Set in 1983, Let Me In is the horrific tale of Oskar and Eli. It begins with the grizzly discovery of the body of a teenage boy, emptied of blood. Twelve-year-old Oskar is personally hoping that revenge has come at long last—revenge for all the bad things the bullies at school do to him, day after day. While Oskar is fascinated by the murder, it is not the most important thing in his life. 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. They become friends. Then something more. But there is something wrong with her, something odd. And she only comes out at night. . . .
Let Me In (Movie Tie-in) - with Bonus Content
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Book Description
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Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Swedish author Lindqvist's debut, a horror novel, offers few twists that won't already be familiar to readers of modern vampire fiction. Oskar, a much bullied 12-year-old schoolboy living in a Stockholm suburb, notices that his next-door neighbor, Eli, has some peculiar traits: Eli only comes out at night, smells like death warmed over and is of ambiguous gender. Eventually, Eli reveals he's a vampire who survives by feeding off the neighborhood lowlifes. Occasionally, his bite accidentally turns victims into undeads who, unaware of their vampirization, go on rampages that end in spectacularly gruesome fates. As sweet as the pure and wholesome friendship between Oskar and Eli may be, it's the gory set pieces that propel the predictable plot. (Oct.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Booklist
Swedish TV and stage writer Lindqvist's first novel is set in a commonplace suburb of Stockholm, where 12-year-old Oskar lives with his mother, is bullied at school, shoplifts, and keeps a scrapbook of notes and clippings about gruesome murders. Eli, apparently about his age, moves in next door but doesn't go to school, leaving the flat only at night. Shortly after, the killings start. At first more fascinated than sorry, since one victim had bullied him, Oskar eventually discovers that Eli is a vampire, stuck permanently in childhood. What should Oskar do, especially when Eli is his friend as much as anyone is? Lindqvist develops the plot in rich detail. The characters, adult and child, are quite convincingly the sort that one would probably cross the street to avoid in any city. Lindqvist also realistically depicts the aftermath of brutal homicide on the nearby: shock and horror, some sleepless nights and bad dreams, despite which you must go to work and get the groceries; eventually, the police leave the neighborhood. Murray, Frieda
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
189 of 196 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Let the Right One In, by John Ajvide Lindovist. has one fantastic element: vampires. It's set in a suburb of Stockholm, on a social housing development that has become a sink estate. It's a sad place, full of aimless people. The people with responsibility - teachers, policemen, parents, are, for the most part, trying to do the right thing. They've got good intentions.
The book has a huge cast of characters with the major division between adults and children, each subdivided into the successful, more or less, and the failures, with a further division into victims and victimizers. The book opens with a bullied child, Oskar, who fantasizes about becoming a mass murderer. He meets Elli, a child vampire. The predictable does not happen.
Many of the adults on the estate are as powerless as the children - lonely, middle aged and elderly alcoholics, unemployed or working at minimum wage jobs. They are presented with a moral choice similar to that of the children: even if a victim, one can refuse to victimize others. (And that is the major freedom the characters in the book have.)
An earlier reviewer said he/she wasn't sure if this was belonged in horror... it's horror in the same way that Henry James' ghost stories fit the genre. It's mainstream/literary/horror, a book that crosses boundaries. I think genres are more useful for finding a kind of reading than describing a book - essentially, this is a very good book that people who read horror and people who would never consider reading horror would both like. It doesn't rank highly on the 'feel good factor' but it has a surprisingly happy ending -- one of those 'happy endings' that is about as happy as, all things considered, an ending can be.... Read more ›
The book has a huge cast of characters with the major division between adults and children, each subdivided into the successful, more or less, and the failures, with a further division into victims and victimizers. The book opens with a bullied child, Oskar, who fantasizes about becoming a mass murderer. He meets Elli, a child vampire. The predictable does not happen.
Many of the adults on the estate are as powerless as the children - lonely, middle aged and elderly alcoholics, unemployed or working at minimum wage jobs. They are presented with a moral choice similar to that of the children: even if a victim, one can refuse to victimize others. (And that is the major freedom the characters in the book have.)
An earlier reviewer said he/she wasn't sure if this was belonged in horror... it's horror in the same way that Henry James' ghost stories fit the genre. It's mainstream/literary/horror, a book that crosses boundaries. I think genres are more useful for finding a kind of reading than describing a book - essentially, this is a very good book that people who read horror and people who would never consider reading horror would both like. It doesn't rank highly on the 'feel good factor' but it has a surprisingly happy ending -- one of those 'happy endings' that is about as happy as, all things considered, an ending can be.... Read more ›
54 of 58 people found the following review helpful
By Derek Tatum
Format:Hardcover
I am not sure if "Let Me In" was truly a good book, or if it is because it is so different than much of the vampire fiction being published right now, but I found it fascinating. 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.
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
"Let Me In" is extremely well written. !Disturbing! At times the story is so intense and demented that I would look away from the book trying to stop the atrocities from crawling into my brain yet my enslaved eyes would twist in their sockets to read on. If you dare read "Let Me In" you will see things not ment to be seen. Forever changed.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
There are books you read and think upon favorably, and just move on. This book sticks with you and, in my case, makes you desperate to discuss and share it with someone. You definitely hold your breath throughout the story. My reaction was not, `What is going to happen next?', it was `What is happening?'. I adored it. I am not going to try and compare it to the other vampire books out there because there simply isn't a comparison. This is disturbing, dirty, haunting, sad, gloomy, and fascinating. No glamour. No eternal love. The characters you may support in the beginning are not necessarily the same in the end. By the way, I hated that this book ended, although I love the way in which it did. Just as curiously as Eli and Oskar enter your life; they are gone. Do you wish them well?
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I had read reviews about the film when I decided to take the book. I must say I have not been disappointed the least and, so far, if somebody asked me about a really good vampire read I would say "Carmilla" and "Let the right one in (Let me in)".
Now, I have not watched the movie and I am seriously considering whether I should, after reading the book, taking into account that the book shows what is inside characters' heads and inner thoughts. Something which the movie will fail to do.
I shall warn that the UK edition suffers from a weird translation that, for those who know nothing about Sweden, leaves some things in the air. Some proof-reading and even foot-notes would have been perfect. Nevertheless, the translation does not affect the overall quality of the novel.
It seemed that everything had already been said about vampires. And many entertainment products had indeed tried to go beyond deconstructing the vampire myth, adapting and reinterpretting it with diverse degrees of success. This is not the case; this novels takes the "classic vampire" with all its stereotypes, the ones we have learnt to love (and fear) through history. Upon this it builds a modern tale, beautifully deep and intense, where the characters are truly alive.
Do not look for flat characters with predictable moves. Every character has a bit of history to tell, and the author does not judge but provides a very clear insight of what goes inside everybody's head.
The typical vampire story, some may say, but with a twist. And the twist is what makes you think.
Now, I have not watched the movie and I am seriously considering whether I should, after reading the book, taking into account that the book shows what is inside characters' heads and inner thoughts. Something which the movie will fail to do.
I shall warn that the UK edition suffers from a weird translation that, for those who know nothing about Sweden, leaves some things in the air. Some proof-reading and even foot-notes would have been perfect. Nevertheless, the translation does not affect the overall quality of the novel.
It seemed that everything had already been said about vampires. And many entertainment products had indeed tried to go beyond deconstructing the vampire myth, adapting and reinterpretting it with diverse degrees of success. This is not the case; this novels takes the "classic vampire" with all its stereotypes, the ones we have learnt to love (and fear) through history. Upon this it builds a modern tale, beautifully deep and intense, where the characters are truly alive.
Do not look for flat characters with predictable moves. Every character has a bit of history to tell, and the author does not judge but provides a very clear insight of what goes inside everybody's head.
The typical vampire story, some may say, but with a twist. And the twist is what makes you think.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
VERY dark and creepy in the best way
If you're tired of the typical sexy, perfect vampires in most popular fiction, you need to read this novel. Read more
Published 13 days ago by Anissa
5.0 out of 5 stars
Perfect
I absolutely LOVED the movie. The book made everything so much more clear. I honestly couldn't put this book down.
Published 18 days ago by Rylee Witt
4.0 out of 5 stars
This was a Good Read
I liked this book. It was a pretty good vampire read. It's a different kind of story than what I was expecting.
Published 2 months ago by lanmanjs
5.0 out of 5 stars
I expected a different ending...
I loved the aspect of unsuspecting vampire victims explaining what happened to them. I can't imagine being reborn a monster.
Published 2 months ago by MarquitaMatney
4.0 out of 5 stars
The book certainly exceeds the moive
As with any book there are a lot more detail and subplots that in the movie. An excellent captivating read. Read more
Published 3 months ago by S. Beers
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very good
I really enjoyed this book; I had seen the movie and wanted to read the book. I am very glad I did.
Published 3 months ago by Old dinosaur
5.0 out of 5 stars
The book and the movie were absolutely amazing
The book and the movie were absolutely AMAZING cool awesome great the best but yeah I loved it everyone should read it
Published 4 months ago by Jake looey
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great!
Great book, pissed there isn't a second novel!! There is a short sequel but I really wish there was more about Eli and Oskar.
Published 4 months ago by Me
5.0 out of 5 stars
great book
LOVE IT . not for kids. both movies are not even close to the book. just one hella of a book
Published 5 months ago by Brian Bonev
5.0 out of 5 stars
Top notch
After seeing both the original and English versions of the book, I just had to pick up the actual novel. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Chris
