June 2018 BOTM: "The Host" by Stephenie Meyer

[StarMan]

Co-Moderator Ev (aka Crazy Book Lady) asked me to say:


Our June 2018 BOTM is The Host by Stephenie Meyer.

No glittering vampires in this one, just soul-snatching aliens. :)

I hope everyone enjoys this book as much as I am enjoying it now.

[Hannah]

I enjoyed this one a lot! I think Meyer writes alien sci-di much better than vampire fantasy.

[Hannah]

*sci-fi

[StarMan]

Glad you liked it, Hannah!

Ev, are you going to marry this book?

[Pien]

Our library has it! So I’m in. Love a brain or two...

[Pien]

Oh... its souls they’re snatching... :-D

[Ev, Crazy Book Lady]

Lol yes I will be commenting as I read as well.

[StarMan]

Publisher's Weekly said:

"In this tantalizing SF thriller [THE HOST], planet-hopping parasites are inserting their silvery centipede selves into human brains, curing cancer, eliminating war[,] and turning Earth into paradise..."


The aliens sure solved a lot of Earth's problems. But was it worth it?



Would YOU like your own personal alien brain parasite? If so, you can live in paradise! No more worries about money, war, or illness.

Well, dear Snail, read THE HOST and decide for yourself!

-----
Here's the rest of the synopsis:

(view spoiler)[ "... But some people want Earth back, warts and all, especially Melanie Stryder, who refuses to surrender, even after being captured in Chicago and becoming a host for a soul called Wanderer.

Melanie uses her surviving brain cells to persuade Wanderer to help search for her loved ones in the Arizona desert. When the pair find Melanie's brother and her boyfriend in a hidden rebel cell led by her uncle, Wanderer is at first hated.

Once the rebels accept Wanderer, whom they dub Wanda, Wanda's whole perspective on humanity changes.

While the straightforward narrative is short on detail about the invasion and its stunning aftermath, it shines with romantic intrigue, especially when a love triangle (or quadrangle?!) develops for Wanda/Melanie." (hide spoiler)]

[StarMan]

If you're on the fence about reading THE HOST...

below is a link to a trailer of the movie version, to give you an idea of what it's about. In my opinion, the film was mostly faithful to the book, though both more compressed and more dramatized... and shinier.

Don't watch if you don't want ANY spoilers whatsoever...

Movie Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mhzyl...

[Ev, Crazy Book Lady]

The underground bathing rooms are kind of cool...if it wasn’t so hot and dark, one could sit in the ground tub for hours and read! :)

[April]

I loved this book! There were so many things about it that I liked, but one that stands out is the romance. I thought that this book had one of the most unique love triangles I've ever read. What did you guys think about that aspect?

[Ev, Crazy Book Lady]

I am enjoying the romance angle as well. It gives the characters more humanity in the face of species extinction.

[StarMan]

If you've finished THE HOST...

► What did you think of the ending?

► What was the best part? Did anything need improvement?

► Would you recommend THE HOST to a friend?

[Pien]

Ive read one fourth now and really liking this one!

[StarMan]

Pien wrote: "Ive read one fourth now and really liking this one!"

Glad you are enjoying it. No spoilers from me!

[Ev, Crazy Book Lady]

Still reading it but would definitely recommend it to everyone. I hope she writes more about the different planets the souls occupy like the See Weeds and the bat planet and the spider colony. :)