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[DDuff]

I can wait no longer - I must discuss this book. So here goes!















Who would you choose? Ian or Jared?

Me, I am so in love with Ian. I don't have the book here anymore but love the quote that talks about I held you in my hand and you were beautiful. I am tearing up just remembering this scene. Who of us hasn't been afraid of the man we love really seeing us for who we really are? So what if I'm not a silver alien octopus on the inside I can be just a freaky

The concept of motherhood in this book is very concerning to me. So the only choice Wanderer has if she wants to be a mother is to die? If I take out what I know about mormon faith and motherhood (which I'm sure affected her description), it still strikes me as kind of true that a part of you does die when you become a mother. When I think of the me before kids and the me after kids, these are two completely different women. It is not all good or bad differences. Let me qualify this by the fact that for the past 14 years I have pretty much been a stay at home mom so alot of what I have lost is the identity you have when you still work outside the home.

This is just a starting point. What about this book had you thinking, questioning, feeling?

[kelkan]

I would choose Ian also. I thought he was so kind and gentle towards Wanda versus Jared who was kind of cold, granted he was conflicted because inside of Melanie was someone else. I found sympathy towards the aliens since they were a gentler race even though they were invaders. Question to ponder if it really can happen--someone invading your mind, are you strong enough to not let the invader take over??

[DDuff]

Originally Posted by kelkan

Question to ponder if it really can happen--someone invading your mind, are you strong enough to not let the invader take over??

I don't know if I am strong enough but I sure am stubborn enough.

[kelkan]

I don't know if I am strong enough but I sure am stubborn enough. Yesterday 12:23 PM

Agree with you there.
Do you think she should write a sequel??? I would love a sequel to see where Ian and Wanda end up....

[DDuff]

Originally Posted by kelkan

I don't know if I am strong enough but I sure am stubborn enough. Yesterday 12:23 PM

Agree with you there.
Do you think she should write a sequel??? I would love a sequel to see where Ian and Wanda end up....

I would be interested in a sequel - Especially since I was so intrigued by the family at the park. I'd love to know what these "souls" decide to do after they have given birth to "human babies."

I was really interested in some of the more new age concepts that she used in the book. I think the concept that these bodies were often connected to each other in a very new age energy kind of way. Most of the souls decided to remain as a couple if their host bodies were already a couple. In some ways this is almost an arranged marriage for the souls. Imagine waking up in another host and being connected to another person from the get go. Do you think it was easier for souls inserted in an adult host that was in a relationship?

[kelkan]

I liked the connection that these souls had with each other even though it seems the only one that was not that way is the Seeker. I'm not sure if it's easier to insert into an adult but their life is pretty much set by the human they occupy. When Melanie and Jared used to raid, didn't they comment about the predictability of these souls leading almost a hum drum life???? So it would be interesting to know about the kids of these souls in human form.

[DDuff]

I found the seeker so interesting. I kept thinking while reading it - See not all souls are peaceful (for some reason it gave me comfort that we "humans" aren't unique in our good guy/bad guy identities). Then when we discover that the seeker has pretty much been tainted by the host she lived in, I was a little shocked. I felt like I needed to apologize to the "soul" for thinking so badly about her.

The other element of this book that left me wanting more was (forgive me I don't have a copy of the book) the mother and daughter that never warmed up to Wanderer. It was the girl that Melanie was searching for in Chicago. What was their story?

[kelkan]

Melanie was looking for her cousin Sharon when she was caught. So Sharon's mom Maggie is her aunt. Jeb, the uncle was so much more accepting that Melanie was still there, so I thought it was weird that Sharon and Maggie couldn't accept Wanda.

[DDuff]

Originally Posted by kelkan

Melanie was looking for her cousin Sharon when she was caught. So Sharon's mom Maggie is her aunt. Jeb, the uncle was so much more accepting that Melanie was still there, so I thought it was weird that Sharon and Maggie couldn't accept Wanda.

Yep - that's who I was talking about. What was their deal? Then when the host of the seeker joins the group they latch right on to her. Talk about a bunch of negative energy. I could see a divide in Jeb's group coming in the sequel the more "souls" that a brought into the group.

[kelkan]

Originally Posted by DDuff

Yep - that's who I was talking about. What was their deal? Then when the host of the seeker joins the group they latch right on to her. Talk about a bunch of negative energy. I could see a divide in Jeb's group coming in the sequel the more "souls" that a brought into the group.

Yeah, Sharon and Maggie was so negative Also the other group they bumped into in the end -- they also had someone with a soul -- would love the sequel so can get deeper into that ....

Just interested because I notice you like SATC also and Stephenie Meyer's books- what other authors do you read???

[DDuff]

First, I love to read. If I go on vacation, I'm really dissapointed if I can't read at least 4 or 5 books. Authors that I really like and am always waiting for their next book: Jennifer Cruise; Marian Keyes, Jennifer Weiner, Jane Green, Meg Cabot's adult books, David Sedaris (he cracks me up). I'm trying to think of my last few reads. I reread Rebecca(it had been years and it is still as spooky as ever). Gap Creek - great story about a strong woman. Running with Scissors - I never saw the movie but enjoyed the book. Two of favorites from the last year were Glass Castle (a memoir) and The Birth House. Okay TMI but I can't help I love books.

[kelkan]

Originally Posted by DDuff

First, I love to read. If I go on vacation, I'm really dissapointed if I can't read at least 4 or 5 books. Authors that I really like and am always waiting for their next book: Jennifer Cruise; Marian Keyes, Jennifer Weiner, Jane Green, Meg Cabot's adult books, David Sedaris (he cracks me up). I'm trying to think of my last few reads. I reread Rebecca(it had been years and it is still as spooky as ever). Gap Creek - great story about a strong woman. Running with Scissors - I never saw the movie but enjoyed the book. Two of favorites from the last year were Glass Castle (a memoir) and The Birth House. Okay TMI but I can't help I love books.

Never heard of David Sedaris---what kind of books does he write?? I love Alice Hoffman myself. She wrote Practical Magic which was made into a movie with Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman---her books are always a fast read ususally not that long but deal with quirky characters finding love.....

[DDuff]

David Sedaris is a humorist/comedian. His books are generally autobiographical in nature and are like short essays. His sister is Amy Sedaris the comedian/actress. If you are a fan of SATC, she played Carrie's book publisher. She was also really fun in Elf as the secretary. I haven't seen Strangers with Candy yet but I bet it is good she reminds me of the American version of Tracey Ullman. I checked out Alice Hoffman's web-site. Her books look go to me I may try to read those when I finish the Meyer Vampyre series.

[DDuff]

Kelly - I just noticed you are headed for WDW for the first time. OOOHHHHH!!!! I'm so excited for you. There is nothing like your first time. If I could go back and do our first trip (not the one when I was 3) over again again again, I definitely would.

[kelkan]

Originally Posted by DDuff

Kelly - I just noticed you are headed for WDW for the first time. OOOHHHHH!!!! I'm so excited for you. There is nothing like your first time. If I could go back and do our first trip (not the one when I was 3) over again again again, I definitely would.

Thanks. I am so excited to go--can't wait. And thanks for the heads up on new authors I can start getting into--- been wanting to check out new ones and Sedaris sounds like a good start.... love humor and satire