tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1835335388339028792.post2956875442198527958..comments2010-12-11T12:35:43.571-08:00Comments on English 263: Let the Right One InEmily Zettlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04165555311475924986noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1835335388339028792.post-9223549509012948392010-12-03T18:15:19.809-08:002010-12-03T18:15:19.809-08:00They do rely on each other, and I think it's i...They do rely on each other, and I think it's interesting how you point out that they are both misfits. In other vampire novels that we have read the vampires always were misfits as well. Dracula, for example, was feared by the people of his own country. Louis was a misfit in his little 'family' because he felt guilty for killing humans and appreciated life in a way that Lestat did not.<br /><br />It seems that anyone who is different is singled out as strange. Eli is different, because she is a vampire, and Oskar can always tell that there is something a little off about her. Whether she can jump down from something higher than expected, or the fact that she does not bathe. Oskar is also strange, to his classmates, because he likes voicing his knowledge.Lindsayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06529316419243964825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1835335388339028792.post-40362021822033192912010-12-03T15:30:31.916-08:002010-12-03T15:30:31.916-08:00I can't say I'm a history buff so I don...I can't say I'm a history buff so I don't know much about the location that the story takes place in or very much about the time line but the thick layers of violence are definitely evident. It does seem that oppression causes feelings of violence. The characters Eli, Hakan, and Oskar are all oppressed or treated unfairly and with contempt in one way or another so it only makes sense that their surroundings, including the people in it lead to the way they lash out. Also, this is just a thought but the town was very plain and boring with nothing to do so violence, stealing, etc... might be a way for people to release their anger at being forced to live in such a place.Emily Zettlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04165555311475924986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1835335388339028792.post-20859819079214625222010-12-03T08:53:15.326-08:002010-12-03T08:53:15.326-08:00It’s really cool that you bring up the idea of Osk...It’s really cool that you bring up the idea of Oskar and Eli being outcasts. It’s neat to think that both these characters are so drawn to each other but yet they do not know how out casted each one it. Eli does not really know the extent of which people pick on Oskar and Oskar does not know what Eli is. It is really sad how much they pick on Oskar. The passage that you posted makes me feel so bad for him. I think that with Eli, Oskar feels that he can get the strength to stand up to the bullies and I think that with Oskar, Eli feels more human that with anyone ever before.slarsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13047926888434244065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1835335388339028792.post-12868937173827787362010-12-02T18:53:03.998-08:002010-12-02T18:53:03.998-08:00I found it so interesting the way in which the vio...I found it so interesting the way in which the violence in this book is so multi-layered. You have the Cold War and the presence of Russian submarines, which poses its own violence; Hakan, who commits horrible acts on the bodies of his victims; Eli, herself, who violently attacks the people of Blackeberg, picking off lower class workers; the bullies; and finally Oskar, who fantasizes about violence and torture. It seems that in a place that is supposed to be "peaceful" and even pacifying in its construction, these housing units possess an incredible degree of corruption and terror. In what ways can we see this novel as a reaction to oppressiveness of the suburbs and these manufactured spaces?Colleenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05334034737315460983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1835335388339028792.post-85252605004969972872010-12-02T08:11:07.791-08:002010-12-02T08:11:07.791-08:00The story is definitely very gritty and dark, whic...The story is definitely very gritty and dark, which is part of the allure which makes people read it, it is different from many people’s everyday life. The fact that this was the only real modern book we have read was interesting and caused me to enjoy it more than some of the others we have read. I like reading about cities with today’s architecture rather than large castles with butlers from the past. I definitely agree with you that the reason Eli and Oskar come together is their mutual problems, each being different but equally troubling to them. This is why they latch onto each other and become so close, Eli helps with the bullies and Oskar helps him with the pain and suffering of being a lonely two hundred year old vampire. “Eli and Oskar also seem to rely on each other. Their times on the playground slowly becoming their escapes and as their relationship advances they each become stronger (Emily).”<br />One thing that I thought was strange was how he talked to himself. But you bring up a great point, that this is the way he deals with the interactions with the bullies. I originally just thought he was kind of weird but it makes complete sense that he deals with the pain and fear this way.<br />He is not strong enough to stand up to them although he has a deep, dark violent side and violent daydreams of murder against his tormentors. This is his release, in a sense.Duquainehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02376959231852105692noreply@blogger.com