Book: The Host
Authoress: Stephenie Meyer
Pages: 619 (Hardcover)
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Goodreads link: The Host
Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, Kindle, Audio
Genre: Adult Fiction | Science Fiction | Dystopian
My summary: Wanderer, a parasitic type of alien, awakens in her new host body. But Melanie, the body's owner, refuses to leave. Soon the lines between Melanie and Wanderer (friend and enemy) start to blur as both souls embark on a mission to find Melanie's brother and boyfriend.
My ode: Oh Stephenie, you do this to me every time. You marvel me and rip my heart in two. You never allow me to choose sides. You show me what it is like to be on both sides of the fence. You know I will instinctively sympathize for the hunted, so you show me what it is like for the hunter. You paint these impossible yet vivid worlds. You make me fall in love with all your characters. You make me hope for the impossible; a happy ending for everyone. You challenge me to ask my self what I would do in similar circumstances and what it really mean to be human. I do not even want to eat when I am reading your books.
My say: It is not a fast moving tale but it is a compelling one. One that takes the time to explore the every day complexities of love and forgiveness. The Host captures you and places you in the middle of an internal and physical battle to save one body and two souls.
Plot: Slow but deliberate
Story: Strikingly detailed
My recommendations:
- Do not compare it to Twilight: Allow The Host to stand alone.
- Wait for the right time: The Host sat on my shelf for four months before I picked it up. Do not rush it. Wait until your ready for the beefy size and complexities.
My star rating: 5 out of 5 stars; It is long, but I loved it, I am proud I own it, and I can not wait to read it again.
My kiddie-o-meter: Dystopian tales always have some sort of violence, but this one is pretty mild, full of compassion, and contains no sex, no foul language, and no social commentary.
My notes:
- Just this week, Jessica at A BookLover's Diary reported on a rumor that the ultra sexy Ian Somerhalder has been cast as Ian O'Shea. *sigh* I love those eyes but I love Ian O'Shea more. I think Ian Somerhalder would be better as Jared Howe. Ian O'Shea is suppose to be huge and athletic.
- Andrew Niccol has agreed to direct and write the screenplay. Mr. Niccol wrote the screenplays for Gattaca and The Truman Show.
My final say: I can not stop thinking about who I would love to play each role. Here is my dream cast.
{PHOTO ARRANGEMENT CREDIT: TALES OF WHIMSY}
Melanie: Hayden Panettiere
Jared: Ian Somerhalder
Ian: Kellan Lutz
Lacey: Ginnifer Goodwin
Review Copyright © of Tales of Whimsy.com
I actually think Ian would be perfect for O'Shea with the dark hair and blue eyes, he could always beef up for the role. Kellan could be good for Jared because of the blonde hair and he looks tougher and meaner. I especially love how you already have a writer/director picked out.
ReplyDeleteI definitely need to re-read the book since I've only read it once when it first came out. Great review!
I re read it a few days back and reviewed it. Agree it's hard to choose between the two.They are both right in some way.
ReplyDeleteMy second reading was way too much better than my first and I think it's bad tht people who hate Twilight don't want to give this book a chance.
Great review.
ReplyDeleteI actually prefer "The Host" over the Twilight books.
The book got me thinking about so many things like humanity and how we react to people who are different.
Wow, what a great review! I can tell you were really touched by this book!
ReplyDeleteI've held off from reading the book because a) the length and b) I keep thinking it will be just like Twilight. Glad you enjoyed it! I may still have to check it out at some point.
ReplyDeleteHost sat on your shelf for 4 months? Host has been sitting on my shelf for the better part of a year and it is still there... yeah, I need to make time for it :)
ReplyDeleteI just found out by reading your awesome review that I did read one Dystopian book, it's this one! :)
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this book very much, it keeps you in that cave with them and wish that they survive no matter what. I think you are right about Ian Somerhalder, he´s great but he should play Jared..ooh Jared.. :)
I completely agree with you about the pace being slow but deliberate. I took me awhile to get into it but when I finally did I was completely hooked! By the end I really liked it. I wasn't aware that they were going to do a movie. I'll go see it!
ReplyDeleteI also agree that it isn't fair to compare it to Twilight. It's not another Twilight. It's its own story.
Awesome review, Juju! I'm a little hesitant to start this book, but I'll try not to compare it to Twilight.
ReplyDeleteLovely review Juju! I agree with just about everything you said, specially the not comparing it to Twilight. I can't wait to read whatever Stephenie puts out next, even if it isn't another Twilight book. (There are a lot of rumors that there will be a sequel to The Host! That'd be awesome.)
ReplyDeleteI don't know if this would make a good movie. How could they do the Wanderer-Melanie interactions without it being cheesy? Hesitation...
ReplyDeleteGreat review, though. I may have mentioned once or twice that I love this book. Stephenie Meyer needs to get her butt off hiatus and start writing a new novel soon =o)
I would watch anything with Ian Somerhalder, he is just so fine! I loved this book as well and I really wish Meyer would write something brand new again.
ReplyDeleteI am ridiculously eager to read this book, and yet I think I instinctively knew that I should wait for the right time. I read a lot of long books with complicated stories/plots (I wish more of them had better characters, but that's another thing), but I have to intersperse them with lighter reads or my head will explode.
ReplyDeleteI am do glad you liked this one! I agree...the pacing is slow, but the story is wonderful. I also agree that you should wait for the right time to read it! :) Fab review love! :)
ReplyDeleteGreat review! I enjoyed this book as well. Like you said,it takes a bit of time to get into,with the "terms" and all. I'd like a sequel to it! :)
ReplyDeleteI read this one when it first came out and I have to say, I actually like it more then the Twilight Saga (gasp!)
ReplyDeleteI hope we get more books like The Host from Meyer in the future. Glad you liked it!
I only think is that Melanie is tall and dark-haired and Hayden Panettiere is very short. I like Jensen Ackles for Ian.
ReplyDeleteI liked The Host too. I'd like to read it again soon.
I loved this too! Much much better than the Twilight series. Plus well-written. It did start out slow initially, but it developed into a great plot!
ReplyDeleteGreat review! I, too, loved The Host better than twilight. Awesome, it was!
ReplyDeleteFantastic review! I especially agree that people must not compare it to Twilight. So many people give this one a bad review because it isn’t like Twilight. I love how different is. Your cast picks are very good. I hadn’t thought about who I would cast for this one.
ReplyDeleteJuju,
ReplyDeleteThere is an award waiting for you on Bons Vivants.
http://bonsvivantsblog.blogspot.com/2010/05/sunshine-award.html
Miel, Mama Bookworm, Krista, Aths, Lily, Jessica Secret, Jill and Bookalicious: Thanks dolls :D
ReplyDeleteAndrea: I can't deny Jensen. He's ultra hot. ;) I feel ya on the dark hair.
Wilow, Kim, BookRants: Amen!! :)
Becki: I'm so glad your instincts were right.
NotNessie: True! I have to ponder that ;)
Emidy: Knowing you, I bet you will love and appreciate all the little things.
Nina: Yah :)
Cherry: LOL
Alita: I hope you do.
Sabrina: SOOOO true :) Thanks for dropping by.
Shweta: I can totally see how it would improve the second time through. Good call :)
Adriana: Thanks sweetie ;) I don't know why but I picture Jared's build to be wiry and athletic.
I enjoyed your review. I will have to give this book another try. I guess I wasn't ready to read it when I first picked it up.
ReplyDeleteI am determined to get a copy of this book tonight. Seriously going to have to get this book.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I thought that maybe one sunshine award wasn't enough for you. lol
http://true-confessions-of-a-bibliophile.blogspot.com/2010/05/what-sunday-awards.html
This is not the kind of book I would ordinarily read, but you have made it sound very attractive. Going to have to put it on my list! I've never read any of the Twilight books, although I am a big fan of True Blood on HBO. :-)
ReplyDeleteJHS
Colloquium
Wow, five stars!! To be honest, yours is the first really awesome review of this book that I've seen. I'm more inclined to try it out now that I know you liked it!
ReplyDeleteI thought Twilight was just okay... maybe I'll like this better, but sometimes I can get impatient when it's a slow book! :)
ReplyDeleteThe Host > Twilight. ALWAYS.
ReplyDeleteI'm proud to own a copy of this book too-and in spanish to boot! ;D
Pirate: Oooo you go girl! I bow to your skills :)
ReplyDeleteChrista & Christina T.: Definitely hold out for a day when you want something slower paced :)
Carrie: I hope you try it. I can't wait to see what you make of it.
JHS: Ahhh thanks. It's not my normal read either :)
Becki: You're so sweet. Thank you!
This was probably the first sci-fi book that I had read in years and I loved it. I can see though why a lot of authors use a different pen name when writing a different genre. This was so not Twilight and wasn't suppose to be. I loved that it was slow moving and it built bit by bit. I read it right after it came out but held on to my copy as I knew it was one I'd want to reread. I kept hoping that there might be a sequel and had put off rereading it. I'm tickled to death that others are finding and enjoying it as much as I did. As soon as the summer days lengthen and I can pile up outside to read, this one is going to be my first choice.
ReplyDeleteI liked your point about waiting on this one. I read it between all the Twilight books and thus was a bit tainted in my review. I think I may have to give it a go again when I have some time. I too can't wait to see who they cast in the movie, since it's supposed to be filming some time soon.
ReplyDeleteI got it! We're going out of town this week (Wednesday to I think Tuesday) and I'm taking The Host with me as one of the two books going along. I'm not sure what the other one's going to be, but I was thinking about Dead Until Dark because it's short lol
ReplyDeleteWoW! Just reading your Ode makes me want to read the book! Good job!!
ReplyDelete♥ V ♥
V: Ahhh thanks :)
ReplyDeleteBecki: Oh my gosh. The pressure is on. *fingers crossed* I hope you love it!
1st daughter: Oh yah the throws of Twilight can definitely skew a gal :)
Lisa: Good point about pen names! Yah for books worthy of re-reading :)
You are right--The Host needs to stand apart from Twilight. I liked Host so much better. I thought the story creative and imaginative. And I thought Ms. Meyer did a much better job with her writing. I like your "cast" picks. It would make a great movie.
ReplyDeleteI like your new blog layout :)
I've heard some great things about this book! I may just have to get off of my meyer boycott and read it!
ReplyDeleteStacy: Definitely one to break the Meyer boycott for.
ReplyDeleteKaye: Thank you :) so much.
This is my favorite book of hers. It is a very nice story.
ReplyDeleteGreat job on the review. Spoiler free yet still enticing to readers round the world (like me!). I love the Twilight series, but yes, had been previously warned not to compare the two. I have been waiting for the right time to read this one....perhaps one day soon. In the mean time, I'm glad to know that the adventure when I choose to embark on it is one that should be memorable to say the least. Thanks for sharing....and happy reading!
ReplyDeleteGMR: *beaming* Thank you. I hope you try this one. I can see you loving it.
ReplyDeleteI've heard lots of good non-Twilight reviews on this one and hope to read it one of these days. I accepted Twilight, but didn't love it and as such wasn't really interested in diving into the rest of her writing. But the various reviews I keep reading have me intrigued and I figure I'll try it out sometime.
ReplyDeleteOkie: Ooo I hope you do. Please let me know what you end up thinking of it :)
ReplyDeleteCool, you've already selected the cast to appear in The Host! :D I haven't read the book yet but I have a copy waiting for me on my bookshelf.
ReplyDeleteI love your review and I whole-heartedly agree with all you said. I hope you don't mind if I forward your review to some of my friends!
ReplyDeleteEllis: Thank you :) Of course not. I would LOVE if you send you friends and link and they come visit :) Thank you! :)
ReplyDeleteJosette: Thanks :) Now if only they would hire me as their casting director ;)
This is one of my favorite books of all time. I love it! I'm following you now--found you via WOW.
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