Beautiful ' Little Star '

[now142]

When I got this book home and started to read I could not stop. It was that good..I dont want to give the game away, but the reception she gave Max Hansen was very well written. And I wont go into what a really beautuful Girl was doing with a set of carpentry tools. If you havent allready read it, this a gread Book..

[drakkar]

Agreed. Little Star lingers on an on, just like Let the Right One In.

[PeteMork]

Agreed. Little Star lingers on an on, just like Let the Right One In.

QFT. I didn't realize how much I liked it until I realized I had finished it in three sessions, the last one lasting until about 1:30AM.

I also didn't like the ending at first, but the more I thought about it, the more multi-layered it became, very similar to the many layers in LTROI. Now I have more questions than answers, and consequently have begun reading it again.

And I am even more convinced now than I was in the beginning that Theres is the most 'innocent' of the main characters.

[danielma]

Yeap....its still lingering in my mind...I'm 240 pages in on my re-read and loving it even more the 2nd time around

[Nightrider]

Here's a good "Little Star" review from The Australian.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/ar ... 6169290713

[a_contemplative_life]

My copy finally came in today!

[lombano]

I also didn't like the ending at first, but the more I thought about it, the more multi-layered it became, very similar to the many layers in LTROI. Now I have more questions than answers, and consequently have begun reading it again.

And I am even more convinced now than I was in the beginning that Theres is the most 'innocent' of the main characters.

Innocence is relative - to me the worst monsters are Max Hansen and Teresa (not least because of the differing fates of Jerry and Johannes), though I'd say Jerry is ultimately more innocent than Theres. I loved the ending, on the one hand it's so open-ended while at the same time, it doesn't matter at all what happens next. And of course, the foul-legged wolves showed more decency and restraint than the girls.

It certainly showcases JAL's knack for turning seemingly simple or banal, everyday phrases or dialogue into something very twisted - think lines like 'Love, she said, 'not there' or 'Do you think I'm beautiful?' 'Yes.'

[Lucibel]

I finished Little Star a couple weeks ago. I was going to write my impressions right after reading the last words, but decided to wait and let it linger a bit. Theres is a fascinating character, and it is the glue that holds it all. The ending is very JAL-like indeed. I did like it. The only thing that bothered me is the big chunk that is dedicated to Teresa’s childhood all the way through adolscence. I understand the necessity to have this in the story, but I somehow felt it dragged a bit too much. Anyone else felt this?

Other than that, I definitely enjoyed the read, however I sort of wanted or expected to like it more. I guess that’s the effect LTROI created.

Now I’ll finish a queue of books before I continue to another JAL story. Probably Harbour is next.

PS. I know I’ll now smirk everytime I see a drill

[danielma]

The only thing that bothered me is the big chunk that is dedicated to Teresa’s childhood all the way through adolscence. I understand the necessity to have this in the story, but I somehow felt it dragged a bit too much. Anyone else felt this?

No not at all, at least not for me. I found Teresa to be fascinating...for me , she was actually more interesting at times then Theres was. At least to me she was and I really had no problem with her adolescance being told because I quite enjoyed it and got wrapped up in it. So for me, no I didn't find it to drag personally.

[Lucibel]

I really had no problem with her adolescance being told because I quite enjoyed it and got wrapped up in it.

Aha. I think that's it then. Teresa's background didn't do for me what it did for you. Not that it was 'dreadful' or anything like that; not one bit. Just not as engaging for me as the rest. Great novel, none the less. Quite enjoyed it.