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The Host: A Novel | 
| Author: Stephenie Meyer Publisher: Little, Brown and Company Category: Book
List Price: $25.99 Buy New: $14.29 You Save: $11.70 (45%)
New (34) Used (6) Collectible (2) from $13.44
Rating: 86 reviews Sales Rank: 7
Media: Hardcover Pages: 624 Number Of Items: 1 Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.9 Dimensions (in): 9.3 x 6.5 x 2.1
ISBN: 0316068047 Dewey Decimal Number: 813.6 EAN: 9780316068048 ASIN: 0316068047
Publication Date: May 6, 2008 (New: Last 30 Days) Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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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 81 more reviews...
Oops she did it again... May 18, 2008 A. Miller (Ohio) Stephenie Meyer can tell one mean story. Being a hardcore Twilight fan though I found the writing and situations striking similar to the Twilight universe. Men risking their lives to protect this one girl, overprotecting her, lack of a strong female independent charater, loving 2 people differently but equally, loving something(one) all wrong for you, self sacrificing individuals, no sex...I could go on. Twilight re-imagined hmm?
How many times can she use the words 'flinch' and 'wince' in one book? Seemingly hundreds!
But I was destined to love this book because it's a play on my favorite story of all time...The Last Unicorn. A human falling for a creature inhabiting a humans body..the human doesn't care what it is really, they still love it. You know how it goes. NOW (for the second time) Meyers has got me thinking...why didn't *I* think of that?!?!
All that aside I did truly love it. The book was great, it got me emotional and I kept guessing and wondering the whole time. I'm a sucker for happy endings and books that mess with my psyche a little.
...whew! May 17, 2008 Brigitte V. Lent (Malta, Europe) I read many books; it's my favourite past time. It is very rare that a book brings tears to my eyes, but The Host had me going several times. It was incredibly well written. To be honest I hadn't expected it to be good, but I was blown away.
The book is reflective of humankind but still fictitious enough that once you open the book you find yourself in another incredible world.
I would recommend the book for people who aren't exactly looking for a comedy, but do enjoy the good feeling after having turned the last page. The story is about love too. I can't be sure if men would enjoy the female first person narrative but the book is remarkable nonetheless.
What a wonderful ending! I'm glad I read this book. May 17, 2008 Jane Stewart (Illinois USA) At first I was reluctant to read it. It sounded depressing - an alien species invading earth and taking possession of human bodies. The aliens were winning. However, the story unfolded differently from what I expected. It's a story of love developing among people (and others) who are different. It's a story of someone finding bravery within themselves to save the lives of and to help those they love. It shows relationships within a community and how different humans are from each other. It provides feelings of hope, warmth and fulfillment.
This book has been labeled as an adult novel. However, based on what my teenagers have been assigned to read in school, I think The Host would be appropriate for teens.
Sexual language: none. Number of sex scenes: none. Setting unknown time, probably in the near future, in Chicago, San Diego and Arizona desert. Copyright: 2008. Genre: romantic science fiction and human relationships fiction.
Great Story May 17, 2008 Donna S. Lowe I was really excited to get this book and I was not disappointed. It wasn't hard to sympathize with either melanie or Wanderer. It was a great story and I didnt think the beginning was slow. It was different and completely held my attention. I finished it in four hours. I cried with them over all the hurt and the confusion. I loved the ending and it was just a really great story. Another book from Stephenie Meyer that is wonderful. I would wholeheartedly recommend it!
Too much love, not enough oomhp... May 17, 2008 E. Truman 0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I'm a sucker for a good invasion/end of the world story. Unlike many of the other reviewers, I wasn't familiar with Stephanie Meyer prior to this novel, but the plot description made the book too hard to pass up.
While Ms. Meyer is obviously a skilled storyteller (a skill she gives her protagonist in The Host), the book is needlessly long and at times patronizingly repetitive. The premise of The Host is catchy, albeit a bit cliched, (alien "hosts" taking over human bodies), but it becomes apparent early on that this cool idea is really just a device for a somewhat bland love story. Had the book's focus been more on the alien takeover of Earth, or about the struggles the remaining humans had to go through, the book would have been better balanced -- and more fun. As it is, The Host is an entertaining and quick read. It is recommended but, for real sci fi or horror buffs, don't get your hopes up too high.
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