The Host: A Novel by Stephenie Meyer Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Host: A Novel
Book Review: Sci-fi at its Best
Summary: 5 Stars
Though it's tempting to compare this book with the Twilight trilogy, a fairer comparison would be made with classic sci-fi. The essential elements are all there. The alien, Wanderer, is a sympathetic character, with all the depth and back-story of any good hero. The setting is believable and fascinating to discover along with her. I cared about the people she meets along the way and enjoyed the romance almost as much as, well, You Know Who and her Immortal Friend. Book Review: A thoroughly engaging book
Summary: 5 Stars
As a longtime Stephenie Meyer fan, I was anxious to see how her first non-Twilight book would turn out. I am happy to report that The Host satisfies on every level. The various romances are intense and believable, as is the future Earth Meyer constructs. She takes the original and surprising route of portraying alien invaders who, far from being vicious killers, are instead even-tempered and peaceful-- and frankly, no less alien for it, and in their own way no less terrifying. The various themes of the novel-- love, humanity, choice-- draw together seamlessly in the story of a single "invader" who comes to love a human family as her own.
The book may be slow-moving at times, with the action largely internal (in all meanings of the word), but this is Meyer's style, take it or leave it. She gives us a world that is both rich sprawl and intricate detail, and that takes time and space to convey. I can only give my own reaction, which is to say that I was not bored even once.
To Twilight fans, I can say that this book is certainly not a science-fiction recast of the Twilight books. The only character similarity I perceived was a certain bull-headed self-loathing common to both Wanderer and Bella Swan. Both stories contain a love triangle, but the triangle of The Host has a very different origin, very different characters, and a vastly different resolution.
In short, I highly recommend this book, even to those who don't normally read science fiction. Just as Twilight is a vampire book for those don't like vampire books, The Host (like all truly great SF) crosses genre boundaries to present a story that isn't about technology, but about humanity in all its imperfect glory.
Book Review: Dreadful prose, poorly written, couldn't even finish it
Summary: 1 Stars
I enjoyed the Twilight books sort of. They are not well written, or well told stories. They were a guilty pleasure--but I still read them. The Host is bilge and I could not get through the first 100 pages without rolling my eyes at the very bad writing. Meyer is TELLING me what happens, instead of just showing me what happens. Because I'm being told how to feel and what to think about her characters I really don't care about them at all.
I laughed at some of the melodrama and badly constructed phrasing. So far that is the only joy this book has brought to me. I wish I could get my money back. UGH.
Book Review: The Host
Summary: 5 Stars
Great book - different style than Twilight series, but very creative storyline and very entertaining.Book Review: not sure yet
Summary: 3 Stars
haven't been able to get into it yet, not sure if it is b/c i'm busier during the summer or it's just not as good as the Twilight Series.