Book Review: Let The Right One In (John Ajvide Lindqvist)

You may think you know all about vampires or other creatures of the night. They turn into bats, drink blood, speak in gaudy Eastern European accents, et cetera. John Ajvide Lindqvist's huge novel offers a modern update on classic vampire lore, primarily through harping on one old-fashioned rule many of us may have forgotten: they don't show up in your house all of the suddenly, you have to invite them in.

Let the Right One In chronicles a creature named Eli. At first glance, she would seem like a pretty and unassuming girl, but it's apparent quite quickly that she thrives in darkness and drinks blood by the gallons. She crosses paths with Oskar, a boy repressed relentlessly by bullies--he's so tormented, his mind dips into morbid and nihilistic thoughts of murder. But the two hit it off, and the sheer chemistry evolves both characters in daring directions.

That's not all though--the story also splits its narrative POV among other characters. There's Hakan, a twisted soul who routinely kills so he can gather blood for his beloved Eli. There's Lacke--an alchoholic--his wife Yvonne, his son Tommy (also Oskar's buddy) his former GF Virginia, her new BF Steffan (also a cop investigating all the death), and I forget who else. With these added viewpoints, the story often lost me--their stories all intertwine as Eli dips into their lives, takes some, and turns one or two characters into vampires. Terror ensues, certainly. And yet, it was always the Oskar/Eli angle of the story that captivated me--all these other characters' dramas and voices never really hooked me as deeply. I suspect a lot of it is because there's so many dark secrets and evil impulses behind each character, one can only root for the two kids because they elicit the most sympathy. Oskar's side of the story is especially compelling because of the bullying angle--you kinda want to see him fight back and stick up for himself. Eli manages to be a likable monster in her own right--probably because her interactions with Oskar allows her to open up and grow. And all these directions are just plain nice, in a book that's otherwise filled with wickedness. Through all these interactions, the story becomes a harrowing reflection on humanity and monsters.

What helped keep me going through the best and worst of the book was Lindqvist's mastery of the voices. Even if the characters didn't always hook me, they each had their own distinctive voice. The text flowed well and served to bring the characters to life aptly. Combined with some really vivid detail, the book is just brimming with tension, depth, and dread.

I can't say I enjoyed the experience of the book, but I stuck with it for my favorite characters, and I do appreciate Lindqvist's style. A good story and a good book in the end--I just wonder if it could have been a little trimmer. As it is, this is one of those few where I'd prefer to watch the (Swedish) film rather than reread the novel. It was a worthwhile read though.

4/5