Mar 02, 2010 20:39
"I hope that one day you will have the experience of doing something you do not understand for someone you love."
This is the second book in a row that I've read in which the main character's name is Oskar, the first one being "Let the Right One In" by John Ajvide Lindqvist. I had seen the movie some time last year but didn't actually find out it was based on a novel until a few weeks ago. Anyway, I'd definitely recommend it, although it's quite disturbing. It's one of the rare cases where I actually enjoyed both the book and the movie.
I started reading ELIC based on a rave review from a friend who said she had "blazed through it on the plane". It's funny 'cause I've seen the cover quite a few times while browsing through Chapters but never really thought to pick it up. I'm grateful for the recommendation though, because even though I'm only about a third of the way through, I'm really enjoying the book. It's about nine year old Oskar Schell, whose father died on the morning of 9/11, but left behind a mysterious envelope containing a key. The only clue is the word 'Black' written on the envelope.
I've gotta say I'm not sure I would've bought this book based on the description on the back of the book alone, but once I started reading I didn't want to put it down. Oskar's an interesting kid - he's an amateur inventor, pacifist, vegan, atheist, tambourine-player, etc. He's bright, but the author doesn't try to make him seem like a tiny adult, so the way the book is narrated still has a whimsical kind of story-telling that only a kid could deliver. I'm off to read more now, but give it a go!
-Edit-
Hahaha... I actually read Black Magic Sanction in between those two books but it was such a shitfest that my mind decided it didn't count?
books,
recommendations