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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
I know, I know... It's Stephanie Meyer.
I did a wonderful job of separating the art from artist in this case, if I do say so myself. I haven't read Twilight in a very long time, but from what I remember of it, it wasn't written as well as this book. In fact, if I didn't know who wrote it, I wouldn't have picked it as a Stephanie Meyer novel.
I somehow didn't read this book when I was younger... I don't even remember it coming out, to be honest. I had only mediocre hopes for this book, but was pleasantly surprised.
There was a fair amount of violence in this book, but it wasn't over the top. It wasn't nice, but it added to the action aspect of this story.
I didn't dislike anybody in particular- the characters weren't written overly well but they weren't dreadful.
The love triangle proudly advertised on the cover was a bit off- it was more of a love quadrangle. I wasn't convinced about any of it... I couldn't forgive Jared for being so horrible and I read Ian as much older than Wanderer, so that creeped me out. I think Meyer has a thing for the whole young girl, older man couple. I didn't like it as the age gaps were just too big, particularly since the girls were only 17 or so.
I did like the relationship with Jamie, Melanie's little brother. I thought it was sweet and helped Wanderer to seem less alien. I got a little emotional over their relationship, it was adorable at times!
The sci-fi element was fine also. It took a little while to get into and understand, but it was a creepily interesting world.
I would have liked to have seen some consequences for character actions. It just seemed all too lovey dovey- there's plenty of talk about shooting people or having them thrown out of the caves, but nothing is done, even when the worst happens.
Overall, this book was fine. It probably didn't need to be as big as it was (just over 600 pages), but it was okay. The pages kept turning and I got quite involved in the story, I just would have liked a bit more depth and less of the creepy love quadrangle.
I did a wonderful job of separating the art from artist in this case, if I do say so myself. I haven't read Twilight in a very long time, but from what I remember of it, it wasn't written as well as this book. In fact, if I didn't know who wrote it, I wouldn't have picked it as a Stephanie Meyer novel.
I somehow didn't read this book when I was younger... I don't even remember it coming out, to be honest. I had only mediocre hopes for this book, but was pleasantly surprised.
There was a fair amount of violence in this book, but it wasn't over the top. It wasn't nice, but it added to the action aspect of this story.
I didn't dislike anybody in particular- the characters weren't written overly well but they weren't dreadful.
The love triangle proudly advertised on the cover was a bit off- it was more of a love quadrangle. I wasn't convinced about any of it... I couldn't forgive Jared for being so horrible and I read Ian as much older than Wanderer, so that creeped me out. I think Meyer has a thing for the whole young girl, older man couple. I didn't like it as the age gaps were just too big, particularly since the girls were only 17 or so.
I did like the relationship with Jamie, Melanie's little brother. I thought it was sweet and helped Wanderer to seem less alien. I got a little emotional over their relationship, it was adorable at times!
The sci-fi element was fine also. It took a little while to get into and understand, but it was a creepily interesting world.
I would have liked to have seen some consequences for character actions. It just seemed all too lovey dovey- there's plenty of talk about shooting people or having them thrown out of the caves, but nothing is done, even when the worst happens.
Overall, this book was fine. It probably didn't need to be as big as it was (just over 600 pages), but it was okay. The pages kept turning and I got quite involved in the story, I just would have liked a bit more depth and less of the creepy love quadrangle.
adventurous
medium-paced
Sebel banget sama novel ini. Sebel karena cemburu kelipatan ganda sama Melanie/Wanderer. Satu badan dapet 2 cowo (read: Ian dan Jared) walaupun dalam satu badan itu ada 2 Jiwa. Tapi penjabaran ceritanya detail dan sangat menyenangkan untuk dibaca. (P.S: Ian O'Shea adalah cowo yang bakal kamu idam-idamkan untuk masuk ke mimpimu, atau lebih ekstrim lagi masuk kekehidupan kamu) hehehe
I think if Stephenie Meyer were banned from writing romance in any way like I have been suggesting for years, this would probably be a five-star-book for me. But there are so many unhealthy ideas about relationships in there, so many uncomfortable age gaps and also a very weird sense of ownership that seems to be tied to Meyer's idea of a romantic relationship that it did take a bit away from the enjoyment of the book for me.
Also, I can't believe it's basically the end of the human race, societal rules don't apply anymore and there are 35 human beings living in very close proximity to each other and every single relationship is het?? Seems fake but ok.
In the reader's guide Meyer says Melanie was always supposed to be the one the reader identifies with and Wanda was supposed to be the intruder, but I really question how anyone reading this book from Wanda's perspective could ever sympathise with the humans over her? Jamie and maybe Doc and Jeb are the only ones I can think of that I actually liked and that actually treated Wanda like a person. Ian and Jared were extremely uncomfortably possessive and entitled, both in different ways, and except for the last 100 or so pages, Melanie was just extremely unlikeable to me.
These humans had so little regard for Wanda and her wishes, I noticed that especially Ian, who was supposed to be the "perfect boyfriend" in all of this (even though he was one of the first ones that tried to kill her but we don't have time for THAT conversation) was constantly just touching her and picking her up without her consent, like..... don't do that? And of course, in the end, the humans, the ones we're supposed to root for, completely disrespected one of the only direct wishes Wanda ever expressed over the course of the entire book and shamelessly abused her selflessness because they knew in the end she couldn't stay mad at them if she was sure they would be happy with her staying. The ending was just way too cookie cutter perfect for me and I think it would have been way more powerful if they had just let her die.
I think overall the book brings up lots of very interesting questions, like how seperate are your body and your consciousness and how many things would change if you swapped one out for the other and how many things would stay the same? What does it mean to be "human" and is it possible that a little worm alien could embody it more than "actual" humans themselves? I just wished these questions were explored a little bit more. I get that Stephenie Meyer says she just "writes stories" without any implications but I think she should accept that her stories don't exist in a vacuum, completely separate from the real world, and that people are going to ascribe meaning to them anyways.
[I think I should admit that I don't know if I actually liked this book or if rereading it just brought back the fond memories of reading it for the first time when I was 13, when Wanda was everything I could have hoped for for my shameless self-insert who was perfect in every way and still hated by everyone but oh well....]
[19/01/2023: i swear, the version of the host that exists in my head is so incredible]
Also, I can't believe it's basically the end of the human race, societal rules don't apply anymore and there are 35 human beings living in very close proximity to each other and every single relationship is het?? Seems fake but ok.
In the reader's guide Meyer says Melanie was always supposed to be the one the reader identifies with and Wanda was supposed to be the intruder, but I really question how anyone reading this book from Wanda's perspective could ever sympathise with the humans over her? Jamie and maybe Doc and Jeb are the only ones I can think of that I actually liked and that actually treated Wanda like a person. Ian and Jared were extremely uncomfortably possessive and entitled, both in different ways, and except for the last 100 or so pages, Melanie was just extremely unlikeable to me.
These humans had so little regard for Wanda and her wishes, I noticed that especially Ian, who was supposed to be the "perfect boyfriend" in all of this (even though he was one of the first ones that tried to kill her but we don't have time for THAT conversation) was constantly just touching her and picking her up without her consent, like..... don't do that? And of course, in the end, the humans, the ones we're supposed to root for, completely disrespected one of the only direct wishes Wanda ever expressed over the course of the entire book and shamelessly abused her selflessness because they knew in the end she couldn't stay mad at them if she was sure they would be happy with her staying. The ending was just way too cookie cutter perfect for me and I think it would have been way more powerful if they had just let her die.
I think overall the book brings up lots of very interesting questions, like how seperate are your body and your consciousness and how many things would change if you swapped one out for the other and how many things would stay the same? What does it mean to be "human" and is it possible that a little worm alien could embody it more than "actual" humans themselves? I just wished these questions were explored a little bit more. I get that Stephenie Meyer says she just "writes stories" without any implications but I think she should accept that her stories don't exist in a vacuum, completely separate from the real world, and that people are going to ascribe meaning to them anyways.
[I think I should admit that I don't know if I actually liked this book or if rereading it just brought back the fond memories of reading it for the first time when I was 13, when Wanda was everything I could have hoped for for my shameless self-insert who was perfect in every way and still hated by everyone but oh well....]
[19/01/2023: i swear, the version of the host that exists in my head is so incredible]
I read this book few years ago. I remember I was so excited to watch the movie and guess what, the movie's actually super good! Sure it's not Stephenie Meyer's strongest kick but omg I loved it!
I adore Melanie, because as a heroine, she's not overly characterized. I mean, she's weak but strong at the same time and I love her for that because I feel like if I was on her position, I'd do exactly like she did to save her loved ones. Not a huge fan of Jared, though. He's an asshole.
Overall I adore this book and still waiting (and praying) for the sequel.
I adore Melanie, because as a heroine, she's not overly characterized. I mean, she's weak but strong at the same time and I love her for that because I feel like if I was on her position, I'd do exactly like she did to save her loved ones. Not a huge fan of Jared, though. He's an asshole.
Overall I adore this book and still waiting (and praying) for the sequel.
It was better than Twilight. But that's really not saying much.
I would love to see the day when Stephenie Meyer realises that a love interest does not need to be an older man who physically assaults the main character. The main character has two love interests in this novel (sound familiar?), one who tries to strangle her with his bare hands, the other who repeatedly knocks her around, causing her physical pain and injury. How romantic! I can barely contain my hope that I will one day meet a man just like Jared or Ian. And they fight over her, too! There is nothing more romantic than that!
Stephenie Meyer just can't help herself. I have read all but one of her books, and always her love interests are brutish, angry men who use violence and outbursts to get what they want. And yet the female protagonist is always drawn to them. Melanie/Wanda's entire reason for being and continuing to exist is to find the men she loves and protect them, even if that means endangering herself. After all, she's only female. What else is she good for? I'm surprised she just didn't curl up into a ball and cry for six months.
This entire novel made me angry. From the love at first sight to the resolution at the end, where we are conveniently led to forget that the men these women love are angry bastards who show hardly any decency whatsoever (Jared) or who have murderous tendencies that are likely to resurface at any time (Ian).
The worst part is that I actually liked the premise of the novel. I liked the idea of these alien parasites and the resistance. If The Host had been a good few hundred pages shorter and written by a different author, it may have actually been a decent novel.
At this length, and written by Stephenie Meyer, it is nothing more than a long-winded rant about humanity and a woman's need to be with the man she loves, no matter how much of an arsehole he is, no matter how many times he beats her up. Good lesson, folks!
I would love to see the day when Stephenie Meyer realises that a love interest does not need to be an older man who physically assaults the main character. The main character has two love interests in this novel (sound familiar?), one who tries to strangle her with his bare hands, the other who repeatedly knocks her around, causing her physical pain and injury. How romantic! I can barely contain my hope that I will one day meet a man just like Jared or Ian. And they fight over her, too! There is nothing more romantic than that!
Stephenie Meyer just can't help herself. I have read all but one of her books, and always her love interests are brutish, angry men who use violence and outbursts to get what they want. And yet the female protagonist is always drawn to them. Melanie/Wanda's entire reason for being and continuing to exist is to find the men she loves and protect them, even if that means endangering herself. After all, she's only female. What else is she good for? I'm surprised she just didn't curl up into a ball and cry for six months.
This entire novel made me angry. From the love at first sight to the resolution at the end, where we are conveniently led to forget that the men these women love are angry bastards who show hardly any decency whatsoever (Jared) or who have murderous tendencies that are likely to resurface at any time (Ian).
The worst part is that I actually liked the premise of the novel. I liked the idea of these alien parasites and the resistance. If The Host had been a good few hundred pages shorter and written by a different author, it may have actually been a decent novel.
At this length, and written by Stephenie Meyer, it is nothing more than a long-winded rant about humanity and a woman's need to be with the man she loves, no matter how much of an arsehole he is, no matter how many times he beats her up. Good lesson, folks!
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
slow-paced