Jeb just gets it. I think he watches and is much more introspective then most people gave him credit for. He will watch and make his own judgements. He knew from the beginning when Wanderer said "you found US." He knew Melanie wouldnt go down with out a fight, she would fight back. I just love how he doesnt let the mob mentality take over, he needs to make his own mind up on the subject.

Yep. I'm right there with ya! I think he would have shot her right then and there, but then she said, "Uncle Jeb, you found us!" I gather he had been watching her, and knew she was on the verge of death. Her use of the plural made him realize that there was more to this alien he had just found! He knew Melanie was around. Thus his comment, "Well, now, here's a pickle."

The further I get into the re-reading of the book, the more I see Uncle Jeb's true genius. He's positively brilliant! The conspiracy theorists and inventors of their/our time were always thought of as a bit mad. I'd imagine Thomas Edison and Alexander Graham Bell encountered quite a few people who labeled them stark raving lunatics but where would we be today had they cared? It's no wonder that the colony respects Jeb as their leader. They have to have been in awe of the cave system that he created based on his suspicions and theories. They owe him their lives. I just love how he always seems to be thinking 2 or 3 steps ahead of everyone else.

First, queenofmycastle, I LOVE your banner. It made me lol and that felt good.

Uncle Jeb is just amazing. Don't you agree that most people who think outside the box, or the cave, in this case are looked at as being a little crazy? Yet Jeb hit the nail right on the head!

mom2six - I never thought that Jeb may have been keeping an eye on Wanda/Mel in the desert. You got me thinking.

I don't know who Sam Elliott is, but this is who I saw in my head.



I did the same thing! I figured it out later on toward the end, but it was very consternating there for a while.

What I feel is interesting about Jeb, is that in today's social makeup, he would be as Melanie remembered him, a nut job. I know people who know people like this. But when the world changed, and the social rules changed, Jeb becomes a leader. I think this is true of many people. In todays world, there are some personality types that dominate and thrive in this environment. Others don't fit in and get labeled and looked down on. We even have to try to teach many how to survive in our world with our social rules. However, these may be the same people that (like Jeb) in another "world" would be the ones to save us. Take for example someone with ADHD. Their behaviors don't fit into what is expected of us in our society. But they may be the ones we would want around in Melanie's world, because they might be able to act quickly without over thinking how others might view their behavior (as I probably would) and save a lot of people.

Just thinking

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It's nice to know I'm not the only one who missed that the first time through.

When I think of Jeb, I'm reminded of my aunt who hoarded canned goods and bottled water in 1999 thinking the Y2K bug was going to bring society to a standstill. Of course, nothing happened, but if it had, my sister and I would have really regretted laughing at her. (I do regret laughing, now that I'm older and wiser!) She would have been the "Uncle Jeb" of our family!

I love Jeb! I am only half through The Host, so I haven't seen much of Jared. Been crushing on Jeb instead.

My image of Jeb was totally Kris Kristofferson in Blade.


I love Sam Elliot too, but this version...


I must have a thing for crazy old men!!!

Jeb is the coolest old guy ever. lol...He is so perceptive and kind, but strong. He's the kinda guy you want around in case of a world crisis that is for sure.

Shasta that is the exact same image I had of Jeb...Kris in Blade was the one I saw mostly....too funny. That is him perfectly.

I really liked Jeb a lot. He was so insightful and curious. He seemed to always know what was best for the community. I loved how he sat quietly and listened to Wanda open up and tell Jamie stories, and how he nicknamed her Wanda and slowly made everyone get used to her (like boiling a frog), and how he treated her nicely from the beginning (saying "Hey there" acknowlegding her in the hole in the cave), and also how he knew what to say to her during her mourning to bring her out of it.
Do you think Jeb left the water and Twinkies in that shack in the desert for someone who might be following his trail of lines, knowing that they would have run out of food & water by this point? Because if you think about it - Twinkies?? What are Twinkies doing in a deserted shack out in nowhere? I can see water, crackers, ok, but Twinkies? Isn't that a strange food item to find so far from civilization? Maybe Jeb left it there as a sweet treat for someone looking for him and his hideout?