Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Let the Right One In

by John Ajvide Lindqvist

To say that this is a novel of vampires in Sweden would be true, but it’s about so much more than the vampires.

Twelve-year-old Oskar is the victim of bullying at school. If he is not at home, he is not safe from the torture that is so common (and so terrifying) among adolescents.

Everything changes when he meets Eli. She is small and dark, but she accepts Oskar. She is fascinated by his Rubik’s Cube, and he is thrilled to have a friend. But Oskar doesn’t know that Eli is a vampire. He also doesn’t know that Eli’s “father” is killing people for their blood (to feed to Eli).

So, the main story revolves around Eli and Oskar. But there is the matter of the killings in town, which have stumped the police. And the author introduces us to a bunch of townspeople, as well as some of the kids who are bullying Oskar.

Engrossing and interesting and definitely not your average vampire novel.

11/21/09

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