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 enlarge | Author: Stephenie Meyer
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Category: Book
List Price: $25.99
Buy New: $14.50
You Save: $11.49 (44%)
New (48) Used (26) Collectible (7) from $13.00
Rating:  764 reviews
Sales Rank: 26
Media: Hardcover
Edition: 1
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 624
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.9
Dimensions (in): 9.3 x 5.6 x 2.1
ISBN: 0316068047
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.6
EAN: 9780316068048
ASIN: 0316068047
Publication Date: May 6, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: Brand New - With Cover
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| Customer Reviews:
 Good Read January 4, 2009
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Currently going through my 2nd read and its much easier to follow...the first time through it was difficult to separate Wanderer and Melanie, but the 2nd time its much easier
Take Your Life January 3, 2009
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Stephenie Meyer made herself a household name with her wildly popular "Twilight" series - books supposedly written for young adults - but with "The Host", Meyer is trying to establish herself as a writer of fiction for adults. The novel is a unique blend of sci-fi and the quasi-literary, her style and description not far removed from her first three works. "The Host" is an enjoyable read, fast-paced and with Meyer's uncanny ability to hook readers into vividly spun stories. It is a book definitely hard to put down.
The story begins when Wanderer, a "soul", has been inserted into a human host body that once belonged to Melanie Stryder. Once a soul has been inserted into a human, the human will disappear and the soul will have taken over the host. At least that's the way it's supposed to work, but Melanie won't give up without a fight. She bombards Wanderer with memories of her past life, while desperately trying to keep her loved ones safe. For if Melanie lets Wanderer know that there are other humans out there resisting the invasion, Wanderer will have to tell her kind where they are hiding. But Wanderer begins to feel sympathy for Melanie, and even love for the two men she left behind, her brother and her soulmate. Wanderer, working in a strange tandem with Melanie, sets out to find them, and encounters an entire community of humans hiding from those who have invaded their planet and ruined their lives. Initially afraid of Wanderer, seeing her as a parasite in Melanie's body, the community soon learns some acceptance for her, especially when they learn that Melanie's spirit is still alive and well, just trapped in her body.
As Wanderer and Melanie adapt to their new life, they slowly realize that things can not go on forever. There will be no peace as long as Wanderer has a certain Seeker on her tail, causing her almost constant fear that she will bring harm to the community. For even though she is alien, she is starting to feel at home and even loved. What a complicated thing it is to be human.
In many ways, "The Host" is riveting, not necessarily due to the writing, but more to Meyer's gifted storytelling. The situations and characters she creates seem entirely plausible, once again crafting new twists out of old sci-fi standards. However, as with her other works, "The Host" seems a little long, even though it flies by quickly. Meyer devotes lots of time to some plot details that seem inconsequential, and some developments are too predictable. Love is at the heart of this story, but sometimes the romance seems to overwhelm the greater story at hand. Yet just when you think that you know where the story is going to go and how things will end, Meyer throws in a unique, fitting, and satisfying finale.
An "I can't put it down" type book ... January 3, 2009
Judging by the reviews, fans of Meyers Twilight series might not find this as entertaining as I did, but I think most mature readers who like an unusual twist will. (When was the last time you read about a sympathetic parasitic alien?). I love a seemingly unbelievable future world when an author can make me believe in it and the far-fetched premise. This does that and more. Engaging characters, romance, danger and enough twists to keep you turning pages long after you should have gone to sleep. If you liked Through Violet Eyes, or other similar suspense-filled paranormal romances - you'll probably enjoy this one too.
Perfect Escapism January 3, 2009
First I'll addess the elephant in the room: no, this book is nothing like Twilight (although Stephenie Meyer's voice is clearly heard), it is not a kids book, and although a romantic relationship is a core element of the story, in my opinion it isn't a romance. It's certainly not gratuitously romantic.
This is another feat of imagination by Stephenie Meyer, who is a very gifted story teller. I have recommended it to a few friends who had the same experience I did with it -- it draws you in and you want to keep reading until you "know what happens" (i.e. you finish it).
I recommend this book for anyone who wants to immerse themselves in a great story...for as long as it takes you to get through 624 pages. Without sleeping or eating.
 Disappointing January 2, 2009
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Disappointing. I loved the Twilight series and this book didn't even come close. I wonder if the publisher wanted to get another book out "now" and they just used whatever she had. This book was all over the place and it took awhile before things started to make sense. Stephenie please, no more science fiction, it just doesn't work.
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