The Host: A Novel

published	May 6th 2008 by Little, Brown and Company
binding	Hardcover
isbn	0316068047 (isbn13: 9780316068048)
ebook
pages	624
setting	United States
description	The author of the Twilight series of # 1 bestsellers delivers her brilliant first novel for adults: a gripping story of love and betrayal in a ...more [close] The author of the Twilight series of # 1 bestsellers delivers her brilliant first novel for adults: a gripping story of love and betrayal in a future with the fate of humanity at stake. Melanie Stryder refuses to fade away. The earth has been invaded by a species that take over the minds of their human hosts while leaving their bodies intact, and most of humanity has succumbed. Wanderer, the invading "soul" who has been given Melanie's body, knew about the challenges of living inside a human: the overwhelming emotions, the too vivid memories. But there was one difficulty Wanderer didn't expect: the former tenant of her body refusing to relinquish possession of her mind. Melanie fills Wanderer's thoughts with visions of the man Melanie loves-Jared, a human who still lives in hiding. Unable to separate herself from her body's desires, Wanderer yearns for a man she's never met. As outside forces make Wanderer and Melanie unwilling allies, they set off to search for the man they both love. Featuring what may be the first love triangle involving only two bodies, THE HOST is a riveting and unforgettable novel that will bring a vast new readership to one of the most compelling writers of our time. [close]
date added	08-06-07 edit book

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Britt rated it:

05/11/08

bookshelves: fantasy-sci-fi, fiction, identity, relationships, romance

Read in May, 2008

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

I originally had not planned on even reading this book because the Twilight series instills much rage within my soul (though I love it, how frustrating!), but I was in a dry spell for reading, so I decided to give it a try. I have to say I really enjoyed it much more than the Twilight series. I have seen a lot of people complain about how slow the beginning was, but I didn’t really notice. It sucked me in pretty quickly. It was very clearly a Stephenie Meyer book, though, which did lead to cer...more

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Shannon rated it:

05/19/08

bookshelves: 2008, sci-fi

Read in May, 2008

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 c...more

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Susan rated it:

06/15/08

bookshelves: adult-books-that-are-not-romances

Read in June, 2008

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

Follows the aftermath of Earth's invasion by an alien species of "Souls" who have implanted themselves into human hosts, therefore eliminating the human soul while maintaining the memories within the human's brain and body. They are a peace-loving species who abhor violence, dishonestly, etc, however, they do not see the injustice that they have imposed on the human species by their annihilation. However, there is an underground human resistance against the "souls"/"pa...more Follows the aftermath of Earth's invasion by an alien species of "Souls" who have implanted themselves into human hosts, therefore eliminating the human soul while maintaining the memories within the human's brain and body. They are a peace-loving species who abhor violence, dishonestly, etc, however, they do not see the injustice that they have imposed on the human species by their annihilation. However, there is an underground human resistance against the "souls"/"parasites" - and Melanie is one of them. However, she is captured and "Wanderer" is implanted inside to get information about the resistance. What no one expects, and what "Wanda" hides is that Melanie's soul has not been eliminated and they are sharing the same body with Wanda slightly more in control. Wanda begins to take on Melanie's feelings and memories and therefore develops feelings for Melanie's lover Jared. The "two of them" (Melanie and Wanda) embark on a journey in the Arizona desert to find Jared and the other resisters, and Wanderer's role as a traitor to the aliens ensues.

Whoa! I was completely involved in the emotions of the characters. At times I thought I knew where the plot was going, but it continued to take me to new places. Meyer has proven herself a first-rate writer capable of breaking outside the Twilight box. i love an author's ability to create hatred and animosity toward certain characters, only to make you care for them later on. I was completely absorbed by the plot and invested in the emotional lives of the characters.

*spoilers*notes... Wanderer is a teacher by trade and is becoming increasingly bothered by Melanie's presence. Her comforter (shrink) is concerned for her well being, and the (what's the word??) woman responsible to keep tabs on her is increasingly suspicious. Wanderer decides to drive to Tuscon to her healer in hopes that he can help in some way...the other tracker woman is flying there to meet her. however, on the drive there, Mel convinces her to go through the desert to find Jared...she convinces her that she has no true loyalty to the people around her. The Souls truly believe that they have made Earth better and belong here. They perceive humans as a violent species undeserving of their bodies, and that is how they justify their invasion. It is not really known what happens when the human soul leaves.

Wanderer is found after nearly dying in the desert...and is treated with such susipicion...it is known that she is alien, not just by the scar on her neck from the insertion, but because of the inhuman glow of her eyes. She is treated as a prisoner by Jared and company...only Jeb is somewhat insightful and nice. It takes weeks for her to be mildly accepted by the resisters, once they realize that she is the opposite of violent and that the search for her has been called off. There is an inner struggle between Mel's love for Jared, and he is conflicted once he realizes she is still inside. However, Wanda also shares these feeling because of the body's memory...this makes Mel jealous and Jared leary. It also makes Ian jealous....he began as a skeptic and enemy and grows to love not Mel but Wanda the soul. Both Mel and Wanda share love for Mel's brother (forgot his name...Jacob? uggh can't remember).

Ultimately, Wanda becomes traitor to her own kind and wants to help the human cause. She is still met with suspicion and distrust by the others. Meanwhile, Doc continues his experiments on parasites, trying to remove them from the body of those they kidnap...which results in the death of both. When Wanda discovers this she is appalled and it shakes her faith in her new friends. All the while she has to watch her back from Kyle, Ian's brother who has it in mind to rid them of her. Eventually, they all trust her enough to take her on supply raids, as she is alien and can pass unnoticed in the world...this is a great advantage to them. Then Mel's brother gets deathly ill and Wanda wants to steal medicine for him. She and Jared do this successfully...however the stubborn Seeker that has been looking for her has found their group and killed one of them. She is now captive and it is certain that their cell of resistance is in great danger of being found. Wanda offers a life for a life...although she cannot stand the Seeker, she offers to trade the secret to Doc of how to release a soul (of the Seeker) but only in exchange that the soul is sent safely to another far away planet. What doc knows that the others do not is that Wanda has made the heartbreaking decision to have herself removed...however, she feels truly at home for the first time in thousands of years. As her new conscience will not allow her to be a parasite to another body, she asks to be allowed to die and buried in the desert. Even Mel is appalled by this...even though her body was stolen from her, she has grown to love Wanda as though she were a sister. The discover that not all human souls can reclaim the body once the Soul is gone, and will die in a comatose state. The seeker's human soul comes back, but others are not quite so fortunate...a healer they kidnapped -- her soul returns but she doesn't retain her memories and she is scared of humans. Kyle kidnaps the body of his girlfriend...however her soul does not return, and they end of re-inserting the alien soul, who is a very sweet girl and loves Kyle because of the body's memory.

So, Wanda has made the decision to die...Ian loves her and Jared loves Melanie yet is very fond of Wanda. However she can no longer live with the guilt of being a parasite and does not want to be a hypocrite. She is removed in a very moving chapter. We know for Souls there is no belief of an afterlife. Next, a dream sequence, and we are not sure where she is....but then suddenly she is back in a body...yet it is months later and not Mel's. It turns out they found a body for her that they thought fit her personality...very small pixie-like and frail. Once the owning human soul did not return they inserted Wanda. She is very conflicted by this and has a hard time adjusting to the new weak and small body. Ian vows to love her no matter what form she is in. They go back on the raids, hunts and it ends with a nerve wracking scene...where is feels all was for naught and they are as good as dead when caught. However, they have run into another underground cell who surprisingly also have a Soul traitor within their ranks. It leaves the reader with a sense of hope that the resistance is growing and hopefully one day the humans will reclaim the earth. On a side note, we learn that some Souls who bear human children decide not to have a soul inserted, therefore making the child a complete human...who is learning the "values" of the Souls...non violence, honestly and brotherhood. This in conjunction with the resistance will perhaps one day lead to a time when humans can reclaim the earth....less

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Annalisa rated it:

05/22/08

bookshelves: chick-lit

Read in May, 2008

recommended to Annalisa by: Melinda

I wanted to like this book more than I did--to see that Stephenie Meyer can pick a topic not meant for shallow teenage girls and write on a deeper level--but I think this book is more of the same, sans the vampire excitement. I liked the idea: an alien soul inhibiting the host body of a girl who doesn't want to relinquish her control and the conflicts that arise, particularly in romance. There are some interesting topics, like what defines humanity and are we living worthy enough for the planet ...more I wanted to like this book more than I did--to see that Stephenie Meyer can pick a topic not meant for shallow teenage girls and write on a deeper level--but I think this book is more of the same, sans the vampire excitement. I liked the idea: an alien soul inhibiting the host body of a girl who doesn't want to relinquish her control and the conflicts that arise, particularly in romance. There are some interesting topics, like what defines humanity and are we living worthy enough for the planet we are entrusted. The story isn't as page-turning as Twilight, but mulling nonetheless.

My problem with Stephenie Meyer is her characters. They seem shallow, unbelievable, and small variants on her same cookie cutter. Her girls in particular are, well dumb, always jumping to the wrong conclusions, never wanting to believe they could be loved. Your damsel in distress. I am often exasperated by the emotion and stupidity of her female characters. I tried to allow for the alien learning curve, but when solutions and realizations are painfully obvious to me chapters before they are explored by the characters it creates frustratingly slow plot progression.

The mold for guys is more frustrating because they exhibit none of the characters I am drawn to, and even ones I despise. They are always big, strong, forceful verging on the abusive side of controlling with a scary tendency to irrational jealousy and anger. They are emotionally immature, intense, and display their passion with an abnormal display of affection and cheesiness to the women who make them crazy with love. I don't trust intensely passionate men. (I did like Jeb's character but he wasn't a main romantic interest characters so he didn't need to be intense.)

Because of this conversations were unrealistic. I could not imagine real people speaking this way so the story felt childish at times. This is supposed to be a more adult-themed book, but in many ways I found it less adult enticing and more juvenile in tone. Her choice of juvenile-enticing characters is proof enough that her style is not intended for a truly adult audience.

Plus the middle dragged with insignificant humdrum and a lack of good character development. There was more that could have been explored with a two-spirit/one-body complex. And there were holes in this parasite species theory that bothered me. So creative idea, but the delivery and details didn't quite hit the mark.

What I did like in story development was the relationship between Ian and Wanda, how slowly and deeply it changed, until he could read and understand her better than she could and he could completely differentiate between the two souls. As for Wanda herself how she changed from first juxtaposing her ingrained annihilation justification with her extreme pacifist views to sympathy for humans and eventually protective love for the planet. What Stephenie Meyer is good at is passionate taboo romance.

I still don't think Stephenie Meyer is a good writer, but she's a decent storyteller. Had Twilight not brought her fame, I doubt this book would go far. I liked the story idea, the creative plot aspect, but it could have been so much more if she had explored the conflicts between Melanie and Wanda more thoroughly and left a morally obvious choice without a happy ending. Then it would have been a book for adults. The book was too shallow and slow enough that I probably wouldn't read it again. ...less

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Holly rated it:

05/16/08

Read in May, 2008

It's no secret that I did not jump on the Twilight bandwagon. I put my name on the hold list at the library for The Host, however, because I wanted to see if Stephenie Meyer had improved in her storytelling. I'm happy to say, "Yes, she did. To a point."

I would like someone tell me what her fascination is with sappy, overly dramatic dialogue, 17-year old girls and over-protective older men who carry them while running? Because there are some definite similarities here.

I find it ...more It's no secret that I did not jump on the Twilight bandwagon. I put my name on the hold list at the library for The Host, however, because I wanted to see if Stephenie Meyer had improved in her storytelling. I'm happy to say, "Yes, she did. To a point."

I would like someone tell me what her fascination is with sappy, overly dramatic dialogue, 17-year old girls and over-protective older men who carry them while running? Because there are some definite similarities here.

I find it interesting that this novel is pegged for "adults" where the Twilight novels were pegged "young adult" as I don't see a great deal of difference, except for one main fact: Wanda and Melanie are likeable. Thank goodness. If one of them had shown up as whiny and annoying as Bella, I never would have finished the book. Well, I would have finished it, but only to say, "I told you so."

While I found a lot of similarity to the Twilight novels in her storytelling and in the details (over-protective older men, teenage girls, dramatic sappy dialogue, etc.) this was a much better story. Far more developed than I would have expected. It still takes her a long time to get to her main points, but I wasn't as bored with this one in the beginning as I was with Twilight.

I found the storyline fascinating: that aliens who invade other planets and take over the species, invade earth and take over the human bodies and then live as humans. Wanda is one of those aliens, a "soul" who takes over Melanie's body, only to find out that Melanie isn't quite ready to give it up. This is where Meyer's storytelling has improved. She crafted a story where the romance was secondary to the main plot, and I think that is why this book is so much better than her earlier attempts. She explores the idea of a person's soul or spirit and how an individual is defined as much by that spirit as by their physical body.

I thought her character development was well done. I liked these characters. I cared about them. I don't need to tell you that I never cared about Bella. I enjoyed the complexities that the storyline created. Wanda was affected by Melanie's memories and feelings and couldn't help but love the man Melanie loved. Then, when she found herself caring for a different man, the conflict is believable. The humans have a difficult time accepting Wanda, but when they do, she truly becomes one of them.

The novel ends neatly, with hope. Predictably there is room for a sequel, which I no doubt expect.

I'd actually re-read this book. I won't re-read the others....less

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Karin rated it:

04/07/08

Read in March, 2008

Wanderer has just arrived on Earth and been implanted into her new host. She has lived on seven worlds before coming here. She is arriving toward the end of the alien invasion when very few humans remain. The aliens are known as “souls” and are a peace loving type that don’t know of violence or lying.

Very few humans remain on Earth. When the remaining humans are discovered, they are captured by Seekers - the closest thing to a police force the “souls” have. Once captured, they...more Wanderer has just arrived on Earth and been implanted into her new host. She has lived on seven worlds before coming here. She is arriving toward the end of the alien invasion when very few humans remain. The aliens are known as “souls” and are a peace loving type that don’t know of violence or lying.

Very few humans remain on Earth. When the remaining humans are discovered, they are captured by Seekers - the closest thing to a police force the “souls” have. Once captured, they are prepared for implantation where a small cut is placed at the base of the skull and the “soul” is put in the body. The “soul” connects to the body and takes control. The first experience the “soul” has is the receiving of the host body’s memories. Typically, the host recedes and leaves the “soul” alone to continue life as usual. For Wanderer, this didn’t happen.

Since the only humans left are ones that are rebels, placing a new “soul” into an adult has become risky. The rebels seem to resist the implantation since they know what is happening. The Wanderer was granted this request because of her experience on so many other worlds and has proven herself as a strong and brave “soul.” Melanie is the name of Wanderer’s host and Melanie doesn’t go away quietly.

Melanie remains active and talks to Wanderer all the time. Melanie bombards Wanderer with her memories of life so much so that Wanderer feels the same feelings that Melanie did when she had control over her own body. Melanie hides the memories that Wanderer needs though. A Seeker has been assigned to Wanderer in order to get information about the human rebels that worked with Melanie. Melanie is strong enough to block those memories from her.

Eventually, in a weakened state, Melanie allows something to slip through the wall she has constructed to keep Wanderer away from the people she loves. She shows her memories of Jared, the man Melanie desperately loves, and Jamie, her younger brother. These memories overwhelm Wanderer and she physically aches for Jared and Jamie herself. Melanie knows where they might have gone into hiding since she was captured. She convinces Wanderer to go search for them and when the chance presents itself she slips away from the Seeker and sets off to find the people THEY love.

When Wanderer finally stumbles upon the rebels she is both elated and terrified. She is so relieved to know that Jared and Jamie are both alive and well, but at the same time, is frightened for her own life. Wanderer endures weeks of isolation and deprivation once in custody while the rebels decide what to do with her. Slowly some people warm up to her and begin to allow her some freedom around the hideout, but she is never alone. They are afraid she is there to get information to take back to the Seekers and then come back and capture them all. It takes a very long time for them to see that she has no intention of turning anyone in to the Seekers.

The story is complex. Not only is there the issue of Melanie loving Jared and the Wanderer loving Jared because of Melanie’s memories; we also have Ian, another member of the rebels. Ian takes it upon himself to become a permanent fixture in Wanderers life. He is friend and protector and begins to have feelings for her and her alone (not Melanie since he didn’t know her prior to the invasion).

The story ends on a note of hope. It is an emotional ride from beginning to end - all 631 pages. Any science fiction fan will enjoy this story, but I think Stephenie Meyer may have done for science fiction what she did for fantasy when she wrote Twilight. THE HOST is set in enough of a realistic setting that even people who aren’t sci-fi fans will enjoy this story. I want to read it again, but I have so much else to read that I can’t right now, but THE HOST is definately on my “to be read again” pile. I hope Stephenie Meyer writes another novel after she finishes with the Twilight Series.

...less

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Jen rated it:

05/25/08

Read in May, 2008

recommends it for: everyone

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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 abou...more

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Heather rated it:

05/25/08

Read in May, 2008

recommends it for: late teens/ adult

Before I get into details, let me just say this: Stephenie Meyer is an excellent author and i would gladly recommend ANY of her novels. She posses the ability to pull the reader into the story and allow them to feel like they are actually there with the characters, experiencing what they experience and feeling what they feel. She paints a vivid picture of the characters and their lives in the mind of every reader who is fortunate enough to be touched by the worlds that she creates. Reading one o...more Before I get into details, let me just say this: Stephenie Meyer is an excellent author and i would gladly recommend ANY of her novels. She posses the ability to pull the reader into the story and allow them to feel like they are actually there with the characters, experiencing what they experience and feeling what they feel. She paints a vivid picture of the characters and their lives in the mind of every reader who is fortunate enough to be touched by the worlds that she creates. Reading one of her works is like being in 3-d theater but better, its actually more like being in a 6-D theater, touching all of the human senses and emotion at once. It is hard to find a flaw in the novel by itself, when not being compared to her other works. Now having said that, there are a few criticisms that i have for this novel in comparison to her other works.
The quality of the novel does stand up to the standards set by her preceding works. But, despite the creative story line and captivating emotions shown in The Host, there are some flaws to be found in the depth of the characters. I am a fan of the Twilight series, also by Stephenie Meyer, and could not stop myself from finding many links between this novel and the Twilight series in regards to the characters, their emotions and their interconnected relationships. For example, the character Jared (from The Host) is very similar to Jacob (From Twilight). Both have a tendency to let their emotions get the best of them, both are somewhat selfish creatures in regards to the one that they love, and both are extremely stubborn. The characters Ian (The host) and Edward (Twilight) are the same way, comparatively. Both are overly protective and somewhat irrational when it comes to the people that they love, both have the ability to love unconditionally despite the fact that both men love someone of a different species, and both men's brothers try to kill their partners. The greatest character similarity, however, exists between Wanderer/Melanie (The Host) and Bella (Twilight).
The complexity of the characters is amazing in both novels. In both there are two different personalities existing in one body, each personality belonging to a different man that the characters love. There are two parts to Bella (Twilight) one in love Jacob (Twilight) and one in love with Edward (Twilight), but one love is stronger than the other. She describes the strain between the two as "tearing her apart." The same its to be said for Wanderer/Melanie (The Host), but to a more extreme extent. In this case there are actually two separate entities existing in one body "tearing them apart". One personality , Wanda [Wanderer] (The Host), belonging to Ian (The Host); and the other personality, Melanie (The Host), belonging to Jared (The Host). Wanda (The Host) and Bella (Twilight) are both very self-sacrificing people who would go to the ends of the earth to prevent the ones that they love from hurting and would do anything in their power to make them happy. Both are very non-violent and even show compassion for enemies. Melanie (The Host) and Bella (Twilight) are both tough individuals possessing the ability to reason through stressful situations.
All of the characters do possess unique qualities as well, and display different depths of emotions. I may be just more attuned to the personalities presented in Twilight (due to my love of the series), and couldn't help but find similarities between it and The Host. But then again, If I am this attuned to the character's personalities after simply reading the series, imagine how predisposed to the personality traits Stephenie Meyer is. So I suppose that after spending so much time creating and writing about the characters, letting them become apart of you, that it would be impossible to completely separate them from your other works. For is each work not expression of the soul as well, and it is impossible, as an author, to exclude part of yourself from your writings.

Read The Host, I think that you will enjoy it. I know that I did....less

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Rai rated it:

07/23/08

Read in July, 2008

Talk about an emotional roller coaster!!!! This book was very difficult to rate. If someone were to ask me, "Was it good?" I'd have to think for a long time and then say, "No.... Well... yes, sorta.... No... It was ok." But if someone were to ask me if I'd enjoyed it, I'd instantly reply, "Yes!" Would I read it again? Probably not. Was it exciting? On occasion. Was in interesting? Very much so, in my opinion. Was it weird? YES! Were the characters well-developed?...more Talk about an emotional roller coaster!!!! This book was very difficult to rate. If someone were to ask me, "Was it good?" I'd have to think for a long time and then say, "No.... Well... yes, sorta.... No... It was ok." But if someone were to ask me if I'd enjoyed it, I'd instantly reply, "Yes!" Would I read it again? Probably not. Was it exciting? On occasion. Was in interesting? Very much so, in my opinion. Was it weird? YES! Were the characters well-developed? ... After the first half of the book, yes, I suppose.

The Host is about a species of aliens who call themselves Souls. They are born without bodies and can not live very long without one, so they live like parasites inside the bodies of other creatures, completely taking them over. These "souls" come to earth and take over the bodies of mankind, living peacefully as they experience the new world around them.

The main character of this book, through whose eyes the events of the story are witnessed, is a soul named Wanderer who takes over the body of a young woman formerly known as Melanie. When Wanderer realizes that Melanie is still alive inside of her body, she tries desperately to fight her out, along with the painful and wonderful memories of the man Melanie is in love with. Eventually, Wanderer falls in love with this man, too, through Melanie's memories and the two of them set out to find him.

I don't usually read Science-fiction, and so maybe that's the reason I found this book so odd. I wouldn't have picked it up, knowing the storyline as I did, except that my sister had it in her room and I was bored. As weird as the whole alien/possession thing was and is, I found that it was interesting to read about. It was interesting to read the descriptions of human emotions through a character who's never felt them before. This book was VERY EMOTIONAL! Happy, sad, angry, jealous, confused, hurt, obsessed, offended, frustrated, loved, hated, admired, rejected... all feelings were vividly described and painfully lived as I read this book. It ended the way I wanted it to, which made me happy, but.... I don't know. There were just a few things I would have changed had I been the editor of this book.

1) Stephanie Meyer seems to be developing, more and more with every book, a strange fascination with writing graphic make-out scenes that are slightly embarrassing to read. There were two in this book that were completely pointless, like she just wanted to write them. There was one that was almost pointless, but I can see why she would think it necessary. I'm not against kissing in books or anything like that, but there is such a thing as overdoing it to the point of ridiculousness.

2) I wished that she would have spent less time with the first half of the book and more with the near-end of the book. I wished there would have been more after "the problem" was fixed. Hopefully anyone who's read the book knows what I mean by that. To me, the book really got interesting near the middle, and it kind of dragged a little before that. But it wasn't really boring.... Just... uneventful....

That's it! This book was uneventful for how long it is! But I wasn't ever bored, exactly. Stephanie Meyer is too good of a writer to allow that. There was always something I enjoyed about it, but there was just enough that was weird or not quite right about it that I can't say that I loved it.

In conclusion: I don't know exactly what I think of this book. It was enjoyable! I'm not sorry that I read it! But it was weird, and I would have liked it better with a few changes here and there....less

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Elizabeth rated it:

05/10/08

Read in May, 2008

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

OH MY...(deep breath) word.
No book has ever made me want to run so much -- just to feel my muscles working, ever made me treasure the rise and fall of my lungs, feel the wind on my face, or treasure the feel of water as it gracefully slides down my throat, no book has ever made me understand so fully how... just how we should be treasured.
Words cannot express how much I love this bood. If you havn't read the book yet, exit out of this RIGHT NOW because here come some major spoilers from about here on!! ...more OH MY...(deep breath) word.
No book has ever made me want to run so much -- just to feel my muscles working, ever made me treasure the rise and fall of my lungs, feel the wind on my face, or treasure the feel of water as it gracefully slides down my throat, no book has ever made me understand so fully how... just how we should be treasured.
Words cannot express how much I love this bood. If you havn't read the book yet, exit out of this RIGHT NOW because here come some major spoilers from about here on!!
The whole Mel and Jared thing just totally rips your heart up! When Wanda goes to die, I was not able to see, that was so freakin'... ouch.
I totally love Jeb, his personality is so... unique and... hilarious.
My heart goes out to Jamie, he's such a cute kid! I just love his, Mel's, and Wanda's relationship!
Ian, what can I say to give Ian justice... I totally love him, he's so kind, compasionate, understanding. He's so protective and... deep.
At the end I just couldn't take it any longer, it was so sad. But I don't exactly like how she lies about her age, Meyer seemed to go a little closer to the line this time...
I also really love how much strength Wanda has and yet how she's so... gentle and protective (minus her mourning period, that was... horrid, I love how Stephenie Meyer described that sickening experience so that you were in Wanda's head). For some reason I just don't think that her new body suited her, it was too week, but then again she'll grow, but that's kinda creepy 'cause you don't really know Ian's age, but I guess that doesn't really matter... I guess. I think latter on the body will suit her more, but it's kinda weird with no Mel.
I think that I relate myself most to Wanda, but also a lot with Meline (I completely love that girl to death!). I guess I just have duel personalities like they do, I'm both of them at once, but I have to admit I'm with Wanda on a lot of stuff... a lot. I love how far she was willing to go for the people she loved, the way she thought. I love that they say that she was so beautiful, it goes with her, it's like seeing someone's soul (no pun intended) and you just know how... pure she is, she was willing to die trying to save Kyle when he tried to kill her. But it was also awkward with Jared and Ian fighting all the time, Jared knew Mel and Ian knew Wanda(I like it when he calls her Wanderer, I think it goes with her better then Wanda). I was goint to say something else about Wanderer, but I seem to have forgotten and I believe the memory has no intention of coming back. But I love how she wants to run down a field with bare feet while it's raining, I think that is when I truely broke, she never wanted anything for herself and the things she wanted were denied her(minus Ian...).
I laughed at so many parts and cried just the same, such depths of depression and leaps of joy.
I think (how many sentences have I started with I think or I also or I totally?) that Stephenie was smart with how she ended the book, it gave her a lot of options. One she could write a book in Burn's perspective. Two, she could write a sequel. Or three, just leave it where it is, but that would make me sad and also strangly relieved.
So, I think my goal here was reached, I just totally spilled my guts out to you about the book. If any one really cares to read all this (PLEASE TELL ME YOU HAVE READ THE BOOK ALREADY IF YOU'RE READING THIS!!!)and if you're about to explode, talk to me about it, maybe you'll be able to help me remember that amazing, stupid quote I forgot (not likely...)....less

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Eleven rated it:

07/16/08

bookshelves: haveread-andyoushouldtoo, scifi-fantasy

Read in July, 2008

recommends it for: scifi lovers, non-scifi lovers, just anyone who likes good stories

We have been invaded! By nonviolent, curious parasite organisms who infiltrate humanity and take over the bodies of their hosts. It is a quiet onslaught - and one that soon becomes glaringly obvious. Only a few have been able to get out of the now alien-civilized cities, and those that do are usually caught by the Seekers. One young woman, her lover, and her little brother are some of these renegades, until one slip forces the girl, Melanie into the custody of her enemies to become the host for ...more We have been invaded! By nonviolent, curious parasite organisms who infiltrate humanity and take over the bodies of their hosts. It is a quiet onslaught - and one that soon becomes glaringly obvious. Only a few have been able to get out of the now alien-civilized cities, and those that do are usually caught by the Seekers. One young woman, her lover, and her little brother are some of these renegades, until one slip forces the girl, Melanie into the custody of her enemies to become the host for an extremely strong "soul", Wanderer.

But just as Wanderer settles into her new body, the unthinkable. Melanie refuses to leave. And she does nothing but throw memories at Wanderer, forcing her to feel what she feels. Now Wanderer, obsessed with Melanie's brother and in love with the same man, must break away and find the love her body desperately aches for.

WELL. I literally just finished this book and I must say. I did not have particularly high hopes. I knew the only reason I bought it was because August 2nd and Breaking Dawn weren't coming fast enough. And, well, it was described to me as a story with a love triangle with only two bodies. Who wouldn't be intrigued?

This is probably everything that you would ask for in a novel. The plot really was VERY interesting (I was worried I'd be thinking "Invasion of the Body Snatchers!" or "The Invaders!" [seriously? How much do I sound super old and I'm 22?] but Meyer has truly created a unique race), the characters were solid and believable in their individual torment (I found myself thinking of some of the characters fitting the "roles" of characters in the Twilight series, but the characters themselves are quite different), and it all went at such a great pace that there was no point to actually put it down. My only complaint is that the beginning seems abrupt - you hit the ground running, in a sense, but this only feeds into the manic energy that I'm finding is Meyer's trademark, and a good one. I can imagine her, speaking very quietly but firmly through the narrative of Wanderer, telling me that we need to establish all of these things QUICK, because she wants to get where the REAL story starts. And god knows I appreciate it. We play catch up with the characters later, anyway. It works out.

What is probably the best part is not only the characters, but the changes these characters go through during the course of the book. The conflict is almost entirely internal (ha! Literally. Prepare yourself for a buttload of inner arguments) because everyone seems distrustful of someone else, everyone has their own agendas... yet at the same time there is believable change of thinking after the derailment of everything most of them believed.

The themes behind this story - what does it mean to be human, is humanity in our bodies or in our souls, will we overcome hatred - remind me a lot of Butler's trilogy Lilith's Brood. The aliens are even slightly remeniscent, in their nonviolence and seemingly assumed superiority over humans. But as stated above, this book has a lot more internal conflict, the pain coming from the love SQUARE (whoever said triangle is dumb) more than anywhere else.

Stephenie Meyer is officially okay by me. She's not a one-trick pony, and she has quite an amazing imagination... I really believe that she knows her characters as well as any living person, which of course makes the reader look upon them lovingly as well. Best of all, her bright, almost child-like enthusiasm is evident on every single page.

I'm a believer. I'll be looking out for the next one. ...less

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Michael rated it:

06/05/08

bookshelves: read-in-2008

Read in May, 2008

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