Hannah Chu Reviews: The Host

Hannah Chu
Mrs. Poulsen
English 10A Regulars
March 15, 2010

Human Species vs. Soul World

In a world full of souls co-existing with the human species, humans were the ones becoming extinct because these souls were capable of vanquishing into human bodies and were strong enough to eliminate its mind, consciousness; hosts including: living beings on Earth and other species on other planets. In the Host by Stephanie Meyer, the main character, a soul name Wanderer (having a history of eight host’s life), came to a human species as her ninth’s life. During her intrusion into a human host, named Melanie Stryder; she had caught herself into a long-term interference. This complication compiled into four stages of conflicts in this life: First conflict was internal conflicts with Melanie resisting Wanderer’s control; Second conflict was Wanderer’s struggles within a human community in a hideaway; Third conflict was a decision of choosing whom she love; Last conflicts came down to her departure of Melanie’s controller. Nevertheless, encountering four different frustrations, Wanderer was still as believable as any experienced soul would feel and react.

Eight host’s life history had made Wanderer a professional in the soul society. However, she was warned that human species was the most difficult to handle over all the other species. Though, strong as she was, she would still panic and fear, “No! I panicked, fearing the cold and the pain and the very fear itself” (Meyer, 12). It was the moment Melanie became stronger and able to speak to her in Wanderer’s mind, at this; Wanderer would expose herself to a sudden instant of cold sweat caused from an unexpected encounter internally (Refers back to the first conflict). Another scene was giving in to names, which she refused and unwillingly to call other people using human names. “No. To be honest, it seems… like surrender” (Meyer, 41). As an identity of an alien, like-wise having an alien to use other species’ identification as their own would feel like a loser, languid and easily conquered when you were strong enough to withstand yourself (Refers back to the second conflict). But most importantly, Wanderer’s love towards Jared was still inerasable even after leaving Melanie’s body. “It made me sorry to realize that I still loved Jared. I wasn’t free of that, wasn’t free of jealousy for the body he loved” (Meyer, 606). It was after all, unbearable, in loving one person for so long that she found it hard to let go and move on. Wanderer, on one hand, loves Ian but nostalgically to the love she had for Jared at times. Such emotion that has been built up made her a realistic character, because in the real world, majority of girls were afflicted from the love they weren’t able withhold (Refers to third and fourth conflicts). Overall, Wanderer was believable as in the reaction she had towards different situation, taking those four conflicts into account, was handle quite well from a perspective of an alien.

Stephanie Meyer brought in realistic characters in this fantasy world, and has made the book much alive rather than a regular book. For those who interested in love, adventurous, fantasy, spiritual-like, internal conflicts, and grieve for something the main character wants, would be most recommended to read this book. The purpose of this book gave the reader a vivid meaning of human complicity and giving a different perspective of human nature from an innocent soul. In my opinions, the author has inspired me to have a bigger view of the world, and using another aspect in dealing with different obstacles in life.