Journal Entry 1 by leeny37 from Melbourne, Victoria Australia on Friday, April 27, 2007

Synopsis:
Oskar and Eli. In very different ways, they were both victims. Which is why, against the odds, they became friends. And how they came to depend on one another, for life itself. Oskar is a 12 year old boy living with his mother on a dreary housing estate at the city's edge. He dreams about his absentee father, gets bullied at school, and wets himself when he's frightened. Eli is the young girl who moves in next door. She doesn't go to school and never leaves the flat by day. She is a 200 year old vampire, forever frozen in childhood, and condemned to live on a diet of fresh blood. John Ajvide Lindqvist's novel, a huge bestseller in his native Sweden, is a unique and brilliant fusion of social novel and vampire legend; and a deeply moving fable about rejection, friendship and loyalty.

From Amazon.com:
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. 

Journal Entry 2 by leeny37 from Melbourne, Victoria Australia on Sunday, December 21, 2008

I bought this book last year but didn't read it until now. I found out that a Swedish movie had been made based on this book and I decided to read the book first before checking out the movie. This was a very interesting novel, but also quite strange and disturbing at the same time. It tackles a diverse range of controversial issues and they're all wrapped up in this weird vampire love story. First, there's Oskar who is incessantly bullied at school and fantasizes about being a mass murderer (that screams major therapy issues right there). Then there's Eli, a vampire stuck at 12 years of age, who looks like a girl but is actually a boy before he got castrated in some former life and now possesses no form of genitals, and is in a relationship of sorts with Oskar. Throw in Håkan, who is a pedophile and looks after Eli because he's driven by his own twisted desires and he is willing to do pretty much anything for her, including murdering people to get fresh blood for her. And there's more from where all that came from! It's an absolutely fascinating read but it does get uncomfortable at times. It's still a haunting story though, and it captures a wide range of emotions: despair; loneliness; helplessness; yearning; and hope. It did get a little confusing at times; there was a myriad of supporting characters and my unfamiliarity with Swedish names made it a little difficult to follow the story occasionally. The film was a simplified version of the novel, leaving out some of the more challenging aspects, but still remained very faithful to the book and captured a lot more of the story than I thought it would. There is going to be an English (Hollywood) remake to be released in 2009 or 2010, so it will be interesting to see how that turns out. Overall, definitely a worthwhile read but with its subject matter, it probably won't be for everybody. 

Journal Entry 3 by leeny37 at Forest Hill, Victoria Australia on Monday, March 09, 2009

Released 3 yrs ago (3/9/2009 UTC) at Forest Hill, Victoria Australia

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Sending this to kzel as a bookring boomerang. Enjoy! :)

Update (26 April 2009):
Well, looks like this is no longer a bookring boomerang. Please pass this on to Pixette next. Thanks! :) 

Journal Entry 4 by kzel from Melbourne, Victoria Australia on Thursday, April 09, 2009

Hi Leeny - I do have this book! Sorry it took me so long to journal it. Next time I'll pay more attention to what piles I put my books on (or maybe I should just stop working 12 - 14 hour days. I'm sure that would help me stop being so scatterbrained!)

Looking forward to reading this. 

Journal Entry 5 by kzel from Melbourne, Victoria Australia on Wednesday, July 15, 2009

I realise I've had this far too long - sorry! I've tried to read it several times, but I'm obviously just not in the right frame of mind to read it, as I don't seem to be able to even get to page 100. Sending on to Pixette today. 

Journal Entry 6 by kzel at Mail, Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Released 2 yrs ago (7/16/2009 UTC) at Mail, Bookring -- Controlled Releases

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Sending to Pixette today after holding this book prisoner for far too long!

23/07/09: Still waiting for a response from Pixette so that I can send it on. Will post as soon as I have an address. 

Journal Entry 7 by Pixette from Sydney, New South Wales Australia on Tuesday, August 04, 2009

Picked up from my postbox with thanks. 

Journal Entry 8 by Pixette from Sydney, New South Wales Australia on Monday, October 19, 2009

I thought I should post a journal on this book as I've had it a fair bit longer than I should have.

It is a very strange book and I am enjoying it. My reading has been slowed by a couple of life events of late.

If no one minds I'd like to hang onto it bit longer and finish it. 

Journal Entry 9 by Pixette from Sydney, New South Wales Australia on Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Great book. Finally between text books for exams I did finally finish it.

It is very strange and dark, but the characters are well drawn and I thought the endng was perfect.