, however, exists between Wanderer/Melanie (The Host) and Bella (Twilight).
The complexity of the characters is amazing in both novels. In both there are two different personalities existing in one body, each personality belonging to a different man that the characters love. There are two parts to Bella (Twilight) one in love Jacob (Twilight) and one in love with Edward (Twilight), but one love is stronger than the other. She describes the strain between the two as "tearing her apart." The same its to be said for Wanderer/Melanie (The Host), but to a more extreme extent. In this case there are actually two separate entities existing in one body "tearing them apart". One personality , Wanda [Wanderer] (The Host), belonging to Ian (The Host); and the other personality, Melanie (The Host), belonging to Jared (The Host). Wanda (The Host) and Bella (Twilight) are both very self-sacrificing people who would go to the ends of the earth to prevent the ones that they love from hurting and would do anything in their power to make them happy. Both are very non-violent and even show compassion for enemies. Melanie (The Host) and Bella (Twilight) are both tough individuals possessing the ability to reason through stressful situations.
All of the characters do possess unique qualities as well, and display different depths of emotions. I may be just more attuned to the personalities presented in Twilight (due to my love of the series), and couldn't help but find similarities between it and The Host. But then again, If I am this attuned to the character's personalities after simply reading the series, imagine how predisposed to the personality traits Stephenie Meyer is. So I suppose that after spending so much time creating and writing about the characters, letting them become apart of you, that it would be impossible to completely separate them from your other works. For is each work not expression of the soul as well, and it is impossible, as an author, to exclude part of yourself from your writings.

Read The Host, I think that you will enjoy it. I know that I did.(less)

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04/21/08

Jen rated it:

Read in May, 2008

recommends it for: everyone

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

Wow, this book was pretty incredible.
I loved it.

My review is very much religious, and I think that it's safe to say, as Stephenie Meyer shares my beliefs, and even if she didn't, what I remembered of principles of Mormon doctrine & the plan of salvation as I read, make this book so much greater than the story itself, superficially. I love books that cause me to contemplate things of an eternal nature, this was one of them.
I think what makes this book so relate-able is th...more

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10/05/08

Sella rated it:

recommends it for: EVERYONE MUST READ IT OR DIE!!! XD

Before, after I read Breaking Dawn and was writing the review on here for it, I wrote that it was the best book in the world, that it was the best one I've ever read.

That is now a lie.

THIS is the best book I've EVER read. THIS is the best book in the whole entire UNIVERSE. The Host is at the top of all the books I've ever read in my life. It beats the Twilight series, and it even beats Breaking Dawn. It beats every other book out there. THIS is the best.

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02/12/08

Caroline rated it:

bookshelves: read-in-2008, science-fiction

Read in May, 2008

I was pretty iffy about this book going in--I've read all of Stephenie Meyer's other books (the Twilight series) and they're decently good, but nothing amazing. I'm not big on sappy romances, and I was concerned that this would just be one big huge romance like the others.

I was surprised, definitely. While it does have romantic elements to the story, it didn't feel like the romance took over the plot and didn't allow for any real story to happen.

What I liked the best abou...more I was pretty iffy about this book going in--I've read all of Stephenie Meyer's other books (the Twilight series) and they're decently good, but nothing amazing. I'm not big on sappy romances, and I was concerned that this would just be one big huge romance like the others.

I was surprised, definitely. While it does have romantic elements to the story, it didn't feel like the romance took over the plot and didn't allow for any real story to happen.

What I liked the best about this book is how much thought it seems Stephenie Meyer actually put into it. I really liked her mythos for the souls (the aliens who have invaded and taken over humans as their hosts), and the interesting planets she concocted. Something about it just seemed like she actually put forth some real world-building to come up with a very very fascinating race of invading aliens, I loved it.

It was also really nice for me that the story was actually from the perspective of one of those very interesting aliens, rather than a human protagonist. I liked seeing the human race through the eyes of a gentle, non-warlike creature like Wanderer. And, despite it being told from an alien's perspective, it really was a story about human nature and what it means to be human. Definitely a lot more meaningful than her Twilight books.

I went in being confused that it was an adult novel, because at the beginning it easily could have been a young adult novel like her others. The further I read, the more the classification made sense. The book delves into some pretty heavy thoughts about morality, and there are some very violent scenes (specifically men beating on a helpless woman) that are pretty rough.

As someone who wasn't all that impressed by her Twilight books, I'm happy to say I really enjoyed this and had a really hard time putting it down at times. It's not without faults, but Meyer has definitely grown as an author and I hope we'll see more meaningful books like this from her! I'm giving it 5 stars not because it was absolutely amazing, but because it was incredibly compelling and I loved it.(less)

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11/23/08

Andrea rated it:

(review of isbn 1600241662)

bookshelves: audio-style, to-read

Mrs. Meyers and I can no longer be tortured friends. Maybe someday I can finish this poor excuse for a novel, but I'm going to relieve myself of the misery for now. The premise was fine, but the dysfunctional psychological processes of every single character has me truly sick. Not to mention that Melanie Stryder, (i mean, Bella Swan...) is essentially the same pathetic female character that we've seen in the Twilight series. I'm done.
I have been mystified by this writer because so very m...more

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05/12/08

Karene rated it:

Read in May, 2008

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

Like this review? yes (7 people liked it)

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05/12/08

Angie rated it:

bookshelves: belovedbookshelf

Read in May, 2008

I felt myself getting more and more excited about this book as the release date drew closer. I've enjoyed the Twilight books and I'm looking forward to their conclusion in Breaking Dawn, but I found myself pretty intrigued to see what Stephenie Meyer would do when she set out to do something different. Plus, I was just in the mood for some science fiction. I've loved sci fi ever since I picked up my first Ray Bradbury and, even though Meyer states it's science fiction for people who don't read s...more I felt myself getting more and more excited about this book as the release date drew closer. I've enjoyed the Twilight books and I'm looking forward to their conclusion in Breaking Dawn, but I found myself pretty intrigued to see what Stephenie Meyer would do when she set out to do something different. Plus, I was just in the mood for some science fiction. I've loved sci fi ever since I picked up my first Ray Bradbury and, even though Meyer states it's science fiction for people who don't read science fiction, it certainly qualifies. What with the aliens and all. And there ended up being more (and a wider variety) of them than I was expecting.

You're undoubtedly familiar with the premise of this novel already, so I'll leave it at this: it's invasion of the body snatchers, but the body snatchers are benevolent and the humans are, well, human. Flawed, emotional, corruptible. You name it. And there are very few of them left at all. But the few there are are....tenacious. Especially Melanie, the human whose body has just been taken over by the soul called Wanderer. Known for her extreme skill at taking over a body, as well as her penchant for never staying on one world for more than one life, Wanderer has been hand-picked for insertion in the rebellious Mel in the hopes that she will be able to glean details from Mel's memory about possible leftover humans in hiding. As you might expect, all does not go smoothly for Wanderer. Or Mel.

The great thing about The Host is that the main character is one of the "bad guys." As a result, the reader's emotions (and loyalties) are wonderfully conflicted throughout the beginning of the story. It doesn't take long, though, to fall in love with Wanderer and I really liked the way Meyer interspersed Wanderer's narrative with flashbacks from Mel's life as she hurled them, one after another, at Wanderer's mind in a bid to save herself as well as the ones she loves--her younger brother Jamie and her human love Jared. I was pleasantly surprised to find that, contrary to the whole love story being central to the plot scenario I'd been prepped for, the book was not at all ruled by romance. It is a story about love, but it's more a story about what it means to be human and humane. The love in the story encompasses all forms: familial, friendship, platonic, and romantic. I was particularly drawn to Wanda's fierce love for Mel's little brother Jamie and the lengths she went to to protect him. The Host is in many ways (despite its length) a small, intensely personal story. I loved it, was sad when it was over, and will reread it again soon.(less)

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