The Pronoun Shift [spoiler?]

For discussion of John Ajvide Lindqvist's novel Låt den rätte komma in
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a_contemplative_life
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Re: The Pronoun Shift [spoiler?]

Post by a_contemplative_life » Mon Dec 15, 2014 5:44 pm

Not me. I pretty much stuck to JAL's description in the novel, colored by Lina's appearance from the film.
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Re: The Pronoun Shift [spoiler?]

Post by banjoist123 » Thu Mar 31, 2016 8:07 pm

One of JAL's bits of genius was to cast the protagonists at this "on the verge of puberty" age. (A question I came away from the movie with was "What will Eli do as Oskar matures sexually?") I think it is the greatest innovation to the vampire canon, and one of the most brilliant elements of the book and movie. Long haired 12 year old boys look a whole lot like long haired 12 year old girls. Although I was fine with my sons having long hair as they went into high school, I did discourage it at this age for this very reason.

Several times in the book, we see that Oskar is right on the precipice of sexual knowledge. We have no clue where Eli is on this, but he/she is knowledgeable of what sex is (The candy kiosk scene in the book, where they both joke about the candy guy taking women into his kiosk after closing.) I think JAL put this scene there for this purpose, to let us know that they at least know of the concept of sex, perhaps some of the mechanics, but probably no personal experience. Gender fluidity is a bigger element in the book, but the movie handled it perfectly, letting us come away with whatever conclusions we want.
I want to close my eyes very tightly, concentrate, hear the sounds around me disappear, sense the night against my closed eyelids, feel snow flakes hit my cheeks, feel the cold of the jungle gym, and hear the sound of light approaching footsteps…

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Re: The Pronoun Shift [spoiler?]

Post by metoo » Thu Mar 31, 2016 9:33 pm

banjoist123 wrote:I think JAL put this scene there for this purpose, to let us know that they at least know of the concept of sex, perhaps some of the mechanics, but probably no personal experience.
There is a different scene in the novel, where Oskar finds a porn magazine in Tommy's basement hideout. We learn that Oskar had been taught in school about how babies are made. However, he did not have any real understanding of sexuality - he looks at the pictures with a curious mind, but without the slightest trace of sexual interest. And he is perplexed by the so-called reader's stories. Is this going on all the time?
But from the beginning Eli was just Eli. Nothing. Anything. And he is still a mystery to me. John Ajvide Lindqvist

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Re: The Pronoun Shift [spoiler?]

Post by banjoist123 » Fri Apr 01, 2016 12:31 am

Exactly. He wonders "is this going on behind doors all the time!?"
I want to close my eyes very tightly, concentrate, hear the sounds around me disappear, sense the night against my closed eyelids, feel snow flakes hit my cheeks, feel the cold of the jungle gym, and hear the sound of light approaching footsteps…

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