The host : a novel

Title:

The host : a novel

Author:

Meyer, Stephenie, 1973- author.

Summary:

Melanie Stryder refuses to fade away. The earth has been invaded by a species that take over the minds of their 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. -- Amazon.

Edition:

1st ed.

Physical Description:

619 p. ; 25 cm.

Genre:

Science fiction.

Romance fiction.

Subject Term:

Spirit possession -- Fiction.

Betrayal -- Fiction.

Biological invasions -- Fiction.

Triangles (Interpersonal relations) -- Fiction.

Publisher:

Little, Brown and Co.,

Electronic Access:

Publisher description
Contributor biographical information

Publication Date:

2008

ISBN:

9780316068048

9780316026697

9780316036917

Publication Information:

New York : Little, Brown and Co., 2008.

Call Number:

YA MEYER

Holds: Copies:

Available:*

Item Barcode	Collection	Call Number	Status	Item Holds
33607003690933	Young Adult	MEYER	Searching... Unknown	Searching... Unavailable

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Summary

Melanie Stryder refuses to fade away. The earth has been invaded by a species that take over the minds of their 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.

Author Notes

Stephenie Meyer was born in Hartford, Connecticut on December 24, 1973. She received a bachelor's degree in English from Brigham Young University. Her first novel, Twilight, was published in 2005 and was the beginning of the popular Twilight Saga, which includes New Moon, Eclipse, and Breaking Dawn. All the books within the Twilight Saga were made into feature-length films. Her first novel for adults, The Host, was published in 2008.

Meyer's novel The Chemist has been on several best seller lists including USA Today, Barnes and Noble and New York Times.

(Bowker Author Biography)

Reviews (3)

School Library Journal Review

Adult/High School-A race of parasitic aliens has nearly completed its benevolent conquest of the aggressive, violent human race. By implanting themselves into humans, the souls have access to all of the hosts' memories and emotions and are indistinguishable from them. The humans do not realize they're being taken over until it is nearly too late. Some resist the invasion, including Melanie Stryder, her brother, and her lover. When Melanie is killed on a mission, her body is taken over by a soul named "Wanderer." Melanie's memories prove overwhelming for Wanderer, who eventually succumbs to her need to search out her family. What follows is a tale of survival, friendship, and love. By discussing Earth's invasion from the conqueror's viewpoint, the novel takes a unique look at a fairly standard plot device. It overcomes a slow beginning after Wanderer reaches the humans and begins to care about the ones she meets personally. She comes to love Melanie's brother like her own, fights her body's attraction to Melanie's lover, and grows ever closer to another human, Ian. The humans in turn accept Wanderer as a valuable and caring individual, rather than as Melanie's oppressor. They overcome their prejudices and begin to work together in the humans' best interests. Host will likely appeal to readers interested in supernatural romance or character-driven science fiction. Questions of what defines humanity and love add a philosophical angle to an engaging and entertaining title.-Karen E. Brooks-Reese, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, PA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Publisher's Weekly Review

In this tantalizing SF thriller, planet-hopping parasites are inserting their silvery centipede selves into human brains, curing cancer, eliminating war and turning Earth into paradise. But some people want Earth back, warts and all, especially Melanie Stryder, who refuses to surrender, even after being captured in Chicago and becoming a host for a "soul" called Wanderer. Melanie uses her surviving brain cells to persuade Wanderer to help search for her loved ones in the Arizona desert. When the pair find Melanie's brother and her boyfriend in a hidden rebel cell led by her uncle, Wanderer is at first hated. Once the rebels accept Wanderer, whom they dub Wanda, Wanda's whole perspective on humanity changes. While the straightforward narrative is short on detail about the invasion and its stunning aftermath, it shines with romantic intrigue, especially when a love triangle (or quadrangle?!) develops for Wanda/Melanie. 10-city author tour. (May) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

Library Journal Review

Melanie isn't ready to give in to Wanderer, who's arrived with a phalanx of souls from outer space and wants to snatch Melanie's body. With a ten-city tour. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.