The Host Stephenie Meyer - My Review

Hi everyone!

I wanted to post my review separately so that people can comment and not have to say "please don't enter me" but be able to comment about the review. Actually am sure no one minds, but I like the idea of a review and giveaway separate. Also sometimes there is a lot to post on a book and it is nice to break it up. What do you think? Curious minds want to know.

PLEASE make sure you stop by HERE to check out an other stop on the blog tour.

My Review:

I was like many nervous to read a science fiction book and a honkin' one at that! I don't read them usually. So let me start by saying if that is your worry, just toss it aside and read.

For the plot summary refer to yesterday's post. Today I just want to give my thoughts on Melanie, Wanderer, Jared, Jaime, and Uncle Jeb. And then a little thought or two on the big book.

Melanie is one of a handful of humans left that have not been over taken by souls. In the book we learn why her mind is not overtaken as easily as the first humans that are inhabited. Her will to survive is very strong. Her love for Jared and her brother Jaime seem to infuse her with more than usual strength. She does a good job at frustrating Wanderer. She is not going down or out without a fight.

Wanderer is the soul that inhabits Melanie. She has lived on many planets and has been around for about 1000 years. She is a kind soul. It seems that she has been displaced in the universe for so long and has fallen into her nitch as soon as she inhabits Melanie's body and assumes her thoughts, and has access to her memories. As she does this she begins to have a change of heart about being a soul. She is conflicted. She begins to see that humans are not just violent people that can't take care of themselves. She begins to love in a human way, aside from just the influence of her host body.

And so begins the conflict of the story. Of course we want Melanie to be released, but we have come to grow a fondness for Wanderer. For me this alone is the reason to continue in the story. We want good things for both of them and yet there is a huge conflict on how they both can exist.

But wait there is a huge love thing going on. This is where Jared comes into the picture. Well he is already in the picture. He and Melanie are in deep and true love. He has become a vital protector for Melanie and Jaime who were surviving alone. They became a little family of sorts. Jared thought that Melanie was lost forever to the Soul that had overtaken her mind. And now her she in right in front of him. He wants to kill the soul that took his love away. And yet Melanie is still alive in well inside her own brain. Major conflict, as the remaining clan has no idea how to remove the souls from the humans.

And to make it more complicated there is Ian. (Have to read to find out more about Ian) And that makes it the most confounded "love triangle" I have ever read about.

Yes, this is a clever story with a multi-level, body/mind love theme.

Jamie is the little brother of Melanie. She loves and protects him like a mother. Their bond is very very strong. Later when their paths cross again there is proof that this bond can not be shattered. He has grown up in the resistance and he is a very amazing and trust kid despite what he has had to give up. He firmly reattaches himself to Melanie's body and befriends Wanderer. It is sweet and very touching.

I am going to let you discover Uncle Jeb on your own. I will just say this. You will love him. His twinkling eye, his raised eyebrows and even his shot gun! I just loved his wisdom. He keeps the cell of humans in line with his shot gun and his wise and just ways.

I am trying to cut this short. (I could almost do the review in two days also). What I liked most about the book is that is it easy to read and the characters are all likable. The first 160 pages flew by. I hit a spot after that where I was craving some action, and thank you Stephenie Meyer, it came! And for the rest of the book every time I was thinking.."okay.... I am ready for a little action.." it was delivered.

I really enjoyed The Host. I kept wondering if I was going to say I liked that it was long or that I wanted it shorter. I think in the end. I liked the journey and the story and I liked the length of time I got to be attached to the characters. So I say it is just the right length. I hate when a book ends too soon for me.

I will comment that I was looking for the book to be a bit more adult fiction. I mean a little grit. And I don't mean more violence, sex or swearing. Just a little more end of the world desperate behavior. Not saying I want the F-bomb dropped because that is not necessary. For me it would have been just a tad more adult fiction to grit it up a little. That being said I still enjoyed this book in it's squeaky clean form. Who can resist a true love? I would still say this is almost YA reading..just my opinion so don't go out and buy or recommend for your 12 year old before you preview it.

The story is infused with little life lessons and moral decisions. There are some human truths and weaknesses that are revealed along the way in the story making it more than just story.

If you are looking for a multi-leveled story for summer that isn't hard to sink into, I recommend the Host. I enjoyed the book start to finish.