The Host by Stephenie Meyer

CC library book

I just finished reading this long book and must say that I really liked it! Science Fiction meets Romance without all the mushy details. Well there was some mush but it was bearable.

In this story the earth has been taken over by beings that call themselves Souls. They are your standard Scifi parasite that takes over the human host and continue on with a human life with the Soul in control. The Soul Wanderer is placed in Melanie's body but finds that she can't suppress and do away with Melanie. They coexist in Melanie's body and soon Wanderer finds herself caring for the people and things Melanie cared for. In time they end up with one of the few remaining groups of "wild" humans that include Melanie's brother and true love Jared. Their story of survival, Wanderer & Melanie as well as the humans, makes for a great read.

My thoughts: Throughout this book the Soul, Wanderer, claimed that Souls were kind, would never hurt anyone. However this view doesn't go with the fact that they took over a whole planet of people and essentially murdered everyone on it. This was never addressed. Even so, I think you will like this book.

4

Plague Ship by Clive Cussler and Jack Du Brul

CC library book

Cussler presents another great action/adventure book in this, the fifth book in the Oregon Files series. The Oregon is a dilapidated looking wreck of a ship on the outside while on the inside it is brimming with the newest up to the minute equipment and weapons. The Captain, one-legged Juan Cabrillo and his crew of former military and spy personnel, use it as a private enterprise, available for any government agency that can afford it. These are the good guys though, so relax and enjoy the tale.

After finishing a mission against Iran in the Persian Gulf, the crew of the Oregon comes across a cruise ship adrift in the sea with everyone dead except one. While investigating the ship, explosions rock the ship and they barely escape with their lives. Cabrillo and his crew find themselves tangled in a mystery with far reaching consequences.

Some of the coincidences are just a little too neat, the last second rescues predictable but I found it a great summer read! If you like action/adventure this has it all.

4 (540 pages)