Re-read: Chapter Ten- Turned

"Stop acting like a criminal."

Deciding to head into the desert, Wanderer stops at a convince store to stock up on water and other supplies. Melanie is still puzzled by the fact that money is no longer used to purchase goods, but as Wanderer emphasizes, there is no need for money when everyone is so honest. Recognizing the jagged image of Uncle Jeb's in the landscape, Wanderer turns off onto an unpaved road and journeys into the desert. 


Melanie feels more at ease in the seclusion of the desert, naming off the various vegetation as they pass. In the silence of the desert, Wanderer feels Melanie's desire for freedom; the freedom to control her body once more. As they move further from civilization, the pair shares in the satisfaction of imagining the Seeker waiting in Tucson and realizing that Wanderer had pulled one over on her. 


Wanderer asks Melanie to share the rest of the lines with her, but Melanie immediately shuts her down, exclaiming, "I'll do that part my way" (98). As night falls, the absurdity of their travels weighs on Wanderer. She senses Melanie's determination to go on with the task, if only to distance herself from the life they are leaving behind. Not being able to travel in the dark, Wanderer reclines her seat and drifts off to sleep, closing herself off from the worries that plagued her moments before. 

For many readers, The Host's story really picks up when Wanderer and Melanie head out into the desert. Was this the case for you? Up to this point in the novel, what was your impression of Meyer's story?

Questions? Comments? Sound off below.