The Host
by Kym on November 3, 2008
I had this grand plan to open a bookstore in our tiny town once the kids were in school. I’d sit on my duff reading books all day and frown quizzically at anyone who had the audacity to enter my store. There’d be cushy leather armchairs and a lovely stone work fireplace with my top picks along the mantle. The shelves would be a warm grainy wood and the walls would be painted in shades of moss green and rust orange. The metal work of the lights would be that beauteous dark antique bronze that says old and modern in one breath. I would come home from work at night and feel a vague sense of disappointment wishing that somehow, I could just live in my bookshop.
The dream is slightly tarnished now though, because someone went and opened a bookshop in our town. The nerve of them.
Still, I’m all about supporting local business so I visit once in awhile. The place is small and there are few offerings that tempt me. I feel awkward when I visit, because there is no way to move about unnoticed. I feel guilty when I leave without purchasing something. The store is always empty. Irrationally I feel like I am their only hope. Several family members are receiving books for Christmas for this reason.
On my last visit there was a copy of Stephenie Meyer’s, The Host, on sale. A book I recognized, was curious about, and it was on sale! I grabbed hold of it quickly. Saved. Look, I’m buying something. Stop looking at me with those sadly hopeful eyes.
My pity purchase has yielded unexpected results though. Despite purchasing and voraciously reading the entire Twilight series, I’m no fan. I found the books entertaining but not enthralling. I was captivated by the plot, but amused rather than enchanted by the characters. There was some depth to the series, but only for the individual characters. It had a very narrow scope. I was not moved.
The Host is quite the opposite. The scope is incredible. It left me shivering. Teary. I found it powerful in ways I lack words to describe. It came to life in my head and it was almost painful to close it when I finished.
As with many such books, I wonder if I am any the better for having read it. The answer this time is yes. It provoked thoughts I would not otherwise have had. It gave me insight and clarity that I feel blessed to have received. Perhaps it just came at the right time in the right way for me. Perhaps to other readers it would not be anything so exceptional.
I give it the highest praise I give any book though. It was worth the time I spent reading it.
41 comments
I know exactly what you mean about feeling the pressure to support a small, struggling local business.
Maybe someday you can realize your dream of owning your own bookshop!
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by Novembrance on November 3, 2008 at 2:56 am. #
I feel almost the same way you do about the Twilight trilogy (haven’t read book 4 yet) so now I’m really interested in reading this one. . .
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by Lisa on November 3, 2008 at 3:33 am. #
Oh my! I’m SO glad I’m not the only one who felt that way about Twilight! I was (am) almost embarrassed to reveal my true feelings about it amongst so many die hard fans! I haven’t been able to read the last of 4 nor Host…but now I feel I may have to run out and buy it. Thanks for the review! ;)
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by Shanna on November 3, 2008 at 5:09 am. #
I liked this one much more than the vampire stuff. Definitely.
I like your dream, too!
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by Annette on November 3, 2008 at 5:44 am. #
i am a big twilight fan, but with reservations, and i think the movie looks terrible. but i’ve been curious about this book and all the reviews i’ve seen have been very wishy-washy. so thanks for a more decisive review. i’ll have to get my hands on this one.
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by Memarie Lane on November 3, 2008 at 5:51 am. #
I’m with you on Twilight… I was so frustrated at the end…
But someday I’m going to own a bookstore too… there will be free bread for visiting people (because I like to eat when reading) and some ladders for the shelves. I’ve always wanted a swinging ladder… I hope you get your bookstore soon! ;)
Maybe I’ll have to read the Host. I was going to skip it because of my Twilight sorrows, but you’ve got me leaning the other way now…
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by Sarah on November 3, 2008 at 6:08 am. #
I loved “The Host” too! :) Though, I’m one of the ones who ended up LOVING the “Twilight” saga . . . so I’m not sure what that says about me . . . other than that I have slightly different tastes than you! ;)
The description of the bookshop at the start of the post though . . . THAT’S something I really could envision for you. I hope it’s a dream that gets to come true for you! :)
Happy Monday!
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by Kate on November 3, 2008 at 6:38 am. #
I read it, didn’t really like it. I mean, it was alright, but would I recommend it? No.
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by MomBabe on November 3, 2008 at 7:14 am. #
Ah… the twin-ness shines through again. I really quite liked the Host. Not sure that I loved it but, compared to how I felt about Twilight, I ADORED it :)
I do have to say this though… I’m tired of the female characters being carried everywhere. It drove me crazy in the Twilight books every time someone picked Bella up… hello! SHE HAS LEGS! I know she’s a klutz, but come on! Do you really have to carry her the 100 feet up the stairs? She couldn’t do that on her own? And then Ian carried Wanda and I just about lost it! Apparently Stephanie Meyers has a deep, hidden desire to be carried…
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by Melissa on November 3, 2008 at 7:33 am. #
Maybe you could go and work for them when the kids are in school… just practice your soulful, please buy look… I used to feel the same about small “english” businesses in Luxembourg – the pressure to buy and keep them in business.
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by Tracy on November 3, 2008 at 8:00 am. #
Huh. Maybe I’ll read it then. I feel the same way you do about the Twilight series, so I thought I’d skip The Host.
But maybe I won’t.
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by Becky on November 3, 2008 at 8:51 am. #
This might be the first time I’ve been tempted to read The Host. It sounds kind of good now.
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by Melanie J on November 3, 2008 at 9:01 am. #
I enjoyed the Host so much more than the Twilight series! There is so much more depth and thought! I loved it!
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by Tirzah on November 3, 2008 at 9:24 am. #
In the height of all this Twilight madness, I was sorta ‘meh’ when I began it with my daughter.
I don’t have time for an extra book right now, but I’ll have to keep it in mind, come 2009.
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by Lisa Milton on November 3, 2008 at 9:55 am. #
I’ve been contemplating this book for a long time and that makes me want to go out and buy it this instant, since I trust your opinion so implicitly!!
And if I could do anything, I would love to own a bookstore. It would be the best place in the world to be. I would have new and used books. Somewhere to just be. Mmmm, what a delicious thought!
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by Erin on November 3, 2008 at 11:33 am. #
I agree with you completely re: the Twilight series. It was because of this and the whole invasion of the bodysnatchers drift I was getting from hearing about her new book that I’ve been putting off reading the Host. Maybe I’ll have to try it now. I also share your dreams of owning my own bookshop…I hadn’t gotten quite that far in dreaming up the wood grain of the shelves and such, but I think your idea sounds good…maybe I’ll snitch it someday. :) Hope your new book is going well.
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by Kiera on November 3, 2008 at 12:16 pm. #
I actually thought of you when I was reading “The Host” and glad you picked it up! It does raise some interesting issues and if it didn’t move so gosh-darn slow I would have really liked it. :-)
by Beth on November 3, 2008 at 12:23 pm. #
You know how I feel about Twilight so I won’t prattle on about that.
I quite agree with you about The Host. It delivered much more than I expected it to. And it was surprising, the plot hit points I wasn’t expected and the characters made decisions I did not expect. Definitely worth the time to read it.
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by Deconstructing Jen on November 3, 2008 at 12:27 pm. #
I agree! I loved it. Very original and interesting…
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by tracey on November 3, 2008 at 2:28 pm. #
Well, thanks for sharing your opinion of the book. I have had it for three months now, and have only been able to get through the first chapter. I have picked it up three different times, and just can’t get into it. Maybe I’ll try a little harder next time.
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by Erin on November 3, 2008 at 2:41 pm. #
Glad to hear this since I am obligated to read this in a few weeks. :)
by julie wright on November 3, 2008 at 2:49 pm. #
Glad you liked it! I read it over the summer and loved it too. And I’ve often fantasized about a children’s book shop, so I completely understand your dreaming! May it happen for you!
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by Jenna Consolo on November 3, 2008 at 3:08 pm. #
Okay, well, I’ve never read this series, it’s not because I don’t want to, well, okay, it IS because I don’t want to. It just hasn’t appealed to me. Maybe, I should look into what all the hype is about…
by Abra on November 3, 2008 at 3:18 pm. #
I just finished The Host yesterday! It took me about 3 weeks before I really got into it. Very deep and confusing, not like anything else I had ever read. But after about the first 200 pages, I couldn’t put it down. Of course, the timing was rotten since it was Halloween weekend and my family had come to visit. I kept sneaking off to my room to read… On Sunday we didn’t have church until 1:00, so I just stayed in bed until I had finished it. Then during church, I couldn’t quit thinking about the book. I even found myself referring to the book during church discussions. Good thing I am timid and kept my thoughts to myself. This book provoked thoughts of appreciation and gratitude, and I found myself questioning the depth of my soul.
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by Amelia on November 3, 2008 at 4:12 pm. #
Sounds fascinating! I’ll have to trust you on this one and go find it.
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by Eowyn on November 3, 2008 at 4:55 pm. #
I feel exactly the same way about both The Twilight series and The Host. I absolutely LOVED The Host and finished it in less than 24 hrs! and wanted it to keep going.
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by Sandra on November 3, 2008 at 5:29 pm. #
With such high praise, I’m definitely going to have to check this book out. I haven’t read anything by her, so this will be a new endeavor.
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by VirtualSprite on November 3, 2008 at 7:05 pm. #
I liked The Host too, it was just a lot more grownup than Twilight. She’s definitely acquiring those writing “chops”, don’t you think? I’m excited to see what else she comes up with.
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by nicki on November 3, 2008 at 9:22 pm. #
Sorry to say I’ve never read any of the Twilight books. Heard a lot about them. A lot. But somehow I just have not been moved to pick up any of them. I guess, I’m on the outskirt of pop culture. Reconsideration in progress.
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by GrumpyAngel on November 3, 2008 at 11:38 pm. #
I have heard from a number of people who felt this book was far and above the Twilight series. I so need to read it (but I need to read Breaking Dawn first.) (or not). I love all the bookstore stuff–especially the part about the quizzical look. I can tell you are serioulsy writing right now. Great Stuff!
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by Heidi Ashworth on November 4, 2008 at 12:35 pm. #
I told you it was amazing. ;)
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by Summer on November 4, 2008 at 2:42 pm. #
OK, you have convinced me to give this book a try. I read the Twilight series and I totally agree with your every assessment. While I enjoyed reading them, I don’t think I was totally enthralled with them.
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by An Ordinary Mom on November 4, 2008 at 3:25 pm. #
I liked “The Host” far more than the Twillight series. It’s good to finally find someone who agrees.
by Stephanie on November 4, 2008 at 3:35 pm. #
THE HOST was just kind of meh for me. meyer is woefully inconsistent. give me tolkien anyday and i’d be a happy gal. :)
your bookstore, on the other hand…girlie, if you ever open that place, i will move to your town just to live in that bookstore with you.
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by nic on November 4, 2008 at 7:48 pm. #
I really enjoyed reading The Host as well. I borrowed a copy from a friend, so its on my list to actually get because I will want to read it again sometime.
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by Heffalump on November 4, 2008 at 8:43 pm. #
I could almost smell the books in your bookshop! I’d love to visit…and I wouldn’t bother you much. I’d curl up in one of those armchairs with a stackful of books.
I love the Twilight series because they’re like mind candy for this now 30 year old housewife. I loved The Host for the depth of emotion and interesting story. It was interesting to me that I liked the host much better than the gal she took over.
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by Rebecca on November 4, 2008 at 10:07 pm. #
I also loved The Host but sort of plowed through the first two Twilight books. I listened to the second on CD during long commutes, and I found myself laughing out loud at the sappy way the actor breathily gushed about “Ehdwehhrd”. Fun, but not me. I was enthralled with The Host from start to finish. Thanks for a great post!
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by pam at beyondjustmom on November 5, 2008 at 6:34 am. #
My girlfriend said I MUST read this book. But it is in first person. I really have FIRST PERSON POV issues. I don’t like it. I avoid it at all cost. So I read half the book, skipped stuff, read the end. Didn’t like the crazy relationship with the buy one get two in One kinda thing.
But I am glad you enjoyed it. Really I am.
Now, send me all your left over chocolate, will you?
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by Dapoppins on November 6, 2008 at 1:45 pm. #
One more book to add to my list….after I FINALLY read the Twilight series of course…
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by Jaina on November 6, 2008 at 5:02 pm. #
okay, you’ve convinced me. i’d read enough reviews of twilight that were like yours that i decided to not waste my time reading them. but now i’ve found someone who didn’t really like the series and can still vouch for this other book of ms. meyers. i’m off to borrow the host. thanks for the recommendation.
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by michal on November 6, 2008 at 9:07 pm. #
I, too, enjoyed The Host much more than the Twilight series–which was a fun, fluffy read.
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by Karlene on November 9, 2008 at 2:49 pm. #