Let the Right One In

[Rachel, First Lady]

This thread is for the discussion of our first group read, Let the Right One In. It will contain spoilers. You've been warned. :)

Let's have an awesome month!

[Enci]

Haha, i will avoid this thread until August the 20th. Thanks for the warning :). What kind of structure would you all use to discuss the book? chapter by chapter?

[Coqueline]

Looking forward to reading this book!

[Rachel, First Lady]

I've actually started reading it last night, and so far I really, really like it. I loved the movie and it looks like I'll be loving the book too. I can understand the characters more now that I'm reading the book. And for now, I find the whole thing tragically beautiful. I can't wait for everyone to start reading it!

[Coqueline]

I've read the portion from Kindle free sample. i think I'm also going to like it. But I also think I want to buy a paper copy of this book, not on Kindle.

[Yusnia]

Well, I'm still looking for this book..hufttt

[Rachel, First Lady]

Where are you located Yusnia? If you're in Jakarta, the book is readily available at Kinokuniya bookstores :)

[Yusnia]

I'm in Malang. Err, I'm still trying to find the ebook version from google..hehehe.

[Tomoe]

I have the pdf/lit ebook, if anyone for some reason can't buy/find it, I can e-mail you a copy...

[Rachel, First Lady]

So, the book ruined Hakan's character for me. He was easier to symphatize for in the movie, but in the book he just comes sleazy as hell. Does anybody else agree?

And yes Verlysia, I agree that this book is definitely for adults.

[David]

I think I'll pass for this month.. I still have 7 books to read hehehe..maybe next month..but thanks for the invitation...

[Rachel, First Lady]

Well alright then, fair enough. We look forward to having you in our book discussions in the future :)

[Yusnia]

Amanda wrote: "I have the pdf/lit ebook, if anyone for some reason can't buy/find it, I can e-mail you a copy..."

Please share with me ^^: yusniasakti@yahoo.com

[Liwin]

Hi, share with me too: liwintjoa@gmail.com

Thanks!!! I'm still waiting for the book to arrive at my place. It takes 2 week.

[Tomoe]

I sent the e-book to both your e-mails, didn't know what you preferred so I sent it in various formats :)

[Liwin]

Thanks Amanda. I just receive your email! Thanks a lot.

[Tomoe]

No problem :)

[Yusnia]

Amanda wrote: "I sent the e-book to both your e-mails, didn't know what you preferred so I sent it in various formats :)"

Thank you Amanda. I'm reading it now ^^

[Rachel, First Lady]

Which one did you like better, Verlysia? The book or the movie? Where I'm up to right now in the novel, I much prefer the movie. So far. We'll see.

You know it's so weird, I've seen the movie but when I read the beginning of the book where the writer did this alternating bits between Oskar and Hasan (when they were both in the forest - turns out, different ones -), I thought he killed Oskar. Hahaha. I was shocked for a few seconds, and then common sense kicked in.

Amanda, I take it you've read the book? :)

[Coqueline]

I finally got the book!

The book definitely adds depth to Hakan's character and it is indeed more disturbing than the movie.

Along with the book I also ordered the original Swedish film adaptation of 'Let the Right One In'. It would be interesting to see if the Swedish version is closer to the book.

[Liwin]

What page do you guys at?

[Rachel, First Lady]

Coqueline: I'm not so sure about there being more depth, rather I now find his character to have lesser of it. In the movie, I found him to be epic. Deep. His life-choices are of course, very questionable... but in the movie, it's... love, you know? I really don't feel this in the book at all.

Oh and do tell me if the Swedish film is any good :)

Liwin: I'm not sure, lol. I'm reading two books at the moment, and I can't recall where I'm upto in Let the Right One In. Almost half-way if not already half-way, hehe.

[Coqueline]

Rachel wrote: "Coqueline: I'm not so sure about there being more depth, rather I now find his character to have lesser of it. In the movie, I found him to be epic. Deep. His life-choices are of course, very quest..."

Well maybe depth is not the exact word, but the book did give him a more complicated motive than the movie, which for me is as valid as plain love. The book gave a complicated symbiosis between him and Eli, which I have no problem with. Of course, third into the book he's not even a character anymore.

I finished the book last night, and I loved it. I love the storyline. I have always attracted to books with flawed character, and this book is chock full of flawed characters and written in a way sometimes I felt that I could smell the stench of these people. The Hollywood adaptation of this story is more simple, painfully elegant and somehow bittersweet. This book is gritty, unflenching in its delivery and can be very violent (I did question if some of the violence really necessary). I didn't find it depressing though; I wouldn't call having my heart raced through it a depressing experience. In the book you'll also know another side of Eli that was never discussed in the (Hollywood) movie.

I have yet to watch the Swedish movie of it, maybe I'll do it tonight.

[Coqueline]

I bought the DVD on Amazon for only 5 pounds. Yeah, I'm sooo law-abiding.... LOL

[Coqueline]

How's the progress with everyone?

I watched the Swedish movie the other night. It's closer to the book, but somehow the Hollywood version is just cleaner in its execution because it nipped some storylines that need too much back story. The Swedish version tried to includes some of the side stories, but not all the back story/explanation on how it happened that it left my husband, who didn't read the book, with more questions. The Swedish version wins on Nordic in the 80's stylisation though.

[Rachel, First Lady]

I just finished the book two nights ago and overall, I guess the book was okay. I usually like books better, but this time around I must say I liked the movie more.

However, that being said, I think Eli's character is somewhat better in the book. In the movie, it seemed she/he was just looking for a replacement for Hakan, you know? In the movie, she was with Hakan ever since he was young and it seemed like she was just repeating the motions with Oskar. But in the book, her/his friendship with Oskar felt more genuine. Don't you think?

[Coqueline]

True, the movie didn't paint Hakan as a pedophile, you get the impression that he was growing old with her. Even though later on, the scene with the jar full of wedding rings get a bit confusing (how many marriages can you have in 200 years if the person starts off young and growing old with you?). I chalked it off as Hollywood style miscalculation, but the book gave explanation that finally made sense (sort of).

[Rachel, First Lady]

I'm actually a bit hazy at this point. So does Eli grow old, but then one day she sleeps and wakes up young again? Is that how it is? I didn't really get the explanation in the book.

[Enci]

I've got the book around 5 days ago and i love it. I read the book with anticipation that i will skip lots of gory details but somehow it never happened and i grow to love the characters, even Hakan that you all talked about :). Thanks to Coqueline for the recommendation

[Liwin]

I watched the American version, well, it's similar, but there's no detail on Lacke friends like the book. In my opinion, the book is too long, there's so much story that are not important.

I have a question, in the movie, who is the boy Eli/Abby's with in the photo? Is it Hakan?

I guess I read some part in the book that Hakan met Eli when he's an adult, lost his job, etc.

[Rachel, First Lady]

I sort of agree with Liwin's opinion regarding there's too much side stories that are not that important. While I admit it does play a role in the whole narrative as a whole, I could make do without some of it. I'm really all for the movie in this one, lol.

Yes Liwin, it was a picture of Eli and Hakan. Their back story in the movie and the book differed.

[Coqueline]

There are quite some side stories to it. On one hand, those pack of people did add to the the gritty atmosphere that they are living in the ghetto (full of dodgy people), but I can understand that you'd end up feeling you're reading the stories of snacks (after all, they did get gobbled up by Eli). Tommy's story is the most baffling of all. Did he get put into the stories for the sole purpose of beating Hakan's undead body into pulp?

Rachel wrote: "I'm actually a bit hazy at this point. So does Eli grow old, but then one day she sleeps and wakes up young again? Is that how it is? I didn't really get the explanation in the book."

I think she sleeps for months at a time and 'live' periodically throughout the years.

[Rachel, First Lady]

Oh and when she sleeps she doesn't need blood to nurture her? That's sort of weird isn't it?

Anyway, it's already the 1st of September and our first book read has come to a close. Of course everyone is still free to discuss the book, but now it is also a good idea to start thinking of a new book to read together. Let's have some ideas in the Book Nominations thread :)

[Coqueline]

I guess it's some sort of hibernation period (animals also don't need to eat during hibernation).