Huh. Guess I'm the only one who didn't cry. I had reconciled
myself to the fact that Wonderer was going to
sacrifice herself for Melanie, and I was okay with that.

It made me pretty mad when they took another human body and inserted
Wanda. Mad for the human who no longer inhabited her body and mad for the soul
they decided to ship off to some distant planet without her being able to at
least say her good byes to HER family.

I've always been a practical person I suppose, and I was very happy
to see Wanderer and Ian together in the end. I guess that is the point
of this book, though. You get the good with the bad. That's central
to the human experience, and I think Stephenie did a beautiful job
laying that out in her story.

I did enjoy the book emensly. Just never been much of a cryer.

For some reason, Wanda's sacrafice affected me even more than Edward leaving in New Moon. I think it was the 'mother' connection - knowing how she loved Jamie and would sacrifice herself for him . . . feeling her selflessness in not wanting others to know of her plan and mourn her. . .
In New Moon, I knew Edward would return (there were three books out after all), but with Wanda, I just didn't know what would happen to her, I thought that was really the end of her existence, then seeing those blank pages, uh, I think I soaked them with tears

Wow, glad to see I'm not the only one who cries while reading a book. My 15 year old daughter thinks I'm crazy when I cry or laugh out loud during a book. I did cry at the end of this book. I cried for the good and the bad things. I really loved this book. I bawled like a baby in New Moon when Edward left. I have never read anything so perfectly written. Stephenie Meyer really has a way with words.

Stephenie is a master at expressing emotion. I found myself crying because it was so touching, even before the sad stuff near the end. I cried for how much Wanda loved the humans and sacrificed herself for them. I found so many lines touching. I cried when she found the murdered Souls and grieved. I cried for her tenderness with Walter. I cried for her love for Jamie. Then when she is saying good-bye I was so hoping they would find a better solution. I cried for the sadness of it. Then I cried because I was so happy with how they loved her back and sacrificed for her. She deserved it. I was so touched with Ian's love and statement "I held you in my hands and you were so beautiful."
I came to love and admire Wanda so much.

Has anyone noticed how Stephenie can take the characters that should be the monsters in the book and make them the most admirable and impressive? The book Host makes you want to be a better person. I am on my 3rd reading of it and love it more every time. A surefire evidence that it is a classic that I will always love. [/u]

Just finished the second time through. I sobbed! Even knowing how it was all going to turn out! Sad tears, happy tears, all emotions all at once!

I am on my second time through. I couldn't put the book down. It is amazing to me how Stephenie can write and we all get sucked into her characters and the emotions they feel. I had a lot of sympathy for Wanda and did definately cry a few times. I even gasped when Jared hit her. I can't seem to get enough of Stephenie's characters.

Yep- this is one of my favorite things about her as a writer. Personally, I have to believe that there is good in everyone in order to be at peace in the world. I believe that we all have the capacity for good AND evil, and have free will to decide how much of each we will employ. Our choices, however, are colored by our experiences. I just can't believe that humans engage in evil behavior purely by choice. If you dig, you can find a stimulus.
(Can you tell that I have training in psychology? )

I think the first time I read the book I started weeping about the time Wanda made her choice and was out and out sobbing by the time Doc told her, "You are the noblest, purest creature I've ever met. The universe will be a darker place without you"

The second time I read it you would have thought I would have been less emotional since I knew it was a happy ending. Nope. I cried in various places much earlier in the book. I was actually in restaurant when I was reading the ending this time. I had to stop so I wouldn't thoroughly embarrass myself.

I don't know that I have ever cried reading a book - but when I got to the end of "Finished" my eyes were swimming. I was very glad Dh or kiddos didn't walk in at that moment

(I do not know how to quote correctly- sorry!!!)
Southern Bella:"Huh. Guess I'm the only one who didn't cry. I had reconciled
myself to the fact that Wonderer was going to
sacrifice herself for Melanie, and I was okay with that.

It made me pretty mad when they took another human body and inserted
Wanda. Mad for the human who no longer inhabited her body and mad for the soul
they decided to ship off to some distant planet without her being able to at
least say her good byes to HER family. "

Ok- I did not cry either Soutehrn Bella so don't feel bad. I had come to the conclusion that Wanderer would sacrifice herself early on in the book- in that way I really thought it was predictable. Also- they didn't take a human to insert Wanda in- they took a human that was already inserted with a soul. That is why they sent Pet to another plant and let Wanda choose where to send her. They also waited to see if the girl would come around after pet left. She didn't so they inserted Wanda- so it would truley be Wanda's body!

Phew, I'm glad I'm not the only non-cryer here. LOL. Thanks SillyLoofa1 for your confession. We're definitely outnumbered here, but that doesn't mean we didn't love the book, right?

I understood that the human spirit that once occupied Pet's body was gone, I just wasn't thrilled about the fact that they took the Soul (Pet) out of the body and shipped her off. Like Wanda, Pet probably had family and friends that would be devistated to lose her, and by the time Pet got to where she was going, it would be too late for her to ever go back to the people she loved. There really was no way around this one, however. I guess the humans figured it was better to sacrifice an unsuspecting Soul than Wanda. I can understand that.

Me too! I finished rewandering last night and I think I cried harder this time through than I did the first time.

I don't know how she does it. Steph is a genius!!!

I just finished the book! I thought I would be able to set it down better than I did with Twilight but about a quarter of the way in, I was hooked! My emotions spilled over a little in a couple of parts. I think my kids are used to it now after dealing with me during Twilight.

In the beginning I was angry at the souls and wanted Wanderer out of Melanie's body immediately! I can't imagine having my life taken away from me but more than that I can't imagine someone taking my family members minds and bodies. In the end, however, I was really hoping that there was a way that Wanda could stay. I thought she had earned that right. She realized that the souls weren't superior and were wrong in what they were doing. She was just as emotionally tied to the humans as they were to each other. I didn't feel bad about the soul that they took out of Pet and shipped to another planet. I felt like it was the best choice for the situation.

I agree with all the comments about Stephenie's writing. It's so detailed with emotions that feel so real to me . That is probably why I was so emotional when Ian was telling Wanderer how he felt and asking her not to leave. Her characters are so likeable and unlikeable that you can't help being completely drawn in. I really admire her talent!

I was a big blubbering puddle of tears.

I feel the same way, i didn't like her, i felt that she thought she was so good but still doing the wrong thing and she knew it and didn't care, but the last half of the book i wanted her to have what she wanted and be with Ian and her new family, i cried when i thought she would die, just thinking about it now it's making me cry, but i was so happy when she got her new body , and everybody got their happy ending. Do you think there is a possibility of a sequel?