22/03/2013

Book Review | The Host by Stephenie Meyer

Title: The Host
Author: Stephenie Meyer
Release Date: May 6th 2008
Publisher: Little Brown and Company
Genre: Science Fiction
Pages: 619
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Summary
"Melanie Stryder refuses to fade away. The earth has been invaded by a species that take over the minds of human hosts while leaving their bodies intact. Wanderer, the invading "soul" who has been given Melanie's body, didn't expect to find its former tenant refusing to relinquish possession of her mind.


As Melanie fills Wanderer's thoughts with visions of Jared, a human who still lives in hiding, Wanderer begins to yearn for a man she's never met. Reluctant allies, Wanderer and Melanie set off to search for the man they both love."


My Thoughts
I've tried to read this book before, the year it came out to be exact, but I just didn't enjoy it at all and stopped after around 50 pages. After a few years I'd heard that it got better once you go into in but I wasn't really interested in trying it again, and only due to how good the trailer for the film looks is why I decided to pick it up again.

I think my main problem with this book is similar to what happened with me when reading 'Warm Bodies', I saw the trailer and was expecting different things from the book that just didn't happen. I felt that the book shuffled along at a pretty slow pace and didn't really pick up until after 300+ pages, but after then I really did enjoy it. The trailer also seemed to show a much more action packed adventure, which isn't really similar to the book at all. Although it took me a while to get into and I wasn't that gripped initially when reading, every time I put the book down I would find myself later thinking about it and want to read it again.

I didn't find many of the characters in the book that memorable Jamie and Jeb where two that seemed to be pretty much the same personality but just and older and younger version. Melanie, the host body that Wanda takes over, is so irritating at first! She acts ridiculously immature for an apparent 21 year old, constantly winging because Wanda is starting to feel emotions towards Jared. The romance element between Melanie and Jared felt unbelievable in my opinion, it was insta-love at it's worst! I felt there was nothing that indicated WHY they loved each other and needed to be together, other than when they found each other they hadn't seen any other humans in a few years. On the other hand the romance that sparks between Ian and Wanda was really well done, you grew to love the characters together and really see how they connected together.

Overall I found the ending to be the best part about the whole book, it really pushed up my rating because I enjoyed it so much and couldn't help but read on. Although I kind of predicted what would happen it still didn't stop me loving it and feeling so much emotion towards the characters. I think that with the apparent sequels that are being written aren't entirely necessary as I felt that the book was left on a good ending, but I still would read them if and when they are published!

Rating

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