November 2013 Group Read: Let The Right One In

[Ms. Nikki]

Let the Right One In was voted to be our November Group Read. Feel free to start discussing this read anytime. Please, be sure to use spoiler tags when necessary so as not to ruin the story for others.
Thank you~

[Latasha]

yay!!

[Michael]

An excellent choice. The film was great (and the remake wasn't bad either), but the book was something special.

For me it was one of those books that makes me doubt my own ability as a writer!

[Latasha]

I loved both movies but I haven't read the book.

[Michael]

You're in for a treat :-)

[Greg]

I have no experience with either book or film I'll be joining and starting as soon as I finish reading Prank Night by Kristopher Rufty

[[deleted user]]

Love the summary. I'll give this one a go.

[Shaun]

I got my copy, I'll get into it as soon as I figure out whether to finish or quit the book I'm currently trying to work out.

[Adriane]

I started reading it last night. So far I'm enjoying it.

[Laurel]

I've downloaded this one to my kindle so should be able to start soon. I liked the film (the original, haven't seen the American version) and have heard the book is even better so really looking forward to it!

[Nikki ~ The Nocturnal Bookworm]

I've been wanting to read this one. I think I will start tonight.

[jb]

I read this some time ago and really enjoyed the book.

[[deleted user]]

jennbunny wrote: "I read this some time ago and really enjoyed the book."

Me too.A top classic.

[Deano]

This is one of my few 5star books.

[Nikki ~ The Nocturnal Bookworm]

About halfway through and I am absolutely loving it. I would have finished it all last night if I hadn't started falling asleep while reading.

[Sarah Nicole]

Just got mine shipped.. Stupid ebay slow people sometimes, but if I'm lucky ill be reading it soon. Can't wait :)

[Greg]

I managed to make it through Part One today. All in all the book is pretty good thus far. I was worried that translation would be an issue but I haven't had any trouble immersing myself in the story. While not exactly a fast paced read it is mysterious enough to keep my interest piqued.

I'm kinda excited to finish it and watch the movie all ready :)

[Wayne's]

Enjoying it at the moment, an engaging writing style given its a translation.

[Latasha]

i'm on page 48...lol!

[Greg]

Part 3 November 5th. Now if you don't mind it's time to wring out my piss ball.

(view spoiler)[ that is definitely not supposed to be used as a clown nose!! (hide spoiler)]

[Graeme]

One of the things that disappointed me with the remake of the movie was that there were some plot threads that were left unexplored by the first movie. In particular, the cellar scene is just pure, unadulterated horror, and one of the tensest things I've read in a very long time. I would have loved to have seen a version of that on the big screen, and have a different interpretation of the book, instead of just a retread of the original movie for people who can't read subtitles

[Erin *Proud Book Hoarder*]

This is HIGH on my wishlist, heard great things about it

[Wayne's]

Graeme wrote: "One of the things that disappointed me with the remake of the movie was that there were some plot threads that were left unexplored by the first movie. In particular, the cellar scene is just pure,..."

Yes I had seen the film and when I read that whole section, wow, it was so terrifying in its impact. Easily one of the best horror passages in any book I have read.

[Kate]

Linda wrote: "Nikki wrote: "Let the Right One In was voted to be our November Group Read. Feel free to start discussing this read anytime. Please, be sure to use spoiler tags when necessary so as n..."

Hi Linda, welcome to the group. For posting spoilers use the following code < spoiler > what you want to write < / spoiler > but do it without the spaces. Hope that makes sense. :)

[Kate]

:D

[Latasha]

(view spoiler)[
I didn't think the cellar scene was terrifying. However, the acid scene with Hakan is horrific! I find being trapped in ones own mind/body so so terrifying. I hope the story goes back and explains how Eli became a vampire. (hide spoiler)]

[Greg]

I really did like the Cellar Scene I thought that was creepy as hell. I'm about half way through now. And Tasha I'm hoping for that as well.

[Katy]

I agree. It was a great book - one of the better ones I've read in a while. But it was so incredibly sad.

[jb]

I agree with Latasha about the (view spoiler)[ acid scene. That really was just horrific. Many parts in the book were sad and uncomfortable which I think makes for a good book in general. (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

I've read Let The Right One In a few years ago and I always wanted to know what happens next.Well, John Lindqvist has written a collection of short stories called Let the Old Dreams Die.And the story of Eli and Oskar continues.I haven't read it yet but I plan to soon.

[Latasha]

i'll have to add that! thx Yuri!

[Graeme]

I'd not heard of that. I'll have to go and seek it out. Thanks, Yuri

[Greg]

Ok I just finished and I'm little irritated. Only because my Kindle Version stated I was only 89% in and then BAM! it ended the last 10% were samples from his other novels. I hope others have finished or will soon because I want to hear some thoughts on the ending.

Ending Spoilers

(view spoiler)[ WTF! It's over just like that. I know I've kind of grown accustomed to the schlocky surprise endings in horror novels but this just seamed like it had a few more chapters in it at least. He characterizes his novel so well to not tell you what happens next and to rush through it like that. While the scene played out in my head I climbed to the edge of my seat in anticipation but then the balloon popped and I was left holding my IPHONE (kindle app) thinking where's the rest of it? Is there something wrong with my kindle file? Sigh (hide spoiler)]

Anyway it's definitely one of the best vampire novels I've ever read and I'm excited to find and watch the 2 versions of the film sometime this weekend. I hope more people speak up, the novel definitely deserves some more conversation.

And thank you HA for turning me onto another goodread.

I'll have to dig up that novella or short story that continues the tale a little.

[Graeme]

The short story is a bit strange. It's sort of an implied story, told through the eyes of different characters and while it does continue the story of Oskar and Eli, it's not really about them. It does tell you what happened to them, however. I was still a little disappointed in it, though.

[Crystal]

This is one of my top 10 books, I absolutely love this story of Eli and Oskar, and his writing. Though I was dissapointed with his more recent work, especially "Handling the UnDead".

I love the original movie, but was dissapointed with the American remake, though I know most people like it, I just couldn't get passed them changing the names. haha

[Latasha]

Greg wrote: "Ok I just finished and I'm little irritated. Only because my Kindle Version stated I was only 89% in and then BAM! it ended the last 10% were samples from his other novels. I hope others have finis..."

ohh noo!i'm reading it on kindle, too!

[Greg]

Well it appears the whole story is there the ending just catches you by surprise because your expecting another 50 pages based on the percentages.

[Katy]

Does anyone else wonder (view spoiler)[ why Tomas seemed to disappear from the story after being built up as the smart one/leader of the bullies? (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Nikki ~ The Nocturnal Bookworm]

Just finished it and holy crap I loved this book!

[Sarah Nicole]

On page 200 I'm so glad it's not like the movie. Not saying the movie wasn't good (I only saw the English version) but I was worried that I wasn't going to be interested in the book because I saw the movie first... And I love how there is multi story lines in the book, how you don't just follow the little boy Oskar. Can't wait to finish the book, it's already one of my favorites.

[Wayne's]

Watching the US version Let me in, its ok but not brilliant.

[[deleted user]]

Wayne wrote: "Watching the US version Let me in, its ok but not brilliant."

That is exactly what I thought. Swedish version is alot better.

[Greg]

Katy I remember thinking the same thing.

[[deleted user]]

I just started reading this book and I'm now on part two.I can't stop thinking where has this book been all my life.It's so far my favorite vampire novel.

[Greg]

Love the picture Wayne.

I watched both of the movies this weekend. While both were pretty decent films the Swedish version was quite superior in my opinion. But there was just too much missing from both of them.

I was super excited for the basement scene in both films but was let down twice.

Although I must admit the scene in the back of the car in US version was pretty scary.

[Latasha]

(view spoiler)[ i'm almost done, about 70%. the scene with the cats was awful. and I thought Graeme ^ meant the first basement scene, where Eli licks the blood off the floor. yeah...I just got to the OTHER one. that was absolutely awful. as a cat lover i'm glad they left that out of the movie! and the basement scene would have been hard to watch. it's been a while since I've seen the movies but being this far into the book, I still like both versions and i'm ok with the things they left out. I can't remember if they added anything?

awful* as in I did not like it. I hate that animals very rarely survive in horror. the basement scene was terrifying & horrific. (hide spoiler)]

[Deano]

Got to agree Greg the car bit in the us version is a great bit of direction too

[Latasha]

ok I just finished the book. I think I may be in the minority... i liked it but it won't be one of my favorites. (view spoiler)[to the best i can remember, there wasn't much different from the original movie. i wanted to know more..why did they make eli? where did those vampires come from? more on the history plz. at times i found it confusing on switching back & forth from she to he for eli. i got it after reading half the page but i didn't like that. i wish i had read the book before seeing the movies. i did like it just not as much as everyone else. (hide spoiler)]

[Walter]

I'm about sixty pages into it (just finished reading Ancillary Justice for the Sword & Laser group, so I'm coming to it a bit late).

Excellent story thus far. I've seen the American version of the movie, Let Me In, but not the original. That one's available via Netflix, though, so I'll probably catch it after I finish the book.

[Wayne's]

I think reading the book first is a good idea Walter. The movies just don't do it justice.

Now for December.....