As many of you I'm sure have already read the Twilight Series by Stephanie Meyer. I recommend The Host. It is nothing like Twilight, but in a good way. I'll admit, I was so transfixed by vampires, and didn't think that Stephanie Meyer could possibly write about anything else. It took me a few chapters to get into it cause I kept waiting for vampires. After finally realizing there were no vampires, I started to enjoy the book. It's actually not that far fetched of an idea. The story like is this...there are these "worms"/"souls" that come from other planets. There are more than 10 planets they can come from. Some with only flowers, some with only bears, or bats. These "souls" come to earth because they were tired of all the danger and destruction. Fathers burning their children alive, people robbing banks and killing innocent people. They come to earth to make it a more peaceful place. Human bodies become their Host bodies. The bodies still look the same, but the souls have taken over. Melanie, one of the few remaining "wild" humans is wandering through the states with her brother trying not to get captured. On an outing trying to find food, she's captured and Wanderer, a soul, is put inside of her. But Melanie is not giving up her body and mind without a fight. She will not let Wanderer know where the remaining humans are, instead she fills Wanderer's thoughts with memories of Melanie's brother and of the man Melanie loves, Jared, another "wild" human. Melanie's uncle gave her directions or drawings of where he would go if the earth was ever in danger. Melanie and Wanderer travel through the desert and on the brink of death are found by her uncle and other humans living in the caverns. The group despises Melanie, but only because they know she's been taken over by a soul and no one knows Melanie is actually still inside. Her only saving grace is that she looks like Melanie which keeps her uncle from letting anyone kill her. Even Jared won't look at her without a look of murder. This book is about the struggle between letting Melanie make herself known, and if Wanderer should let the secret go on how to bring back humans for good. Does Jared finally accept Wanderer even though she's taken Melanie away? Do the other humans befriend Wanderer knowing what she is? Try reading it and tell me what you think!!
Ooo, I get to be your first comment! I have to say, I loved this book. It took me a few chapters to really get into it, but I think "The Host" just proves Stephenie Meyer is a genius! =) I feel the main question of this book is "What is evil?" The humans thought the souls were evil, but the souls saw the humans as uncivilized and barbaric. The souls come to Earth to save the planet from the humans, who are destroying this wonderful gift we have been given.
ReplyDeleteSo which is worse...the humans, inherently violent and selfish, or the souls who wipe out the self of the host, but replace it with a gentle spirit that can work with other souls to create a selfless society?
You are so right Candra!! And Stephanie Meyer is so brilliant!! Not only can she make you fall in love with a fictional character, but she can make you question and ponder something so deep and profound such as "What is evil?"
ReplyDeleteI have to read it!
ReplyDelete