Stephenie Meyer - The Host

This book was not at all what I expected it to be - a little bit odd, but strangely compelling. When I first read the blurb, I was slightly intrigued but I didn't think it would grab me in a big way. The only reason why I decided to read this book is because I'm a huge fan of the Twilight Saga and I wanted to read this standalone adult novel from Stephenie Meyer. The Host progresses at a steady pace in an unhurried manner, allowing readers to immerse themselves in the new universe that Meyer has created. The names of the various planets and their inhabitants bugged me - Bats of the Singing World; Planet of the Flowers; See Weeds - such silly names, in my opinion. However, once I got past that, I really enjoyed Meyer's storytelling, thanks to the great characters that she created in The Host - from Wanderer/Wanda, the self-sacrificing alien parasite who loathes violence, to her feisty and hot-tempered human host, Melanie, as well as the other remaining human survivors of the alien invasion like Jeb, Jamie, Ian and Jared - I found myself really caring for these characters and increasingly drawn into their world. While I didn't have the same passion for The Host as I did for the Twilight books, I still think it's very well written and I look forward to its sequels. The marketing pitch for this book is "science fiction for people who don't like science fiction" - I am not sure if Stephenie Meyer has achieved that but I will certainly attest to it being a fantastic read and a worthy addition to any bookshelf.