Impressive

I had never come accross Stephanie Meyer before, and I was very pleasantly surprised. This is science-fiction at its best. At a basic level this is a survival thriller. But Meyer uses the premise that human beings are possessed by aliens to skillfully explore xenophobia, prejudice, loyalty, betrayal, love, cruelty, kindness, altruism, selfishness, and the meaning of humanity.
The book is written from the viewpoint of an alien possessor, and the action, physical and psychological, moves at a good clip, which made it compulsive listening for me.
The narrator deserves special praise too, she acts out the parts with care and skill, getting the voice characterisations and the inflexions just right.
Whether you want a provocative and thought-provoking story or just a gripping yarn, I can thoroughly recommend this audiobook.

18 people found this helpful

The Host

This book by Stephenie Meyer, author of the aclaimed Twilight Saga, is a deeply moving story about what it means to be human. Aliens have conquered Earth and taken over the minds of humans. Most humans have submitted, but there are some who resist. When Wanderer is driven by her resistant human host to seek sanctuary among the people her host once knew, she faces rejection, hatred and violence, but also discovers the meaning of true love and friendship. This is a science fiction tale which is not my usual fair, but I thought it was very well written and I found the characters both complex and engaging.

13 people found this helpful

B-movie standard with a twist!

OK, I'll admit it, I am a Stephanie Meyer junkie. If she copied a restaurant menu, I'd probably read it.

That, however, doesn't stop The Host being an excellent, thought provoking listen! Picking up from the credits of most bodysnatcher movies, you're transported into the body of Melanie and the mind of Wanderer. Melanie and her 'Soul' form a bizarre union, searching for Melanie's lost love. The Host casts an inetersting new light on the 'love triangle' whilst posing some interesting philosphical questions about whether the person is contained in the body, conscious, or conscience.
Kate Reading has an upward vocal inflection, which I found quite irritating to start with, but once she started expanding the character range it became less noticable.

If you started with Twilight, I suspect you will buy this regardless, but if you have seen your children become obsessed and want to know what all the fuss is about, I would start here.

16 people found this helpful

Better than Twilight by FAR.

What made the experience of listening to The Host the most enjoyable?

I thoroughly enjoyed the novel 'The Host' and thought that the audio-book would be a bit of fun, background stuff yadda yadda and instead I had to carefully portion my time to listen to it - the emotions run higher when you can hear the words spoken and as so much of the story is about a persons heart and soul, and the fate of the dwindling human race, the emotional content tends to run high and it was wonderful, I'm still mourning having finished it - my first audio-book hangover if you will.

What did you like best about this story?

Unlike Twilight (which I confess I do enjoy as a guilty pleasure) this story sticks to the pre-established trope that Body-snatchers etc have introduced us to over the years - a symbiotic race steals our bodies and our planet etc - but that's where the likeness ends.

Wanderer, our main character is one of a race who explore the galaxy and bond with creatures to learn and absorb and improve their cultures, having taken Earth before we can destroy it and ourselves to boot.

It's got romantic elements, it's even rife with Meyer's predilection for love triangles but the main love story is of Wanda/Wanderer and humanity; for all our brutish ways and hot blooded emotions nothing converts her like the love between humans and particularly her Host's lingering love for her little brother, a love so strong it converts Wanda from gentle Soul, to quietly stubborn heroine.

The film didn't do the book justice sadly (too much content for a two hour film methinks) but the audio book was so good I may leave my paperback to gather dust in favour of a re-listen versus a reread - it's a heartwarming sci-fi tale of love for each other and our planet both and I cannot recommend it enough :)

What about Kate Reading’s performance did you like?

I particularly enjoyed the way Kate Reading intoned Wanderer's words with the sense of being new to the language, hesitations and stresses on things that were glossed straight over in her 'Mel' voice, not to mention her wide range of differing tones and accents made for a believable cast with both male and female characters.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Having read the book before I didn't think anything was likely to surprise or move me but Kate Reading's depiction of Walter made me cry my face off, as did Wanda's final deal with Doc - it was a wonderful story overall but to be moved by something you already know will happen is particularly amazing.

Any additional comments?

I loved this audio book, I loved the book and I don't think either get the recognition they deserve, I sincerely hope more people will give either version a try because two empowered heroine's in one body fighting for the people and the planet they love beats Twilight any day.

7 people found this helpful

Original

An original and accomplished story which is beutifully narated.

6 people found this helpful

Excellent

I felt the narrator did an outstanding job with all the characters voices. The unfamiliar inflections and tones that the narrator uses with Wanderers voice in the first part of the book, I think was intended to illustrate the fact that Wanderer was alien and not used to the language..she changes this as the book progresses. Anyway, I did not find the narrators voice irritating at all..I very much enjoyed this book and would recommend it as an easy, enjoyable and entertaining listen.

5 people found this helpful

Excellent!

This was an engrossing and interesting listen. It starts slowly but once it gets going (and it does get going) it doesn't stop. I listen at the gym, and one day even found I'd done 4 minutes over my time on the treadmill I was so caught up in things!
I sort of guessed how the end might be resolved, and womanfully avoided picking copies of the book up in my library or local Smiths just to see if I was right (I was, in a way).
What was nice was that there was no contrived badness to interrupt what was essentially a book about learning who, and what you are, and how that affects those you love.
The only problem now is, after over 20 hours of listening I'm going to really struggle to get into another audio-book.
This is beautifully read with lovely characterisation - she copes with the main characters brilliantly, doing crotchety old men, teen boys, women and men, staying in character throughout. Well worth the pennies and well worth listening to - go buy!

5 people found this helpful

Annoying voice

Absolutely brilliant book, almost unrecognizable to the style of the twilight series. This book is worlds above them. However the voice of the narrator draws attention away from the story at points because of unnecessarily exaggerated inflections which are not easy to listen to.

10 people found this helpful

Brilliantly written, beautiful characters

Where does The Host rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

One of my favourite listens. I have listened to it half a dozen times.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The main character(s) Wanda and Melanie Stryder, Meyer has definitely captured the nuances of each character fantastically.These two characters, although they share the same body, are entirely their own person.Wanda is the soul that has been drafted into Melanie's body; she is mild mannered, timid and painfully kind to everyone.Melanie is smart, strong willed and has spent years on the run, she has a no-nonsense and outspoken attitude.Wanda/Melanie are very strong characters in their own right.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Moments of laughing out loud, moments of gripping emotion and connections with characters.I fell in love with most of the characters in the caves, Jeb is delightfully mad, Jamie is heart achingly sweet, Jared is fiery and enigmatic and Ian is loyal and strong.

Any additional comments?

Narration was outstanding, Kate Reading really did all of the characters' voices incredibly well. Wanda and Melanie are given different voices that do justice to their temperament.A great story about, humanity, survival and everything that is good and bad about being human.

3 people found this helpful

good book, not the best narrator.

I love the book but the narrator is a little irritating and at times makes the protagonist sound weak. If I didn't already love the book before listening the narrator would have put me off finishing the book.

2 people found this helpful