Review: The Host by Stephenie Meyer

Title: The Host
Author: Stephenie Meyer
Publisher: Little Brown & Company 
Date Published: May 6, 2008
Buy: Amazon

Goodreads Summary

Melanie Stryder refuses to fade away. The earth has been invaded by a species that take over the minds of human hosts while leaving their bodies intact. Wanderer, the invading "soul" who has been given Melanie's body, didn't expect to find its former tenant refusing to relinquish possession of her mind.

As Melanie fills Wanderer's thoughts with visions of Jared, a human who still lives in hiding, Wanderer begins to yearn for a man she's never met. Reluctant allies, Wanderer and Melanie set off to search for the man they both love.

Featuring one of the most unusual love triangles in literature, THE HOST is a riveting and unforgettable novel about the persistence of love and the essence of what it means to be human.

This book was brilliant! I didn’t exactly feel the first bit (was a little bit iffy but I could deal with it) but the middle and end. Oh! It was great! Loved it.

I get that there had to be a back-story and the whole alien concept had to be explained but yawn I was not digging it. I was so confused after the first chapter by how exactly the whole soul going into the host’s bodies worked. It was boring trying to keep up with everything. Yawn, yawn, yawn. The first few chapters dragged on for way too long and I didn’t exactly see how some of the things were needed.

I think The Host did bring about a lot of emotions. This book is about love, not giving up, forgiveness, friendship, acceptance and much more. So basically if Stephenie Meyer didn’t deliver on the emotions then I wouldn’t be saying I love this book. Let’s face it Stephenie can’t write a good romance.  So let’s just forget that (I like twilight and was all up in that hype and cried and did other embarrassing stuff when I was like 14/15 but thinking back on it Twilight isn’t all that great) But Stephenie can set up a good scenery and describe what she wants the reader to see with their third eye. The caves desert and everything about them was described so gorgeously that I could actually picture myself living there (not that I want to but I could still see it)

I think the idea for the book was good. I don’t fancy the whole alien thing and mostly get confused whenever I read something to do with our friends from outer space but I only got confused in the beginning. After about 80 pages, I knew what was happening.

I personally think it is a great book, it does have some faults but that can be over looked. I am however not going to go all fan girl screaming my ass off about this book while I catch my chest because I can’t breathe or that my heart “stopped” because this book is that brilliant. That will not happen because I do not think this book deserves that. The book is more of a one or two time read no more than that.

Honestly, the book made me teary a little bit, it made me laugh, made me smile and did bring about a lot of emotions. (I also “awww”ed a lot because it was cute at times) the book really delivered on the emotions for me which I think is key in a book otherwise how am I meant to get attached and form an everlasting bond with the story? The plot could have had some more work done. I guessed how the book was going to end, I guessed how all the characters were going to react and I guessed the ending. It was too obvious I wanted the book to have a little bit of surprise, or even a twist or two. Why does Stephenie Meyer think that everything needs a happy ending? I would not mind some heartbreak or even something to cry about once in a while. I don’t mind happy endings but what’s the fun in that? Plus you can’t make the book realistic if it’s all happy and great.

All the characters in the book were so beautiful. ( Ian and Jarad mostly) they all had their personalities and they all had their back story. I really enjoyed reading this book, it did take me a while to finish, but the book is not exactly little.  

So I heard that Stephenie Meyer confirmed that there will be sequels to this. But why?! The book ended. The “cliff hanger” if I can even call it that seeing, as it wasn’t really is not enough to continue with the story. I’m going to guess it’s the money and the fact that this was turned into a movie…