The Host (The Host, #1) in Twilight Series by Stephenie Meyer

Sep 25, 2008 Immortal Fiction rated it really liked it

Shelves: own-ebooks, own-audio, local-library

A good, interesting, enjoyable read but too much detail for me to wade through in the beginning before I could really connect with the main characters. It took a while to dig in and find something to identify with that would draw me in.

Although some reviewers see similarities to character types in Stephenie's Twilight series, The Host NEVER caused me to feel the way I did the entire time I read, re-read and still read Twilight! So don't pick this up hoping for more of the same. Maybe only peopl A good, interesting, enjoyable read but too much detail for me to wade through in the beginning before I could really connect with the main characters. It took a while to dig in and find something to identify with that would draw me in.

Although some reviewers see similarities to character types in Stephenie's Twilight series, The Host NEVER caused me to feel the way I did the entire time I read, re-read and still read Twilight! So don't pick this up hoping for more of the same. Maybe only people who didn't enjoy Twilight notice the similarities - I didn't until I read reviews.

Stephenie repeats some key adjectives to describe people or similar experiences in both but none of the people are alike to me, none wholly likeable as with Twilight, or at least not as easy to identify with. While I admire Wanderer for her selflessness, she never falters or messes up (smile) so I can't identify with her like I do with Bella in Twilight (who means well, is selfless, but insecure and falls short of her own expectations - is not perfect). Wanderer isn't human and she's had milleniums to evolve her inner being so it is fitting that she is strong and rarely falls short.

It took a while for me to hope she would love Ian instead of Jared and both are good guys inside so hang on for how that goes (and you have to adore Jamie) but no one provokes the full gammut of emotional response from the reader (me) that Edward, Bella and Jake from Twilight did and still do. Of course the situations and lifestyle The Host characters have to live in could make anyone less human and more difficult to love, trust, and connect with entirely.

While I did truly enjoy The Host I probably wouldn't read it again. But I might! There was just too much detail in the beginning for a non- "alien-book" lover especially since her past lives were so bizarrely different, nothing like people. I almost wanted to skip ahead and try to get to know her AND Melanie better first and then go back and learn more about her background, maybe through flashbacks. Flashbacks can be overused too but I wanted to know sooner if I would connect with her or her situation before continuing (i'm impatient!) ...more

Like · see review

Dec 04, 2008 Ms. Vicki Smith rated it really liked it

Shelves: adult, older-teen-to-adult

What an unusual story. Stephenie Meyer has a great imagination. I really liked this alien type story where the Earth has been taken over and humans are being transformed into something new. There always has to be some rebels in a story like this who want to save the world. The characters were intense, dramatic, and realistic. I can't help but compare this story to Twilight, and in my opinion it wasn't quite as good, but still an excellent story. ...more

Like · see review

Sep 02, 2008 Krystalp rated it really liked it

Shelves: summer-reading-08

I read this book after i read the twilight series. Written by Stephenie Meyer, I expected this book to be extremely good and i wasn't disappointed. I loved the whole new twist from the vampire world to the "body stealing" world and the futuristic scenes. It was also especially interesting to read from every character's point of view. ...more

Like · see review