Sunday, May 16, 2010

The Host Review and Giveaway

From Publisher
In this tantalizing SF thriller, planet-hopping parasites are inserting their silvery centipede selves into human brains, curing cancer, eliminating war and turning Earth into paradise. But some people want Earth back, warts and all, especially Melanie Stryder, who refuses to surrender, even after being captured in Chicago and becoming a host for a soul called Wanderer. Melanie uses her surviving brain cells to persuade Wanderer to help search for her loved ones in the Arizona desert. When the pair find Melanie's brother and her boyfriend in a hidden rebel cell led by her uncle, Wanderer is at first hated. Once the rebels accept Wanderer, whom they dub Wanda, Wanda's whole perspective on humanity changes. While the straightforward narrative is short on detail about the invasion and its stunning aftermath, it shines with romantic intrigue, especially when a love triangle (or quadrangle?!) develops for Wanda/Melanie.


My take: I know we're all tired of the Twilight/Edward/Bella/Jacob saga with four books and movies galore but, let's face it, when it all started we were caught up in the hype just like everybody else.

Stephenie Meyer engaged us with a new idea - a vampire, nay, a demi-god who absolutely adored and wanted to feast on a regular girl. A regular girl like you and me. Oh, yeah. We loved it. And then it got old.

Ms. Meyer did it again. She developed another new story and gave the characters personalities we grew quite fond of. I never really connected with ALL of the main characters, but I grew to care about how Melanie/Wanda could exist apart or if they would choose to.

The author creates the Utah/Arizona landscape and climate to a point that I really needed to drink a lot of water during my reading. She also develops the intricacies of the souls and the humans along with their needs, wants, and survival skills. Quite fascinating.

By the way, paperback edition includes a bonus chapter. It's a chapter that really fills in some holes. Without giving anything away, it's when you-know-who finds out you-know-what and sees you-know-who and knows that you-know-who has you-know-what and now she has to...

Wait. I can't tell you the rest. Maybe you can figure it out by reading this.

The new paperback edition also includes notes for book group discussions

If you haven't read this book or you did but it's been a few years, I'll give it to you for such a small price. Give me your body so I can insert a soul into the base of your neck.

Or

Leave a comment with your email address. 

There will be 2 lucky winners.

Contest ends June 4, 2010

Open to U.S. and Canada residents with physical address (No P.O. Boxes).

Thank you Valerie at Hatchette Review Group for sponsoring this giveaway.

25 comments:

Rock, Paper, Scissors said...

Fine. I wanna win. I am not gonna be happy about it but I practically have the book memorized and Stephanie adds a chapter?!!!!! I need to know what happens.

Rock, Paper, Scissors said...

I subscribe to your other blog. Do I get an extra entry?

Rock, Paper, Scissors said...

BTW, I only have the audio edition, I do NEED a hard copy.

(sheesh, take the word verification off already. It makes it hard to write random comments in hopes for extra entries).

Rock, Paper, Scissors said...

Please? . . . .

:o)

Anonymous said...

Please enter me in the contest.

peacelily_2006 at yahoo dot com

Kelsey said...

I adored The Host, even more than Twilight I think! Thanks so much for the giveaway! I would love my own copy, especially with a bonus chapter!

Kelsey
krae991 at yahoo dot com

Mystee said...

I too am tired of Edward and Bella. I almost picked this book up at walmart several days ago, but my kids sidetracked me. Anyway, I'd love to read it.

Mystee
majik.of.mystee@gmail(dot)com

Marjorie/cenya2 said...

I would love to win and read this book.
Please include me, I follow by
google reader.

cenya2 at hotmail dot com

Johnny said...

I hope to win this for my daughter. She is a huge fan of the twilight series and has never read The Host. She recently adopted a dog at the local animal shelter, so I told her we would have to cut down on other extra expenses and she agreed. But this would be a wonderful surprise for her if I won the book for her. She would be ecstatic! She's a good kid. Thank you so much for the opportunity!
johnnystruckwash at gmail dot com

Elise said...

I have heard great things about this book. A lot of my friends have recommended it to me, but I haven't gotten around to reading it. I have read twilight and am interested in something else by this author. Thanks.
caliblue7@gmail.com

Unknown said...

I loved the description of The Host - A Host for another soul. Very interesting. I unlike many have never read anything by Stephenie Meyer, not even the twilight series, shockingly. But The Host sounds like something I would actually like to read. Thanks. I am a GFC Follower.
dakotasky55 at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

Hi, I'm a new follower of your blog. I've been wanting to read The Host for a while now. Glad I found this giveaway!
dianarod23 at gmail dot com

Natalie said...

enter me!

jeffandnatalie@yahoo.com

I read this book a long time ago and would love to love it again!

misskallie2000 said...

I have read several reviews of the Host and would love to win.

Thanks for the opportunity to enter.

I am a google follower.

misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com

Ashley said...

I've wanted to read this for so long.

hewella1 at gmail dot com

E.J. Stevens said...

Hahahaha, I'll go for the "leave a comment" option. ;P

Great giveaway!

xx,
E.J.

e.j.stevens.author[at]gmail[dot]com

Tales of Whimsy said...

Great review! I LOVED this one too :)

-Juju
Tales of Whimsy :)

Tales of Whimsy said...

Ooooo now I have to go to a bookstore to read the additional chapter that the paperback has.

CountessLaurie said...

Heh! You can have this body for a host, but I bet your host would send it back :-)

Meanwhile, thanks for the chance to win. I've read it but would love to read it again at leisure and with a bonus chapter.

l.moore.j[at]gmail.com

Tina said...

Must be the only person on the planet who hasn't read it yet so I need to be the winner.

tbranco (at)hughes(d0t)net

tetewa said...

Haven't read this one yet, count me in! tWarner419@aol.com

Tabathia B said...

Please count me in
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com

chris said...

I borrowed this right after my daughter was born, and would like my own copy. Thanks for the opportunity. burleyaudio(at)gmail(dot)com

Holly (2 Kids and Tired) said...

I'd love my own copy. I borrowed it from the library and enjoyed it. This is probably the only Stephenie Meyer book I want to reread.

je2kids(at)yahoo(dot)com

Anonymous said...

Another book my sis-in-law insists I read... I'm still on the fence with this one in all honesty, which is why I haven't bought it. Please enter me for this giveaway.

littleredride.nhood[at]yahoo[dot]com