The Host "Sci-Fi for people who hate Plot"

[m_pendulum]

I wish I could start my adventure into the world of live journal with a positive post. Something about puppies and kittens or the beauty of Alan Rickman's voice. Unfortunately, the thing that drives me to write today is the poorly written book known as The Host, by none other than Stephenie "Sparkling Vampires" Meyer. 

Comments

[lanna_lovely]

I could pretty much ramble/rant for days about what is wrong with the Twilight books and Smeyers writing... but, shockingly, I actually liked The Host.

I mean, it had flaws. The alien names drove me nuts, they were cheesy and stupid (and I mean everything from the character names to the medicine to the planets to the names of alien races) and the writing wasn't perfect, it didn't annoy me as much as with the Twilight series but it wasn't too great either. And then there's the main characters, Mel and Wanda are Mary Sue's, just like Bella only not as extreme.

As for why I like the book... I honestly don't know. Stephenie's books are kind of like the book equivelent of trashy TV shows that are entertaining without really having to be *good*.

I liked the ending, they had all come to care about Wanda (I hate that name so much) so it's understandable that they wouldn't want to let her die... with Mel, maybe she even had this twisted version of Stockholm Syndrome - I mean, she was kept prisoner in her own head and whenever Wanda would do something good she would feel greatful to her for it, in spite of the fact that technically Wanda stole her body and if it wasn't for her people then Melanie and the other humans wouldn't even be in that situation in the first place.

I tend to have bipolar feelings towards all of Stephenie's books. I can enjoy reading them while still being aware of how flawed they are... she kind of fails at writing healthy romances.

You should check out Paper Towns and Looking for Alaska by John Green, Stolen by Lucy Christopher and Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta.

Oh and have you read The Mortal Instruments series? I'd be interested to hear what you have to say about those considering there was this whole plagiarism scandal with the author back in her fanfiction days and the books are clearly inspired by Harry Potter (apparently the characters in the book are just like her Harry Potter fanfic characters - right down to the physical descriptions). =/

[doublecaramel]

Oh and have you read The Mortal Instruments series? I'd be interested to hear what you have to say about those considering there was this whole plagiarism scandal with the author back in her fanfiction days and the books are clearly inspired by Harry Potter (apparently the characters in the book are just like her Harry Potter fanfic characters - right down to the physical descriptions). =/

I've read it and in my opinion that could be considered as true, her main couple is physically very similar do Draco/Ginny -- okay I am exaggerating, but I immediately thought of them after reading one of the love interests was a blonde guy and the protagonist was redhead girl (though the girl in the books has blue eyes, and I curly hair . . . I think, I can't honestly remember) -- however the personalities of both characters are different.

I personally liked the trilogy (not the best, but a good read) though I think the main couple was forced upon us and I don't really see why they should be together. I think Cass left her D/G fangirl get in the way.

Anyway, it's not a bad and it's not plagiarism besides the hair colours her characters are completely different from Draco & Ginny (at least JK.R's version).

By the way, Id also love to see Melina's thoughts on this one. ^_~

[lanna_lovely]

Mhmm, for the Draco/Ginny thing, I wasn't really referring to JK Rowlings versions of the characters - the fanon Draco and Ginny are really different to the ones in the books. So yeah, apparently the personalities of Jace/Clary match up to the fan versions of Draco/Ginny (I have the e-books of Cassandra's Draco Trilogy fanfic, I just haven't gotten round to reading it yet).

I love The Mortal Instruments trilogy and I think she did manage to make it original but at the same time it's clear where she's been influenced by other things (not just Harry Potter)... even little details like the whole normal humans being called mundanes is similar to the muggles thing in HP. :]

[lanna_lovely]

Oh and I know TMI isn't plagiarized work... the plagiarism scandal thing was back before she wrote that (the full story about it is explained in a series of posts here: http://www.journalfen.net/community/bad_penny/9422.html ) :)

[doublecaramel]

I knew what you referring too (I think I didn't make myself clear.Ups' Sorry!), In my opinion that is a big bucket of exaggeration, sure she used some Buffy lines (e.g.) but she always disclaimed and stated in the author notes where they were from.

The fact that she throws Jace/Clary in TMI confuses me more because I really don't see why they love each other that much, it looks more of a undeveloped crush (he is hot!) to me and it doesn't help that I was reading it and going "She is doing such a bad job in portraying Draco *cough* Jace" . But that is just my issue. ;-)

The Draco Trilogy is great fun (though it also centres around Dramione *cringes*), though it doesn't feature the most creative ideas (but probably back then such ideas weren't such tropes), you should read it some time. It deserves it's fame. ^_~