Sunday, June 15, 2008

BOOK REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: The Host by Stephenie Meyer

BOOK REVIEW:

Author of the best selling teenage vampire romance novels known as the Twilight saga, Stephenie Meyer has branched out to adult literature with her latest novel, The Host. In The Host, an alien parasitic species has ventured to Earth in search of living hosts. This alien species essentially survives by traveling the universe and inserting themselves into viable living organisms, be it plants or animals. The alien being then takes over the body of its host and basically conquers the soul that inhabited the host into non-existence.

The Host is the story of the alien known as Wanderer and her host, Melanie Stryder. Wanderer knew humans exhibited an incredible range of emotions and that the memories of her human host would be vivid. What Wanderer did not expect, however, was the inability to conquer the soul of her host. Melanie exhibits rare and incredible strength and determination and resists completely succumbing to Wanderer's invasion into her body. The two souls therefore exist side by side within one body. While Wanderer dominates and controls the body, Melanie uses every ounce of her power to influence Wanderer's decisions through suggested thoughts, shared memories and dreams.

Hiding emotions and thoughts from each other is near impossible--including the intense love Melanie has for her younger brother Jamie and her one true love, Jared. The intensity of Melanie's love for Jamie and Jared is incredibly strong, and soon Wanderer finds herself loving these two young men as her own. Ultimately, it is this love that drives Wanderer into the desert in search of her and Melanie's loved ones. Wanderer's search is not in vain and she 'finds' Jamie and Jared living unbeknownst to Wanderer's kind in a hidden shelter with a small group of other rebel humans. The presence of an alien is most unwelcome within the shelter, so Wanderer's arrival stirs quite an upheaval within the human colony. Obviously tremendous complications arise for Wanderer and Melanie and a tale of unparalleled moral and emotional dilemmas ensues.

The Host claims to be the "science fiction novel for people who don't like science fiction," and I whole heartedly agree with that claim. While the basis of the story's premise is clearly rooted in science fiction, The Host is more a story about love, compassion, and understanding more than it is about anything else. Meyer takes the reader on an amazing roller coaster ride of emotion and drama that explores the complications of human love through various forms of relationships-- family, friends, and lovers.

In the beginning of The Host, I, like Melanie, resented Wanderer's presence in Melanie's body, finding it to be a rather disturbing violation of another living soul. I empathized with Melanie's extreme sadness she grieved for Jamie and Jared and the life she shared with them. I felt her frustration over not having control over her body and now essentially being a part of the enemy, worrying that she would betray Jamie and Jared to the aliens always seeking host bodies. And although I still wanted Melanie to have her life back, I didn't want Wanderer to suffer, either as I soon began to care about Wanderer as she began to demonstrate strong human emotions such as guilt, fear, compassion, loyalty, and love. Surprisingly, Wanderer became a soul who truly exemplified humanity and deserved life as well.

The Host is an emotionally deep, poignant story that roused a huge range of emotions in me. I was often sad, frustrated, angry and worried for both Melanie and Wanderer. Several times I found a stray tear roll down my cheek before I even realized I was crying, it moved me so strongly. Yet for every tearful moment throughout this story, there is an equally uplifting and hopeful one. This thought provoking story teaches compassion, sacrifice, and unconditional human love in ways I never imagined.

GRADE: A


BOOK GIVEAWAY:

I'm giving away a brand new hardcover copy of The Host by Stephenie Meyer, compliments of the Hatchette Book Group Publishers. The rules are as follows:
  • To be entered in the drawing for the book, leave a comment about why you would like to receive this book.
  • Comment must be posted by Sunday, June 22, 9:00 pm EST.
  • One commenter will then be selected at random from the comments.
  • You must leave a name. Anonymous entries will not be qualified.
  • Prize must be claimed by Sunday, June 29, 9:00 pm EST or it will be forfeited and a new winner will be selected.

38 comments:

  1. Would like to win cuz it sounds interesting!

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  2. I would love to win, I loved the Twilight saga ! :)

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  3. This book sounds fantastic. I just started New Moon, she's a great author and I would love to read The Host!

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  4. Oh I'm so glad you liked the book.

    PLEASE do not put me in the drawing! :) Just wanted to pop and say...wasn't it wonderful?? :)

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  5. Okay I have tried to win this book from EVERY FLIPPING SITE known to man. I deserve to win b/c I simply can not afford it and I WANT it.
    Other than that great review you make me want it more LOL

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  6. I've seen so much buzz about this book and I can't wait to read it. The story seems to have such depth. I can't wait to sink into it. Seems like a great, long read and I love books like this. I've seen a lot of reviews and everyone seems to love it!

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  8. Sounds good to me ~ really hope to win!

    Snowpuff@gmail.com

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  9. The premise is what caught my eye. The Twilight books didn't really interest me and I haven't read them, but this one. This one sounds really good. It makes me want to check out the rest of her books.

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  10. I love the review! No need to enter me, I've already got the book. But I'm glad to hear how much you enjoyed it Christine! It means odds are I love it too!

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  11. Sounds like a get book. I haven't read any Stephenie Meyer but this looks like a good one to start with. I'm putting on the TBR wish list.

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  12. I felt so sorry for Wanderer! She was such a king and loving "soul", lost in a world unlike any she inhabited before.
    Meyer is such a wonderful storyteller. The Host is such a beautiful book.

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  13. OMG! I'm listing you as accomplice of kb crack and kj crack. You're not c-crack, right aymless? ;) Getting me addicted to more books. Now I'll never be able to move out. >_<
    xoxo~~~

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  14. Hooray for your review Christine ;) Great stuff. I too loved and was emotionally wrenched by this book. Really, just a beautiful story. Stephanie Meyer is awesome!

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  15. I have been interested in reading a Stephanie Meyer book for a while. I haven't been able to bring myself to purchase the Twilight series because I'm not a big YA reader, but I would love to give The Host a go, being that it's an adult SF. Plus the reviews for it have me intrigued.

    Great review, by the way.

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  16. Great review Christine. It sounds like a very emotional read. I am in for the contest please! : )

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  17. I FINALLY bought Twilight. I know, I know. I'm the last person to get on the Stephanie Meyer bandwagon. But all the DIK ladies have such wonderful things to say about the Twilight series and The Host, I just couldn't stay away any longer. TBR pile be damned. :)

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  18. Christine, I loved your review so much, I'm gonna trust you and read this book. After the debacle that was her last book I was heartbroken and didn't want to read any more of her books at all. But your review's lovely so I'm gonna try The Host. :)

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  19. Thanks for the comments everyone!

    Wendy :: I highly recommend you read The Host. The tone and overall message of this novel is definitely more sophisticated and thought provoking than Meyers' Twilight saga. But don't buy it yet!! You might just win it here! :)

    .... only a few more days, and The Host might be YOURS!

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  20. I too have been wanting to read this book. I've heard alot of good things about it! It would be great to win a copy. :)

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  21. I read the Twilight series and enjoyed it. I'm looking forward to Breaking Dawn. I've honestly been hesitant to buy this book because i've been afraid that I won't like it. I know that authors expand their horizons, but sometimes, its like watching an actor (i.e. Jim Carey) try to change genre's mid-career. Ms Meyer has had so much success with Twilight. I'm curious about the book, but I'm afraid of it as well. I think it will take someone giving it to me to get me to change my mind.

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  22. I've read her Twilight series and love it! I've been looking forward to this one! Count me in.

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  23. Sounds like a great book! I really enjoyed Meyer's Twilight series (I'm reading it yet again right now, in preparation for the release of Breaking Dawn.), and I'm sure she does a fabulous job with sci-fi as well as fantasy. I'd love to be entered to win a copy! :)

    -Brandy Cowan

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  24. I'd like to win this, because I love science fiction that deals with real human issues and concerns. Plus I really liked Twilight!

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  25. I'd love to win the book because I've been entering other contests for it and to no avail (sigh)!

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  26. Just wanted to say I've made a post about this at my blog, proudbookworm.blogspot.com.

    Thanks again!

    ~Popin
    proudbookworm[@]gmail[dot]com

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  27. I'd love to read and review The Host. Any book I win in one of these online contests will in turn be given away on my site after I review it.

    http://mentatjack.com

    Steven Klotz

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  28. I love the Twilight series and have been looking forward to the release of The Host. Please enter me in the drawing! Thanks, Lindsey

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  29. Oops, forgot to leave my email!

    ladyufshalott at yahoo dot com

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  30. I would love to read this book because it will probably not be available in India.

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  31. I would love to get this book because it will not be available in India.

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  32. I love the Twilight series which I read through my library. I would love to win this book because I have a very long wait before I can read The Host.

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  33. The book sounds and looks interesting. I would love to know which book is better, The Host or Twilight?

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  34. pleaseeeeeee enter me! i so want that book, my teeth hurt



    blackroze37@yahoo.com

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  35. I am reading Twilight now. Stephenie Meyer is really good. I was on a plane with it not too long ago and the flight attendants came up to me to ask me what I was reading and I had to tell them about SM. They had never heard of her. Thanks for the contest.

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  36. Juniper_breeze asked: I would love to know which book is better, The Host or Twilight?

    Ugh. That's such a difficult question. They're very different stories, but both of them definitely examine the power of love and how it impacts people in ways they never imagined. I think the young at heart romantic in me will always adore Twilight, but The Host was so much more thought provoking and emotional. So if I had to choose a favorite, I think it would be The Host.

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  37. THIS CONTEST IS NOW OFFICIALLY CLOSED.

    Thanks for all your comments and entries. I'm excited to make someone's day and declare them the winner to my drawing.

    I'm using the list randomizer at random.org to select a winner. The first name that comes up when the list of your names is randomized will be the lucky recipient of Stephenie Meyer's latest release, The Host.

    ... off to randomize.... be right back....

    Good luck! :)

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  38. Oops! I made a new post on my blog announcing the winner and forgot to mention it here for those who are following this thread by email only....

    WENDY! You won a copy of The Host by Stephenie Meyer!! Email me! :)

    Thanks again to all who entered. I hope you get a chance to read The Host. Its a wonderful story.

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