Twilight

Remember my fascination with the western intrepretation of vampires? (Hehe...the eastern intrepretation is too scary!) Anyway, I scan through my niece's blog and how she is so obsesses with this novel, okay... nothing new ^_^ then I dont know in which blog was it that she mentioned about the book is about vampire, that got me stop for awhile, hmm...maybe later after I finish off my kdramasss I borrow it from her- though when will that be I wonder, since even now I'm itching to buy a new one. Then earlier this week, my mother asked me to drive her to my sister's house one afternoon after I got back from work. I peek into my niece's room and saw the second series on her bed, that reminds me to ask her for the first series. I planned to read it only when I was watching astro channel- during commercial breaks- of whatever is on. (When I'm in my small-havenly-room I'm preoccupied either with kdramas or sleeping) but then like always when I'm hooked on a book I cant let go....

At start, I was not expecting much since the novel was written in the first perspective. I found novel of this kind was very boring, limited scope. But the writer has such simple interesting, not overly descriptive style of writing that make me enjoyed it nonetheless with witty sarcasm remarks here and there.

The story start with Bella Swan who choose to go to live with her father at a remote small town of Forks, Olympic Peninsula when her mother remarried - not that she object her mother remarrying. At her Phoenix high school she was just an ordinary girl, but being the new girl in town, grab the attention of several of her male schoolmates. One in particular, the mysterious and dazzlingly beautiful Edward Cullen, intelligent and witty (a deadly combination for sure!) . At school's cafeteria, he always sat with a group of five remarkably beautiful teens, but never eat (then why do they bother to go to the cafeteria? to keep appearances?) As she grows to know, and then love, Edward, she learns their secret, he was part of a coven of vampires! But rest assured his family/coven had renounce human prey.

Edward hasn't aged since 1918 - forever 17 (dont we all wish that?! Well, I like to be a bit older than that). Like all vampires, he's immortal. To Edward, Bella is that thing he has waited 90 years for - a soul mate. But Edward is having a hard time controlling the blood lust she arouses in him- at any moment, the intensity of their passion could drive him to kill her, and he agonizes over the danger. Bella would rather be dead than part from Edward, so she risks her life to stay near him.

Sorry to say, I was going urghh! when I first read the part about Edward's attraction to Bella. It was like having a 90 year old man fall in love with a teenager! What does he see in her? DOESNT he see her as a kid barely out of the schoolroom? Gross! Then, there is this thing where he have to stay in school most of his lifetimes - studying useless facts in countless classroom, reading the same textbook year after year. Gloomy!

What I like is the way the writer potray Edward's inner struggle - he wants to kiss her, he wants to drink her; in one hand he would like to keep his soulmate by his side, but another part of him wants her safe which is away from him. :) Sometimes we know what we should do, the right thing to do but its just seems so....un-do-able

However, I still would want to read the other series, New Moon, Eclipse and Breaking Dawn. This is what I hate about book in series...the waiting part until I can get my hand on a copy. I hate unfinished story! Dinn...are you done with New Moon? Hopefully, my collegue who went to Singapore find Eclipse and perhaps Breaking Dawn...

The movie adaptation will be out on 12.12.2008, not looking forward to it, after Harry Potter and several other adaptations, movie just a pale comparison to the novel itself. Plus the cast they used sometimes dont match with the one in my head.

I was browsing through Stephenie Meyer Official Website and saw the review of this book, hmmm seems interesting...darn when is my next trip to Singapore or KL?

The author of the Twilight series of #1 bestsellers delivers her brilliant first novel for adults: a gripping story of love and betrayal in a future with the fate of humanity at stake. Melanie Stryder refuses to fade away. The earth has been invaded by a species that take over the minds of their human hosts while leaving their bodies intact, and most of humanity has succumbed.Wanderer, the invading "soul" who has been given Melanie's body, knew about the challenges of living inside a human: the overwhelming emotions, 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.Melanie fills Wanderer's thoughts 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 yearns for a man she's never met. As outside forces make Wanderer and Melanie unwilling allies, they set off to search for the man they both love.Featuring what may be the first love triangle involving only two bodies, THE HOST is a riveting and unforgettable novel that will bring a vast new readership to one of the most compelling writers of our time.

Amazon Sales Rank: #22 in Books
Published on: 2008-05-06
Released on: 2008-05-06

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com Amazon Best of the Month, May 2008: Stephenie Meyer, creator of the phenomenal teen-vamp Twilight series, takes paranormal romance into alien territory in her first adult novel. Those wary of sci-fi or teen angst will be pleasantly surprised by this mature and imaginative thriller, propelled by equal parts action and emotion. A species of altruistic parasites has peacefully assumed control of the minds and bodies of most humans, but feisty Melanie Stryder won't surrender her mind to the alien soul called Wanderer. Overwhelmed by Melanie's memories of fellow resistor Jared, Wanderer yields to her body's longing and sets off into the desert to find him. Likely the first love triangle involving just two bodies, it's unabashedly romantic, and the characters (human and alien) genuinely endearing. Readers intrigued by this familiar-yet-alien world will gleefully note that the story's end leaves the door open for a sequel--or another series. --Mari Malcolm

Customer Reviews
Amazing Emotional Rollar Coaster! This book was amazing and full of great characters and had me on an emotional roller coaster. I never knew who I wanted to side with or who the good guys were. The emotional aspect of this book was breathtaking. I have not read a book in so long that had me so on edge in a long time. I cried, I laughed and I took self- inventory. Please note I am not a touchy-feely person at all. Great Book! And I like "alien books"!

So I was all prepared to hate this book I think I ordered this book out of a sick fascination to see just with what other fluff Stephanie Meyer could come up. While I like the "Twilight" books, the emotion is not any stronger than a simple "like". And I was all prepared for that to be my maximum for "The Host". However wrong was I. Maybe because this is a book more aimed at adults. Maybe Stephanie (while still pleasing her fellow Mormons such as I) made it a little sexier. Maybe it was just a dern good twist on a classic sci-fi story. Whatever the reason, this book is excellent. The set-up is simple. True to the classics, mind-controlling aliens have taken over the planet. However... they really aren't bad guys. They are parasites, but that is simply what they are and they can't help it. They don't want to hurt the humans by any means, but they did not expect humans to be so... human. So when a supposedly strong "soul" called Wanderer takes over the body of Melanie Stryder, she is sucked into the very ideals of the namesake Host. I have always admired Meyer's writing style, and the prose continues to not disappoint. However, this book is for other reasons a much higher level than "Twilight". Her characters are more real (plenty of critics will still complain they aren't real enough, but to me it's a huge improvement) and they do not lack the typical stereotypes of those pesky vampires. Having Wanderer as the first-person narrative was a stroke of genius and allows the reader to finally symapthize and even empathize with an evil alien queen mother. I also appreciated how clear Meyer's love of the desert. I live in desert enough, but it made me want to head south. The setting is marvelous and enchanting and, dare I say it, homey. This is a fascinating idea that was well executed and well told. Not only should Meyer's previous fans appreciate it, but this just might grab some new fans.

Absolutely Wonderful This is one of the best books I have read in a long time. I laughed, I cried, and I didn't want the book to end. I have only read the author's first book Twilight and not the rest of that series, but I thought this novel had characters that were better developed and the plot had more depth. The story moved quickly and the author kept me guessing as to how she would end the novel. A wonderful read.