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 enlarge | Author: Stephenie Meyer
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Category: Book
List Price: $25.99
Buy New: $13.19
You Save: $12.80 (49%)
New (63) Used (16) Collectible (7) from $13.15
Avg. Customer Rating:  541 reviews
Sales Rank: 92
Media: Hardcover
Edition: 1
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 624
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.9
Dimensions (in): 9.3 x 6.5 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
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: BRAND NEW COPY, SOFT COVER EDITION. NO UGLY REMAINDER MARKS.
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| Customer Reviews:
 Good but lacking characterization August 25, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
This is a good story. It's definitely an interesting read with moments that leave you wanting to know what's happening next. Some parts are honestly hard to put down.
The challenges are in weak characterization, which is a criticism that has followed Meyers through her Twilight series. While Wanda is more complex and interesting, most of the men are completely one dimensional. The young men are typically violent, yet women are still attracted to them (also a trait in Twilight males). There is a bit of fascination with domineering and violent men in Meyer's worlds.
SPOILER AHEAD!
The whole romance with two guys and the one body with Wanda and Melanie's consciousness in it is a bit cheesy. Meyer seems to be obsessed with love triangles or at least convinced that they are a recipe for a bestseller. To me it's a turnoff. At the end of the book, I'm angry with Wanda for having feelings for Jared. If she really loves Ian that wouldn't/couldn't happen. (Why name another character Jared when you've written four books about a beau named Jacob? I think it was an intentional attempt to make the Twilight audience like Jared. Think it's a coincidence? Her younger brother who we're also supposed to adore is named Jamie, and her uncle, an admirable man, is named Jeb. J=man to marry or love in Meyer's world. 5 books and 5 lovable men with a J-name. Note to the author: please pick another letter for the next book. How's about M? There are a lot of male names that start with M.)
I have a bombshell for love triangle fans: you might as well want to read about Leprechauns, because neither one exists. Their is no such thing as a love triangle. Huh? What? YES. There is such a thing as a lust triangle. If you want a lust triangle, then you're all set. But, no one can love two different people romantically at the same time. Love is about caring about someone more than oneself. One would never want to be cheated on or have one's lover in love with another at the same time. Therefore, it is impossible to love someone and put them through the hell of you lusting after someone else. Love means that you would never do that to the person. If you'd do it to them, you don't love them. If any type of a triangle exists, it ain't love.
Okay, all of the above complaints aside, I still really enjoyed the book. It provides a nice escape. The underground caves are fascinating, and the above-ground society is also interesting. You can't help but care for Wanda.
While the ending might be a bit predictable, it was what I wanted.
 Boo! Hiss! Not worth reading August 24, 2008
I was SOOOOOOOOO disappointed in this book. I had to force myself to finish it, hoping page after boring page it would get better. I loved her Twighlight series, and yes, I am way over the Y.A. age, I am 55. I wish I hadn't rushed to buy this book and instead waited for some of my friends to read (or in this case throw it away before finishing it) to give me their reviews. I have lent this book to 3 people and all have returned it to me unfinished. BORING, BORING, BORING.
 Ok...but gets old August 24, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
This story is a good idea.. the whole romance thing.. the 2 people in one body. Kind of reminds me of that movie "The Invasion" with Nicole Kidman except it souls instead of an alien alien....same thing in a way tho. There is a moral in the story, that there is good and bad among every species. No one is perfect.. And the despite what the souls think, they are far from perfect and the whole "we are good, kind, we run and do not fight" stuff got old fast, especially with them taking over the whole world and basically, sucking all personality from the human bodies. I was actually rolling my eyes thru half the book.. I have to say, half of this is lame. Half of it is good. I just scanned over the lame stuff to get to the good. I do not really think this is an adult novel. I see it being more appropriate for the younger crowd. It did pass the time tho.
 Over 500 reviews -- what can I add? August 24, 2008
I have read and very much enjoyed Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series. She gives her characters weaknesses and nobilities that challenge them, while keeping a terrific plot line running. In this latest book, her characters are faced with questions of basic humanity -- what is good and what is evil? Who deserves to live or die? Can we come to understand someone completely "alien" to ourselves so that we turn hate into love? And does that ability show our own true and deepest character strengths and flaws? And at the very heart of this novel is this statement, I believe: "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." Stephenie is not afraid to show her own faith and principles in her work, making an incredibly compelling story, with terrific characters, while teaching those principles to all of us. More, Stephenie, more!!
A True Masterpeice of Literature (A+ Grade) August 23, 2008
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
Classic, is a word I don't use too often when I talk about books. Only a select few can be given that term. In my case I have one such book that I compare all others to. If any book I read can come close to my number one cherished book of all time, that book will be called a "classic".
Stephenie Meyer is no fluke of author. Forget everything you know about her from her Young Adult vampire series. With The Host, she has written a near masterpiece about the worth of an individual's soul crossed with a spiritual element that most of us find within ourselves. I would not be surprised in the least is this book is taught in schools and is considered as one of the most influential novels of the 21st century.
The Host is a spin on aliens taking over the Earth much like the movie, Invasion of the Body Snatchers. These beings travel from planet to planet to bring peace and well being to the creatures that live there. The aliens do this by inserting their souls in the host bodies and essentially eliminate the original being's soul. From that point the new alien soul lives the life of the host, but tranquil and happy. These invaders have done this on multiple planets and now they have set their sights on Earth. Humans are known as being destructive where they enjoy killing and starting wars. The invaders will take over the humans and make Earth a balanced planet full of peace and joy.
It has been five years since the invasion and most of humanity has been overtaken. A new soul will be inserted into a host. The host was a young girl who rather than be taken alive, tried to kill herself by jumping down an elevator shaft. But the aliens have a higher form of medicine and are able to save the girl's body. The soul they place inside is called Wanderer. Wanderer is a special type of soul because she has lived on more than six other planets. Wanderer has been a flower, bear, sea weed and even a dragon. Yes, there are many other life forms in this huge universe and Wanderer was lucky enough to see and be many things. When Wanderer awakens, she (and you will come to see why she is female) is very much out of sorts. She understands she would know the memories and feelings of her host body but something is so very wrong. In the past when a new alien soul takes over a host, the host's original soul is thought to have been erased. But this is not the case with Wanderer. Her host body, which was once Melanie Stryder talks to her in her mind and won't give up without a fight. Wander controls her body, but Melanie is like a ghost in her head and won't leave her alone.
Wanderer is a very kind and essentially peaceful being. But with Melanie, Wander can't stand her. Wanderer just wants to live a simple life as a human till she grows old and can move onto her next life cycle. But Melanie wants out and because Wanderer feels the same things as Melanie does and experiences the same memories, she and Melanie decide to go on a journey. Melanie wants Wanderer to find her people, meaning her younger brother Jamie and Jared, the young man who helps Melanie and Jamie survive from the aliens. Also, Melanie is in love with Jared and needs to get back to him. Since Wanderer is being pulled much like Melanie is into finding her family, Wanderer will go out and search for these humans even though it is very dangerous and she could be killed by them.
Wanderer will travel from Chicago, Illinois to the deserts of Arizona where he Uncle Jeb may be hiding out and here Jamie and Jared have gone to. Melanie had originally come alone to Chicago to find her cousin Sharon and that is where her life has ended. Wanderer treks through the desert and comes close to death until she is found, and by Jeb. There Wanderer's life is on the line. Jeb doesn't kill her right away but brings her to his "house" where he lives in some man made cave, very intricate ones where other humans are living and hiding out. That is where Wanderer and Melanie find Jared, Jamie and other humans who want her blood. She is the enemy and must be killed because they believe she may have brought the seekers (the alien police who round up the humans) to their hiding place. Jeb won't put Wanderer out of her misery but leaves that decision in the hands of Jared.
From that moment on, Wanderer is caged much like an animal or some could say a possible terrorist. The group of humans want her gone and it all comes down to Jared. Why Jared? Melanie belongs to him as he belonged to her. He alone holds her life in his hands. But there is one who doesn't want to see Wanderer hurt and that is Jamie. Jamie believes Melanie is inside, still and will not allow any body to harm his sister, even if it is only her body that remains.
As things progress between Wanderer, or as Jamie names her, Wanda, she and some of the humans has a tentative truce. Jeb does his best to assimilate her into their clan, but always with and eye and a gun point at her. There are Kyle and Ian, brothers who have very different distinct feels for Wanda. There is Doc who is the only doctor they rely on. There is Sharon, Melanie's cousin who was safe all along and her mother Maggie and Melanie's aunt. This group initially thinks of Wanda as an "it" but as time goes on "it" because a she to them. By Wanda speaking of her past lives, she becomes more human to them. And that is where Wanda's beliefs and ideals change. She is becoming more human everyday and even thought Melanie is so very much alive in her head, speaking to her, Wanda has become her own person. Whereas she has feelings for Jared because Melanie did, she has new feelings for Ian who returns them. And Jamie is the key to both Melanie and Wanda's humanity.
But the outside world is still overtaken by Wanda's people and the seekers are looking for her and the humans still in hiding. She must make a decision to stay within the body she was given or let Melanie come back. And if Wanda does leave, whose lives does she change forever?
At over 600 pages, The Host raises so many ethical and moral questions about the importance of a life and human nature. These questions are asked about Wanderer and her sacrifice for the greater good. But is the greater good served by eradicating a race of beings just because another set of beings believes it is right?
This is one of the many situations that arise that will keep you on the edge of your seat, turning page after page as you try to find out what will happen to Wanda and her new founds friends that were once her enemies. Some will remain enemies, while others cross that line into love.
Katiebabs
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