Let the Right One in

( 311 )

Overview

Let the Right One In Takes Top Honors at Tribeca Film Festival!

It is autumn 1981 when the inconceivable comes to Blackeberg, a suburb in Sweden. The body of a teenage boy is found, emptied of blood, the murder rumored to be part of a ritual killing. Twelve-year-old Oskar is personally hoping that revenge has come at long last---revenge for the bullying he endures at school, day after day.

But the murder is not the most important thing on his ...

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More About This Book

Overview

Let the Right One In Takes Top Honors at Tribeca Film Festival!

It is autumn 1981 when the inconceivable comes to Blackeberg, a suburb in Sweden. The body of a teenage boy is found, emptied of blood, the murder rumored to be part of a ritual killing. Twelve-year-old Oskar is personally hoping that revenge has come at long last---revenge for the bullying he endures at school, day after day.

But the murder is not the most important thing on his mind. A new girl has moved in next door---a girl who has never seen a Rubik’s Cube before, but who can solve it at once. There is something wrong with her, though, something odd. And she only comes out at night. . . .

Sweeping top honors at film festivals all over the globe, director Tomas Alfredsson’s film of Let the Right One In has received the same kind of spectacular raves that have been lavished on the book. American readers of vampire fiction will be thrilled!

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Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

“It’s easy to compare Lindqvist to Clive Barker and Neil Gaiman.”
---Dagens Næringsliv (Norway)

“Sweden's Stephen King...a classic tale of horror.”
---Tucson Citizen

“A brilliant take on the vampire myth, and a roaring good story.”
---Kelley Armstrong, bestselling author of Haunted

"Absolutely chilling. This page-turner grabs you from the onset and just won't let go. Vampires at their Anne Ricean best!"
---L. A. Banks, author of Bite the Bullet and the Vampire Huntress series

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Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9780312355296
  • Publisher: St. Martin's Press
  • Publication date: 10/28/2008
  • Edition description: Media Tie-In
  • Pages: 480
  • Sales rank: 186,817
  • Product dimensions: 5.50 (w) x 8.18 (h) x 1.25 (d)

Meet the Author


John Ajvide Lindqvist's debut novel, Let the Right One In, was an instant bestseller in Sweden and was named Best Novel in Translation 2005 in Norway. The Swedish film adaptation, directed by Tomas Alfredsson, has won top honors at film festivals all over the globe, including Best Narrative Feature at the Tribeca Film Festival. An American remake, Let Me In, written and directed by Cloverfield director Matt Reeves, was released in October 2010 to rave reviews.  Lindqvist grew up in Blackeberg, a suburb of Stockholm and the setting for Let the Right One In. Wanting to become something awful and fantastic, he first became a conjurer, and then was a stand-up comedian for twelve years. He has also written for Swedish television. He lives in Sweden.
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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4.5
( 311 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(169)

4 Star

(88)

3 Star

(32)

2 Star

(9)

1 Star

(13)

Your Rating:

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See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 313 Customer Reviews

  • Posted November 17, 2009

    more from this reviewer

    A Vampire Story with a Twist

    I absolutely loved this book! The plot is gut-wrenching, funny, scary, and tragic. It is an unexpected tale of vampires, love, and revenge. I have spent hours discussing it with friends who have read it as well.

    14 out of 14 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted December 1, 2008

    more from this reviewer

    I Also Recommend:

    Salem's Lot

    New and Unusual, but Well Worth It

    Noted as the Swedish Stephen King, Lindgvist absolutely fits the role. A new brand of vampire traits with a refreshing dose of family discord for every character. Alternating perspectives helps the story move along (although a little confusing at first) so the author easily prevents himself from getting trapped in first-perspective like so many first-time authors do. Character development and the effects of one character on another needs just a little, teensy-tiny bit of improvement, and also some explination on Eli's past. (It hinted and gave parts, but not the whole story. And the blond gentleman after Eli drank some bad blood? Hmm ... <BR/><BR/>Worthy of a sequal, worthy of re-reading, worthy to pass on to a friend. I highly recommend this for Stephen King, adventure, and horror fans. Maybe even for the ones who like to curl with with a good thriller on a rainy night.

    11 out of 12 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted March 30, 2010

    more from this reviewer

    thrilling

    For those of us who are tired of bella/edward/unrequited love, this book is the ultimate vampire story. Oskar is a 12 year old boy who is picked on by bullies at his school. Without friends, he relies on his imagination for entertainment. However, Oskar is about to make the best friend of his life who is an unlikely creature with a dark secret. I read this book in 3 days because I could not put it down. Due to some graphic scenes, I would not recommend this book for younger children. But Let the Right One in is definitely a must-read.

    7 out of 7 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted January 26, 2009

    more from this reviewer

    Not Another Regrettable Vampire Tale

    There are far too many carelessly written vampire books with no substance available today. This book is the farthest thing from those. While we the reader know Eli is a vampire, it is barely mentioned until the last third of the book. From the first page to the last, there is never a moment where you want to stop reading. It tells the story through various lives, so you are never stuck with one viewpoint. For those of you wondering, it sticks to the classic vampire rules told in Bram Stoker and Anne Rice. No sparkling nonsense. This is the first book I have read in awhile I have been completely satisfied with. It's thrilling, dramatic and at points, utterly gruesome. Not a waste of money, if you want a good, chilling read.

    5 out of 9 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted January 3, 2009

    I Also Recommend:

    Interview with the Vampire (Vampire Chronicles Series #1)
    The Shining

    Finally!!

    This book was one of the best ones I have ever read. It is haunting story that tells of the life of Oskar, a twlve year old boy that is picked on in most of the novel in desturbing ways. He meets a girl who just moved in next door , Eli. Oskar sees something in Eli, a kind gentle sparkle almost, but she proves to be a vampire. Eli's arrival coincide with a series of brutal death's in Okarks suburban swedish town that twists the life of many people in the town, especially El's "father" who goes out into the night to get blood and feed Eli. Despite it all Okar and Eli share a bond that goes beyond the elements of any romance novel. The novel is written in a very real narrative that explores the bleak side of life and its triumphs, but also maintains a gripping horror novel that is unretellingly profound.

    5 out of 7 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted November 17, 2008

    more from this reviewer

    I Also Recommend:

    The Hunger
    The Hunger

    unique addition to vampire literature

    "Let The Right One In" is not only a good book, it is different than much of the vampire fiction being published right now. It is not for everyone - not so much for the violence (par for the course in these sorts of books) as much as the peek into damaged psyches. It's to Lindqvist's credit that he presents even the most revolting human beings as full-fledged characters and not just drooling, one-note lunatics. The vampire, Eli, is also that rarity in horror fiction - a sympathetic vampire who is by no means "good." Eli will attack and kill innocent human beings, yet still remains sad because of her loneliness; in this way, she reminded me of Miriam Blaylock in "The Hunger." Definitely recommended for fans of the weirder side of vampire fiction, and a book to add to your permanent collection.

    5 out of 7 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted February 5, 2010

    Investment of time with no return

    I started off liking this story of the underdog who is bullied in school. Twists, turns, too many characters who I grew not to like or care about made me anxious for the book to end. I was determined to finish this since I had put so much time into it, but didn't find it very satisfying in the final pages. Odd, disturbing, and uncomfortable reading.

    4 out of 15 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted January 2, 2010

    more from this reviewer

    I Also Recommend:

    Fledgling

    Vampire novel WORTH reading!

    Don't let the current vampire fad sour you on this gem! While this quirky Swedish novel won't answer all the questions it raises, it will make you ponder life with a capital L. The concepts of victim and prey, friendship and co-dependence are all re-framed in startling ways. The bleakness of the Swedish winter helps to underscore the emotional setting as well. An award winning movie has been made from this novel- it is more stripped down, which makes the narrative better suited to the film platform. Both are well worth your time. Be aware that this is not a novel or film for preteens.

    4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted August 25, 2009

    hauntingly strange

    Talking with my daughter one day she told me she saw this incredible movie and mentioned the name. The title must have settled someplace in my brain, because I picked up this book by accident. What a strange and wonderful read. Unlike any of the other vampire books out there now. The story leads you to understand why Oscar finally Let the Right one in, even though in my mind it came down to his only choice. A readable but thought provoking novel. Do we always let the Right one in? I don't know.

    4 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted April 12, 2009

    more from this reviewer

    Vampire Classic

    This novel should redefine the vampire genre. It is up there with Interview with the Vampire (Rice) and Dracula (Stoker).
    It is brilliantly written, plotted. Thanks to this amazing translation it flows smoothly, I'm sure due to the fact that the Sweedish author knows how to tell a tale and not get stuck in the horror of it all, but in the human element of all involved including the "little girl" Eli. The portrayal of Oskar is heartbreaking. The portrayal of Eli is so realistic you can't help but empathize with her predicament.

    This novel is so well written that the sinister aspect of it is lost in the vivid characterization and the gentle way the author has of dealing with the protagonists.

    It truly is a great novel. One of the best, if not the best novels I have ever read. As for the genre of horror/vampire it is way above the current tripe that is being peddled in this genre.

    4 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted January 1, 2010

    Exciting, Intelligent, Moving

    This novel is unique. It shows the absolute worst of human nature and the best. It scares you to death, makes you think, and touches you.

    3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted July 4, 2009

    more from this reviewer

    I Also Recommend:

    Interview with the Vampire (Vampire Chronicles Series #1)

    Fantastic vampire story.

    In this age of half-baked vampire romance with every-girl and her cohort swooning over vampire this and Edward that and hot topic those, this book is a beautiful return to the essence of vampirism. There is blood, there is young love, there is violence.

    Oskar is an outcast. He is antagonized by a group of bullies on a daily basis. He is truly a 12 year old kid, stuck at the crossroads of childhood joy and teenage angst, which is a trying time for anyone. It is a power struggle, and Oskar is losing. He lives in terror of what is going to happen next, and can't stand the powerlessness he is feeling. When Eli enters the picture Oskar finds a compatriot, someone else who is at that same crossroads, but has been for a much longer time.

    This story is great, and I recommend it as a must read for anyone interested in vampires. It not only has a vampire that is a thinking, feeling creature that both realizes and regrets their animal nature, it also has a classic European mythical vampire that is mindless and zombie-like.

    3 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted March 16, 2009

    more from this reviewer

    A thinking man's "Twilight"

    John Lindqvist has written a great vampire story, which the film of the same name was adapated from. It contains a boy's torment in school that we've all experienced and his first love, but Oskar doesn't know right off that Eli (Elee) is a vampire. If you've seen the film fist as I have, read the novel to compare, It even has a section of how Eli became a vampire which I won't spoil here. It's a brilliant novel full of real characters and has what every novel needs; conflict, action and suspense. Read it and you'll see what a great book it is. So is the film.

    3 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted February 16, 2009

    Let the Right one In is one of the best films and greatest horror stories that I've had the pleasure to read

    I guess since I saw the movie first there was no spoiler alerts besides the a couple plot points that hopefully the English remake to this Swedish horror classic.<BR/><BR/> Its about 472 pages and even though you might be tempted to skim alittle since it might just sag in a place or two but if your into horror, romance, and a bit of undead (who is'nt?) then this is an absolute must read. The movie was one of the best films of 2008 and I must say the the book does it justice_or vice-versa.<BR/><BR/> I can talk all day or you can just buy this peice literature that will melt your heart and curl your toes at the same time.

    3 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted May 16, 2010

    Good read.

    I saw the movie before I read the book and, although I had good idea of what happens next, the book was still a fascinating read. I then went back and watched the movie again but it now paled in comparison.
    I would recommend to those who enjoy the connection betwen the horrors we inflict upon each other and the horrors created in literature over the centuries. Not so different from each other.

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted February 27, 2010

    Extraordinary read!

    This book was recommended by a B&N employee and I absolutely loved it. Such a different take on the vampire story. With all of the vampire books that are out now it's a refreshing plot.

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted May 25, 2009

    suspense from beginning to end

    This book is absolutely superb. I first watched the movie after reading the rave reviews it received during the Cannes Film Festival. I was drawn to the book because some back story & character relationships were cut out of the movie. For instance, the book explored the relationship between Hakan & Eli, the local drunks, the police officer, and Eli's vampire origins. The book also delved deeper into Oskar's lonely existence & the budding relationship between he & Eli. Superb story!

    2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted December 13, 2010

    more from this reviewer

    Lacks thrills and suspense. Overall good, not great

    This book was well written but not totally absorbing. The characters are well developed and really interesting. The plot was interesting and at times suspenseful. It just lacked the thrill factor I was looking for in a story of this genre. Most of the story was dark with violence and tragedy,but lacking in fright and gripping suspense. A more complete ending would have made a big difference. The ending left too many lose ends. It was a good, but not great read.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted October 30, 2010

    more from this reviewer

    My fave book of the year!

    Excellent, Excellent, Excellent! Definitely a must read.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted August 26, 2010

    Chilling and unique

    This is not your typical vampire read. The writing style was unique in the sense it was written by a Swedish author. I'm not positive but I believe the book was translated into English. However, I greatly enjoyed this book. I enjoyed seeing through the boys eyes and getting into his head. He's certainly not your dream child. Getting a look into Eli's point of view was interesting, and showing us the transition from a personal view of Virginia was captivating. This book might not be enjoyed and appreciated by all and I truly hope it gets the attention it deserves.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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