Review: The Host by Stephenie Meyer

Title: The Host 
Author: Stephenie Meyer
Genre: Dystopian, Science Fiction
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company

Publication Date: May 6th 2008

Summary: 

Melanie Stryder refuses to fade away. The earth has been invaded by a species that take over the minds of human hosts while leaving their bodies intact. Wanderer, the invading "soul" who has been given Melanie's body, didn't expect to find its former tenant refusing to relinquish possession of her mind. As Melanie fills Wanderer's thoughts with visions of Jared, a human who still lives in hiding, Wanderer begins to yearn for a man she's never met. Reluctant allies, Wanderer and Melanie set off to search for the man they both love.

I think we are at a point in time that everyone has either heard of or read The Host. I first read The Host before we created The Book Bratz (which was almost 8 years ago!) so I never actually reviewed it, so I decided that when I was rereading it that it was going to get a proper review. Being 22 and reading it versus when I was 14 and reading it gave me a very different perspective on a lot of things with in this novel but also took away lessons that I didn't realize were there previously. 

I always love a good science fiction novel. Especially ones with aliens, rebellions and romance. That will always be my weak point. Stephenie Meyer whipped up just that. The world building in the novel was amazing and I could see everything clearly as if I was in Meyer's head as she was writing. The world isn't  unlike our own, the Souls (the aliens) didn't change much, all they did was take over their Host (the humans) bodies and establish peace and a world with no violence or conflict. Wanda even says several times through out the novel that humans were on a collision path to destroying their planet if the Souls hadn't stepped in. 

I loved the complexity of Wanda and Melanie's character(s.) Typically when a Soul takes over a Host, the Host's mind disappears, leaving room for the Soul. But in Wanda and Melanie's case both minds are there. Melanie refuses to disappear, desperate to protect Jared and Jamie from the hands of the Seeker who is so desperate to crush the Human rebellion. Seeing the development of Wanda and Melanie's relationship throughout the book is incredible, they go from enemies, to two minds that are on the same sides to almost sisters. It teaches an important lesson that sometimes your enemies can become your best friends. (Not in all cases, but in this one.)

The biggest lesson in this book that I didn't take away the first time is: Finding the place in where you belong. The whole novel we watch as Wanda struggles to fit in with Jeb and his people. Find the right balance with her friendship with Ian and blooming friendship with Jared. Because she is an outsider she constantly struggles with the thought of whether she actually belongs there, no matter how many times she is reassured that she is. It isn't until the last hundred or so pages of the novel does this lesson really hit hard. Wanda learns she is accepted and with being accepted she knows she has to make an incredibly hard choice. (I won't lie, I was crying like a baby at this.) 

Overall I loved The Host even more the second time around! Though I would love to see more of these characters and what would be in store next for them, I believe Meyer left this book off the way she did because the ending gives hope to the rebellion. All the loose ends are tied up neatly and I couldn't have asked for a better ending. I am so grateful that I decided to pick this book up again. I definitely plan on rewatching the movie now!