The Slants Book Club discussion
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Let the Right One In
Let the Right One In
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Chapter 2
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I'm actually quite a bit further but reread this chapter for the purposes of this discussion. In light of recent events around the world, it's kind of frightening and hits home - a young buy who is emotionally unstable, confused, afraid who finds solace in the power given to him by a weapon.
In a way, I've always found the wielding of knives a little disconcerting in a way that guns or swords don't. Perhaps, it's the way it requires such an intimate distance to hurt. Unstable emotions only make it seem worse. Reading about Oskar holding, thrusting, and stabbing the air with the knife provided those kinds of unsettling feelings.
I think it's interesting to note that the knife is similar to a vampire's fangs in those kind of qualities (distance, cutting/piercing). When reading through this the first time, I suspected that the young girl he meets at the end of the chapter is the vampire - and though she seems young (his age or younger), she's in total control of her "weapon" (herself) in a way that instills some comfort, security, and innocence - things that aren't present when Oskar is wielding the knife as security.
Thoughts? Reactions?
I've been a bit behind on posting on this, going to make posting some thoughts on Ch. 2 later tonight but if you have any thoughts/feeling/reactions/questions, feel free to chime in!
Regards,
Simon