The Host

I have not written in a while, which is not to say that I have not read anything in a while. In fact, I have read a number of books lately, all with varying levels of interest. Only one has prompted me to blog.

I finished THE HOST a minute ago. Written by Stephenie Meyer, it mimics almost nothing from the TWILIGHT series-- except the idea of not fitting in, of being an oddity in an odd world. In TWILIGHT, of course, Bella (the human) falls in love with Edward (the vampire) and battles her feelings for Jacob (the werewolf). In THE HOST, Souls take over multiple planets (becoming spiders, bats, flowers, and bears, just to name a few). They also take over Earth, inhabiting bodies and enforcing a purely peaceful society. People work for no money, take from stores only that which they need. Violence is a non-issue, and sicknesses of all kinds are cured.

But the central conflict is evident from the very beginning of the text. Humans don't want to be Hosts for the Souls. They have been taken over by numbers, unable to resist the take-over which leaves their bodies undamaged but their minds erased. Most of the time. Wanderer, the narrator of THE HOST, is a Soul who has lived eight lifetimes on eight different planets. She has asked to be placed in an adult human host, despite the fact that adult human hosts are volatile and sometimes unable to be conquered. Such is the case with Melanie, the body Wanderer inhabits.

To further complicate things, Melanie/Wanderer stumbles upon a human 'rebel' outpost and must fight for her life repeatedly-- first as an outsider, then as an insider.

The story is compelling, forcing the reader to consider the merits and challenges of colonization. It is also fodder for young female minds, with complicated male/female relationships and a fair amount of strained romance.

THE HOST is a great read, particularly for readers interested in science fiction and post-apocalyptic settings. And while I have heard several TWI-hards note that THE HOST is even better than the ubiquitous vampire series, I am not sure I agree. Still, THE HOST demands attention.