The Host - by Stephenie Meyer
Stephenie Meyer, at this point in time, is most well known for her ‘Twilight’ series of books, reviewed here. You’ll see that I didn’t write that article, but I have read the series, and they are excellent books. I eagerly await ‘Breaking Dawn,’ coming this summer.
Stephenie didn’t leave her fans hanging though, releasing her very first ‘adult’ novel this month. I quoted ‘adult,’ because I don’t feel like the ‘Twilight’ series was enjoyed only enjoyed by teens; much like Harry Potter, the stories were not ‘dumbed down’ for a younger audience. In the same way, I promise you that ‘The Host’ will be bought, and devoured by her younger fans, even if the novel was intended for an older age group.
Earth has been taken over by the Souls, transient beings that reside in Hosts, or a planet’s native dominant life form. Most Hosts would go down without a fight, but there are exceptions to every rule, and some Souls found resistance in humans. One human is particularly strong; Melanie. Her consciousness will not fade, and she is forced to share her body with a new Soul. The Soul also has to deal with the cramped living quarters of a single mind. Can the two coexist, or will they tear each other apart?
The Host is a book that will get you to think. As you read it, it will be hard not to ponder life, death, human nature, love, and hate. Stephenie Meyer’s greatest skill as an author is being able to draw you into the emotions of her characters, and that skill is on full display here. I wont be nominating her ‘Greatest Author of All-Time’ as many of her fans are doing now; her dialogs can seem a bit forced, and certain scenes can be a touch melodramatic. But despite this, when reading her work, the pages turn at a steady pace, and I find myself losing track of the hours. Literary masterpieces? No. Solid, well thought out stories? Absolutely.
This book is an easy recommendation, especially since you can read it freely at a public library. Should you choose to buy it for your collection, something I think you should seriously consider doing, it can be found for $14.29 and free shipping on Amazon ($9.99 if you’ve bought a Kindle). Well worth the money! Enjoy.
–Jeremy Hobbs
