Memory and the Past Quotes in The Host

Wanda ends up being affected by Melanie's memories and Melanie's past. Were it not for Melanie's strong memories, Wanderer wouldn't know a thing about Jared or Jamie, and we'd have a completely different plot to the book. It'd probably be shorter, too.

This is the first line of one of Melanie's memories. It's in present tense, unlike Wanderer's narration, which is always in past tense. The tense shift serves to show how intense Melanie's memories are, as though Wanda is reliving a moment that she never even lived the first time through.

Melanie's memories have become Wanda's, and there's no way to separate them. That's why Wanda asks if the distinction even matters. Wherever these memories came from, they're hers now. They'll affect her actions and her feelings forever.

Wanda loves Jared only because Melanie does. If Melanie hadn't chosen to reveal her memories of Jared to Wanda, Wanda probably wouldn't love him. (Especially not after he punches her in the face.)

Wanderer's past lives have left her with a variety of experiences, and a variety of names. She's able to use the experiences she's had on other planets for the benefit of the human race. (We'd like to hear about the Rides the Beast experience.)

When Wanda tries to explain to a newly awoken human what's going on, she's taking on the role of Comforter to a human. And notice that the key thing here is to help the human remember.

Like Wanda, Sunny is affected by Jodi's memories of Kyle. Since Jodi actually cared for Kyle (unlike everyone else who mostly can't stand the jerk), Sunny is sympathetic toward him as well. She sees him as a big strong protector and can't leave his side.

When Wanda and Melanie are separated, Wanda has to deal with the fact that she's not looking at herself in a mirror; she's looking at Melanie, who is now a separate being. Talk about an out-of-body experience. It has to be weird seeing the body you inhabited in the past operating independently of you... kind of like Melanie felt when Wanda first took over her.

We get to experience the disorientation of being put into a new body first-hand when Wanda goes through the body transfer process herself. It's even more confusing the second time around, because she has a previous soul's memories to deal with.

Once again, Wanderer has to cope with traumas and tragedies that she never even lived through. And this is why we keep coming back to science fiction.