Let The Right One In, John Ajvide Lindqvist
A few days ago, I finished John Ajvide Lindqvist's Let The Right One In and now I'm getting started on my first Tolstoy book: Anna Karenina. But before I embark on another novel this sembreak, I want to extend my greatest praise for Lindqvist's masterful story. I'm not a fan of horror fiction and Let The Right One In was my first attempt to read one, but there's just something about this book that can neither be contained in a genre nor classified merely as a 'vampire novel.' It's so much more than that. In fact, the word 'vampire' undermines the twisted gravity of the novel. That word cannot totally encapsulate the identity of the characters; it only loosely defines a part of who or what they are. Regardless if it was intended or not, it is Lindqvist's subversion of the reputation of vampires in pop culture-which has been so dampened by the frivolity of sparkling, vegetarian pixies-that makes his approach to the same myth so interesting. What I love most is how the title Let The Right One In plays on the old vampire folk tale that claims vampires cannot enter a house unless they're invited. Naturally, creepy stuff ensues.
However, a word of caution to those who may not be terrified of the supernatural but are extremely sensitive to portrayals of pedophilia, near rape, child bullying that goes way overboard, castration...you get the idea. And boy, I can see why. The book contains a lot of revolting descriptions of filth, whether it's the inner workings of the characters' minds or the slow process of slicing open a corpse and hanging him from his feet to collect torrents of his blood-Lindqvist is intent on letting the reader feel every word. Sometimes it can be torture, other times it can be an investigation of the wickedness of the psyche. Although Eli takes center stage, the human characters aren't particularly innocent either. The writer doesn't attempt to make any of them remotely attractive.
I'll admit that Lindqvist's writing could be packed a lot tighter, as there are a lot of details in the first two parts of the book that seem to slow the story down. But I remember while reading animatedly through parts 3 and 4 that the pace of the action picks up significantly later on and it's well worth the ride of the long, sometimes draggy exposition. Many details that I initially thought were completely unnecessary turned out to be important devices for character backstory or a pivotal event that happens at the end. And all it cost me was 3 consecutive nightmares. *cough*
Just to illustrate the frigid setting of Sweden where the book's events take place, here's a pretty piece of artwork that was inspired by the movie. And yeah, despite the moral ambiguity, psychological dysfunctions, and pervading darkness, I still love Oskar and Eli together. Who knows? Maybe I'll try watching the movie. :) LIKE HELL I WILL
However, a word of caution to those who may not be terrified of the supernatural but are extremely sensitive to portrayals of pedophilia, near rape, child bullying that goes way overboard, castration...you get the idea. And boy, I can see why. The book contains a lot of revolting descriptions of filth, whether it's the inner workings of the characters' minds or the slow process of slicing open a corpse and hanging him from his feet to collect torrents of his blood-Lindqvist is intent on letting the reader feel every word. Sometimes it can be torture, other times it can be an investigation of the wickedness of the psyche. Although Eli takes center stage, the human characters aren't particularly innocent either. The writer doesn't attempt to make any of them remotely attractive.
I'll admit that Lindqvist's writing could be packed a lot tighter, as there are a lot of details in the first two parts of the book that seem to slow the story down. But I remember while reading animatedly through parts 3 and 4 that the pace of the action picks up significantly later on and it's well worth the ride of the long, sometimes draggy exposition. Many details that I initially thought were completely unnecessary turned out to be important devices for character backstory or a pivotal event that happens at the end. And all it cost me was 3 consecutive nightmares. *cough*
Just to illustrate the frigid setting of Sweden where the book's events take place, here's a pretty piece of artwork that was inspired by the movie. And yeah, despite the moral ambiguity, psychological dysfunctions, and pervading darkness, I still love Oskar and Eli together. Who knows? Maybe I'll try watching the movie. :) LIKE HELL I WILL