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The Host: A Novel | 
 enlarge | Author: Stephenie Meyer
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Category: Book
List Price: $25.99
Buy New: $11.65
You Save: $14.34 (55%)
New (71) Used (22) Collectible (7) from $11.65
Avg. Customer Rating:  568 reviews
Sales Rank: 48
Media: Hardcover
Edition: 1
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 624
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.9
Dimensions (in): 9.3 x 5.6 x 2.1
ISBN: 0316068047
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.6
EAN: 9780316068048
ASIN: 0316068047
Publication Date: May 6, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: BRAND NEW COPY, SOFTCOVER EDITION, NO UGLY REMAINDER MARKS.
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Amazon.com
Amazon Best of the Month, May 2008: Stephenie Meyer, creator of the phenomenal teen-vamp Twilight series, takes paranormal romance into alien territory in her first adult novel. Those wary of sci-fi or teen angst will be pleasantly surprised by this mature and imaginative thriller, propelled by equal parts action and emotion. A species of altruistic parasites has peacefully assumed control of the minds and bodies of most humans, but feisty Melanie Stryder won't surrender her mind to the alien soul called Wanderer. Overwhelmed by Melanie's memories of fellow resistor Jared, Wanderer yields to her body's longing and sets off into the desert to find him. Likely the first love triangle involving just two bodies, it's unabashedly romantic, and the characters (human and alien) genuinely endearing. Readers intrigued by this familiar-yet-alien world will gleefully note that the story's end leaves the door open for a sequel--or another series. --Mari Malcolm
Product Description
The author of the Twilight series of # 1 bestsellers delivers her brilliant first novel for adults: a gripping story of love and betrayal in a future with the fate of humanity at stake.
Melanie Stryder refuses to fade away. The earth has been invaded by a species that take over the minds of their human hosts while leaving their bodies intact, and most of humanity has succumbed.
Wanderer, the invading "soul" who has been given Melanie's body, knew about the challenges of living inside a human: the overwhelming emotions, 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.
Melanie fills Wanderer's thoughts 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 yearns for a man she's never met. As outside forces make Wanderer and Melanie unwilling allies, they set off to search for the man they both love.
Featuring what may be the first love triangle involving only two bodies, THE HOST is a riveting and unforgettable novel that will bring a vast new readership to one of the most compelling writers of our time.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 563 more reviews...
 The Host of Humanity September 8, 2008
Stephenie Meyer's The Host: A Novel is a fantastic science fiction novel for even those who do not read science fiction. While Meyer creates another world to immerse her characters in, the storyline is believable and captivating. Melanie Stryder, her brother Jamie, and Jared Howe along with all of humanity are thrust into a fight for their way of life and their humanity in Meyer's first attempt at an adult novel. I hope this too becomes a movie someday.
***Spoiler Alert***
Melanie Stryder is a tough go-getter who is caring for her brother while on the run from the Seekers. She meets up with Jared unexpectedly, and they both mistake one another for a soul--or a human possessed by an alien soul. Jared, Jamie, and Melanie end up on the run together, sort of like an instant family in these desperate times. She falls in love with Jared and vice versa. However, once they are separated when Melanie seeks out her cousin Sharon, all hell breaks loose. Melanie is captured and implanted with the Wanderer.
Wanderer struggles to gain full control over Mel, but it becomes a loosing battle for some time. When she finally gets into a routine at her Calling as a teacher at the San Diego university, Wanderer begins to grow uncomfortable with her host and her seeker. The seeker constantly follows her and harasses her about whether she has learned about any other humans that Mel may have been with or hiding. Wandered grows weary of these interrogations and makes an attempt to head east to Tuscon, Ariz., where she will see her Healer, who attached her to Melanie.
On her way through the desert, Wanderer decides its time to pull over, get something to eat, argue with Mel, and then decipher the lines on a map from Mel's memories to find a possible hiding spot for Jared and Jamie. Mel wants to be assured they are alive and to keep her promise to Jamie that she would return. Wanderer is not entirely comfortable with the plan, but succumbs to the urge because she has grown fond of Jared and Jamie through Mel's memories.
Once Wanderer and Melanie enter the cave dwelling of the rebels, they both face serious harm and torture. Jared is angry and frustrated and elated to see Melanie's body, but he is distraught that Wanderer is inside. Ian and Kyle, the brothers, are ready to kill Mel to prevent Wanderer from telling the Seekers where they are. The believe they are the last human rebels on the planet and they want to survive at all costs.
***End Spoiler Alert***
The interplay of the characters at the end of the book in the last 250 pages is infectious. You get caught up in the intrigue and the action. While the action is great, the evolution of the characters is fantastic in this novel. Wanderer remains true to herself and is altruistic to the end, and her anger toward Melanie softens and transforms. Melanie's anger toward her softens and transforms as well; there grows an understanding between the two who share one body. Their friendship grows as does their affection for one another, and this friendship helps turn around the reactions and actions of the other humans in the caves.
Many of the reviews I saw have talked about the love between Jared and Melanie and Wanda and Ian, but I think that this book is more about how many people judge books and people by their covers before they get to know and understand them.
Souls take over the planet because humans are too violent to truly enjoy their world, and by taking them over, the souls are doing humanity a favor. Humans view the takeover as an invasion as the souls take over bodies and push the personalities and human minds out of those bodies, essentially killing those humans. However, souls are not all bad and in many ways they do not realize the extent of the devastation they cause on Earth because previous hosts have been so different and less individualized--less human. Humans also are not all bad and prone to violence as Wanda learns with Ian and others in the book.
After reading Breaking Dawn, I sped through this book. I didn't find any ruts in the narrative and the action was well worth the ride. The one drawback for me was the intractable characters of Sharon and Maggie, who do not evolve at all. They maintain their hatred of the Wanderer regardless of her altruistic behavior and her hardcore work ethic.
 Interesting read, but certainly not rivieting September 8, 2008
This book was okay. Just okay. I enjoyed reading it, but it wasn't can't-put-it-down like my favorites. I don't understand why this book was in the "adult" category instead of the "young adult" category of her previous books. This one was written in very much the same style, with no objectionable content. In fact, I think this was much tamer than the last book in the Twilight series. I think that Stephanie has an interesting tale to tell, but her writing leaves quite a bit to be desired.
 The Host- I feel a series coming on! September 7, 2008
The only reason I did not give this book 5 stars was due to the fact that the first 100 pages were hard to get into. I was just coming off reading the Twilight Saga, and expectations were really high. I put the book down for a week, and when I tried again I couln't put it down. It was captivating. I loved the characters and am praying for a sequel!
 Stephenie Meyer is REALLY becoming greedy. September 7, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I found the Host mediocre, but I am really disappointed about Meyer's handling of the Midnight Sun debacle. She is punishing the fans for the mistakes of the few. She should appreciate her fans enough to continue with the book despite the bad press. She said it's because she's so upset about it she can't write, but the plot's already done, so it's not like she would change it out of anger.
I think Stephenie Meyer really takes her fans for granted. I fans have been betrayed by her diva attitude (an attitude that I feel made Breaking Dawn less stellar than the first three books), and I will not be purchasing the limited editions of the new books because I am not going to support someone who treats such dedicated and understanding fans in such an offhand fasion. Seriously, she doesn't even accept fanmail. I once wrote the author of the Uglies series, Scott Westerfield, and he wrote me back the SAME DAY. Even J.K. Rowling takes fanmail, and she's WAY bigger than Stephenie Meyer.
I am so disappointed in her, and to put my two cents in, I checked this book out from the library instead of purchasing it because I refuse to give more money to someone who has such little concern for her fans.
New September 7, 2008
I really enjoyed this book. It was a new twist for a love story and a Sifi!
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