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July 08
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Kristen
added The Handmaid's Tale
to the book list Best Books of the 20th Century
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June 30
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Kristen
is currently reading:
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass
by Lewis Carroll
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my rating:
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Kristen
marked as to-read:
Breaking Dawn (Twilight Series, Book 4)
by Stephenie Meyer
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Kristen
gave
to:
Eclipse (Twilight Series, Book 3)
by Stephenie Meyer
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Kristen
gave
to:
New Moon (Twilight Series, Book 2)
by Stephenie Meyer
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my rating:
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Kristen
gave
to:
Twilight (Twilight Series, Book 1)
by Stephenie Meyer
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my rating:
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July 08
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Kristen
gave
to:
Never Let Me Go (Paperback)
by Kazuo Ishiguro
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read in July, 2008
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May 26
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New comment on Shannon's review of
The Host: A Novel
(see all 3 comments)
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Kristen
read and liked
Shannon's
review of The Host: A Novel:
"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-...more
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 them "parasites". They are silvery, ribbon-like sentient creatures small enough to hold in two hands, covered in feathery antennae. Inserted into the back of a host body's skull, they take over a host's mind and motor functions to the point that the host's mind is completely subsumed: in effect, killing them.
That is, until Earth, where the hosts fight back.
Wanderer has lived full life cycles on nine other planets - a record among her kind - before taking a human host, a young woman called Melanie. Unfortunately, Melanie's not going away without a fight, and on top of the gamut of new and intense human emotions Wanderer must contend with, she also struggles to take complete control of her host and find the memories Melanie's keeping from her - memories of her brother Jamie and the man she loves, Jared. They'd managed to elude the alien takeover, until Melanie was caught. As Wanderer gradually gets to know and understand Melanie, she dreams more and more of Jared and Jamie until she finds herself ruled by Melanie's desire to find them, a desire stronger than the need to keep them safe from the parasites.
While the story is very different from Twilight, the writing is much the same, and there are certain qualities in the characters that are becoming almost Meyer trademarks. I can already hear the same complaints and criticisms as I've read regarding the other series, but I'm not sure what these people are expecting - highbrow literature? The earth to move beneath their feet? Some people are never happy, and will often read a book determined to hate it. With one book they complain that something was mentioned and then seemingly forgotten, in another that something was repeated too many times. Personally, I didn't have a problem with the repetition in Twilight and I don't have a problem with it here.
I think the first readjustment to my assumptions was with the alien race and Wanderer in particular. When I read about the book last year, I assumed the aliens are aggressive and cruel and the humans would be portrayed as humane and vulnerable. That's how it usually goes, after all, though I don't care for it. The opposite is true here however: the humans are portrayed as greedy, deceitful and violent - which we are, pretty much, especially when cornered - while the souls are kindly, generous, non-suspicious, terrified of humans and - apart from the Seekers - couldn't harm a fly. Especially Wanderer. It's not easy having a pacifist as your main character and narrator, especially one who's easily scared. But Wanderer has her moments of strength too, and resourcefulness, as well as her moral dilemma which is what really carries the story.
Regarding the other characters, I really didn't like Jared, and Wanderer's attraction to him is one of the weakest points of the story. The point is made that she loves him because her body, Melanie's body, loves him and responds to him, and her mind too in a way. But it just didn't gel for me, probably because he doesn't come across well. His own dilemma - that the woman he loves is trapped inside a body ruled by an alien - gives him some excuse, but really, what's this thing Meyer has about women loving men who treat them horribly? Edward was pretty mean to Bella in the beginning, remember? Anyway, I liked Ian early on and it was pretty frustrating, the way Wanderer treated him etc.
The themes of the novel are pretty obvious, and definitely well-meaning, but still interesting. Questions of whether humans deserve to live on when we are so cruel to each other, and waste resources etc. The souls don't even use money, they take only what they need, and treat everyone with the same kindness. This raises the age-old issue of individuality, which is often the victim - and the ace up humans' collective sleeve - in such stories. The same theme was explored in Scott Westerfeld's Uglies/Pretties/Specials trilogy, for example.
Definitely one of the things I liked about this book was the conflict between Melanie and Wanderer, having two minds in one body with one more dominant than the other. It reminded me of Annon and Riane in Eric van Lustbader's Pearl Saga, a boy in a girl's body whose individual identities are slowly merging yet still conflicting - written so well, I think Lustbader created a whole new gender. It's simpler here because they're both female, but other problems arise because of it - like loving the same man, or of Wanderer wanting to respond to Ian but unable to because her host body lusts after another man. Among other things ;)
Because I didn't like the characters as much as I did in Meyer's Twilight series, I didn't fall in love with this book. It's an oft-times exciting story, with moments of tension and uncertainty, but I would have liked to understand the souls more - I didn't really understand where they came from or how they came to be, it's kind of like the chicken-or-the-egg: if souls can't survive without host bodies, how did they come to be? How did they get inside their first hosts? - and it was a tad bit heavy-handed on the moralising. Not enough to annoy me, but it's there nonetheless.
In short, if you enjoyed the Twilight series, you'll probably enjoy this because it means Meyer's style won't aggravate you; if, on the other hand, you didn't enjoy them, and you have bitched and moaned about her writing style like so many other people, I'd rather you didn't read The Host, not 'cause your criticisms will be wrong, but because you're missing the story. I should know, I've bitched and moaned about books I don't like often enough before. But I don't usually go on and read more books by the same author, unless I'm hoping they'll have improved. And I think Meyer's writing is improving, but it is what it is: simple, unadorned, reflective, introspective (but not too much), and clear. Even the repetition is necessary, which I think is true of Twilight as well....less
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Kristen
read and liked
Jen's
review of The Host: A Novel:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
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...more
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 that it's about humanity.
It helped me to think about so many incredible things, one of which stood out among all. The great power and blessing of love; and what it means to be human, the blessing that it is, and the not so beautiful truth of limitations and shortcomings during our time here on earth.
Things, principles really, that I kept thinking about were:
opposition in all things
the love of the Savior, how we can emulate it
the types and ways love is gained
the struggle with our natural appetites and what we want to become
the love and relationship of a mother(figure/motherhood) and child
The relationship between Wanderer and Melanie was interesting, it was obvious that they were total opposites of a spectrum and that they both had admirable qualities. Melanie's strength and love and Wanderer's gracious compassion, which emulated someone I will always strive to be like. It was fitting that they were one person, I think everyone can be on either spectrum at times.
It was intriguing because I saw it as our own relationship/struggle between the natural man and our spirits, specifically what we may become as we learn to swallow our inherently worldly and selfish will in the Savior's, ever trying to be more like Him in charity, compassion and obedience.
The greatest sacrifice any of us can give is our own lives. Wanderer's willingness to give that up because of her love for her "sister" was a powerful example of sacrifice.
I loved the character of Jamie, the love of a child is so pure and unconditional. I liked how the need to mother was explained as a physical yearning, it hit home.
There's so much more about this book that I loved, this really is only a smidgen with bits and pieces. I don't usually write reviews of books, and I feel if I did it would just be a bunch of ramblings with little sense anyway, like this!
It was fun with the love story and suspense, so many mini-climaxes and intense happenings! Like with Stephenie's other books, she's meticulous in detail, which I love. It makes the book that much more real and sound. Even if it does take a bit to get going, which I really thought it was engaging from the beginning (no matter how confused I was for the first few chapters, all that alien jargin!)
A few ppl I talked to thought it was slow going at the start, but it was necessary, lots of background info needed I guess. I love the quality of phrasing, or rather, the small details that may at first be something insignificant, but then later become something important. It makes you want to remember every detail in case later you realize you missed something! It's like creating a tapestry of sorts.
Compared to her Twilight series, I liked The Host better. Twilight was fun and I loved it, don't get me wrong. I'm excited for Breaking Dawn - go Edward! But The Host was more fulfilling in that it left me with a will to change something about myself and really got me thinking about eternal principles, like I said before.
Of course there were some parts where I laughed because it was a little corny, but doesn't everyone enjoy corn once in a while? :) Unless of course, you're allergic.
I did think that the Seeker thing was going to be a bigger deal, and that the secret she "kept" was much more climactic, but it was still great.
One more thing, I'm happy Ian and Wanderer ended up together, they were perfect for one another and the body they got for her fit well too. Such an outward representation of her personality, except for the shyness, giddiness and youth.
I was a little scared that the book would end like those "human stories" with a sad ending, even if it would have been poetic(Boo). But I liked how it ended, without a definitive "end", and hope.
It was a great book.
I may not get AJ to read the Twilight series, but I think I could get him to read this one, especially since Glenn Beck read it and gave SM and The Host such high regard! Look it up on youtube. :)...less
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