the host

whenever i want to read a book by a new author, i usually try to either borrow it from my office's library (yes we do have library, and its quite good and well stocked too!) or i rent it (the usual shop i go is in Ampang Point, very very well stocked and updated) mainly because i do not want to waste money to purchased it and the discovered that its horrible. especially since new books here is so expensive! which is why i loved loved big bad wolf book sales :) - free advert :p

anyway, i thoroughly enjoyed reading Stephanie Meyer's Twilight series, did not love it enough to purchase the set though, cos i usually only buy books that i know im going to read it over and over again, and the twilight series are the kind that i would only read once..

which is why i was so pleasantly surprised when this book, The Host was so damn good! when i took this book out to borrow the other day from the library i didnt expect much, well, i expected i would be entertained and that it will fulfill my must-read-something-before-sleeping routine, something light and simple..BUT it turns out to be so engrossing that i ended staying up the whole night finishing the book!

ok, quick synopsis of the book;

Our world has been invaded by an unseen enemy. Humans become hosts for these invaders, their minds taken over while their bodies remain intact and continue their lives apparently unchanged. Most of humanity has succumbed.

When Melanie, one of the few remaining "wild" humans is captured, she is certain it is her end. Wanderer, the invading "soul" who has been given Melanie's body, was warned about the challenges of living inside a human: the overwhelming emotions, the glut of senses, the too vivid memories. But there was one difficulty Wanderer didn't expect: the former tenant of her body refusing to relinquish possession of her mind.

Wanderer probes Melanie's thoughts, hoping to discover the whereabouts of the remaining human resistance. Instead, Melanie fills Wanderer's mind with visions of the man Melanie loves—Jared, a human who still lives in hiding. Unable to separate herself from her body's desires, Wanderer begins to yearn for a man she has been tasked with exposing. When outside forces make Wanderer and Melanie unwilling allies, they set off on a dangerous and uncertain search for the man they both love.

you can read more about this in here where this is taken from...

why i love this book? well, when i read the synopsis above, the first thing that came to my mind was, another book about aliens? i knew how that is going to end, right? but i decided to give her the benefit of the doubt because she made me read about vampires which is something i never ever would read about otherwise, same goes with books about aliens, so i thought its worth a shot. she's brilliant like that, writing from a different angle, a different perspective, and even though its about aliens invading earth, its also about love, friendship and family. the writing is simple and thoughtful and i really love the way the alien-Melanie tried to defend herself while surrounded by humans, which i think sometimes its battle for everyone even non-alien folks, trying to please others so that they like you, trying to fight others so that you can stand up to what you believe in, trying to find love, then fighting it because you didnt think you'd deserve it, simply, trying to survive in the world as best as you can.

well, anyway, do try read it if you can and hoped you enjoyed it as much as i did :)

happy reading!