The Host Redux: Chapters 5 and 6

CHAPTER 5
Uncomforted

I hate this chapter. Seriously. Here's the laconic version: Wanderer goes to her Comforter, who is supposed to help her acclimate to her new life. The Comforter is sad because Wanderer won't open up to her. This doesn't matter, but the Comforter's husband's name is Curt, and I HATE that name. It's in my bottom five. Oh also, this isn't turning out as laconic as I wanted, but now we come to another important question. The Comforter is married to Curt, and this is why: their hosts were married and since the aliens can't differentiate between their feelings and their hosts' feelings, they were just like, "Meh, let's stay married anyway EVEN THOUGH WE DON'T REALLY AND OBJECTIVELY LOVE EACH OTHER." So once again, we have characters who have no choice but to love each other. Smeyer has said that the concept of choice is very important to her (ha ha ha, I wrote "him" at first. Whoa, I am really not paying attention right now. Gossip Girl is very mesmerizing) but her characters never have the ability to choose anything. To continue. Wait. WAIT. Is the 80's band on Gossip Girl No Doubt? CRAZY. And Dick from Veronica Mars (who seems to play the exact same character on every show he does) and someone ELSE from Veronica Mars and the fake brother stalker from One Tree Hill AND the piece de resistance: Andrew McCarthy are all on the Gossip Girl episode I'm watching today. I am so ecstatic I can hardly breathe.

Okay, NOW I'm continuing.

My hands were light brown–a tan that never faded whether I spent time in the sun or not. One dark freckle marked the skin just above my left wrist. My nails were cut short. I disliked the feeling of long nails. They were unpleasant when they brushed the skin wrong. And my fingers were so long and thin–the added length of fingernails made them look strange. Even for a human.
Why is this paragraph necessary? Why?

Blah blah blah, stupid conversation about the Comforter impersonating humans.

I was no quitter.
It's so annoying how Wanderer and everyone around her thinks she's so strong and brave but the way she is portrayed is the exact opposite. That happens in all Smeyer's books.

I could have you disposed of,I reminded her.
EUNGH ENDING SENTENCES WITH PREPOSITIONS!

Sorry, Gossip Girl interjection again. One character just went, "Dammit, Keith!" but I thought she went, "Bandit Keith!" I was really excited for a second.

This was a boring chapter. Oh well, onward.

CHAPTER 6
Followed

“Human hosts need interaction. You're not used to solitude, dear. You shared an entire planet's
thoughts –”
“We didn't go out much.” My attempt at humor fell flat.
Because it's not funny.

“And then there are the physical drives these bodies have. I've never seen or heard of their
equal. One of the most difficult things we of the first wave had to conquer was the mating
instinct. Believe me, the humans noticed when you didn't.”
Heh. This is actually kind of funny. What's even MORE hilarious is paragraphs like this is what makes this Smeyer's first "adult" novel. I've read more explicit things in Meg Cabot's young adult books.

“No, I didn't mean just memories. Haven't you come across anyone that your body has
responded to in the present–on strictly a chemical level?”
I thought her question through carefully. “I don't think so. Not so I've noticed.”
“Trust me,” Kathy said dryly. “You'd notice.” She shook her head. “Perhaps you should open
your eyes and look around for that specifically. It might do you a lot of good.”
HA. Smeyer's answer to EVERYTHING. Get a man! That solves any problem! Gag me.

The anger tightened my throat. “You did not look too far afield for your current partner. Was
that choice controlled?”
She ignored my anger and considered the question thoughtfully.
“Perhaps,” she finally said. “It's hard to know. But you've made your point.”
And she shows no sign of unease that maybe her feelings are not her own. I don't understand any of these people.

“Perhaps they'll find Melanie's love, and then you can be together. If his feelings are as fervent
as hers, the new soul will probably be amenable.”
Sure, that's a GREAT plan. Find the man that you AREN'T in love with but have feelings for that aren't your own, and be with him! Who cares about YOUR choice or YOUR feelings? Just indiscriminately find a man and you will be set in life.

Argh, I'm sick of this. The Seeker finds Wanderer and creeps her out and Wanderer goes home, the end.