The Host

Warning: SPOILERS


Melanie Stryder refuses to fade away.
Our world has been invaded by an unseen enemy. Humans become hosts for these invaders, their minds taken over while their bodies remain intact and continue their lives apparently unchanged. Most of humanity has succumbed.
When Melanie, one of the few remaining "wild" humans is captured, she is certain it is her end. Wanderer, the invading "soul" who has been given Melanie's body, was warned about the challenges of living inside a human: the overwhelming emotions, the glut of senses, the too vivid memories. But there was one difficulty Wanderer didn't expect: the former tenant of her body refusing to relinquish possession of her mind.
Wanderer probes Melanie's thoughts, hoping to discover the whereabouts of the remaining human resistance. Instead, Melanie fills Wanderer's mind with visions of the man Melanie loves—Jared, a human who still lives in hiding. Unable to separate herself from her body's desires, Wanderer begins to yearn for a man she has been tasked with exposing. When outside forces make Wanderer and Melanie unwilling allies, they set off on a dangerous and uncertain search for the man they both love.


OK, so I guess my first blog is going to be about Stephanie Meyer's "The Host". All who know me, know that I love romance. Arrogant macho men undone by love and misunderstood vampires having human emotions. So this was a weird book choice for me, I probably would not have read it if I hadn't loved the "Twilight" saga. Stephanie Meyer's style of writing seems to suck you right in. I started reading "The Host" during my lunch hour at work. The first few days it was easy enough to go back to work and leave the fictional world behind for another 24 hours. But on Wednesday, chapter 7 hit, and the book became addicting. I couldn't stop thinking about it as I returned to work. On the drive home. While making dinner. 8:00, the magic bedtime number for my kids, couldn't come fast enough, and once it hit, I was sunk. I emerged briefly around 2 am to my husband's confused question "why are you still up?" as he grabbed a glass of water. I mumbled something unintelligible without looking up so I wouldn't lose my place. 4:30 came, and with it, the end of the book.

Could I go to sleep after that? Yes, but it took awhile as I contemplated body snatchers, the meaning of the word "human", and inter-species love. The last was something I've thought about before, as vampires have become sort of an addiction to me (as a lot of the female reader population have, it seems. What is it about a guy with fangs that makes us want to wear a T-shirt claiming "Willing Blood Donor"?) But never in the sense of aliens, so it was an interesting thought train.

I love Melanie's character. The word I would use to describe her is "fierce". She hates fiercely and loves fiercely. She has such strong emotions, which is why she won't disappear in the first place. She is definitely someone you want in your corner. I had some laugh out loud moments with her. Her smart mouth is a source of constant turmoil for Wanderer. The developing friendship between the two girls is well written. They come together by chance, but once they learn to work with instead of against each other to survive, they find their emotions becoming one. They come to rely on each other for advice, sometimes arguing, sometime agreeing on the best course of action.

I admit to being one of the "Twilight" fans that was a tad disappointed at the end of "Breaking Dawn", so I was wary as the book came to a close. Perhaps because I was setting myself up for disappointment, or maybe because I was a little sleep-deprived, but most likely because it was easier for Stephanie to give the HEA with this book, I was pleasantly surprised when the last page turned, and I shut the book. The ending left me filled with contentment. Although I hope and pray there will be a sequel, I wasn't left hanging with "what now?"

I would definitely rate this book an A. Any book that I stay up to the wee hours of the morning for deserves an A.