This novel is Stephenie Meyer’s first novel for an adult audience. Her Twilight series for young adults has not only captured the teen audience but the adult one as well.
The Host is about a species invading earth and taking over the minds of their hosts-the humans. What happens is these little ‘souls’ are inserted into their hosts and the humans essentially are supposed to be gone although the soul has their memories.
Thus begins the story of Melanie-the human and the Wanderer-the soul. In this case Melanie is a strong personality and her mind is still there along with the Wanderer’s. The Wanderer goes crazy at first trying to get rid of her but eventually they find they like each other and develop a bond together. We meet a lot of characters in this book but my favorites are Melanie and the Wanderer. They turned out to be really likeable characters and often the dialogue between the two was quite amusing.
What I liked best is how when the Wanderer started having more and more of Melanie’s memories and feelings and they came to a sort of understanding with each other. Melanie wanted her to feel all of the feelings and emotions she did so that she would not be destroyed. Melanie wants to know where the people she left behind are and she and the Wanderer set out to do just that. From this point the story becomes a struggle for survival and learning to live in a different world and I found the last part of the book the most riveting. It was fast paced and emotional.
While this novel is considered science fiction, I don’t think that’s its only purpose. It’s really about relationships too, maybe even the importance of being lucky enough to be human instead of alien and then the question of who really knows what the future holds? I sure can’t imagine having to share my mind with anyone else. There’s enough chaos in there as it is but this type of book always sets me off thinking about the ‘what if’. I think it brings to light that anyone trying hard enough can learn to care with true human emotion.
This novel is entertaining. It was good, I wouldn’t say great, at least for me. I did find it a bit too long and I think had it been shortened up a bit it would have been better. I still favor the Twilight series probably because I enjoy vampires more than aliens but I know that this book will appeal to many out there. That being said, I’m sure Stephenie Meyer fans will love this book.
Becky’s Online Reading Group will be having this as a group read in July. I can’t wait. (Didn’t I just say that about SAIL?)
Hi Dar.. was it scary? Or just suspenseful?
Good reviews on your blog as usual.
xo
Toni
You know Toni I’d say suspenseful, not scary. Although the concept of the book in itself is scary. LOL.
Thanks for dropping by girls.
I just bought this. The bookstore clerk actually said it was kind of boring! 🙂
We’ll see. 🙂 I tend to like most books.
Hey Amy, thanks for dropping by. I wouldn’t say boring. Most of it is actually quite interesting just too long in my opinion. Drop by after you’ve read it and let me know what you thought of it.
It was a bit long, but overall, I enjoyed it. It made the train ride home go by quickly!