Today I finished reading The Host by Stephenie Meyer and I want to share with you a few things.
This is not a review of the book or an in-depth opinion but it will probably contain spoilers so if you haven't read this book (and you want to), you might as well stop reading this right now.
Before I start, I want to make sure that you don't think I only read YA (Young Adult) novels. I'm always reading more than one book at a time but YA novels are very catchy, easy and quick to read so I always finish them first.
And now, let's go!
1. I never thought I'd read any other book by S. Meyer again. But a friend gave this one to me and I gave it a try. I don't regret reading it.
2. I must admit, though, it took me a couple of chapters to understand what was going on.
3. I don't know who said it wasn't, but this novel IS a YA novel.
4. The novel has about 600 pages, and there are only 3 action scenes. Taking into account that this novel is about aliens invading the Earth, you would expect some more action. But it's fine for me, I don't like too much action in a romantic YA novel and actually this lack of action scenes does work pretty well.
5. I know there's a film based on this book but I haven't seen it. Thinking of how angry I usually get at the poor adaptations of YA novels, and having seen the trailer... I've decided I don't want to see the film, for my own sanity.
6. Maybe it's a bit early to say that Meyer's formula of the love triangle is becoming a sort of trademark of hers. But I can't help comparing this love triangle to the one in her earlier saga: 2 boys (Darcy-like vs Heathcliff-like: Ian vs Jared in this particular case) fighting over the same girl. She's in love with both of them. Well, sort of. She ends up with Darcy. Of course. But Heathcliff won't be left alone because that wouldn't be fair.
In The Host, there are two girls but they share the same body so it adds more confusion to this love mess.
7. What's all about those lame names the aliens use to call their medicines and themselves? It's like a 3-year-old had named them!
8. Meyer is still good at giving different voices to her characters. You can easily tell whether it is Mel or Wanda speaking.
9. I don't really like this constant idea of Meyer's about being in love with 2 people at the same time, playing with their feelings, and choosing just one in the end. These are books and she compensates that by giving a new lover to the one that's left alone so everyone has a happy ending, but I'm worried teenage girls will do this to boys expecting it to be totally fine.
10. I didn't like the idea that the body chosen for Wanda at the end of the story is a little blonde, blue-eyed girl because "she looks like an angel and that's what Wanda kind of is as well". Wanda is fantastic, I agree. But why using this stereotype of the good person having to be pale, blonde and blue-eyed?
Have you read this novel? Do you agree with my opinions? Do you have any other opinion you'd like to share? All comments are very welcome!
