Tolog Review: The Host

The Host
by Stephanie Meyer
reviewed by Marina Francis

The Host by Stephanie Meyer is an intriguing book about love, kindness, and trust. On Earth in the future, an alien species has occupied the Earth and the bodies on it. These aliens, called souls, are placed in a human’s mind and control their bodies. Wanderer, a soul, is the new owner of Melanie Stryder’s body. Wanderer is surprised to find that Melanie is still awake in her mind, fighting against her. As Wanderer pierces through Melanie’s memories to find the human resistance Melanie was part of, she finds memories of Jared Howe. Melanie loves Jared, and her strong feelings and memories start to have an effect on Wanderer, who also falls in love with him. Wanderer and Melanie become a team and go on a journey to find Jared; Jamie, Melanie’s brother; and other humans who may still be alive. When she finds the humans, she is distrusted. Wanderer and Melanie also have a few issues about whom they truly love.

I thought The Host was a captivating novel. Because it is a Stephanie Meyer novel, who is famed for the Twilight Saga, I expected it to completely revolve around romance. I was gladly mistaken and found as I read that Wanda is a being of kindness and strength and does not spend her time fawning over men. She puts others before herself and sees the goodness in everyone. A striking point in the book to me is when Wanda and Jared get the medicine to heal Jamie, and Aunt Maggie and Cousin Sharon are still angry with Wanda for the “alien” medicine. Wanda says, “How sad. How frightening. To be filled with so much hate that you could not even rejoice in the healing of a child” (Meyer 626). Wanda is able to forgive the wrongs people have done to her and wants everyone to be happy, even if she has to sacrifice herself.