Review: Let the Right One In

4 stars. Let the Right One In, a Swedish book I read in translation, is a story about a vampire. It takes place in a suburban town plagued by a series of violent murders. We meet curious young children, troubled adolescents, and cynical middle-aged alcoholics as they process and react to the horror and pain of loss and tragedy. 

It's almost a coming-of-age book for everyone, regardless of age. The identity of the monster is never in doubt, so it isn't a traditional mystery, but there is plenty of horror from vampires and humans alike. It's an interesting, unique take on vampire fiction reminiscent of Octavia Butler's Fledgling. And it's gorgeous. It's an atmospheric fairy tale full of lore and lessons.

And it's a story about love. Many different types of love.

The first type of love: pure, innocent love. 12-year-old Oskar, bullied and beaten and eager for revenge, finds a true friend in Eli. It is an honest, chaste, legitimate type of love that, when returned, truly elevates his sense of self-worth, his agency - his identity - in an incredibly powerful way. 

The second type of love: love driven by lust, obsession, greed, power. Wrong. This is the type of love manifested by Hakan. The wrongness of his love is reflected, almost too literally, by his physical appearance towards the end of the novel. He becomes, essentially, a walking, destructive, immortal penis. Yikes.

The third type of love: a cynical, wise love no less strong but based on companionship. Lacke and Virginia embody this type of love. These folks, who have been through it all, seen hardship, fought life itself, have somehow found warmth in each other. And it's beautiful.

I was actually in the mood for something much darker than this turned out, but I'm not mad about it. The characterization is incredible - even the minor appearances are more than plot devices. It lent to the book's distinctly suburban feel, a sort of small town-big problems vibe with a lot of blood thrown in. 

I suppose this ended up being a sort of weird review, but the truth is I really recommend Let the Right One In. I know it came out when everyone was all-Twilight-all-the-time (sigh), so, while often stated as BETTER than that shit, most people know it as the vampire book that isn't Twilight. Read it, though, because it's interesting, and it's canon.

Let the Right One In on: Amazon | Goodreads

Review: The Haunting of Hill House

5 stars. A young woman, after spending years as the primary caretaker for her recently-deceased mother, responds to an invitation to spend the summer at Hill House, an isolated house rumored to be haunted. There she meets carefree, feisty Theodora, handsome owner Luke and the delightfully academic Dr. Montague, who is determined to investigate supernatural phenomena in the house. You can guess what happens next ... or can you?

This book is absolute, terrifying perfection. I am so inspired by Shirley Jackson's writing here - it's gorgeous, captivating and completely unnerving. Eleanor's unreliability is portrayed with such beautiful, unsettling prose - prose that weaves threads of isolation, sexual repression, desire, identity, femininity, etc. into a blanket as cozy (for a fan of horror) as it is torturous. 

I know it's full of tropes and shallow characters, but I happen to love horror tropes and there is nothing stale here. In fact, there is something that feels - even decades after it was written - revolutionary. Not just because of the lesbianism (it's blatant and a cornerstone of Eleanor's journey, sorry not sorry). The psychological terror depicted here would horrify anyone. The scares are soft but stayed with me for a long while and ... made me think. I can't remember the last time a horror story made me think. I felt this book deeply as a woman struggling to establish and embrace an identity - to reconcile what's expected of me + what I want; the pain of growing up and becoming an adult; etc. 

And The Haunting of Hill House is incredibly funny. There is a sharp, dark sense of humor here that cuts the tension and strengthens the dialogue. Eleanor's self-conscious naiveté is as adorable as it is relatable even as there is a sense that she is disjointed or stunted in some way. We learn about her not just through her internal monologue but from the characters that orbit around her, first with affection, then concern, then suspicion. 

I suppose a bottom line could be that this book should smell musty, but it doesn't. It's fresh. Another bottom line could be that this book is arguably the scariest ever written. Because it is, or is at least close to the top. I think the bottom line for me, though, is that this book is so much more than it promises; more than a simple ghost story; more than we rightfully deserve. The Haunting of Hill House is a gift and a treasure and should be recognized as such.

The Haunting of Hill House on: Amazon | Goodreads

List: 5 Scary Books

I am a huge horror fan. There's just something about bone-deep fear that brings a giant smile to my face. I tried to keep this list well-rounded - some classics, some contemporary - but it's certainly not comprehensive.

A Head Full of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay | When 14-year-old Marjorie Barrett begins exhibiting abnormal behavior, her family turns to the Catholic Church for help. Grappling with the "diagnosis" - demonic possession - and faced with mounting medical expenses, the Barretts agree to be filmed by a production team for a reality TV show. Years later, Marjorie's sister Merry recalls and traces the events leading up to a horrifying and traumatic climax. This book left me out of breath and desperate for some sunlight. It took me hours to unclench my jaw and return to reality. It's The Exorcist for millennials. Amazon | Goodreads

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Alice by Christina Henry | Trippy and dark, this story follows a young woman who escapes from an asylum and embarks on a journey full of monsters and blood. It's edgy and disturbing (I had to take a break every now and then to breathe) but, not just for the sake of being edgy and disturbing. Ultimately, it's deeply creative and delightful. You've never Alice like this before. Amazon | Goodreads

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The Shining by Stephen King | Everybody knows this story, right? In an isolated hotel during the off-season, a man battles madness while his young son battles darkness. It's truly an epic - Stephen King goes deep AND wide - and while I wasn't terrified by this, there were plenty of cringe-worthy moments to enjoy. Amazon | Goodreads

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We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson | Merricat and Constance Blackwood live with their ailing uncle in isolation following the poisoning of their other family members. When a distant cousin shows up, their fragile form of existence shatters. Ugh, it's so good, and so unexpected and so full of incredible quotes. Dear Hollywood: please make a movie of this starring the Fanning sisters.  Amazon | Goodreads

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The Woman in Black by Susan Hill | Arthur Kipps is sent to Crythin Gifford to settle a client's affairs at the isolated and perfectly-named Eel Marsh House. As he uncovers the house's secrets, he starts hearing - and seeing - impossible and terrifying things. I love all forms of horror but I cannot pass up a traditional haunted house. "The Classic English Ghost Story" is quite right - this story is very classic and very English and very, very scary. Amazon | Goodreads