Finished it...

[jcckidz]

...a week from yesterday. I must say, it made its mark.

What I really enjoyed about the book is that it had more interaction between Eli and Oskar that we did not get in the film. One thing that was a bit less interesting for me personally was the amount of time devoted to characters other than Eli and Oskar, as if their stores weren't only meant for the purpose of furthuring Eli and Oskar's story, but that they themselves were meant to intrigue the reader. For me, I really only like the aspects of the other character's stories where they intersect with/contribute to Eli and Oskar in one way or another, as that is the one I truly cared about.

For instance, Virginia's story gave me insight into the anguish of being turned/infected, which helped me empathize with Eli. Not to mention, the way that story intertwined with Eli and Oskar's because Eli was the one who drank from her, thus leading Lacke to Eli and creating an excellent scene with Eli and Oskar in it.

It's not that I don't appreciate the other stories at all in their own right, just that I am so taken by the Eli and Oskar story that everything else is completely overshadowed for me.

The Hakan story felt like it was taken a bit far to me, like the second half of his story was very much intended for the horror fans. I may prefer the way his story was ended in the film. In part because I like to think his story ends with him and Eli together in a slightly more positive way than his vampire zombie attemting to have his way with Eli. Hakan's story in the book may be the most tragic one to me. It is still tragic in the film, but a bit less so I think. Well, I can take some solace in the notion that the true Hakan died the evening he fell out the window. What followed wasn't him, but something living inside him thursting off of his lusts.

The essence of this book, I believe, was relationships, sacrifices, love, and even one's relationship with G-d, which all seemed to play a strong part in the emotion and depth of the story. Overall, I appreciate the entire book because it is all part of the beauty of Lat Den Ratte Komma In, but I appreciate Eli and Oskar's journey(s) most of all, especially the journey that led and kept them together.

I would like to ask, is Let the Old Dreams Die the title of a short story or an actual book? I would like to get the rest of Eli and Oskar's story, at least as much as Lindqvist has written. Thanks!

[gkmoberg1]

Yes, relationships are the essence. Like many, I was drawn to the Oskar & Eli story for a long while. But all the rest came along soon enough - and there's a lot there which JAL has built into this story.

The availability of Let the Old Dreams Die, the story, seems to be dependent upon where you are in this world. Rather than try to explain it - which is something I would do badly - I'll refer you to JAL's thread here About Let the old dreams die in english.

[sauvin]

I've only read the novel twice, but seem to remember it as a kind of blackish-grey "everything is connected" kind of story where Eli's presence started creating ripples even before her proper arrival, ripples which would eventually form the circumstances mandating her hasty departure.

[jcckidz]

One of my absolute favorite parts in the book is on page 446 in the English version:

"Eli turned his face to Oskar's, said:
'I...'
Closed his mouth. Then pressed a kiss on Oskar's lips.
For a few seconds Oskar saw through Eli's eyes. And what he saw was...himself. Only much better, more handsome, stronger than what he thought of himself. Seen with love.
For a few seconds."

Just absolutely breathtaking!

I'm aware that the original Swedish may have worded the parts referring to Eli it in a more androgynous way, but I just quoted straight from the English book for simplicity.

Aside from being one of the most beautiful parts of the story, it shows that Eli was in no way manipulating Oskar.

[Jameron]

One of my absolute favorite parts in the book is on page 446 in the English version:

"Eli turned his face to Oskar's, said:
'I...'
Closed his mouth. Then pressed a kiss on Oskar's lips.
For a few seconds Oskar saw through Eli's eyes. And what he saw was...himself. Only much better, more handsome, stronger than what he thought of himself. Seen with love.
For a few seconds."

Just absolutely breathtaking!

I'm aware that the original Swedish may have worded the parts referring to Eli it in a more androgynous way, but I just quoted straight from the English book for simplicity.

Aside from being one of the most beautiful parts of the story, it shows that Eli was in no way manipulating Oskar.

If you're anything like me you hated getting towards the end and just wanted it to carry on forever. John has this ability to hook you in and keep you there, keep you wanting another page and another, and another.

That is such a beautiful passage, and it works so well I think because that is something we all want. We all want that special person to be able to see through the mask we wear, and to see the true 'us'; the nicer, more giving, more trusting, more open, more vulnerable 'us'. Did you have tears in your eyes at that bit? I know I did.

I know that this will always be my favourite book. I can open it up at any page and read, I know that I won't think 'Ah, this is the boring bit', because there are no boring bits.

.

[jcckidz]

If you're anything like me you hated getting towards the end and just wanted it to carry on forever. John has this ability to hook you in and keep you there, keep you wanting another page and another, and another.

That is such a beautiful passage, and it works so well I think because that is something we all want. We all want that special person to be able to see through the mask we wear, and to see the true 'us'; the nicer, more giving, more trusting, more open, more vulnerable 'us'. Did you have tears in your eyes at that bit? I know I did.

I know that this will always be my favourite book. I can open it up at any page and read, I know that I won't think 'Ah, this is the boring bit', because there are no boring bits.

The closer I got towards the ending, the more I wished there were more pages to read.

I don't remember if I teared up at that part, but I was definitely moved by it. I remember thinking about that part of the story out of the blue one day and melting inside. One part I clearly remember tearing up a bit at was the scene where Eli and Oskar were cuddling in bed when Eli came in through Oskar's window. The way they followed up on the jokes they made at the kiosk, the way Eli held Oskar, the way Oskar said he was glad Eli came over. I may have teared at the final kiss too though, I just don't remember clearly enough.

Also, I was expecting there to be two kisses in the book, after reading that somewhere, but I think there were three. Two through which Eli transfered memories leading up to being turned and the one at the end just before Eli leaves.

I was really hoping for the final Morse code interaction we had in the film, where they said "kiss" to each other on the train, to be at the end of the book. That would've been cool.

Also, I wanted to add that, in terms of gender, I think if Eli the way Eli thinks of Eli; neither a boy nor girl. I read the thread here in which people discuss the way the original Swedish does a better job at conveying Eli's androgyny. What I wonder is, how much does the Swedish version refer to Eli in the masculine? For instance, the part where Eli runs through the morning sun into the apartment building. In the English translation it conveys the way Eli felt after this by putting in italics that "He will never be whole again." Did the Swedish use the equivalent of "he" here, too?

Another thing I wanted to ask about was, when Lacke finds Eli sleeping in the tub, why was the tub filled with blood? Was it from the previous sun exposure. Do vampires lose a lot of blood while sleeping?

Lastly, it's the same for me as well, Jameron. Let the Right One In is both my favorite book and film.

[metoo]

Also, I wanted to add that, in terms of gender, I think if Eli the way Eli thinks of Eli; neither a boy nor girl. I read the thread here in which people discuss the way the original Swedish does a better job at conveying Eli's androgyny. What I wonder is, how much does the Swedish version refer to Eli in the masculine? For instance, the part where Eli runs through the morning sun into the apartment building. In the English translation it conveys the way Eli felt after this by putting in italics that "He will never be whole again." Did the Swedish use the equivalent of "he" here, too?

I think the Swedish text says "I will never be hole again", but I've not got the book available right now. I'll update later.

Another thing I wanted to ask about was, when Lacke finds Eli sleeping in the tub, why was the tub filled with blood? Was it from the previous sun exposure. Do vampires lose a lot of blood while sleeping?

I believe this is a reference to Carmilla.

[jkwilliams]

I remember doing pretty well till I got to this part:

Eli throws his head back, screams up at the ceiling:
"I don't want to!"
"God. God? Why can't I have anything? Why can't I . . ."
Why can't I be allowed to live?
Because you should be dead.

After that I completely lost it and cried all the way till the end of the novel.

I plan on getting Let the Old Dreams Die when it finally comes out but I don't think I want to read the epilogue about Oskar and Eli. The problem is I'm not sure if I actually have the willpower to do that though.

[Jameron]

I remember doing pretty well till I got to this part:

Eli throws his head back, screams up at the ceiling:
"I don't want to!"
"God. God? Why can't I have anything? Why can't I . . ."
Why can't I be allowed to live?
Because you should be dead.

After that I completely lost it and cried all the way till the end of the novel.

Teared up Just now, reading those five lines. I know, I'm a complete wus

I plan on getting Let the Old Dreams Die when it finally comes out but I don't think I want to read the epilogue about Oskar and Eli. The problem is I'm not sure if I actually have the willpower to do that though.

Really? You'll try not to read it

There's no way I could do that. Let The Old Dreams Die will be the first part of Paper Walls I'll read ... no willpower.

Not long to wait now ... it's sooooo close.

.

[ofelia]

Also, I wanted to add that, in terms of gender, I think if Eli the way Eli thinks of Eli; neither a boy nor girl. I read the thread here in which people discuss the way the original Swedish does a better job at conveying Eli's androgyny. What I wonder is, how much does the Swedish version refer to Eli in the masculine? For instance, the part where Eli runs through the morning sun into the apartment building. In the English translation it conveys the way Eli felt after this by putting in italics that "He will never be whole again." Did the Swedish use the equivalent of "he" here, too?

In the English and Swedish it's Eli saying "I will never be whole again." In the Swedish version Eli is referred to as "he" from around the same time as in the English version, the last few chapters. Before that, it rarely uses gender at all. There are a few times Eli is "she" when the scene is from Oskar's point of view (or Lacke) but if it's only Håkan and Eli, or Eli alone, there's no gender used. Even towards the end "he" is only used when there's no way to avoid using it.