Does anyone want to share the reason they like either book more than the other?

For me, I liked the Host better because it was all about humanity. I mean, I really like that Wanda wants to be human, that she wants all of the human experiences. I think that it is so great to read that although she wants to remain a human and be with Ian, she is willing to sacrifice herself because she knows it is not right to claim Mel's body when she is so very much present.

I want to say that I really love the Twilight books, but I have a hard time with Bella choosing to become a vampire while she is so young. I think Edward is right about Bella experiencing all the human experiences, but I struggle with her wanting to give up her humanity. I know when I was in high school, I had no idea if I wanted to have kids, or any other major decision in my life, and it worries me that she may become a vampire and then have regrets as the years go by.

So the way the Host embraces humanity is what makes me love this book even more than i love Twilight, and that is saying alot.

Any one else have any reasons or thoughts on this subject?

I really enjoyed the Host, but I have never had a book effect me the way Twilight did (and I read a lot). I could not get it out of my head. I reread each book as soon as I finished it because it was so amazing. Twilight brought back all the feelings I had when I was first falling in love with my husband. I was so amazed by how quickly it took over my life and I have not been the same since.

I love books that make me think. My mom complains that I always read such "serious" books. So I think, if TW had never entered my life, The Host would be one that I really liked a lot. TW took my breath away. It was such a surprise. It still causes a physical change in me. Even just to talk about it: My eyes widen, my heart quickens, my smile widens, I am giddy like a young school girl in love. I wish I knew why, what magic SM worked. Perhaps that's why I come to this site so often: to find the answer of the TW phenomenon. The Host was enjoyable and thought provoking. It is deeper than TW. It's a good book club read, maybe even an alternative to dystopian literature. But I prefer any of the TW books over it. Love is irrational. I always knew a familiar book was a good old friend; I never realized it could be a boyfriend.

What a great question! I'll probably be in the minority, but I'll have to say I liked The Host more. Don't get me wrong, TW is amazing, and it gave me that squishy, loopy, dazed feeling of first love. However, there seemed to be more at stake in The Host. It wasn't just a question of who to spend the rest of your life with; the fate of a whole species was in question. The romance in The Host did make my heart pound, but the fact that so many other relationships were involved and explored kept me riveted. I dreamed about The Host for weeks and I cried at the end (which is something I never do!) Any book that can create that kind of response will always be at the top of my list!

Having said that, I'm sure I will read everything SM ever writes, no matter what the subject matter is, because she does create such fascinating, believable characters and transports us out of real life for a little while!

While I do enjoy books that explore social themes in a SF way, my preference is for the Twilight series, especially Twilight itself. There's just an amazing way that Stephenie captured emotion in that book. It appeals to the romantic in me, while The Host is more intellectual to me. I suppose I might feel quite differently if I had read The Host first.

I think if I had read The Host first, it might be my favorite. I really enjoyed it, but couldn't get the TW characters out of my head! I love how SM can write so wonderfully about the importance of decisions and sacrifices. Not to mention the characters she creates that we fall in love with.

I like both of them, but for different reasons. The Twilight series is a great series you can sit down and do a quick read with. It allows you to escape from reality. It's a book about love and choices and all the emotions we've all been through. For me, I like seeing Twilight from two different p.o.v-the one of a teenager in love and the other from being a Mom. I feel in love with all the characters-I'm a total Switzerland person here. It's a book that I love "living in".

The Host is one I also love. It dealt with humanity and survival. It really made me think about a lot of different things. It also made me feel so many different emotions and there's so many characters that live in this story and you can't help but wonder "what would I do or feel if I was in their shoes". There were so many topics in this book that dealt with real life and love. I just loved it! I was one of those few who at first couldn't stand the book. I about gave up in Chapter 3 and didn't touch it for a few weeks until a friend told me to get to the end of Chapter 4. Once I did, I couldn't put the book down.

While both books are quite opposite of eachother, they're both favorites of mine. I became more emotionally tied to Twilight and the Host made me think a lot more. Stephenie just has a talent for writting. She takes you to these places that you couldn't imagine yourself and they become real. It's like your mind becomes trapped in the world of Twilight or the world of The Host.

Sadly, I think that TW tainted my expectations for the Host. I identified with Bella and the whole budding/conflicted relationship with Edward, and not so much with Wanda/Ian (probably for very obvious reasons). Don't get me wrong, I like the Host . . . just not as much as TW.

Honestly I think I enjoyed The Host more than the TW series. And this from a book I wasn't excited to read and didn't expect to enjoy.

Twilight is my favorite SM book because it was the first! However, I thought New Moon was a better book, start to finish, versus Twilight.

Now comes along The Host and I found that it made me think, not just about the characters but also about myself. What is the meaning of life? Are humans destined to destroy themselves, or is there really hope for us? Is humanity dead, or is part of our chemical make-up that never dies?

I'm actually more excited for the Host sequel than for Breaking Dawn...DON'T HATE ME!

I also loved The Host because of the humanity aspect. I am such a HUGE FAN of Wanda - She is probably one of the most amazing characters I've come across in fiction. Her selflessness is just unimaginable.

However, Twilight can not be matched. The emotional pull of that series is the most intense. I doubt there will ever be another...

The only reason we are comparing these two books is because of Stephenie. I was in Borders and I overheard someone say "she should stick to vampire stories". I said did you read it. She said no. I said then why judge. It happens to be a good book. I think the TW Series and The Host can each stand on there own. I have read a lot of books in the last year, and have never been compelled to compare them to others. If we think of TW and The Host as the seperate stories they are we can enjoy them all equally. Don't get me wrong I finish a book, read a TW book then another book than another TW. I can't keep away from Bella and Edward.

I've read The Host twice and just finished listening to it tonight. Each time I visit this story I love it more. I always thought Wanda was very special, but now I'm falling in love with Ian, too. There is so much depth to this story that it takes more than one read to take it all in and listening gave it a whole 'nuther layer. Just today, my son was asking me which one I better. It's difficult to choose. I agree with other posters that I absolute love how in Twilight Stephenie utterly captured the feelings, the essence of first love. However, for me The Host has a slight edge.

I think the characters are more finely drawn -- no out-takes needed to understand them better. The relationships are both thought provoking and relatable. A lot of the themes are similar to those presented in Twilight but presented more maturely. I think The Host demonstrates Stephenie's continued growth and maturity as an author.

Do you think that maybe The Host is a clue that Bella will not become a vampire? And that there will be some way for Edward to become human?

Hmm, I think Stephenie has always been pretty clear that once a vampire always a vampire -- there is no cure. Now whether Bella becomes one is still pretty up in the air. For me The Host is an indication that Stephenie has a knack for finding happy, satisfying ending even if the odds seem against it.

I think both are excellent.
I enjoyed reading the Host and normally I don't read Sci-Fi. The last scifi related book I read was The Time Traveler's Wife.

I've always enjoyed the more romantic novels like Pride and Prejedice, Rebecca, Jane Eyre etc. So Twilight appealed to me more.

Also, Twilight's characters remained in my heart. I kept thinking of Edward and Bella as I read. I felt a sort of separation anxiety. Perhaps for me the reason was that I had not arrived at closure for them. So until BD is out and Bella gets a nice pretty bow, I will be obsessing about them.