The Host by number-one New York Times bestselling author Stephenie Meyer is a riveting page-turner that was nearly impossible to put down. It is the kind of book that kept me up reading late into the night, and when I turned the final 619th page, I still wished for more. To describe it simply as a science fiction tale about body snatchers invading earth would not do it justice. It is so much more.
The premise of the book is as follows:
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.
Reminiscent of Orson Scott Card or Ursula K. Le Guin, Meyer is able to create an alternative world in which we ponder the philosophical definition of humanity. Her twists on the questions of what makes us human and what causes an individual to love another person are sociological in nature, yet through it all, she combines a compelling blend of suspense mixed with an underlying romance that is sure to draw in readers of all genres.
Here is an excerpt, expressed from the viewpoint of the main character, Wanderer, one of the invading “souls” who has recently woken up after taking a human host body:
I blinked away the unwelcome moisture in my eyes. I didn’t know how much more of this I could stand. How did anyone survive this world, with these bodies whose memories wouldn’t stay in the past where they should? With these emotions that were so strong I couldn’t tell what I felt anymore?
The alien creatures who call themselves souls are portrayed as a homogenous group who are essentially nonviolent and concerned with the greater good, with the exception being, of course, that they invade other planets and take over the species who live there. I always enjoy tales that call into question our views of good and evil as not being quite so black and white. Should we distinguish between the actions themselves versus the understanding of the intentions behind the actions?
I also love to read books that make me think, that raise intriguing questions and then do not always provide definitive answers. In The Host, Meyer attempts to shine light on a few of the more mysterious corners of humanity, both positive and negative. She explores the topic of love being both a mental and a physical bond, and she provides a framework for discussion of what it means to be violent versus peaceful in nature. Rather than neatly tie up every loose end, the story forces the readers to decide for themselves where they may stand on various issues.
Since I announced that I was reading The Host for review, a few readers have emailed me asking if I would recommend this book as appropriate reading material for Meyer’s teenage fan base. Though it is a story that deals with the theme of love, there are no adult situations in the book that I would describe as sex scenes. This is Meyer’s first novel geared towards a mature adult audience, yet she seems to be intentionally sensitive to the fact that her work draws a broad range of age groups.
Stephenie Meyer is the author of the bestselling young adult vampire romance series, the Twilight saga. Though I have not yet read them myself, you can be rest assured that I intend to run right out and buy the entire series, now that I have been introduced to Meyer’s imaginative work and writing style. I rarely offer such effusive praise in a book review without some critical observation, but the fact of the matter is that when I consider my favorite books of 2008 thus far, The Host is at the top of my list.
Please be sure to keep an eye out for my upcoming contest in which I will be giving away a free copy of The Host by Stephenie Meyer.
Damian Daily 
Hm, I was running by her Twilight series at Barnes&Noble the other day and The Host has been mentioned to me a couple of times. Sounds rather good and I might check it out 🙂
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The book keeps popping in my face every time I visit Chapters and other sites. I’m going to have to get it. I only read the first two paragraphs of your post even though I’m sure you didn’t write any spoilers.
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I’ll definitely be reading this one. If it’s half as good as the Twilight series (except for the whiney main character) it should be well worth reading.
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There must be something about new books that ramps up the publicity engines. 🙂
I just found out this week that Twilight is being made into a movie. Kristen Stewart, who played Jody Foster’s daughter in Panic Room and was the love interest in Into The Wild, seems to play the main character. Now I want to read the book before the movie comes out.
Today I received an email from the library with one of those “Meet The Author” questionnaires for Stephanie Meyer. It said her favorite thing about The Host was exploring love from so many different angles. Sounds like you picked up on that.
Oh well… another book to add to my reading pile. 🙂
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Yes, Twilight, the movie, opens in theaters on December 12, 2008. I’ll also be sure to read the book (or more likely the entire series) before it comes out.
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I just bought all three books in the Twilight series this weekend. Good thing I did as I couldn’t put them down and finished them all in 3 days straight. Now, I can’t wait for the 4th book (how many days to go?). Guess, I’ll have to go get “The Host” and read it while waiting for “Breaking Dawn” to come out. =)
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I read the the Twilight series so fast that I can’t wait for Breaking Dawn to come out. I started reading all the books again just to occupy myself – which was worth it as they are all amazing. But I really want to read the Host before the release of the fourth novel. I just don’t know if I wanna go out and buy it if I might not like it. And I have no patience to wait for one to become available through the library.
Although, I had my doubts about Twilight before I bought it- and then was quickly proved wrong. So maybe my doubts about the Host will sway as well. After all, she’s proven to be an amazing author thus far.
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I LOVED the twilight series and The Host. The Host, i agree, is for a large range of age groups. I just read it and I’m not even a freshman yet. But, I can’t really find or make out the ntheme to the book. Maybe it’s that humanity has it’s ups and downs, but without flaws and being different people would be boring. Okay, I don’t think that’s it. Well, if u no tell me.
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That was a very intelligent interpretation of the theme, Julia. I don’t think that there’s one right answer. For me, the theme of the book was about the question of what truly makes us human. Is it physical, mental, emotional, or a combination of factors? Can you remove one of those components and still be human? Can someone “learn” to be human? Perhaps that driving force that makes us who we are varies by individual. I love plots and themes that make the reader think on a deeper level, with different avenues for personal interpretation.
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“Host”??? Oh yeah! Jack Finney called, he said he wanted the plot to “Invasion Of The Body Snatchers” back! Are you serious? Alright, hate me if you will, but Stephanie Meyer sucks! She has no grammar skills to speak of and Twilight was a two-bit rag, that’s plot was obviously contrived of a rip-off of L.J. Smith’s “The Vampire Diaries” and My Chem fan fiction! so please, don’t get your panties in a bunch at me just because that woman wouldn’t know good writing if Stephen King walked over and slapped her! Personally, I think she should be sued for the corrosion of the minds of teenage girls around the world, and publicly flogged for her blatant disregard of grammatical context, but that might just be me…
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Codex Alera,
Twilight came out long before your stupid little “The Vampire Diaries” so don’t you DARE try and make Stephenie Meyer a copycater because that would be your Kiniving little L.J. Smith! She happens to be the BEST TEEN WRITER OF THE 2000S.
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The Vampire Diaries were published in the 90’s. Get your facts straight.
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Sabrina, the Vampire Diaries were published far before the Twilight series, as Ann has pointed out. As far as I am concerned, the Twilight series is downright plagiarism. There are huge similarities.
-Both Set in small towns in America, in similar types of surroundings. Eg. Sinister forests, close knit community, historic town.
-Both feature a female protagonist who falls in love with a Vampire who is actually hundreds of years old, but pretends to be a normal teen, who is incredibly good looking, strong, good senses ect… Both try and only feed off animals, leave humans in peace and try to be good. Both are morally guilty, and consider themselves evil. Both are incredibly drawn to the female protagonist, like they are soulmates, but at first try to hold back to protect her.
-Stefan and Edward are very similar
-Bella and Elena have some similarities
-Caroline and Lauren have some similarities
-Slight similatities between Matt and Mike/Tyler
-Damon and the antagonist vampire in twilight (whatever he’s called) have some similarities
-Alice and Bonnie are similar (both have visions)
-The plot in both books features a strong evil vampire who wants the female protagonist, who is madly in love with a weak good vampire.
-Both feature werewolfs and vampires
This is just what I came up with in 10 minutes, the similarities don’t stop there. Some of these things are associated with the genre, but are still relevant, there are plenty of series’ for example, the Vampire beach series that avoid these cliches.
Meyer deserves credit for making the idea such a hit, but she does not deserve credit for the ideas/storylines of her books.
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I haven’t read L.J. Smith’s Vampire Diaries series yet but I intend to. I’ve just finished reading L.J. Smith’s Night World series and was shocked at the similarities with the Twilight series (minus Stephenie Meyer’s poor writing skills). But Twilight came after so obviously Stephenie Meyer stole all ideas from L.J. Smith.
L.J. Smith was the first to create unnaturally beautiful vampires with wild eyes. She started romances between humans and vampires. The vegetarian vampires was also L.J smith. Her vampires can eat but prefer not to, they drink blood but she actually explains why they need blood to survive (unlike stephanie meyer who keeps all information about the vampires very vague). there are vampires from the lamia which where born vampire and made vampires. Made vampires stay that age forever. Her vampires are immortal but unlike stephanie meyer’s perfect vampires that are impossible to kill, Smith’s are more realistic (ex wood is their weakness. If they are cut by wood they cannot heal their wounds, they are are also weaker in the sunlight). L.J. smith’s vampires are speedy, and strong and all vampires are telepathic.
in night world no1 (made up of three books)
In just the first book there are three names from twilight, Phil, Jasper, and James. Anyways it’s about a human girl in love with a vampire, she’s going to die and the only way to save is to turn her into a vampire.
In the second book there is a human girl in a love triangle with a vampire and werewolf. She ends up with the vampire.
the list goes on and on.
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While it does sound like there are many similarities between Meyer’s Twilight series and Smith’s novels, the same could be said of many vampire tales. Though I have not read Smith yet, I now intend to, thanks to many of the illuminating comments on this post. (Thank you!)
The vampire, and the werewolf too for that matter, are mythical icons that have been written about over and over again for many decades. Anne Rice was perhaps the most notable for making the vampire more “human” and alluring, bringing modern day popularity to the old vampire stereotype. Kim Harrison, Charlaine Harris, MaryJanice Davidson, and others have written about vampires and werewolves living amongst us in everyday society.
It sounds like Smith and Meyer have successfully taken the genre to the youth and young adult mass market, although it might be said that Joss Whedon showed that there was an interest there with his TV shows “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Angel” that gained such popularity.
I, for one, am immensely enjoying the many varied books about vampires, werewolves, dragons, mermaids, etc. that are on the market now. Maybe I’ll do new post about my recommendations for paranormal fantasy fiction.
Thanks again for recommending one more author to add to my reading list too.
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I’m late to this discussion but i just picked up a copy of the Vampire Diaries and i have to agree with the claims that Twilight is downright plagiarism! I love Twilight but i feel scammed. Not only are they similar in plot and with respect to mythical creatures but Twilight steals characters, events and even dialogue!!! How was this allowed to happen? Does Ms Smith get a cut of the Twilight empire? Has she read Twilight?
While reading the book my jaw kept dropping open while i recognized scenes that had been used in Twilight:
The iconic Meadow scene from Twilight = the scene with Stefan and Damon (he rips a tree from the ground and whips around the forest to show his spead and stregnth)
The ballet studio with the mirrors where James waits for Bella = a dream where Elena is walking down a mirrored hall to meet Damon (both the bad guys)
When Edward promises not to leave Bella if that’s what it right for her – she replies “its not the same thing (as in saying i’ll stay forever) = Stefan saying he’ll stay as long as Damon is around – Eleana says exactly that, not the same thing!!!
Edward saiving bella from an attack in Port Angeles = Stefan saving Elena from a similar attack in the cemetary
Jacob as the werewolf/best friend who’s in love with Bella = Matt from the Diaries could be either Bella’s friend Mike or Jacob but closer to Jacob. He’s the good male friend who is still in love with Elena (they were dating) and who still looks out for her. He also dressed as a werewolf for Halloween.
It’s mind boggling how there hasn’t been a lawsuit.
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There are a lot of books that are about vampires so the fact that the two books are alike isn’t a big deal
And about her latest book “the host”, I love it! I just started to read it and I’m already in love with it!
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I have to agree with almost all the Twilight is PLagarised comments.
I recently went to Singapore and saw the NIght World Series there, after reading the first book I was so schocked and my sister and my friends and I regularly sit down and discuss the latest similarities that we’ve found.
However, my friend did email L.J.Smith but she replied saying that quite frankly seh was flattered, becasue copying was the biggest form of flattery. I have to disagree becasue L.J.Smith has been robbed of her ideas and many obsessed fans around the world are ignorant of Stephenies crime!
I’m not sure if a lawsuit has been filed, but her reply seems to appear in the negative. Something really needs to be done about this becasue how is it possibly fair that Stephenie gets away with her ‘spellbinding’ and horribly written plagarised novel, when there is an author who has produced magnificent work and hardly gets recognised?
Something needs to be done to stop people from being sucked into Stephenies web and to appreciate the originality of her plot; SOME ONE ELSE’S IDEAS!
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Exactly .. Thank you people!! When I was 11 I found Vampire Diaries.. that was almost 18 years ago.. Now.. I watched Twilight the other night and I was quite upset… (though I did enjoy the movie… after giving the characters back their rightfull names.. Stephan.. Elena… ) How could someone take credit for L.J.Smith’s work?? So.. I did a little research… The CW has made(or will be making) a pilot of Vampire Diaries… my fear is.. people will just think that L.J.Smith is the one out there copying others… Lets just hope they don’t completely go off course like they did with the Sword of Truth novels (aka Legend of the Seeker)OHHHH and Stephanie.. did those “dreams” you had of the characters happen after you put Vampire Diaries down for the night???
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So this review is saying there’s ANOTHER ‘special’ girl who falls in love with some odd guy and they end up happily ever after?
Also: the whole “aliens that take over minds without interrupting the daily lives of the humans” sounds like an Animorphs ripoff to me.
Sounds like a terrible story
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Hmmm, I like the Twilight Series, but that book you mention is very suspicious and sounds very much like another copy/rip off of The Body Snatchers (a classic), or The Faculty (which was some sort of remake by Robert Rodriguez).
I may be wrong, but the plot described there resembles 80 to 90% of The Body Snatchers….
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First of all, THANK YOU!! I have never read L.J. Smith’s The Vampire Diaries, but definitely plan to. I have read all of the Twilight books, and can’t believe how poorly written they were! I felt as if they were written for idiots, incapable of imagination. Now, to find out that she more than likely plagiarised, down to even dialogue, is ridiculous. Especially since she claims to have never read any vampire novels before writing it…yeah right!
Codex Alera, I LOVE your comment about how she wouldn’t know good writing even if Stephen King came over and slapped her b/c Stephen King did an interview not too long ago, and said that people have no right comparing Stephenie Meyer and J.K. Rowling b/c, unlike J.K. Rowling, Stephenie Meyer is a horrible author and couldn’t write a book to save her life…lol.
I am a HUGE fan of Charlaine Harris’s Sookie Stackhouse novels, and I also found some similarites between Twilight and Dead Until Dark(which, of course, came out first).
1. Both main characters, Edward and Sookie are telepathic-the only difference is Sookie isn’t a vampire, she’s human.
2. In Twilight, Edward falls for Bella b/c he can’t hear her thoughts, and in Dead Until Dark Sookie falls for Bill(vampire) b/c she can’t hear his thoughts.
3. In both books, Bella’s and Sookie’s lives are in danger b/c someone wants to kill them.
I can’t believe somenone let this happen, hasn’t anyone ever heard of copyright!! If I were L.J. Smith I wouldn’t be flattered, I’d be furious!! Why should she get the credit, popularity, and money from not only stealing someone else’s idea, but doing a horrible job of writing it!
As for the CW coming out with the show based on L.J. Smith’s books, hopefully after a while, people will realize what a fraud Stephenie Meyer is, no matter how ignorant they are.
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I’ve just read Secret Vampire by L J Smith and was a bit shocked at first to find the similarities between this and Twilight of which I am a huge fan. However, after finishing Secret Vampire I don’t feel that it is in any way in the same league as Twilight. As for Stephanie being a bad writer with regards to her grammer or the fact that she doesn’t follow the ‘rules’ of writing, well to me a good book is one where you fall in love with the characters, where you CANNOT put the book down, where you are feeling what the characters are feeling, where you can’t guess what will happen next and are constantly surprised by what does, and for me Twilight is all of these things whereas Secret Vampire is none but LJ Smith is grammactically correct (I know which I prefer!!!) Even if Stephenie did get a lot of her ideas from LJ Smith, the proof that she is better is the huge success of Twilight.
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I agree with Crystal.
Sounds like an Animorphs fanfic.
Honestly, Stephanie Meyer is pathetic.
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Thank God, I thought I was going mad. I hadn’t heard of the twilight books at first but happened to see the film.
After watching it, I honestly thought it was a film adaption of the vampire diaries. Only later did I find out this was not the case.
The books were so similar I had to do a search just to double check that L.J.Smith hadn’t just rewritten and tweaked her old books under a different penname.
Its a pity I would have loved to see the nightworld books in particular get this kind of acclaim.
Ohh and for the people out there saying that the all vampire books are similar. The levels of similarities here moves past genre.
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oh my gosh I’ve been an LJ smith fan since I was a teen im 26 now…and have been waiting for her next book in the nightworld series for what is it 10 or 11 years. now..its supposed to be finally foming out….but I read the twilight series…I liked it…its no night world or vampire diaries..but I never thought of twilight and vamp diaries in the same series …but now that its been pointed out by several of the pp I am outraged…cuz u are exactly right its all L.J!…I feel dirty reading twilight now…..feel like I betrayed my fav author of all time…I mean my daughters middle name is one of ljs characters of nw…. I will say im happy vampire diaries is coming to the cw sept 10th…cuz ppl will see ljs qenius…if they stayed close to the storyline at all….and anyone who likes it well enough will eventually know it was lj first……
thanks guys for showing me the truth…I will tell everyone I know
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I actually came online and did a search just to see if anyone else saw the similarities. I am glad I am not alone in thinking that Stephanie Meyer copied L.J. Smith. I read the Twilight series first, and then after came across L.J. Smith and realized how similar they were. Then I noticed L.J. Smiths were from the 90’s. I really think something is fishy.
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I 100% agree with all the people who have noticed the huge similarities between The Vampire Diaries and Twilight. IT IS BLOODY RIDICULOUS!!! I thought I was going crazy and was on the verge of writing an email to L.J Smith and asking her if she wrote books under any other names or was Stephanie Meyer’s mentor or if they were related!!! I can’t understand why L.J Smith hasn’t filed a lawsuit against Stephanie Meyer!!! If it was me I definitely would’ve. Im just so incredibly pissed off, because now I feel like a traitor- I have been a fan of L.J Smith’s books since I was in grade 4 now I’m in university. I enjoyed the Twilight series (even with it’s terrible grammar) and it was because of the amazing plot, but now since I’ve found out that Stephanie Meyer stole all the ideas from L.J Smith I am just appalled! L.J Smith should have at least been acknowledged in each and every of the Twilight books- Stephanie Meyer:”It came to me in a dream..” I’m sure it did and I’m a chicken!
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Yes there are a lot of similiarities in both of the stories, that I will agree. I have read the Twilight series and Vampire Diaries. I have to disagree and say that Twilight is much better than Vampire Diaries. I was hooked right from the start with the Twilight series and struggled with finishing Vampire Diaries. We will probably never know the full story as to why they are so much alike and LJ Smith has not complained or sued as some of you would like. Maybe they did indeed work together and we just don’t know. There are some books out there by Ann Rice’s son, ( I think his name is Chris-not sure), that it is rumored that Ann Rice actually wrote them for him to get him started and put his name on it. There will always be the possibility that they are the same person…Stephen King/Richard Baucman for ex. There are still those out there who do not know they are the same person. Maybe she did take ideas from LJ, but I have to say that if she did, she did a better job with it. If LJ doesn’t mind then I am not going to blow a gasket over it. As for the Vampire Diaries series that has started, the tv show is also better than the books. they changed some things around from the books and made them much better. For instance, She is not a snotting, stuck on her self blond, like in the book-that right there is better, Bonnie is better…the whole thing is better. Those who are watching the series first and are going to read the book second are going to be in for a big disappointment. Sorry to all the LJ fans and to LJ herself, but I like Stephanie’s version better. If they haven’t worked together yet, maybe they should.
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[…] L.J SMITH’s Vampire Diaries gets some justice on the small TV screen from STEPHENIE MEYER’s runaway hit film and book series franchise, […]
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I am extremely happy that so many off you have the same opinions as i do. First of all, I read twilight when no one else really know about. yea maybe two or three of my friend HEARD about it. I wasnt in love. i thought you know, it was ok. but then…I read LJ Smith`s books. I read the secret circle, dark vision the vampire diaries and Night World
Once i put down Night World. the words that came out of my mouth was
STEPHANIE MEYERS COPIED LJ SMITH.
I flip to the front of ALL my books
Twilight 2005
Night world (all 9) 1996-1999
The Vampire Diaries 1991-1992
Dark Visions-1994 i beleive
The Secret Circle 1992
My word! all of LJ’s books were published in the late 90s. 10 years before the excistance of twilight. I was THRILLED when i found out The Vampire Diaries was going to be turned into a show. but when i saw the first episode. things changed
Not only did they change completely everything. They made it into a complete TWILIGHT. Elena being a brunnette and blah. so right now. For all you twilight fans. this is the similarities of Ljs books and stephanies’
Edward is JUST like- Stefan(VD)
Both “vegatarian vampires”. lived over 100 years, very old fashion. falls in love with a human girl
But unlike Meyer’s horribly writtened book, Stefan’s “handsomeness and beauty” was only mentioned at most. 3 times. almost every single page and chapter has something to do with Edward’s beauty. edward has no personality what so ever
Bella is a complete rip off of all the great characters of LJ smith- Shes like Mary-lynnette from Night World. They both fell in love with a vampire. But unlike Bella, Mary-lynnette is not obssessed with Ash’s( the vampire she loves) eyes ( which changes colour =D) and does not with to have sex with him ( Stephanie meyers..what the HELL were you even thinking). They are both shy, both brunnettes, both have divorced parents. oh and hey..IN A LOVE TRIANGLE WITH A VAMPIRE AND A WEARWOLF. haha didn’t see that coming now did you? but unlike bella who MADE OUT with a vampire, cheating on her boy friend. Mary-lynnette KILLED a wearwolf( and yes like bella she is “fragile”) to SAVE her boyfriend. Bella has no personality, she is obssessed with edward’s body, shes weak, good for nothing, and most of all horny
James( Night World) and Jasper Hale
Stephanie, stephanie, Stephanie.. what were you thinking? Makin Both Jasper and james so..old fashion and in love with a SHORT, PIXIE LIKE VAMPIRE.there are so much more i can say about these two
Alice and Poppy( night World)
Gosh, Alice and Poppy…BOTH have a old fashion lover, both pixie like, both vampires, both have short hair and must i go on?
The Vampire Diaries and Twilight (twilight-2005 VD-1991)
What can i say. Stefan is a vampire 100 years old, like edward. Tries to live a normal life. falls in love with a human girl. avoids her to save her from himself, the girl is upset by that. the girl almost gets raped, saved by vampire. starts going out. yadi yadi yadi. You know..i think i should jsut let the rest of you read The Vampire Diaries
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I’m only 15, but I agree. Stephanie Meyers copied everything from LJ Smith. When Twilight first came out and kids were always talking about it, I didn’t know about the Vampire Diaries. But, when I told my mom about the series, she was unimpressed and she said that her girl, LJ Smith had done it way back in the 90s. I read Twilight before VD, but I got bored of Twilight easily. I finished all 5 VD books in a week and I then moved on to The Secret Circle, The Night World, and LJ’s other YA books. VD is the best vamp series ever, but the show sucks. Elena is a brunette, Damon is a total psyco, Bonnie wasn’t really a witch in the series(she had telepathy powers), and neither the plot or other characters are simmilar. The town was Fell’s Church in the book, but now it’s Mystic Falls. Me and my mother are disapointed by the show and we think that they need to redo everything. Another thing, too many girls look up to the emo chick, Bella. It’s almost like Meyers wants kids to have sex and get pregnant at 18. I think LJ Smith should do something, but maybe she isn’t because the newspapers will make it sound wrong(like saying that she attacked Meyers or something.) But, if one of the greatest horror writers(Steohen King) can say something about her, then maybe there is something up with Meyers. She did make up some wierd crap about having some dream.
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I read LJ Smith’s novels way back when they first came out and I have to admit that they shaped my love of literature. When a friend of mine told me about Twilight she said “You have to read this. It’s just like LJ Smith.” Well, not quite, not as well written certainly. Anyway I’d disagree with previous posts that Smith is okay with Meyer’s all-but-plaigerism. In a letter to readers published in the Ultimate Fan Guide Smith wrote, “One thing I always do is look carefully at my characters and plot form all angles to make sure I’m not plagiarizing a book or series that I may have read before. That’s just normal procedure for ethical authors: we make sure our stories aren’t TOO much like another story we might have read…it’s almost impossible to take MANY things from the body of another author’s work—say, someone else’s character(s) or plot or story device–without actually intending to do so. I can’t imagine wanting to do that. I wish I could say every author felt the same.” Hmmmmm, three guess as to which other author she is referring to.
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Bravo…I have been positively SEETHING this last week as I picked up The Vampire Diaries first two books and have seen the blatant plagarism committed by Stephanie Meyers. The utter disregard and lack of respect she shows for the craft of writing and literature pisses me off like I can’t even say. I suppose she was just getting tired of her routine and decided she wanted to become a writer, but had no talent so just read half a dozen vampire books, picked off character outlines, plot lines, dialogue, settings and filled in the rest with her horrible attemp at composition. Then she sits her big rump on Oprah’s couch and basks in the limelight. And The Host is another flagrant rip off. How, in an industry that is soooo difficult to break into and succeed in, are the agents and editors allowing this. They should know their industry better, and should have a very difficult time sleeping at night (as well as Meyer) knowing that people are after them, as well as lawsuits. LJ Smith really needs to pony up and fight for what is rightfully hers. She deserves the money, fame and acclaim that the fraud Stephanie Meyer is eating up…
I’m wondering, who will she rip off next? Her publishers and agent are surely expecting her to produce more. I’m sure whatever she comes out with next will either be another copy, or complete junk if she has to rely on her own ‘abilities’.
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Because of my lack of knowledge, I stood up for S.Meyer the first time I saw a commercial for “the vampire diaries”. But now, as I know the facts, I’m shocked to see that noone (meaning publishers, etc) has taken this up seriously! It’s awful, and bad writing to copy someone so instense!
Myself, I’m very sceptical when I write – I always check that my thread of thought hasn’t come from somewhere else. ’cause I feel that copying is EMBARRASSING and a shame.
When it comes to “the host”, I gotta say that I liked it. I also liked the twilight saga – and hope that Meyer learns that plagiarism is pretty dumb.
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A friend has recommended True Blood to me, so I rented the first season and watched it. And when I saw that the main character Sookie had the ability to read minds, except for one mind, that of her beloved–it sounded like a plot line/character detail from Twilight. Edward reads minds, but cannot read Bella’s. I had wondered how Meyer came up with that idea considering she had to steal everything else for her books…now I know where she ripped that concept from. When I looked up the publication date of The Sookie Sackhouse novels by Charlane Harris, I was not surprised to see that they preceeded Twilight as Book One was published in 2001. Another gross example of Meyer’s plagarism. And if you read the cease & desist letter from Jordan Scott, who has sued Meyer for plagarism of her novel The Nocturn, as Meyer ripped her off competely so she could write Breaking Dawn…the plagarism there is mind boggling. She not only stole complete plot lines, but the actual phrasing as well, changing things like ‘visions entered my mind’ to ‘visions entered my head’, and theres many many examples. I’m just waiting for the lawsuits to pile up, and for Meyer’s agent and publisher to sever ties with her, seeing as she is a complete fraud and any association and support of her should be an embarassment and discredit to their careers. And for Meyer to have to pay back and lose every dime (and thats a lot of dimes) she made stealing the work, ideas, abilities of other more honest, talented authors!
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Man, first vampires and now the Go’auld. What’s next, zombies?
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CAN U Guyz just shut up! we get da point already…! She copied the damn book! so what, get over it, it’s just friggin book! its already published, what can yall do. so stop naggin’!!!!! Who gives a crap if she copied off of some other book. Thats her prob, so cool it!!GIVE IT A REST!!!!
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“Reminiscent of Orson Scott Card or Ursula K. Le Guin, Meyer is able to create an alternative world in which we ponder the philosophical definition of humanity.” I’m not sure, what you meant with this, but I’m sure it has nothing to do with writing ability or the capacity for original thought, both of which are abundant with Orson Scott Card and Ursula Le Guin, but severely lacking with Meyer.
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I wasn’t referring to writing ability. I was referring to the question of what it is that makes us human, a topic addressed throughout the plot and premise of this particular book. Orson Scott Card also explores these types of questions in several of his novels. It may spur a philosophical debate, and obviously, there is no clear answer, but it certainly gets the reader thinking, beyond the words that are simply written in the book.
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Please do not compare someone like Stephenie Meyer to someone as great as Orson Card. Her Twilight books are like fanfiction, and the Host has too many similarities to a certain Animorph book. I can’t believe that no one has noticed that.
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I agree with Crystal, Patrick, and Passionatelyjumbled. The first thing that I thought of when I saw the trailer that led me to this review was that she stole the idea from K.A. Applegate’s Animorph series.
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