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    The Host: A Novel
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    The Host: A Novel
    Unavailable
    The Host: A Novel
    Audiobook23 hours

    The Host: A Novel

    Written by Stephenie Meyer

    Narrated by Kate Reading

    4/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    Melanie Stryder refuses to fade away. Earth has been invaded by a species that takes over the minds of human hosts while leaving their bodies intact, and most of humanity has succumbed.

    Wanderer, the invading "soul" who has been given Melanie's body, knew about the challenges of living inside a human: the overwhelming emotions, the too vivid memories. But there was one difficulty Wanderer didn't expect: the former tenant of her body refusing to relinquish possession of her mind.

    Melanie fills Wanderer's thoughts with visions of the man Melanie loves – Jared, a human who still lives in hiding. Unable to separate herself from her body's desires, Wanderer yearns for a man she's never met. As outside forces make Wanderer and Melanie unwilling allies, they set off to search for the man they both love.

    Featuring what may be the first love triangle involving only two bodies, The Host is a riveting and unforgettable novel that will bring a vast new readership to one of the most compelling writers of our time.

    A Hachette Audio production.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHachette Audio
    Release dateMay 6, 2008
    ISBN9781600241673
    Unavailable
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    Reviews for The Host

    4/5

    5,252 ratings372 reviews

    What did you think?

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    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 5/5
      I loved this book. It was a wonderful idea that I have never seen before and it was beautifully executed. I expected at least some romance because it is a Stephanie Meyer book but I think that I would classify this as a Science Fiction/Distopia genre first. I loved Wanderer and I think that the friendship between her and Mel was so believable. The problems, and struggles were ones that I never would have thought about but now that they come up, are so obvious! I loved the healers, and Doc.
      I was not sure about this book when I picked it up but I do so hope she writes a sequel!
    • 5/5
      I found this one of the most inventive stories I've read in a long time. The way it was written, with dialog happening between the main character and the alien in her head was nothing short of genius. The movie did not do it justice.
    • 5/5
      I write this review with tears in my eyes. What an excellent read. When I first began the story I was confused, but by the middle I was absolutely sucked in. Melanie was taken over by a host/alien from another planet and has to struggle with watching the host live her life. They butt heads but by the end have a wonderful friendship. The pictures Stephanie Meyer painted in my head from the cave to the characters were incredible ... There is love, suspense, and sadness throughout this book. The ending was a huge shock and left me speechless. I would give it 5 out 5 for sure!
    • 5/5
      I loved this book. I really hope that Meyer writes a sequel or turns the book into a trilogy like it is rumored. I would definitely continue this series if it surfaced.
    • 4/5
      So I have a confession to make: I've never read the Twilight books. Don't like vampires, and was just never into the whole Team Edward/Team Jacob thing. I wasn't interested in Stephanie Meyers at all, but I saw this movie on Netflix and thought I'd give it a try. Was pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed it. When I found the novel at Dollar Tree for $1, I couldn't pass it up. I wound up really enjoying the novel. My only thing was, the hosts were so good and kind and sweet I felt like it kind of took away from the suspense of the novel. There was no terror like in Invasion of the Bodysnatchers, although the plot reminded me of that. Still, I liked Wanda, Ian, and Mel, and thought the whole cave setting was pretty unique. All in all, a good, clean romance; even if there were a couple of cheesy moments. Now I want to watch the movie again to see how it compares to the book.
    • 4/5
      What a page turner!
    • 5/5
      I don't care what people say about Stephanie Meyer. I loved the Twilight series so I was really eager to read this book when it was released. I really loved it! It was one of my first post-apocalyptic type reads and it brought me to really enjoy those types of stories. The resilient nature of the Melanie, the main character who has been taken over by Wanderer was awesome. She never gave up and was even able to bring Wanderer aka Wanda over to their side. They completely botched the movie but I really enjoyed the book.
    • 5/5
      Brilliant and unexpected from the author of the Twilight series
    • 3/5
      Good storyline and characters but the story tended to get REALLY boring at times. The book was really captivating otherwise and I absolutely LOVED the ending. It was just perfect.
    • 5/5
      I liked it alot!
    • 5/5
      I would give this book more than 5 stars if that were possible! It is the only book - ever! - that made me actually weep ... real tears too, not just a sniffle. It is also the only book that I have immediately started re-reading.
    • 3/5
      It was better than Twilight, but then, that's not saying much. The main character was frightened way too often, which turned into a strain on my nerves and almost gave me a headache- then again, that proves I was into the book, so it must not have been that bad. Not too mushy, and the plotline was okay. Maybe not amazing, but not half bad.
    • 4/5
      Beginning was a little slow, but got better as I read.
    • 5/5
      Didn't think I'd be that interested in this book, but when I got into it I couldn't put it down! Haven't seen the movie (and not sure that I want to, as I liked the book so much).
    • 4/5
      LOVED THIS!
    • 4/5
      So much better than her Twilight series!
    • 4/5
      Call me crazy but I actually enjoyed this book a lot more than the Twilight series. Partly because there was no whiny Bella but it was similar with two men fighting over the leading lady. The book is about an alien who takes over a girl and tries to figure out if she's loyal to her race or the humans. I absolutely loved all the characters and the story itself. Jared was annoying at first but he grew on me just like Kyle. Great way to end the book leaving it open for a possibility of a sequel, trilogy etc. I'm looking forward to seeing the movie version.
    • 5/5
      I had had this book on my wish list for over a year, and decided to finally get around to reading it. Seemed interesting, especially after I had read an excerpt online. As it turned out, this book is one of the most gripping reads I've had in awhile. I enjoyed the characters, the story, and the writing in general. This one has earned a place on my "top-shelf favs".
    • 4/5
      This was surprisingly good the first time I read it and in re-reading it it actually holds up. I kind of wish that SM had published it either before Twilight or under a different name because it didn't get the reception it deserved because all anyone saw was her name on the cover
    • 4/5
      It took a little while for me to really get into what was happening. But once I was in, I couldn't stop reading! It's so much more than just a love triangle...it's like a love square. Great story, great ending.
    • 1/5
      On page 81. And nothing much has happened. Some glowering. A LOT of descriptions of voices- strained, repentant, soft, persuasive, distorted.... "So many words!" she exclaimed, her voice exasperated. And I thought it was supposed to be "adult". The main character is 17! I loved the Twilight Saga. Maybe the writing wasn't the best, but stuff happened. It pulled me in. The Host, not so much. Not sure I can devote any more of my precious reading time to this book, her voice petulant, with a glower.
    • 2/5
      I really wanted to love this book. Ultimately, it was only just ok. It took me forever to finish reading it. Ms. Meyers' characters were one dimensional and I still don't understand why all of the men have to be brutes to show their love.

      This is the story of Wanderer who is a soul that lives in the body of Melanie. Normally, the human goes away and lets the soul live but Melanie and Wanderer exist in Melanie's body with her memories and feelings.

      The novel follows them as they run from the souls who are taking over the human race to the humans they want to help survive. Of course, there's love and sappiness thrown in there for good measure and a lot of men carrying women around.

      The premise of this bookis very interesting but the characters and the writing were not.
    • 4/5
      Meyer set herself a tremendous challenge with THE HOST. First and foremost, she's tasked herself with the job of making an appealing protagonist from a body-snatching alien. We find out as the book opens that Melanie Stryder tried to kill herself rather than let the aliens possess her body - but she failed, and the alien called Wanderer is planted in her brain and narrates our story. To my great surprise, I sympathized with Wanderer immediately - I loved her distinctive, serene voice, her pragmatism and fearlessness.

      THE HOST is a stretch in another sense as well. Lovers of the TWILIGHT series know that Stephanie Meyer has a talent for love triangles - but THE HOST doesn't contain a love triangle, it's more like a love pentagram. Or some other complex shape that may not exist in two dimensions. Melanie loves Jared. Then Wanderer loves Jared. Jared loves Melanie...could he also love Wanderer? But that's not complicated enough, so Meyer adds Ian to the mix. Ian loves Wanderer, not Melanie, and Wanderer loves Ian...but, since Wanderer shares a body and mind with Melanie, maybe Ian loves Melanie too? Again, to my surprise, Meyer pulls this off with flying colors. Each relationship is distinct, and the characters involved are richer and more real because of their unique dilemma. I felt that Jared reminded me a lot of Jacob, from the Twilight series, and Ian was a modified Edward...but I didn't mind seeing them reincarnated here, they're still very yummy.

      The story itself is pretty interesting. The body-snatching aliens are peaceful altruists; there is no disease on their earth, no violence, no hatred. They justify their presence on earth by the improvements they make - and there are many. Stephanie Meyer isn't the first person to wonder if a "perfect" human is human at all - but she's opened up the question here in a pretty interesting way, and I hope there are sequels in store.
    • 2/5
      Okay, so I was reading along, and thinking all, hey, this is pretty interesting! Not bad, Stephenie!

      And then I got to about page 80 or so, and OH MY GOD THERE IT IS AGAIN, THE HORRIBLE HORRIBLE SAPPINESS OH MY EYES MY EYES

      I just can't do it. CAN'T DO IT AGAIN! Not the older man, and the younger woman, and the 5-page discussion of why they can't have sex yet because NO DEAR YOU'RE JUST NOT READY EVEN THOUGH YOU REALLY WANT IT BECAUSE LOOK, YOU'RE A GIRL AND YOU CAN'T POSSIBLY MAKE YOUR OWN DECISIONS.

      BUT JARED I LOOOOVE YOU!! YOU ARE MY SOULMATE! BECAUSE WHY? I DON'T KNOW, I JUST LOVE YOU! MAYBE BECAUSE OF YOUR STRONG JAW AND GOLDEN SKIN AND BLOND HIGHLIGHTS AND LACK OF A PERSONALITY. THAT IS PROBABLY IT.

      I LOVE YOU TOO, MELANIE! AND I WILL PROTECT YOU! AND NEVER LET YOU DO ANYTHING! EVEN THOUGH YOU ALREADY SAVED YOURSELF AND YOUR BROTHER FROM HORRIBLE ALIENS!


      i think i need to go lie down now.

    • 4/5
      Really liked it, and it was definetely miles better than the movie! Although it was weird and some parts were cheesy, I liked it a lot, although it's not for everyone..
    • 3/5
      This is where I wish I had the ability to give this book 3.5 stars instead of 3, but oh well. I had trouble getting into this book. There was too much alien stuff for me. I also had trouble connecting with the characters and caring about them. Although I have to say that by the last 1/3 of the book I was hooked. I didn't want to put it down. But my problem was that it had taken me 2/3 of the book to get to that point. I don't like to have to work to get to that point. Overall it was pretty decent.
    • 2/5
      So I started listening to this and almost immediately zoned out because I was so bored. I tuned back in then almost immediately fell asleep because I was so bored. Nothing happens in the plot for so long! As an audiobook, it was pretty painful to listen to as both Melanie and Wanderer sounded the same.

      If I ever give this a second chance, I will have to read it in book form. Otherwise I will never finish.
    • 5/5
      One of my favorite books of the year. I've read the Twilight series and I liked it alright, but this doesn't compare. The depth at which I cared for and empathized with the character, Wanderer, is credited to Meyer's attention to detail, emotion, and clarity of story. I could barely put the book down while reading it...I want to write so much, but I don't want to ruin it for anyone. Let's just say, the story went in places I wasn't expecting and the ending really threw me....I highly recommend this.
    • 5/5
      I was NOT expecting this to be a good book. I went into it thinking it would be mediocre at best. It surprised me. Meyer's writing improved ten-fold. The characters were fascinating, and the story was so fresh and original. I'll admit, I went through the first three or four chapters thinking Wanderer was male for some reason, and the story in general was hard to get into, but definitely worth the perseverance. I really, really hope she doesn't mess up the sequel.
    • 5/5
      I am so glad that I took the time to read this book. If it hadn't been for the movie being released I probably would have waited to read it. I fell in love with the story, characters and the writing. Stephenie Meyer did a fantastic job on this story. It is even better then the Twilight books.The Host is the story of an alien invasion of Earth. We humans learn of the invasion when we notice changes in other humans. This species attaches to the human body and takes control. They didn't expect some of the Hosts to fight back and still want to be in control.I fell in love with Melanie (the host) and Wanda (Wanderer, the species) along with Jared, Ian, Jamie, Jeb, Kyle and so many more. Melanie is the human who is implanted with the Wanderer. Wanderer realizes that Melanie is still there and doesn't want to let her body go.Wanderer learns more about Melanie through her memories that Melanie is willing to share with her. Wanderer is also supposed to learn about where the other rebels are. Melanie wins The Wanderer over by opening up feelings about her friends and family. The Wanderer is also being followed by a Seeker who wants to find these other rebels.Melanie and The Wanderer become friends and decide to evade the Seeker. They don't like her and want to stay away from her as much as possible. I loved how both Wanda and Melanie became friends and would talk to each other in the mind. They fought but yet the loved each other by the end of the book.Jared is the man that Melanie loves. Jamie is her younger brother. Jeb is her uncle. Ian and Kyle are brothers that Melanie and Wanda meet once they find the hiding place of the camp. There are so many more characters that you will just love and hate at the same time. Melanie's cousin Sharon and Aunt Maggie are two that I felt sorry for. I was crying by the end of this book. It was sad and happy at the same time. I see that supposedly there are 2 more books yet to be released. I cannot wait for them to be released. The Host is one that is worth reading!!