The Random World of Reading discussion

What did you think about the book?

This book is in my top 10, not a huge fan of Stephanie Meyer anymore, but I love this book.

I'm looking really forward to the movie coming out in March.

Okay, I listened to the audio of this book a couple years ago and I gotta say, I loved it. However, it was very, VERY slow going -you had to wait until the desert part before it got interesting. Originally I thought this was gonna be about a girl with an alien in her head trying to take over. When I found out it's the opposite, I was intrigued -especially since I am not a fan of SciFi/Fantasy stuff.

I thought the cocept of aliens slowly taking us over "for the better" to be very believable. Heck, that's what we do right now -look at the pandas. And I absolutely LOVED the idea that crazy old Uncle Jeb was RIGHT gorram it!! *Breakfast Club fist pump to sky*

I am worried about the movie the same way I was with The Hunger Games and the upcoming movie Warm Bodies. 90% of what makes this book good is the internalization of the main character which is extremely difficult to portray in film. Ah, well, I guess we'll see.

I was resisting reading this book because I am one of those people that absolutely loved Twilight for the fun youthful and embarrassingly girly love parts and I was hesitant with what The Host would be like. I agree that it didn't get interesting until the desert part. To tell you the truth I actually almost stopped reading the book altogether because it was so slow in the beginning. I did hit that part where Melanie met Jared and I couldn’t stop reading after that.

Very very slow going. The only reason I kept on was becasue I kept thinking more would happen with the love interest and the dystopian setting. More fighting anything but the continual slow plod. I thought it would make a better movie than a book. But they would still have to put in more action.
I love Stephenie's tone and themes but if she wasn't The Stephenie Meyer, I dont think anyone in their right mind would have published it with out a significant overhaul. Cut off a few thousand words put in some more action and it could have been interesting. Dissapointed.

This book is not holding my attention...it gets better right?!

I found it minimally better then The Girl Who Played with Fire By Steig Larsson.

Amanda wrote: "This book is not holding my attention...it gets better right?!"

Ya gotta make it to the desert. If you're there and you still don't like it, put it in the freezer and Wiki the plot

Tina wrote: "I found it minimally better then The Girl Who Played with Fire By Steig Larsson."

I dunno, once you got past the 200pgs of random math, I couldn't put Fire down. I mean, it had a real live Bond Villain!

Side note: do NOT watch the Swedish version of Hornet's Nest -it'll just anger you T.T

emily_oriley wrote: "Amanda wrote: "This book is not holding my attention...it gets better right?!"

Ya gotta make it to the desert. If you're there and you still don't like it, put it in the freezer and Wiki the plot"

yep, the desert, make it to the desert!

Ok I'll hold out a little longer :)

emily_oriley wrote: "Okay, I listened to the audio of this book a couple years ago and I gotta say, I loved it. However, it was very, VERY slow going -you had to wait until the desert part before it got interesting. ..."

I listened to the audiobook as well and loved it. I really dislike Twilight (though to be fair, I've only read the first book) and wasn't so sure about The Host, but I like it so much that I recommend it to everyone.

Sadly, I fear it'll be a horrible movie because, like The Da Vinci Code, so much of it is internal dialogue. Internal dialogue doesn't always work well in film.

Kim wrote: "emily_oriley wrote: "Okay, I listened to the audio of this book a couple years ago and I gotta say, I loved it. However, it was very, VERY slow going -you had to wait until the desert part before ..."

Ugh, I couldn't finish Da Vinci Code. Couldn't stand the tone or style xp

Kim wrote: "emily_oriley wrote: "Okay, I listened to the audio of this book a couple years ago and I gotta say, I loved it. However, it was very, VERY slow going -you had to wait until the desert part before ..."

Yeah, I'm pretty worries about the movie, there is always hoping though!

Lauren wrote: "Yeah, I'm pretty worries about the movie, there is always hoping though!

*Crosses fingers* At least it has a decent cast.

I picked this book up several times and tried to read it but couldn't. Finally I was on a stretch where I was reading a LOT (currently still in that stretch) and I forced myself to get past the first few chapters. I'm glad I did because I loved it. I was able to read it in a weekend. I felt it could be a stand alone book, or could go with a sequal. I did loan the book to a friend that is a reader like myself... and she has not been able to get past the first chapter. I think once a person gets past the first few chapters... they get swept up in the story and lost in the world.

The book is supposed to be part of a trilogy but since its been about seven-ish years I think I'm calling it.

Yes Amanda,

Once you get to the desert scene and it gets to where she actually meets Jared it gets interesting and flows from there. The start is poorly written, but it does get better. If you make it to the caves, you'll be glad you stuck with it.

Amanda wrote: "This book is not holding my attention...it gets better right?!"

Tina wrote: "Very very slow going. The only reason I kept on was becasue I kept thinking more would happen with the love interest and the dystopian setting. More fighting anything but the continual slow plod. I..."

I gave up :/ I will come back to it eventually.

Amanda wrote: "I gave up :/ I will come back to it eventually."

Hehehehe, eventually!

I haven't read EVERYBODY'S comments, but I just have to say...

To everyone having trouble reading: I promise, it gets better! The first several chapters are all world and character building. Once she drives out of town, everything gets better!

The first time I read this book, I wasn't even sure I wanted to, but then got it for a birthday present so I felt I needed to give it a chance. So, so glad I did. I took forever to get through the beginning, but then read the rest in 2 days (around work and very little sleep :P). It now holds as one of my favorite books of all time.

So glad to see this book getting some attention and love, and can't wait for the movie in March (even though it can never be as good as this book)!!

Lauren wrote: "What did you think about the book?"

I loved almost everything about this book, the cover, the concept, the characters, the plot... Excellent!

I read this book about a year ago during my pregnancy with my son and I just loved it. The story was everything I was looking for in that emotional state I was in. Its definitely my favorite book that has come out of Stephanie Meyer's mind.

I agree with quite a few that the first part of the book is slow but after the desert I loved it.

Emmalee wrote: "This book is in my top 10, not a huge fan of Stephanie Meyer anymore, but I love this book."


I feel the same way

I disliked the book. I tried very hard to read past page 20 and just could not make it.

Annette wrote: "I disliked the book. I tried very hard to read past page 20 and just could not make it."

You gotta make it to the desert -it gets better but its a dreadfully slow start.