The Host: A Novel by Stephenie Meyer Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Host: A Novel
Book Review: ...disappointing...
Summary: 1 Stars
Having heard about the Twilight series and all the hype that accompanied the book and the movie, I thought I would check out a different Stephenie Meyer book. The subject sounded interesting, but I could never get past the first 50 pages. The writing is languid and over done. I finally gave up on the written word and made a stab at the audiobook. I think I lasted the equivalent of 50 pages on the audiobook too! I ended up not caring about anyone in the book....Book Review: ...whew!
Summary: 5 Stars
I read many books; it's my favourite past time. It is very rare that a book brings tears to my eyes, but The Host had me going several times. It was incredibly well written. To be honest I hadn't expected it to be good, but I was blown away.
The book is reflective of humankind but still fictitious enough that once you open the book you find yourself in another incredible world.
I would recommend the book for people who aren't exactly looking for a comedy, but do enjoy the good feeling after having turned the last page. The story is about love too. I can't be sure if men would enjoy the female first person narrative but the book is remarkable nonetheless.
Book Review: 23 y/o Male with Mixed Feelings
Summary: 3 Stars
In General:
I liked it. I read it rather quickly. The WHOLE book wasn't compelling but there were many PARTS that were SO HARD to stop reading when say, I had a chem exam to study for...AHHH! I mean it, there were parts that made you just NEED to keep going. The beginning is slow and boring compared to the rest of the book. BUT, you don't realize that until after you get passed it. It isn't one of those books that's hard to get into. The Host, like Twilight, is EXTREMELY predictable, and shamefully convenient...but you won't care, just like you didn't care with Twilight.
In Relation to Twilight Series:
I read them all. Loved twilight, HATED New Moon (and how important she made Jacob), ENJOYED Eclipse and WORRIED my way through Breaking Dawn (worried she'd ruin what I believed to be important about the story), but loved it. Okay, enough about cheesy, enjoyable twilight saga...The Host...It was easier to read because I cared less about the characters. I know that sounds strange but, it was so much less angst-y than Twilight and thus I wasn't always worried that some twist would come that ruined the story for me. I didn't really care what happened but was quite entertained by it. Until the end of the book, I am quite happy with the narrator perspective and I don't hate Ian the way I HATE HATE HATED Jacob and his "importance" to the Twilight story. Relaxed read...could just sit back and enjoy.
In Relation to Stephenie:
For someone who has read and pretty much loved everything she has written as a whole, I actually extremely DISLIKE the author personally. What I mean is, I don't know her...I know NOTHING about her character...I just mean that the bit of voice and agenda of hers that leaks into the books drives me absolutely INSANE. I am not bound by the strictness of religion but the "passion" and "romance" that Stephenie writes reminds me (fondly) of the way I felt as I was a middle school kid "making out" for the first time. This was appropriate for Twilight as a young adult book, but The Host wasn't much better. This wouldn't bother me if not for the effort she puts into trying to MAKE them passionate and romantic. It's reminiscent of personal experiences with love but ineffectual in actually achieving "heart-wrenching" status. I feel like the reasons for this are two-fold. I get a sense of "shyness" (for lack of a better word) from this author and certain aspects of her writing strikes me as underhandedly "preachy"...I feel like she writes a story, then edits it so that it makes up our minds for us. I'd prefer she wrote characters with flaws and then let us decide whether or not they were flawed. I don't know the appropriateness of a young adult male sexually interacting with a 17 y/o girl in a post-invasion society...but she sure as hell doesn't let me think about it for myself...she instills this unrealistic morality in every one of her male characters. So now I sound like a douche right? Well, I pride myself on being a nice guy (WHO DOESN'T INTERACT WITH UNDERAGE GIRLS) but almost every beer-drinking (I prefer rum and pepsi), butt-slapping frat guy that I've come across is a douche and I think it's unrealistic that all of her males are so perfect (Kyle is perfect too, don't kid yourselves). I feel like I'm reading a story of complaint sometimes. Her characters complain about mundane little aspects of life that exist to be stressed about nowhere but in their (or Stephies) own head. The temper tantrum about Midnight Sun really put me off about Meyer. Bad things happen sometimes, and some people are greedy and selfish, but you have to not let that stuff bother you. Don't huff and puff and not finish a book that your readers would LOVE simply because you're mad at someone who is clearly unethical and not your target audience anyway. It's a bit dramatic if you ask me. Last bit... homage to Breaking Dawn... yes Stephie, we know a childs life is valuable but couldn't you write a book that didn't scream your thoughts on abortion at us? Or better yet, one that didn't transform the entire character of Rosalie into nothing more than a pawn of your personal beliefs? I'm pro-NEVER PUT YOURSELF IN A PLACE WHERE YOU HAVE TO MAKE THAT CHOICE but I wouldn't shove that down other peoples throats.
BEFORE YOU GET MAD, let me say this. Stephenie Meyer and all the people I pissed off, i'll end this bit about the author with this...it's her book, so she can do whatever the hell she likes, these are just aspects that annoyed me personally. I am not calling for a change or trying to criticize "mistakes" just stating my experience. And you have the right to be pissed at me for it ;)
Overall:
I loved the Twilight Saga (and the movie was entertaining, if rushed and not very good, but still...saw it 4 times...$45... so what the heck do I know right?) and The Host was great for it's own reasons. It's no more adult than Twilight (less so if you've gotten to Breaking Dawn *wink*) but it's entertaining. It turns pages. It grips you at moments. It's nearly addictive at spots. You don't HATE anyone...you don't LOVE anyone..you are simply entertained. I like the premise better than Twilight because it feels like more of an escape in this post-invasion world. In Twilight there are vampires sure, but there are still fender benders, parents, school, and science lab (only fun when you don't have a lab every day of the week). The Host offers more of an escape. It takes you to a place where the world is essence, not ego. There is no room for waste and error and pride, just survive and relate (kindly) to the people around you. Great read!
Book Review: 2nd time was a charm!
Summary: 5 Stars
I read all of the "Twilight" series and liked them so I thought I'd give this a try since it was written by the same author and more geared towards adults. Like my title says, it took me 2 times to get in to this book enough to keep reading it, but I'm glad I decided to pick it up again. My co-worker had her nose it in everyday at lunchtime and before I knew it I became obsessed with getting it back from my neighbor so I could give it another try. I am not a Sci-Fi fan, but after I gave it another chance and let myself get far enough along that I knew who was talking and to whom, I just love it. I hope she comes out with either a sequel, series, or just another good book for adults!Book Review: 3 1/2 Stars
Summary: 3 Stars
Step out of your box, get past the first six chapters and you'll be hooked. I enjoyed the character development and the plot yet gave the book 3 1/2 Stars because I expected more intensity from this author.
If you are looking for anything similiar to Twillight The Host is not that book. The Host is very different. I think it was easier to believe in Vampires than aliens...