With the film success of Twilight (starring Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, and Taylor Lautner) and the probable continuation of that success with The Twilight Saga: New Moon, Eclipse, and Breaking Dawn, should Stephenie Meyer’s fifth book (no, unfortunately not Midnight Sun) The Host be brought to the big screen?
The Host, Meyer’s “adult” science fiction-style novel was first brought to us Post-Twilight, so its success in book sales was fairly high. With certain expectations in mind, many fans were put off by The Host. However, at a second glance, even Twilight series fans might be able to draw some similarities between Twilight (or, perhaps more appropriately, Breaking Dawn) and this book.
In The Host, we meet “Wanderer,” a little “soul” who has been implanted into the bodies of several creatures throughout her existence. Though she has been to the fire planet, been a bear and a dolphin before, Wanderer has never seen anything quite like Earth (by the way - it's Earth day, so do something nice for it today!). When she comes to being in the form of Melanie Stryder (whose name, might I mention curiously resembles Stephenie Meyer), a fearless warrior for the human condition, Wanderer goes through an evolution. Though Wanderer’s soul might’ve been injected into Melanie’s body, Melanie, however, isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Coming to Wanderer’s cognition in the form of rampant memories at first, then by voice, Melanie brings to Wanderer memories, emotions, and sentiments that they would never have otherwise subscribed to. For instance, Mel is carefully poignant to insert distant memories of her affection for both her little brother Jamie and her lover Jared.
The Earth that Wanderer comes to know, however, is quite different than the one you and I live in today. Instead, it is a world wrought with peril for the human race – to the “souls,” it is a pilgrimage of goodness and selflessness; to the humans, it is pure invasion of the body-snatchers. Whereas Wanderer at first imagined her predicament – that of being put into a human body to take away the innate human characteristics of that body and replace it with a good-spirited, deserving soul – Melanie’s memory existence (which, in the typical soul’s scenario, is not an issue as the host body’s cognitions usually dissipate upon implantation) brings Wanderer to seek out the humans and try to make nice with them.
To avoid spoiling the story for non-readers, I’ll leave it at that. The themes that commence afterward, though, are very telling of Meyer’s voice in authorship. Number one – she clearly enjoys writing about the wayward heroin who has gone against the grain to satisfy a deeper sense of meaning and respect for those that are different, and number two – her leading ladies usually have to endure quite a good deal (including much physical pain in the case of both Wanderer (“Wanda”) and Bella) before they will see their happy day. Another thing one might derive from a comparison of the two is the fact that love, family and fellowship are all characteristics that are engrained in her characters. On a contextual point, too, the story arc of the two always involves some sort of exciting action sequence that has progressively and systematically been built up to in the course of her use of extended and carefully worded dialogue and setting.
Though there are many other potentially extractable similarities between these two storylines, given a fairly objective scrutiny, the emphasis is clear – there are some definite traits of Twilight-style Stephenie Meyer to be found latent in The Host. Moving on, the question might be whether The Host is something Meyer’s fans would like to see brought to the silver screen?
With its roots in the desert-area west, we would see a big (not the least bit subtle) change in setting and locale, and from the very beginning, the mood would be quite different. However, as the story progresses, characters like Jared, Jamie, Ian, and others could really make a sensory impression on the big screen that adequately reflects their literary persona. So, I ask you, would you like to see The Host brought to life on the big screen? If so or if not, why? Comment below and let us know!
Comments
I would love to see this book turned into a movie. some fans Of the twilight series have had a hard time just getting past the first 3 chapters but after that Stephenie takes us into a new world that is different then twilight. different by the surroundings and the characters. Wanderer is new on Earth and is still trying to understand the emotions us humans have. the story has a great outline for a movie. I also hope that she decides to write a 2nd book to this novel as it does have a lot more story left.
LOL you put Jaime as her lover. Its Jared :) But I think The Host would be a cool movie!
I recently read the Host. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. While reading it, especially the second half, I contiually thought it had great possibility on the big screen. I do think it could be made into a fabulous movie!
I would pay to read or see anything that Stephenie writes. She's phenomenal! Plus she has a really great name! :-) I do have to sigh every time I consider that Midnight Sun, by far her most technically sound and fascinating novel, has not been completed. It is far and away her best book. Admittedly, I did not know there had been a breach of faith until I read it on her website. Even then I held out for a full month trying to respect her wishes but the draw of the story was too much and I caved. (I'm more of a Jasper than an Edward in this case. LOL) I could read Midnight Sun every day and not tire of it! So, yes, I could see The Host as a movie but I'd rather see Midnight Sun as a completed novel.
I think I would be more excited to see the host as a movie than the twilight movies. I thought it was an amazing book. I've heard that she's planning to write 2 more of them though. So if they do want to make it a movie, they'll probably want to wait until she's at least got the second one written.
I took me a little bit to get into the Host but once i did, wow, what a story. I really enjoyed it, it was a great story. Not many people that i know read the book. Actually i havent been able to discuss with anyone. I think alot of people were expecting more of "vampires theme". I really like the way she writes, it's easy reading. I thought that it would be a good television series more than a big screen movie. She did leave it open for more books.
I loved the Host...and thought half way through it would make an excellent movie
I'd love to see The host as a movie but I'm also worried that the studio wouldn't be able to make nice special effets. we'd have to see the special effets they were able to make in New moon because they weren't all that great in the movie Twilight. ( I'm french so my writing isn'T really good) :P
I had heard the Host wasn't as good as the Twilight books, so I wasn't expecting anything that great when I picked it up. I was pleasantly surprised. The Host has that same inexplicable "pull" as the twilight series-- you just can't stop thinking about the characters and thirst for more! I don't understand why everyone said it was such a let down, I thought it was great and REALLY hope Stephenie writes sequels. It has a cool plot, settings, and action too-- I think it would be great for a movie :)
I did not read any books before the Twilight saga. But when I finished them all, I wanted to read more. I antagonized at the bookshop, if The Host is a good book. But I read it, and It's great Should be put to the big screen
It should definitly be made into a movie. I read the book in one day, and loved it. I have been hoping it would be made into a movie. I'll keep my fingers crossed.
Loved The Host, I even cried! The landscape and other scenes will be much to monotonous for this book to be made into a movie. People would get bored, and I don't think that the book is as strong as Twilight for the fans to follow it onto the screen. I think making the book into a movie, would hurt the book... some things should just be left alone and appreciated for what they already are.
I would LOVE to see the Host made into a movie. It was a really great book!
I thought The Host was EXCELLENT....Its a little slow in the beginning but like twilight, once it picks up, you can't put it down....I would LOVE for it to make it to the big screen....
well i wasn't going to read The Host but after reading the article and comment I am tempted to try it out now. If he gets made into a movie...who would be the leads? Just wondering if anyone had people in mind already
I've read all the Twilight Saga and The Host. I guess I'm the only one commenting here that didn't really like it. It was way too slow in the beginning and to me it was very very predictable. I knew exactly what was going to happen every step of the book, unlike the Twilight books where I was constantly being surprised and never knew where it was going to end up. I would probably see it if it were made into a movie, but I certainly wouldn't have any of the excitement I have waiting for New Moon to come out.
I'm reading 'The Host' right now ... not too far into it, but like Robin, I'm finding it a bit tough time getting into the storyline. I haven't been 'hooked' yet. I read most of the Twilight series prior to seeing the movie and found them really quite good ... I think i read the first three in three days ... I like SM's writing so I'm continuing on in the hopes the book will grab me soon :-)
yeah, it starts out slow. the second half picks up a lot. if you're gonna get 'hooked' it will probly happen between 1/3 and halfway through the book
i have read all stephanies books twice and loved them all but i did love the host the most out of them all. it takes a while to get to like the book but once i got half way through i started loving it. i wouls LOVE the host to become a movie and cant wait to see if steph writes another two books onto the host like she said.
I thought the Host was great!!! it should definitely be made into a movie:)
I have read all SM books and loved then all. I believe that THE HOST will make a great movie and am hoping to see it on the big screen
hi im just wondering does the host have any thing to do with the twilight books cause im gettin all the twilight books including new moon n the host should i read all the twilight books 1st n then the host plz can some one help me out
I love The Host just as much as I love the Twilight books, and I would love to see it as a movie. It took me a while to get into it, because I was still hung up on the Twilight books, but after I did, I really enjoyed it and I think it would make a great movie. Also, I would like to hear more about Wanda and the others, I hope Stephenie plans to write a sequal or two.
I have read all the twilight books and LOVED them all! I read each one at least three times! The first time I read them I read each one in a whole day and wanted more!! I also read THE HOST and found that I Loved it too! I hope to see it on the big screen because it would make a great movie! I want to read Midnight Sun as soon as it comes out!
i loved the host!!
great book
romantic and exciting
i would love it to see it on the big screen
can't wait
i have read all of SM's books .... i love the twilight saga but when i read The Host I was just like WOW !!! it was brilliant ... how ever , i would not like it made into a movie ! i think the book should just be left as it is no sequels either ! sequels usually tend to be worse than the first book (besides New Moon that book is better than Twilight in my opinion!! ....) i really dont think a movie should be made and there are not enough fans any way!. i just think, like the twilight movie, the special effects wont be great and the only fans that The Host has will be seriously dissapointed !!! i think it should be left as it is!!
i have read everyone of stephenie meyer's books and the host is by far my favorite. it could easily be made into a movie. i pray that it willl be done for i feel succsess is in store for the hollywood director who takes in this project. I LOVE THE HOST :)
I think The Host should be made into a movie because it was the best book on this planet, and it would help clarify images in our heads and ugh! it would just be so great!!!!!!!!!!
i think yesssss!!!!!!!
that would be amazingggggg!!!!!!
the book was and i would like to see how hollywoods images it would be!!!!!!!!
i think it should become a movie the book is awsome i just finished it to today and i think its right up there with twilight and i love twilight...shocking i know but i thought if i was wanderer (wanda) i would be the same way i cried three times i love it i think i'll read it a million times more love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
hey hey hey...ahhhhhhhh can't wait...it's gonna be sooo awesome...oh my gosh I can barely hold in a exceptionaly exciting scream!!!! =DDDDDD
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