Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Let the right one in part one

This novel was definitely the weirdest one we've read yet. Surprisingly, though, I did enjoy it. So far of all the novels we've read the theme hasn't really focused so much on the outcasts and this novel took an interest in characters with different interests and backgrounds. The story, while having a vastly creepy plot, was about friendship. The 2 main characters share a close bond. Initially I was disgusted with the "work" Hakan was doing for Eli but ultimately he loved her unconditionally and was willing to do anything to keep her alive and well. This relationship reminded me of others in previous novels we have read. The only difference is that Oskar wasn't Eli's victim. In all the other novels, the person that the vampire got close to eventually ended up being their prey. Though the relationship between Eli and Hakan is very creepy, it is not unique. We've all heard the story of the obsessive boyfriend...this seems like the same thing except with a darker twist (the whole vampire thing). Things that any partner would do for their significant other and though in the book never revealed how Eli and Hakan came to find each other it is clear that Hakan has intense feelings for Eli, unfortunately for him, Eli seems to be more connected with Oskar. As far as Eli and Oskar go, Eli gives Oskar the courage to stick up for himself to the kids who have been bullying him at school. It's overall a very morbid story but the heart of it was about family and friendship the very things that we see as so important in society.

3 comments:

  1. I too thought that this novel was very weird as well. However I have read "the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" series which was written very similar to this novel. When you say, "The 2 main characters share a close bond. Initially I was disgusted with the "work" Hakan was doing for Eli but ultimately he loved her unconditionally and was willing to do anything to keep her alive and well" it makes me wonder whether it was truly love or whether Eli was just "brainwashing" him. When I first read this part I thought, "Wow he really loves her even though he knows what she is" but then a little bit later Eli goes to the old woman and kind of controls her mind so it made me second guess if it was true love. I really agree with you when you say, “This relationship reminded me of others in previous novels we have read. The only difference is that Oskar wasn't Eli's victim. In all the other novels, the person that the vampire got close to eventually ended up being their prey.” I really enjoyed the fact that Eli can be a vampire but doesn’t prey on someone she likes, Oskar. It definitely shows a different side of vampirism that we have not seen yet.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I'd have to agree, as well--this was definitely a weird one. I did enjoy it, though. While the plot was, as you said, super creepy at times, the book was well-written and told a very interesting and unique story. Also, I agree with what you said about the relationships reminding you of other relationships from other books that we've read. It seems like a stretch, but I found the relationships from "Let the Right One In" to be somewhat similar to "Interview with the Vampire". The book contains one obviously unhealthy relationship (which is that of Eli and Hakan) and one relationship that provides a certain form of personal redemption for the characters involved (which is that of Eli and Oskar). This reminded me of Louis's relationship with Lestat, which was obviously unhealthy and destructive, and his relationship with Claudia, which provided him with some form of compassion and personal redemption.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I think the love that Hakan has for Eli is pretty perverse. Even though he does love her unconditionally, she seems to manipulate him and try to force him to do her bidding. She threatens him by telling him how she would die, or can only make it a few more days without food. She uses his love against him, sort of the whole "if you love me, you will do it" argument. It seems their love isn't a typical love, as well. He says he loves her but also attempts to buy sexual favors from a 12 year old boy. She doesn't even admit that she loves him! She has to 'think' about it.

    One might guess that he is simply infatuated with her age. He does attempt to buy time with a 12 year old at a library, and he also was involved with a group of guys buying a 12 year old for their own pleasure earlier in the novel.

    ReplyDelete