Anyone read the Host by Stephanie Meyer yet?

[lorijds]

I'm anxious to discuss it with someone! The Host boards are pretty restrictive, and I'd rather be able to discuss it with some MDC mamas and papas....come on, finish it so we can talk!

[Billie]

I'm about 3/4 of the way through it. =)

[lorijds]

Hurry up!!!

Lori

[redhotmama]

i can't wait to read it!

[Traci mom23boys]

I saw it at Costco today but didn't buy it. Is it worth owning???


Thanks,
~traci

[klg47]

Darn it! I reserved it at the library, and just went to check on my position. It turns out that I did NOT reserve it! I looked it up and planned to reserve it, but I couldn't remember my card number and never finished : So now I am 266 on the list. Our library has 25 copies. This means I might have to buy it. Well, I bet all the ladies at church have it. Maybe I can get one of them to let me borrow it for this weekend!

[lorijds]

Tracimom, I got it the day after it came out and I read it twice in four days.

I think it's better written than her other books. The characters are fleshed out a bit more. It's science fiction, but definitely character-driven. Some of the concepts are very similar to Battlestar Galactica--I'm a total "Nerdstar Generdstica" geek (as my dh calls it), and I felt that the Host addressed many of the same issues as BSG, just from the not-human point of view. But it *is* a very human point of view.

One thing I find very curious is that the author, being fairly involved with the LDS church, does not address spirituality or religion at all in the Host. I would think that if one is discussing the end of the world as we know it, religion would rear it's head a bit. I wonder if she doesn't interject any religious discussion because she doesn't want her views to be interpreted as representative of the LDS church; or if she doesn't want LDS church heirarchy to get angry with her?

Anyhow, I hope you all can get your hand on a copy one way or another, soon enough for us to discuss it!!!!

[Billie]

Originally Posted by lorijds

Hurry up!!!

Lori

I haven't been able to put it down! I'll probably be done with it by later this morning. =)

[Oriole]

I gave it to my sister for her birthday last week... Will have to wait for her to be done with it first.
Can't wait to read it!.. :

[lorijds]

Originally Posted by Billie

I haven't been able to put it down! I'll probably be done with it by later this morning. =)

Get off the computer already! Don't you have something to read?!?!

Oriole, I'm glad you will be able to read it soon; I think you will like it.

L

[Oriole]

Talked to my sister... She says it's more addicting than Twilight (is that even possible??)

Anyway.. she promised to finish by Friday, so guess what I'm doing this weekend?.. Yeah hu... reading The Host! :
Can't wait. (and I'm SO impatient...)

[Billie]

Originally Posted by lorijds

Get off the computer already! Don't you have something to read?!?!

Oriole, I'm glad you will be able to read it soon; I think you will like it.

L

LOL! Okay, okay.... I've finished it! I was surprised by the ending. Not exactly sure how I expected it to end, but I'm glad it ended as it did. Though, I was crying my eyes out!!

Originally Posted by lorijds

I wonder if she doesn't interject any religious discussion because she doesn't want her views to be interpreted as representative of the LDS church; or if she doesn't want LDS church heirarchy to get angry with her?

This is interesting. I had wondered why there was no mention of a higher source in the words/thoughts of such desperate humans, but I hadn't considered these points... I just assumed that she had wanted to open the book up to the biggest audience she could, seeing as how religion/spirituality can be such a touchy subject.

[seren]

I loved this book. Definitely agree that it is more addicting than Twilight.

[ananas]

I'm not going to read anything because I haven't read it yet- but the Twilight series= best books I have ever read. I'm obsessed. I can't wait to read the host!

[Oriole]

Originally Posted by seren

I loved this book. Definitely agree that it is more addicting than Twilight.

I wanna read!!!!

[seren]

Originally Posted by lorijds

One thing I find very curious is that the author, being fairly involved with the LDS church, does not address spirituality or religion at all in the Host. I would think that if one is discussing the end of the world as we know it, religion would rear it's head a bit. I wonder if she doesn't interject any religious discussion because she doesn't want her views to be interpreted as representative of the LDS church; or if she doesn't want LDS church heirarchy to get angry with her?

I don't think it's either of those. I just think she doesn't write to the LDS audience, she writes to everyone.

[A&A]

My SIL read The Host and said that it's hard to get into at first, but the ending is good. She also said that it's not nearly as good as the Twilight series in her opinion.

[christy005]

ah. i can't wait to get it. I have it on hold at the library...

[lorijds]

Originally Posted by seren

I don't think it's either of those. I just think she doesn't write to the LDS audience, she writes to everyone.

I haven't read many books that deal with the end of the world, but the few stories/novels that do typically discuss spirituality and religion. Simply because when faced with the end of all things, most people start thinking about the afterlife. Do you not agree?

That's why I'm curious as to why the Host has no mention of this at all.

ETA: Another reason I'm curious is because the author makes reference to her church activities quite a bit; in interviews, book signings, etc. I just figured that someone who is so involved with religious activities would inject that into their books. It seems logical to me that, if she spends that much time doing organized religious activities, spirituality and religion would be something she would have thought a lot about. I guess I just assume (perhaps incorrectly; I'm not a writer!) that you write about things you know thoroughly. Maybe if I didn't know that she were so involved with her church, I might not expect it in her writings; who knows? I'm also on a big BSG kick right now, and religion plays such a role in the story, I could just be excessively and unfairly using Battlestar Galactica as my measuring stick for these sort of end-of-the-human-race type of stories.

[redhotmama]

I finished it! My dear friend's 12 year old daughter is my "source" and she never steers me wrong. I loved The Host. I stayed up all night and finished it. Dreamed about sharing my body with an alien the rest of the night! I loved the descriptions of the other worlds and the explanations regarding strong human emotion.