Let the Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist
2004
472 pgs.
5/5
Move over Twilight, because you've just been blown out of the water! Carole McDonnell told me about this book a long time ago when I was reading Twilight...she said that a friend of her's had recommded it and said that it's a vampire love story...which it is kind of, but it's certainly no Stephanie Meyer book. Oh no. There's gore, sex, death, murder, mystery and a beautiful story underneath it all.
Lindqvist is a German writer who I hope explodes in the US! I'd love to see more and more of his books in print. Let the Right One in is a bit of an epic story told over the course of a few days. Young Oskar is a boy that gets picked on at school all the time. More than just picked on, he's tortured at school and doesn't make friend easily. One night, he notices a mysterious young girl playing on the jungle gym outside of his apartment and goes outside to meet her. He notices immediately that something isn't normal about her. She smells funny to begin with. Her name is Eli. He and Eli quickly develop a sort of friendship, though he soon moves to obsessing over her and trying to figure out who or what she is. Though she is a 12 year old girl by appearance, he thinks she's much more.
Meanwhile, there is what seems to be a serial killer on the loose. As the reader, we know that this killer is Eli's housemate, a human named Hakan who seemingly has a thing for young boys. Bodies begin to turn up all over the small town and it seems that the killer is bleeding them. Other bodies are being found with their throats ripped open. And this is all just the very beginning of the story.
Lindqvist tells a tale that chills the spine at times, that's truly terrifying at other times, and is surprisingly touching at moments. This is a smart novel, yet it holds all of the entertainment value that one could hope for. His character development is fascinating and he has the ability to make us love a character, feel for a character, or be repulsed by them. He doesn't hold much back. At times he pushes the limit of horror novels, which I absolutely love.
This is a book that I'd highly recommend to any fan of supernatural/vampire/crime novels. It's been made into a movie that looks fantastic and I can't wait to watch it. What makes this book even more cool is that the title of the novel comes from a Morrissey song called "Let the Right One Slip In." Lindqvist is certainly a cool dude and I can't wait to read more of his novels.
Other Views and Opinions:
Reading MattersLove VampiresThe Lair of the Undead RatCynical Optimism
Let the Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist
2004
472 pgs.
5/5
Move over Twilight, because you've just been blown out of the water! Carole McDonnell told me about this book a long time ago when I was reading Twilight...she said that a friend of her's had recommded it and said that it's a vampire love story...which it is kind of, but it's certainly no Stephanie Meyer book. Oh no. There's gore, sex, death, murder, mystery and a beautiful story underneath it all.
Lindqvist is a German writer who I hope explodes in the US! I'd love to see more and more of his books in print. Let the Right One in is a bit of an epic story told over the course of a few days. Young Oskar is a boy that gets picked on at school all the time. More than just picked on, he's tortured at school and doesn't make friend easily. One night, he notices a mysterious young girl playing on the jungle gym outside of his apartment and goes outside to meet her. He notices immediately that something isn't normal about her. She smells funny to begin with. Her name is Eli. He and Eli quickly develop a sort of friendship, though he soon moves to obsessing over her and trying to figure out who or what she is. Though she is a 12 year old girl by appearance, he thinks she's much more.
Meanwhile, there is what seems to be a serial killer on the loose. As the reader, we know that this killer is Eli's housemate, a human named Hakan who seemingly has a thing for young boys. Bodies begin to turn up all over the small town and it seems that the killer is bleeding them. Other bodies are being found with their throats ripped open. And this is all just the very beginning of the story.
Lindqvist tells a tale that chills the spine at times, that's truly terrifying at other times, and is surprisingly touching at moments. This is a smart novel, yet it holds all of the entertainment value that one could hope for. His character development is fascinating and he has the ability to make us love a character, feel for a character, or be repulsed by them. He doesn't hold much back. At times he pushes the limit of horror novels, which I absolutely love.
This is a book that I'd highly recommend to any fan of supernatural/vampire/crime novels. It's been made into a movie that looks fantastic and I can't wait to watch it. What makes this book even more cool is that the title of the novel comes from a Morrissey song called "Let the Right One Slip In." Lindqvist is certainly a cool dude and I can't wait to read more of his novels.
Other Views and Opinions:
Reading Matters
Love Vampires
The Lair of the Undead Rat
Cynical Optimism
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