Are you interested in Stephenie Meyer's ability to write about something other than vampires? If so, read on.
The implantation is in its final stages. Soon, earth will be completely free of humans and the planet will be a peaceful place for the “souls” to enjoy - as it was meant to be enjoyed.…
Article comments
— go to most recent comments76 - Donna
I bought the book the Host and heard it was a good
book. However, I could not for the life of me figure it out. I was so distracted with all the
changes from wanderer to soul to whatever and it
made no sense to me since I could not understand
who was talking or what was happening. It almost
seemed like a person lived inside themselves and
the real person had to try and comprehend what the
person inside them was telling them or doing.
Too confusing. could not read.
77 - bernard
I am a high school English teacher and saw a copy of Twilight on the table waiting for the principal. I began reading it, finished two pages, and immediately went to buy the book before I went home. My sister in law, 40, my sister, over 50 and I are all fans of the book series. The depth of writing gets better with each book. I am almost finished with the 3rd book, and I almost dread reading Breaking Dawn, for fear she won't end the book the way I would end it as a writer. I think she is a great writer, and I think about the characters constantly. However, unlike most fans, Jacob is my hero in the book. She makes me feel the love that Bella feels for him, and I see that Jake is right for Bells, and that Edward is completely wrong for her. After the second book, Edward is like a mannequin. No emotion is between them that is a passionate love...She cannot touch him, he is not real. But I think he is a good guy, and cares for her deeply. But he is just there. Jacob screams off of the pages and the chemistry between them is hidden so beautifully beneath the surface of Ms. Meyers words.
As a born again, card carrying Christian, I don't think this is morally for young readers because she includes morals and scruples. But to allow herself denial to having children and living on the sly, I will cry if Bella becomes a Vampire. I love the fact that Edward is aware of God and an afterlife.
But Jacob is incredible, and I feel that he loves her more, and whether she chooses that route or not, it is meant to be. The choice to leave her father and Jacob is wrong. Why want to live forever? No changes, no personal growth in aging, not the real thing.
But, oh, what a story. Thank you, Ms. Meyer, for getting young people to read! I have loved every word and felt every emotion. But why does someone who is 35 playing Jake?
78 - nottellin
OMG, Stephenie, you are the best. Your books are my favorites, and I can't wait to read The Host.
Your books are incredible, and if I can ever write half as well as you I will consider that great.
Thanks for the gift you've given us with your writing!
79 - NICOLE
TWILIGHT IS THE BEST!!!!!!!!
I WAS LIKE SO INTO IT I DIDNT RELIZE IT WAS LIKE 2 INN THE MORNING!!!!!
IT WAS THE FIRST TIME IV EVAA READ A BOOK THAT THICKK SOO QUICKLY!!
2 DAYS!!
CANT WAIT TILL BREAKING DAWN (PROBABLY DIE OF BOREDOM)
LOVE TWILGHT!!!!<3
80 - GELICA
.GAHD!!
[[i just luurve STEPHANIE MEYER]]
.she's like..the B-E-S-T!.
..the TWILIGHT series is sensational.
[a total -must read]
..i'm really looking forward on reading THE HOST=)
.GOLLYWOW.
.EDWARD CULLEN is LUURVE<3
81 - sophiya
answering the question above..
if jacob was injected with vampire venom, he would die so the answer on top is actually wrong..
i am not making this up btw, it was mentioned in breaking dawn that vampire venom is fatal to werewolves or shapeshifters like jacob.
i'm 13 and i am currently writing a book report for the host and i just want to say that stephanie meyer is an inspiring author who could create a world so fantastic that you would wish you lived in it.
The stories are all based on love and i believe that with love anything can be possible
this is a really really good read and I would recommend it to everyone.
82 - Chrys
Ok just finished the Twilight Saga (Which was the best series I've ever read)and now I'm ready for The Host. I hope it proves to be just as good.
83 - Vanessa
I just finished the host
The best book EVER
I hate reading...
But the book got to me n begged to be read
the host is wayyyyyyy better than twilight of course
the beginning is too slow thought
it took me 1 week to get pass that
but after jeb found wanderer in the desert
i got lost in the boook finishing it in 14hours straight
84 - iluvMR
yup!!! The Host is great!!! the first part was a little confusing but overall it is one of the best books i have read ever!
I read the book in 5 hours straight!
85 - Claudia Dias
The Host is BETTER than twilight,new moon,eclipse, and breaking dawn!!! And i really hope that it becomes amovie 2!!!
86 - keykey1012
Hi, im a 19 years old puertorican. I can tell that I didn't read books so fast,I mean, I could spend 3 months on one book, but I read twilight in 2 days. So, im in love with the twilight series and stephenie meyer. I got the host but I haven't read it yet. Ohh and 1 more thing. With the problems that are affecting our world, I definitively like to be in the magical world that stephenie meyer creates in twilight. I woke up with twilight and I go back to bed with twilight. TWILIGHT ROCKS!! AND STEPHENIE MEYER TOO!!
87 - Nutty Nat
I cant really figure out the book. It's kind of confusing.
88 - Codex Alera
Stephanie Meyer's an idiot. I hope that doesn't count as a personal attack. Her writing is awful, inept, and grammatically void. Host is a cheap rip-off of Jack Finney's Invasion Of The Body Snatchers, and Twilight blew chunks like a bulimic after christmas dinner! have a nice day!
89 - ashley
All i have to say is this: I LOVED ALL THE TWILIGHT SERIES!!!! They were in fact, the best books i have ever read and they have not only impacted my life, but others too!!!! My sister hated reading, but she started to read Twilight and fell in love with edward!!! As i did too!!! I enjoyed the last book and i have to say that i do not believe that Stephanie Meyer could have ended the Twilight series any better and without hurting any of her fans from EDWARDS TEAMS and Jacobs teams. As for the new book HOST I am not able to enjoy it as much because i fell in love with Vampires and Host is too confusing!!! i do not know about all of you, but i am always comparing other books to Twilight and that is some thing that I have to quit doing...lol But I can HONESTLY SAY: STEPHANIE MEYER is a MAGNIFICANT and BRILLANT WRITER and I enjoyed her BOOKS and i am sad that it had to end, but then again i could not wait desperately for another book!!! it was painful waiting to recieve BREAKING DAWN!!! Oh well, we still have the movie to look forward too!!!
90 - Sophie
I just finished reading it. So awesome, I already addicted to Stephanie works(The Host is my first)
I hope this book will turn to movie as well and I'm so agreed with the cast that whoever made this
fake The Host video trailer.
91 - blake johnson
this was the weirdest book i have ever read... actualy probably the only book if ever read.
well anyways i hated it. was way to confusing for me..
92 - Kim Norton
I couldn't put the Twilight series down once I started reading them this fall. I then read Stephanie Meyers 'The Host' and thought it was just as great as the 4 Twilight books. I saw on her website she suggests 'The Hunger Game' another intralling book. Now I'm looking for something of similar quality as these books but maybe with a little more adult romance. Any suggestions?
93 - Christina
Twilight = trash. Sorry it's not even worth typing about.
94 - Anon
And yet Christina, it must seeing as you are typing about it!
I have just read The Host and it was awesome. I was not interested in vampire novels or science fiction until I read the Twilight series and The Host. Awesome books.
Edward and Bella are meant to be :)
I can't wait to see the movie. 9 more days till release here!
95 - sara
i really have to read this book...i mean if stephanie meyer wrote this book then it has to be good!!!
96 - Eloise
THE HOST IS PROBABLY THE BEST BOOK I HAVE EVER READ, AND PERSONALLY AS MUCH AS I LOVE THE TWILIGHT SERIES I THINK I AM BEGINING TO LIKE THE HOST MORE, I HAVE READ IT TWICE NOW AND I CRIED BOTH TIMES.
97 - Erin
I loved the book Host and the Twilight series. I have read the four Twilight books that are out more than once because they were so good. I am very picky as to what i read, it has to be very good. I think Jacob is nicer to Bella and pays attention to what SHE wants more which shows he cares.
The Host was an excellent book and i can't really say which was better becasue thy were both very different books. The beginning was kinda boring but at the same time necessary. I love how the book is so different and i just love everything she writes!
98 - Sam
i read the host, im just looking up this review for an assignment i have but i would deffinetly recomend it! it was truly amazing, and do not look at it and judge it based on twilight or underestimate this novel because in my opinion it is second best to the twilight series. great review also :)
99 - Molly
I just finshed reading Host. I loved it as much as the Twilight series. Im sad that Stephenie Myer dose't have any more books besides the Twilight series and the Host. I can't wait till she comes out with more books. She is my favorite author all times.
100 - reagan
i am currantly reading "the host" and it is one of the best book ive read it a very long time yes i did read the twilight seris but to be honest the host is more thrilling in a more could happen in the real world kinda way but i have about 200 pges left give or take and the suspence is absolutly killing me and i can hadly stand to read more than a chapter at a time
101 - aspiring writer
I can't stand when people claim that some stories are "rip-offs" of other stories. In essence, all dramas emanate from the original four conflicts (man vs. self; man vs. man; man vs. society; man vs. the Gods/Nature) And I use man in the general sense to describe the classical literary name of a protagonist.
Every modern and classical story's theme(s) is ultimately rooted to those conflicts. Even the expanded conflicts of supernatural and technology can fit into the original four. So, really there are not that many original themes out there, no matter how innovative the author's storytelling was. Yes, it is true that similar themes such as mind control, alien invasion and doomsday scenarios have been articulated before and in greater detail; but the basis for the Host is not to visit the conflict inherent in the takever of society; (this is only my opinion) I believe the Host's goal is to explore the relationships and how they are affected. The relationship with oneself; relationship with the conquered; with Wanderer's captors; the Souls' relationships with each other; and to a lessor extent but no less profound humans' relationship with each other.
What Stephenie Meyer has accomplished is to tell a story about after the aliens have won and the consequences of that victory primarily through the eyes of one of the victors who cannot reconcile herself with the conduit of said invasion. None of the aformentioned stories that people claim have been ripped off wrote from such a perspective and did not visit such an original interpretation of the conflicts (Wanda vs. Mel; Wanda vs. the Humans, Wanda vs. Herself and Wanda vs. the whole Soul Legacy/Society)
Now, yes, Stephenie Meyer is prone to over describing scenes and over emphasizing actions and emotions via overuse of adjectives and adverbs. As a writer I sometimes have this problem; whereas my friends/critics describe as explaining how to build a clock when all that was asked was what time it is. (ironically evident in this long post)
But, as a literaphile I can't help getting caught up in a story when the characters are sufficiently sympathetic and Stephenie Meyer is successful in creating a story with a sympathetic protagonist, and relatable conflicts that are resolved in a reasonable manner.
102 - aspiring writer
So to all of the Twilight critics who don't like the Bella-Edward story because it is demeaning to women and they interpret it as saying that a 'woman should go to pieces because her love has left her.' or because the relationship is near abusive (yes one reviewer actually said that).
Okay, I am a man, and I love the story because I am a hopeless romantic and love the conlfict inherent in a vampire fighting his basic nature and urges to feed in order to be a better person (i.e. Nick Knight, Louis in Interview, Angel in Buffy) and how wonderfully ironic that after a century of being alone he finally finds the one soul he is attracted to (albeit slowly) romantically and she triggers his urge to feed more than anything he's ever experienced.
Back to the argument about why this story should not be interpreted as an affront to a girl's/woman's independent spirit. I as a person identified mostly with Bella's perspective because I have experienced a first true love relationship where I never felt that way about anyone, could not imagine feeling that way about anyone, and irrationally feeling such a strong attachment despite so few rational reasons why I was attracted to the person as a whole.
And I too fell to pieces when my one true love left me. Was a shell of a person for months, functioned only to distract myself from the excruciating pain.
So, do I believe that what Stephenie Meyer's story is advocating is that a girl is not complete without a man?? Of course not, I think that people of both genders become to psychologically dependent on the idea of love and soulmates and everlasting relationships and when problems and difficulties arise or the relationship ends people inevitably question their very nature and because such relationships consumed such an overwhelming part of their emotional spectrum, they are left with a chasm so deep it feels like nothing could fill it.
I think people in general can sometimes place too much emphasis on a fairytale, utopian relationship and should temper their expectations with the fact that though true love and life long relationships can and do exist; that you need to take the good with the bad and that it is the negatives that help you to appreciate the positives; that first love is grand and successive loves when kept and evaluated in perspective can be just as grand or even grander.
And isn't it commendable that Stephenie Meyer does not simply write in gratuitous sex and tries to depict a teenage love story about fighting our natural hormonal urges and keeping virtue precious via commitment.
All in all a great book series, great storytelling, I hope to read Midnight Sun if she ever completes it, and possibly other books that cover the original 4 book story in Edward, Jacob and even Alice's (Breaking Dawn would be perfect) perspective.
103 - Clarissa
If u are so petty as to come on a site for fans and say bad crap, your life must be really boring and I think retards like haters of Stephanie Meyer should shut the freak up bc they have no business coming on to a site and trashing someone that is amazing when indeed the haters are the trash. Animorphs for all u haters was nowhere as good as this book. XP so forget all of you losers and get a gosh danged life!!!
104 - katy
i absolutely loved the entire twilight series:) especially Breaking dawn!! ive read it alone 6 times!!!!! im defiantely looking forward to reading it definately
105 - anonymous
i totally love the host. all of stephenie meyers books are wonderful but the host is my absolute fave! stephenie if you ever read this i want you to know that you have so much talent and you need to keep the books coming. btw is there going to be a movie for the host? there totally should be! it rocks hardcore! for you people who dont like it, you dont have to comment and ruin it for the rest of us. these sites are not for slams against stephenie meyers writing. that is really rude. i think she is awesome and hope she never stops writing! Love ya steph!
106 - anonymous
does anyone else think that ian is the best guy in the host book? he was my favorite character after he was explained and developed a crush on wanda. i loved every word of this book. couldn't put it down. i won't be able to think of anything else for awhile! stephenie meyer is the most amazing writer!
107 - noneya
btw twilight does not tell us to attach ourselves to guys like leeches it is a great story about forbidden love and desire. everyone is entitled to their own opinion but mine is the one that matters to me. after reading these comments MOST people agree with me. if you have negative comments keep them to yourself.
108 - anonymus
This is to Stephenie Meyer should she ever read this. I think you are the best author I've ever read. I wasn't really into reading until I read Twilight for the first(of like a million)times. My parents can't get me to stop reading now and I think its better than letting stupid TV shows rot my brain. I just finished The Host last night and it was absolutely wonderful. I can't stop thinking about it. Don't pay any attention to people who are so dense and dim witted that they can't see the wonder of your writing. I thought I was going to have a heart attack when I finished the books. I wanted to keep reading them. I was very sad that they were over. Miss Meyers please never quit writing because there are so many people who love you and your characters that the negative comments of certain others have no effect other than to make your fans consider cussing them out through this blog thing. I just want you to know that you are one of my greatest heroes, Steph, and I won't ever stop reading your books. You're fantastic!
109 - purechancer
hey just like to say i absaloutly love all of her books i cant wait to read the host but dont have much time ad da mo but will do so as soon as possible xxxxx
110 - KerryS
I read through The Host, and honestly I could hardly stand it every single time the character cried. I actually burst out laughing at one point and said GET OVER IT ALREADY, GOD!!!!!!!!! She is such an emo character. So weak. You try to say she's strong by adding what she did to herself to enter the clinic? Give me a break. "Fresh tears started to hit the floor..." Could she be any more pathetic? Honestly.
The Twilight series was addicting, but not because it was well written by any means. Bella was a ditzy floozy "Do anything for men, cook for Charlie, do well at school and love Edward" nitwit of a character. The series was addicting because Edward was described so 'smolderingly' well that any woman would be crazy to not want him to jump out of the novel and bite them.
111 - Joanna Maharis
I read all four books in the Twilight series, and I love them all. So much so, that I'd like to see a fifth book in the series. I'd like to know if Jacob and Reneseme finally do get married. I'd like to see more of Edward and Bella's life together. Perhaps there could be prequels focusing on Edward's human life up to the point to where he was finally transformed by Carlisle into a Vampire. What psychological and emotional turmoil Edward encounters after he is transformed. I'd like to know about his journey in the vampire world through his early stages. What was his life like? How does his outliving his parents affect him? Of course I definitely believe that all this content would be told wonderfully through his point of view.
112 - Amy
yeaaah
it really reminds me of animorphs with the yerks... but this book has such a great twist it is 1000000 times better than animorphs which dragged on for so long that i don't know anybody who read the whole series!
113 - Alexis
I've been a fan of the Twilight saga since I laid my hands on it. I've never been so attatched to a book, and I didn't know it could mean so much to me.
Though I don't really like Bella's personality, I still find the saga to be VERY good. I wanted her to be with Jacob, but after reading Breaking Dawn, I feel Edward is right, and everything works out in the end anyways.
For all you haters out there, you really need to get a life and be more compassionate and understanding. People who have truely loved another would understand these books alot better.
I also find it annoying when people who are so young read these books. They are not matured enough. I mean seriously, 10 years old? younger? that's a little ridiculous. I may be only 15, but I'm mature for my age and I can relate. This book was intended for young adults, not kids.
Anyways, I just finished The Host about an hour ago. I bought it awhile ago, I started reading it and found it to be confusing. But I just recently decided to try it again, and understood it a bit better, but once I got past that part, I found it to be veeeery very good. I loved it! Not as much as the Twilight saga, but very close.
I hope there is a second book.(:
114 - Vulturii destroyer
OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I NEED THIS BOOK!
I have read all her other books and I LOVED THEM! and sorry Stephanie but i only knew about the Twilight saga AFTER the movie was made. you should get some marketing out on "host" it looks awsome! I love how your books are both scary and ROMANTIC!
115 - Denise
I have read all the Twilight Books, absolutely loved them and can't wait till Twilight comes out on DVD. I am now reading The Host, but i am finding it hard to get into. It is quite confusing in parts. But i will perservere with it because i know Stephenie Meyer never fails to disappoint. Will read the Twilight series again after i finish The Host.
116 - Shine15
im 15 and i just finished reading The Host. Wow! that was an awesome book in my opinion. For people who think its going to be like the Twilight series: it' not and completely different. This book is sooo unique from any other book ive read. Its very interesting!
the characters are great to.
I am also waiting for midnight sun.
Im so mad at the people who illegaly posted the draft copy of the book and posted it online and getting Stephanie Meyer upset.
That's why she is not publishing it now.
oh well
The host is very good, but can be a bit confusing at first. You have to read it carefully. But once you understand what is going on in the story you can't stop reading. I heard she is thinking of writing sequels to the Host called The Soul and The Seeker.
I hope she does :)
117 - Becca
the host is my favourite book ever!
i read twilight and loved it and i didn't think any books could compare to it apart from the harry potter ones.......but then i read the host.
wow.
its really amazing!
anyone who doesnt read it is missing out big time!
it made me cry.....and i never cry!
its one of those books that you cant stop thinking about!
stephenie meyer, if you're reading this, im begging you to publish the soul and the seeker as soon as possible!
and midnight sun too! im refusing to read the illegaly posted draft on the internet!
thanks for writing such brilliant books
=]
x
118 - Becca
by the way.....ireland loves stephenie meyer!!!!!
lol
=]
x
119 - ashley
nice review. i actually read this book, but i have to do a book review for this book in school. i think that you pretty much covered it all, so i have nothing to say, but GOOD JOB.
120 - William
The Host? Great Book. When I finished the last page, I turned to the first and began again. "Aspiring Writer" made some great points - sure the idea has been used before. Body snatchers from space are not new. That's not the point of the book - the plot line is a vehicle that motivates the true purpose of the story, which is to explore the deepest of humanity's questions: what does it mean to exist? Is it just the mind? Is it the body? Is it the body and mind? Does self-awareness define existence? Does DNA define existence? What about love? It is so intertwined between the mind and body, but which is more real?
Meyers explores these questions in depth. Mel/Wanda and Jared are drawn together through physical intimacy, Mel/Wanda and Ian are drawn together purely through emotional/spiritual/mental intimacy, and Mel/Wanda and Jamie are are the completion, as their love is the sum of all the other loves imaginable. (Physical love being the motherly/sisterly desire to hold, comfort, touch, protect, of course.)
Myers doesn't have the greatest writing style. The Twilight Saga and Host are not the best written books. But that does not make them any less compelling, which is why Meyers is so wonderful. Her stories are compelling, gripping and important to the reader despite her simplistic and flawed narrative.
Of course, her "simplistic and flawed narrative" is really just right, because her words become the voice of real people - you always feel like you're reading the character's actual words, not some transcript from a professional writer.
121 - William
Since I have a little time, there are a few other things worth pointing out:
Meyers is bringing a lot of depth to the surface in "The Host." In addition to the points made above, consider the following:
The "Souls" live in perfect harmony. Complete peace, health, and happiness. And yet, despite this, Wanderer (and the reader) finds herself giving value to humans and their flawed society. Why? Is it possible that a Utopian society would actually take away from the richness of humanity?
Souls abhor violence, yet Wanda finds herself feeling relieved when Jeb is wearing his gun. She would never want to see him use it, but it makes her feel safe.
Wanda is horrified that humans would kill souls, yet doesn't see why taking a human's body and erasing their existence is a problem. In fact, there are so many layers of prejudice, assumption, and racism explored in this book it's impossible to begin to talk about them.
Souls never lie, yet Wanda would do it to protect the humans she loves.
Wanderer often muses over the powerful senses and emotions of humans, noting that the extreme negatives are offset by the greatest feelings of happiness - which she has never experienced in all her lives.
This is just a taste of the questions on humanity explored in "The Host." Those of you who want a touching romance, you've got it. If you want a sci-fi novel, you've got it. If you want a political satire, you've got it. If you want a social statement, you've got it. If you want a philosophy on morals and ethics, you've got it.
All this written in the simplest of stories. It's genius.
122 - Cat
This book is so great and so is twilight I hope they make a movie out of it
123 - IGA
omg this is an awesome book u shold all read it!! OH AND TWILIGHT ROCKS MY SOCKS!!!
124 - bee
i have read the twilight series 40 times now
125 - woody
i loved the Twilight series. i cant wait to get my hands on the host. it looks really interesting. Stephenie Meyer is my ultimate favorite writer. Thank you for writting these books.