The Host

Stephenie Meyer

Do you remember The Invasion of the Body Snatchers? The Host is a story from the perspective of the body snatcher rather than the human. I'll admit I wasn't sure I wanted to read this because I was so impressed by the Twilight series that I didn't think Stephenie Meyer could do that well again. I was wrong...

Wanderer is the "parasite" - a Soul that is inserted a resistance member's body. She is unable to repress Melanie like she has with all her previous hosts. She tries to learn Melanie's memories to catch other humans in the resistance. She has Melanie nagging at her in her mind as she moves to San Diego. When Melanie accidentally reveals the presence of two other humans still Soul-free, Wanderer reports the information.

But the more Melanie remembers Jared and Jamie, the more Wanderer feels she needs to follow through on those memories. Soon Wanderer finds herself on a path that no Soul has taken before. She and Melanie continue at odds as Wanderer travels lead to her own self discovery as well as discoveries of the human species.

As soon as I realized the book was being told first person by the alien that has taken over the human body, I was hooked. Meyer keeps the story tight and intriguing. Everyone involved has a lot to learn about themselves and each other. It's easy to forget the length of the book because each section brings new insights and problems. The reader wants to know the rest of the story. I'm glad I didn't know anything about the book before I started reading it. I wasn't expecting much. Instead, I took a trip that examines how we live, love, and interact.

Notice:  Non-graphic violence