Things you didn't like about the book

[Jameron]

Btw I also liked Tommy

I didn't know.

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[drakkar]

Perhaps I haven't told anybody; can't recall. It took quite some time before I liked the character. When first reading the novel, the side plots annoyed me, because I wanted to know more about Eli and Oskar. Later on I discovered that Tommy (and the other side plots) contributed significantly to the understanding of E&O.

[gattoparde59]

Perhaps I haven't told anybody; can't recall. It took quite some time before I liked the character. When first reading the novel, the side plots annoyed me, because I wanted to know more about Eli and Oskar. Later on I discovered that Tommy (and the other side plots) contributed significantly to the understanding of E&O.

I'll agree with that. The subplots are all related to each other, in more ways than one. A good example being Virginia warning us about the emotional peril of "letting the wrong one in" just before she becomes the living embodiment of that anxiety.

[Jameron]

Perhaps I haven't told anybody; can't recall. It took quite some time before I liked the character. When first reading the novel, the side plots annoyed me, because I wanted to know more about Eli and Oskar. Later on I discovered that Tommy (and the other side plots) contributed significantly to the understanding of E&O.

Reading about all the other characters never bothered me, maybe because I have a perverse pleasure in anticipation. I have 'Little Star' on my shelf waiting to be read. I plan to read it in August, the anticipation is killing me, it's great

I'll agree with that. The subplots are all related to each other, in more ways than one. A good example being Virginia warning us about the emotional peril of "letting the wrong one in" just before she becomes the living embodiment of that anxiety

I had a little squee moment when I read that line

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[SFTifoso]

No final conversation between Eli and Oskar in the final chapter.

[Dracula]

No final conversation between Eli and Oskar in the final chapter.

Yea, I wished they discussed where Eli was or why Eli came back.

[OutsideLookingIn]

The overdose of Tommy and Hakan's extracurricular activities aside, what annoyed me the most was all the stealing! Tommy is peddling a load of hot merchandise from the apartment storage room. Oskar has sticky fingers at the grocer. Lacke, who spends his last cent on booze and survives on the generosity of his fellow alcoholics, swipes a box of chocolates to give to Virginia after she was attacked. The kicker for me was when Oskar, knowing he may be saying goodbye to Eli for good, STEALS the Rubik's cube as a goodbye present! To me it would have been so much more meaningful if he had spent a substantial portion of his earnings delivering flyers to buy the gift.

[J.J.]

The kicker for me was when Oskar, knowing he may be saying goodbye to Eli for good, STEALS the Rubik's cube as a goodbye present! To me it would have been so much more meaningful if he had spent a substantial portion of his earnings delivering flyers to buy the gift.

Haha! Yeah, that would have been a nice touch, but it's cheaper this way---

[metoo]

… To me it would have been so much more meaningful if he had spent a substantial portion of his earnings delivering flyers to buy the gift.

And it would as well have made Oskar a different character. Stealing the cube required a lot more courage that just purchasing it.

Besides, he rather likely didn't have any money left of his earnings. When Tommy offered to buy the Walkman, Oskar didn't have any money until the next pay day. It seems he spent his salary rather quickly.

[OutsideLookingIn]

And it would as well have made Oskar a different character. Stealing the cube required a lot more courage that just purchasing it.

Agreed. But I think it could have shown how Oskar had matured some since meeting Eli.