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by Stephenie Meyer

Loved this book. It was brilliant. Who would've thought I'd 1) love a science fiction book, 2) love a character who's a parasite? But I suppose that's part of why it's so good...it's not a conventional sci-fi, or romance, or anything. It doesn't fit into any sort of box or preconception.

This is one of those stories that fill me up, leaving me completely...full. I don't know how to describe it. It's a tiny fraction like the way I felt after Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. (I say a tiny fraction, because I don't think I'll ever feel nearly as much fullness as I did after Deathly Hallows....)

The ending made me cry. I knew it was both inevitable and perfect, but I sobbed. However...I turned a few blank pages...and found an epilogue. Which I have mixed feelings about. But I'm glad it had the epilogue...it left me happier.

Possibly the book's biggest strength was the relationships between the characters. Those were beautifully done - from the relationship Melanie and Wanderer have with each other, to both of their relationships with everyone else they meet.

It was completely compelling. Oh, and I can't tell you how much I want to play the main character, if a movie were ever made of this. That would be an incredible challenge.

THE HOST by Stephenie Meyer (Due out May 6th. Pre-order here.)
Review by Emily, head mama of DCR and yes, lucky dog.

I never thought an author could make me cry over a dying alien...but that's Stephenie Meyer for you. I mean really, how many authors do you know who could capture the heart of the world through a vampire romance? Well, The Host's plot is every bit as cheesy-sounding. Yet, there I was, crying...enthralled...unable to put it down.

The Host started out a little rough for me. It is written from the perspective of a parasitic alien who has just entered into a human body. At first, I couldn't help but be a little turned off by the sci-fi aspect of the plot...but by about page 40, I was completely sucked in. Stephenie Meyer is talented at taking an out-there plot and making it ridiculously compelling and romantic.


As it says on the back of the book, this could very well be the first-ever love triangle that involves only two bodies.

Wanderer has lived on 9 different worlds and never found anything or anyone that would tie her down. She finds Earth to be the hardest, yet most intriguing, place she has ever lived. The hosts are so individualized. So emotional. They are strong. They fight. Wanderer feels weak because she can't completely get rid of her host body's original spirit...Melanie.

Wanderer remembers Melanie's memories, feels Melanie's emotions...and loves the man Melanie loves. But loving him means betraying her own species and way of life.

Many readers probably want to know if The Host is as good as Twilight. Well, probably not. Is it worth reading, though? Absolutely. It's full of adventure, mystery, romance, pain, family love, and turmoil.

A couple things I didn't love about The Host. First of all, I was disappointed with all the typos. Of course, it was an ARC, so hopefully they'll get most of those smoothed out before the release date.

Secondly, I'm not totally convinced that Wanderer ends up with the right guy. Of course, I'm not going to give anything away. Besides, The Host is reportedly the first in a trilogy, so anything could happen, right?

And, finally, be warned, Stephenie Meyer continues to use her smattering of "dang" words. Other than that, this book is a clean read.

On her website, Stephenie Meyer says this of The Host...."Despite its genre, The Host is a very human story. There aren't any gadgets, ray guns, time warps, black holes, spaceships (okay, there are a few spaceships mentioned), or any of the other sci-fi standards. It all takes place on the planet earth in the present day and is, at its core, a love story (I can't stay away from the romance, I'm a sap)."

I agree with this assessment, although I had my doubts at first. I mean, really, who would cry over an alien unless it was a pretty human story, right?

A slight departure from my usual thing here.
Last night I watched Live from Lincoln Center. It was the Mostly Mozart Festival with the Mark Morris Dance Group doing the dancing and Emanauel Ax doing the piano playing.

It was fabulous.

It took me back to the 80's when I was in school at the Academy of Art. Mark Morris was doing a performance somewhere in town, and wanted some of us from the school to go over and draw them all dancing so they could hang the drawings in the lobby for the performance.

Well. I was one of the chosen few. I didn't know who he was, and thought we were going to watch some regular ballet dancers rehearse. WRONG.
They danced and we tried to draw (we could all draw well, usually, but have you ever tried to draw dancers dancing? not easy) and I was blown away.

It wasn't airy-fairy pointy toed Swan Lake kind of dancing. It was the most elegant, limbs-at-odd-angles, thumping the floor, witty, playful, intelligent moving around by people I'd ever seen.

And him! Look at him. This beautiful, cherubic creature with the curls, and how he danced. I'm swooning, remembering. We went to the actual performance as well, and it was exhilarating.

If you get a chance to see the company dance anywhere, DO.

And I must add that Emanuel Ax is no slouch at the piano, either.