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A review by brisingr
The Host by Stephenie Meyer
5.0
Oh. My. God.
Okay, this is going to be hard to write, especially because my face is still puffy because of the crying I've done. But here I am, trying to convince you guys that this book is worth your time.
I never read the Twilight series, I still have no interest in it, but this book was intriguing and was also recommended to me by a friend, and then borrowed from them, so it was just a matter of days to start it. And then a matter of just a few more days to finish it.
Earth has been taken under control by parasyte-like aliens that are living in human bodies, creating the perfect society and helping the world becoming a better place. Wanderer is famous for the big number of planets she inhabited, but as she never found her place, she tried Earth. Being put in a human body is more overwhelming than being in any other being in their known universe, but she never imagined that her host, Melanie, would refuse to disappear, instead torturing her mind with memories of a life that seems better than whatever she's having now.
This is a very catchy read. You're immediately immersed in the world, an Utopia that is actually working, with no real downsides. The book is also pretty action-packed, there's always something new to intrigue the reader, and something to hold their breath. The setting is also pretty interesting, it's nice to see the way the world works if Pandora's box was never opened. It really makes you wonder if it's for the best or for the worst. I liked this constant battle of ideas.
The characters were all so loveable! It was impossible to even hate on them, especially because they're mostly humans, desperate and scared and hurt humans, and how can you not pity them and care for them? There was a lot of empathy going on while I was reading this book, it's impossible not to find yourself in at least one of those characters. My favorite though is the Wanderer, her thoughts were so real, her questions so relevant to her, and seeing her internal struggle really made me love her all the more. Her selflessness was not annoying at all, and very understandable in the given content, and I felt just a very strong need and want to protect this innocent and lovely soul from everything bad. I also think we should just appreciate the character development and the changes that all the people in this book go through, it's fascinating to see how simple human relations are so important and how a single person can change something in another.
I really, really enjoyed all the theories about what makes a human human. Are feelings justified, is violence an answer, can love save everything? I was very overwhelmed by how real the human society that was portrayed in this book felt. And no matter how short were the moments where I saw a character, they were simply and painfully human. Taking these traits and making all about kindness might seem a little bit like cultural (and consciousness) erasing, and it's a loss that some realized, and some didn't. I was quite touched by this, I feel like it's a very well-done part of the book. I cried several times while reading this book, and some passages are heartbreakingly beautiful and painful. I had a terrible satisfaction while reading this book, though, because it's hopeful in a way.
I was shocked by how much I enjoyed this, actually. It made me extremely sad and extremely happy and I adored every minute of reading it. I'm sorry to know that this is it, I need 10000000 pages of their simple lives. Rebels need some happiness too, you know? Anyway, great book, I personally loved it, The Host grew on me, turning from "what on earth am i reading?" to "this is so good, why there's so little left?". I am so glad I hadn't read any review to alter my opinion or make me feel ashamed or mad. This was great just as that: jumping straight into it and simply going to the flow of my feels. Oh, it was worth it.
Okay, this is going to be hard to write, especially because my face is still puffy because of the crying I've done. But here I am, trying to convince you guys that this book is worth your time.
I never read the Twilight series, I still have no interest in it, but this book was intriguing and was also recommended to me by a friend, and then borrowed from them, so it was just a matter of days to start it. And then a matter of just a few more days to finish it.
Earth has been taken under control by parasyte-like aliens that are living in human bodies, creating the perfect society and helping the world becoming a better place. Wanderer is famous for the big number of planets she inhabited, but as she never found her place, she tried Earth. Being put in a human body is more overwhelming than being in any other being in their known universe, but she never imagined that her host, Melanie, would refuse to disappear, instead torturing her mind with memories of a life that seems better than whatever she's having now.
This is a very catchy read. You're immediately immersed in the world, an Utopia that is actually working, with no real downsides. The book is also pretty action-packed, there's always something new to intrigue the reader, and something to hold their breath. The setting is also pretty interesting, it's nice to see the way the world works if Pandora's box was never opened. It really makes you wonder if it's for the best or for the worst. I liked this constant battle of ideas.
The characters were all so loveable! It was impossible to even hate on them, especially because they're mostly humans, desperate and scared and hurt humans, and how can you not pity them and care for them? There was a lot of empathy going on while I was reading this book, it's impossible not to find yourself in at least one of those characters. My favorite though is the Wanderer, her thoughts were so real, her questions so relevant to her, and seeing her internal struggle really made me love her all the more. Her selflessness was not annoying at all, and very understandable in the given content, and I felt just a very strong need and want to protect this innocent and lovely soul from everything bad. I also think we should just appreciate the character development and the changes that all the people in this book go through, it's fascinating to see how simple human relations are so important and how a single person can change something in another.
I really, really enjoyed all the theories about what makes a human human. Are feelings justified, is violence an answer, can love save everything? I was very overwhelmed by how real the human society that was portrayed in this book felt. And no matter how short were the moments where I saw a character, they were simply and painfully human. Taking these traits and making all about kindness might seem a little bit like cultural (and consciousness) erasing, and it's a loss that some realized, and some didn't. I was quite touched by this, I feel like it's a very well-done part of the book. I cried several times while reading this book, and some passages are heartbreakingly beautiful and painful. I had a terrible satisfaction while reading this book, though, because it's hopeful in a way.
I was shocked by how much I enjoyed this, actually. It made me extremely sad and extremely happy and I adored every minute of reading it. I'm sorry to know that this is it, I need 10000000 pages of their simple lives. Rebels need some happiness too, you know? Anyway, great book, I personally loved it, The Host grew on me, turning from "what on earth am i reading?" to "this is so good, why there's so little left?". I am so glad I hadn't read any review to alter my opinion or make me feel ashamed or mad. This was great just as that: jumping straight into it and simply going to the flow of my feels. Oh, it was worth it.