Helpful Score: 3
The Host has me pulled in several directions of feeling, much like the book's main character(s).
On one hand, the idea of two beings trapped within the same body, both fighting to be their own person, fighting to be individualized and NOT simply ruled by how their body was being pulled in familiar directions was a fascinating concept. One that I was ready to see so many aspects of life and feeling played out with, and with the size of this book, I thought it would be fully fleshed out.
On the other hand, there were 150-200 pages that could easily have been simplified to about 50 pages, with the same effect. This entire section of the book dragged it out so much that it took several weeks for me to lumber through it's tediousness.
There is a point at which a reader stops forgiving amateur writing based on a good concept. And that is what Meyer is, an amateur writer. She can easily come up with a fascinating topic, thrilling trajectory, but then she falls into the trap of being a below-average writer. In another's hands, this story could have been a NOVEL, something that you cannot put down until you are fully satisfied with the range of characters and story, and which you, the reader, are never dragged down into a hole of teenage-like angst and whining. Unfortunately, Stephanie Meyer wrote this book. Luckily, the main character is appealing enough and I was drawn to finish the book to see where it would go. In the end, there are some satisfying points, and you really do end up liking many characters, however there were many aspects that were left uncharted within Wanderer/Melanie's journey which was the most disappointing part about this book.
Great potential? Yes. Great story? Yes. Great writing? Again, no. However, it will be interesting to see how the movie will turn out, now that this great storyline will be in the hands of the ever-capable Andrew Niccol.
On one hand, the idea of two beings trapped within the same body, both fighting to be their own person, fighting to be individualized and NOT simply ruled by how their body was being pulled in familiar directions was a fascinating concept. One that I was ready to see so many aspects of life and feeling played out with, and with the size of this book, I thought it would be fully fleshed out.
On the other hand, there were 150-200 pages that could easily have been simplified to about 50 pages, with the same effect. This entire section of the book dragged it out so much that it took several weeks for me to lumber through it's tediousness.
There is a point at which a reader stops forgiving amateur writing based on a good concept. And that is what Meyer is, an amateur writer. She can easily come up with a fascinating topic, thrilling trajectory, but then she falls into the trap of being a below-average writer. In another's hands, this story could have been a NOVEL, something that you cannot put down until you are fully satisfied with the range of characters and story, and which you, the reader, are never dragged down into a hole of teenage-like angst and whining. Unfortunately, Stephanie Meyer wrote this book. Luckily, the main character is appealing enough and I was drawn to finish the book to see where it would go. In the end, there are some satisfying points, and you really do end up liking many characters, however there were many aspects that were left uncharted within Wanderer/Melanie's journey which was the most disappointing part about this book.
Great potential? Yes. Great story? Yes. Great writing? Again, no. However, it will be interesting to see how the movie will turn out, now that this great storyline will be in the hands of the ever-capable Andrew Niccol.
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