Little Star
A Novel
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4.3 • 21 Ratings
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- $12.99
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- $12.99
Publisher Description
"Establishes Lindqvist as Sweden's Stephen King."
--The Washington Post on Harbor
John Ajvide Lindqvist has been crowned the heir apparent to Stephen King by numerous sources, and he is heralded around the globe as one of the most spectacularly talented horror writers working today. His first novel, Let the Right One In, is a cult classic that has been made into iconic films in both Sweden and in the United States. His second novel, Handling the Undead, is beloved by horror fans everywhere. His third novel, Harbor, is a masterpiece that draws countless comparisons to Stephen King. Now, with Little Star, his most profoundly unsettling book yet, Lindqvist treads previously unmarked territory.
A man finds a baby in the woods, left for dead. He brings the baby home, and he and his wife raise the girl in their basement. When a shocking and catastrophic incident occurs, the couple's son Jerry whisks the girl away to Stockholm to start a new life. There, he enters her in a nationwide singing competition. Another young girl who's never fit in sees the performance on TV, and a spark is struck that will ignite the most terrifying duo in modern fiction.
Little Star is an unforgettable portrait of adolescence, a modern-day Carrie for the age of internet bullies, offensive reality television, and overnight You Tube sensations. Chilling, unnerving, and petrifying, Little Star is Lindqvist's most disturbing book to date.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Lindqvist's third novel released in English (ably translated by Delargy) ignores the supernatural elements of his previous works, instead providing terror via a group of sociopaths and artists. When abusive, washed-up rocker Lennart finds an abandoned baby in the snow, he's taken in by her perfect pitch, and he and his wife, Laila, decide to raise her in secret. Awkward, quiet Theres grows into a listless adolescent, murders Laila and Lennart, and ends up living with her adoptive adult brother, Jerry, himself a former convict charged with assault and robbery. He enters her in a Swedish performance competition, where she catches the attention of another awkward outcast teen, Teresa, and they form a violent partnership. Lindqvist (Harbor) mixes in satire of popular music, multiple character POVs, often biting commentary on teen life, and many sudden and horrific acts. Not everything sticks, but there's enough to make a truly gripping horror novel.
Customer Reviews
Superb!
One of a kind horror that seamlessly interweaves realism with fantasy. A must read!