Book Review: Meyer’s The Host

I’m a big fan of Science Fiction and Fantasy genre of Literature. In fact, around three-fourths of all my books are Sci-Fi and Fantasy. I purchased most of these books from bargain bookstores like Booksale or any other second-hand bookshop that I come across. I was at National Bookstore one day and came across this book from Stephenie Meyer entitled The Host. Nothing spectacular really, but I picked it up and browsed it. Before long, I was caught up in the drama of this amazing story.

Meyer is the creator of the award-winning teen-vamp Twilight series. Her previous books were directed towards the Young Adult genre.

The Host: A Novel is Meyer’s first entry for the mainstream market.

I will outline very briefly the plot of the story. If you are like me, I don’t want anyone telling me the story. I’d rather read the book by myself.

The Host: A Novel features a post-invasion Earth plagued by walking and living people. The only problem is, these people have been taken over by parasites that take over the minds and bodies of their hosts. Enter Melanie Stryder, a strong-headed woman who simply won’t let go of the control of her mind to the parasitic soul with the apt name of Wanderer. Wanderer finally manages to control Melanie.

Yet, the memories of Melanie about Jared haunts Wanderer, who then sets out to pursue him. A love triangle ensues. Technically, it isn’t a triangle because the women (or consciousness perhaps) competing for Jared’s love are both housed in the same body. The romance of the novel is deftly set in a bleak atmosphere of an alien-infested Earth. Yet, the aliens themselves have redeeming character and value.

The focus of the story is the conflict between Wanderer and Melanie, two lives, two consciousness, that has to share one body. If you want to read deeper into this, you might see it as fictionalized schizophrenia. Yet, it also talks about the multiple personalities that we all lodge inside us.

This is a great read and an amazing soft-core Sci-Fi. The book is a bit long but if you want to enjoy reading while sipping a cup of coffee while the rains and the typhoons rage outside, then this book is definitely for you!

Tags: Book Review, Books, Fantasy, I Am Legend, Resident Evil, Science Fiction, Stephenie Meyer