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The Host (The Host, #1)

Stephenie Meyer

Discussion leader: Lily Hannah

Why we're reading this: I've heard mixed reviews of the film adaptation of 'The Host'. What say you??…more
[close] I've heard mixed reviews of the film adaptation of 'The Host'. What say you??

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Apr 19, 2013 Nosa Iredia rated it it was amazing

When a harmonious alien race called souls take over human bodies, one soul, "Wanderer" is implanted into a woman called Melanie Stryder to extract information about the remaining humans. But Melanie Stryder refuses to fade away. Soon she starts to fill Wanderer with visions of Jamie her brother, Jared her lover and even her Uncle Jeb, Aunt Maggie, Bryan her Dad and her Mum Lydia. Wanderer, being consumed by the emotions of these memories, begins to find it impossible to give any information abou When a harmonious alien race called souls take over human bodies, one soul, "Wanderer" is implanted into a woman called Melanie Stryder to extract information about the remaining humans. But Melanie Stryder refuses to fade away. Soon she starts to fill Wanderer with visions of Jamie her brother, Jared her lover and even her Uncle Jeb, Aunt Maggie, Bryan her Dad and her Mum Lydia. Wanderer, being consumed by the emotions of these memories, begins to find it impossible to give any information about Melanie's memories away to The Seeker, an irritating soul who will stop at nothing to find remaining humans and have them captured. Soon the two-united in their dislike of The Seeker- begin to work together to find Melanie's loved ones and the other humans.

In my opinion this is a prime example of an author stepping up from a previous series. The premise of a body-snatching Sci-fi is not original but the content of it refreshingly is. The host may begin slowly and have other slow paced scenes but a character and background driven story is the goal here. These are the things that I liked about the Novel.

The Souls are a peaceful harmonious parasite. They are in sync with each other and that makes the takeover story believable. They are like a massive colony of ants who individually are weak but together are a strong overpowering force.

The simplistic nature of the Souls is showcased in the simplicity of their products like Heal, peace, calm and sleep. They have eradicated all war, hunger, competition and currency so there is no need for brand names to compete with each other.

How Wanderer has a visual memory of her past lives but her human brain doesn't allow her to remember the names so she often names the creatures she used to be in her previous lives based on the closest creature Melanie's brain can think of. E.G's of this are Dragons, Bats, and Spiders.

The Psychological struggle between Melanie and Wanderer. Even in the little things like how Wanderer would cut her hair to annoy Melanie because she liked it long. This may seem petty but it does successfully pull off its dynamic of two people living in one body and the feeling of hatred either petty or serious that comes from having to share.

The relationships between Wanderer and the humans and how they slowly grow to like her.

You get the point.

The only thing I didn't like was that there were many scenes that moved too slowly although the second time I read the novel I realised that without those slow bits of Character development, the later, stranger events would have been nonsense. I mean you have a love "square", in which a human being named Ian falls in love with an alien (although Wanderer points out he likes her body not her and Ian sort of agrees that he is first attracted to her physically then later emotionally). This may seem strange but the novel handled it in such a way that I actually believed such a thing could happen in a world like this.

Overall, this is an original take on a premise that has been done before. While you need to fully commit yourself to be able to read this novel, you will find a story of survival, love (Not just romantic) and a question on what it means to be human by looking at things from the aliens point of view. Can't say the same about the film unfortunately. ...more

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Nov 27, 2011 Cherrym134 rated it it was amazing

Shelves: my-favorites-re-readable

Sep 22, 2012 Lily Hannah rated it it was amazing

Feb 20, 2013 Michela rated it really liked it

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