Horror Aficionados discussion

Terry and I will be starting this Buddy Read today. You are more then welcome to join us for this thriller! :D

Count me in :)

I only read the first two chapters, and now I'm caught up watching horror movies, lol. Interesting start!

It is an interesting start and Harry Hole seems to be an intriguing detective! I’m glad to finally read something from this series.

The other thing I liked was when the kid (I think it was in ch2) noticed (view spoiler)[ that the snowman that was put in his yard was looking at the house instead of away from it, and it creeped him out. Made me start wondering when we've built snowmen in our front yard with the kids which way we faced them... I can't remember, lol! (hide spoiler)]

Terry wrote: "The other thing I liked was when the kid (I think it was in ch2) noticed [spoilers removed]"

I think typically (view spoiler)[you have the snowman facing out towards the street and not looking in the windows. That would be super creepy! hahaha (hide spoiler)]

Ginger wrote: "Terry wrote: "The other thing I liked was when the kid (I think it was in ch2) noticed [spoilers removed]"

I think typically [spoilers removed]"

That makes sense, although I know one year (view spoiler)[ our snowman was facing the snowman in the yard next to us in the act of throwing a snowball at it... (hide spoiler)]

Terry wrote: "Ginger wrote: "That makes sense, although I know o..."

Hahaha! Snowman wars. :D

Ginger wrote: "Terry wrote: "Ginger wrote: "That makes sense, although I know o..."

Hahaha! Snowman wars. :D"

And of course we won!!

Terry wrote: "And of course we won!!"

Hahaha! Good job!

I got to Ch8 last night. I think we should have started at the beginning of the series but I think we'll still be fine and enjoy this book. Harry Hole is an intriguing guy!
There's some information that's coming up that I think has to be in the beginning books.

Ginger wrote: "I got to Ch8 last night. I think we should have started at the beginning of the series but I think we'll still be fine and enjoy this book. Harry Hole is an intriguing guy!
There's some information..."

I'm somewhere in the middle of ch5 I think. Well, we knew we'd run into some of that missing knowledge by not starting with the first, but I'm ok with that. Who had time to read 6 more books before getting to this one... :)

Terry wrote: "Ginger wrote: "I got to Ch8 last night. I think we should have started at the beginning of the series but I think we'll still be fine and enjoy this book. Harry Hole is an intriguing guy!
There's s..."

Haha! Right?! We'll have to go back to the beginning if you want. That's what I'm planning on doing.
I think I'm skipping the movie though. It got terrible reviews!

Ginger wrote: "Terry wrote: "Ginger wrote: "I got to Ch8 last night. I think we should have started at the beginning of the series but I think we'll still be fine and enjoy this book. Harry Hole is an intriguing ..."

I agree, I figure if this one is good, I'd want to read the others too, so that should be fun! I may see the movie too, after all, I watched the movie for Thinner after we read it, and wow, it couldn't be worse than that ended up being, could it?!

Terry wrote: "Ginger wrote: "Terry wrote: "Ginger wrote: "I got to Ch8 last night. I think we should have started at the beginning of the series but I think we'll still be fine and enjoy this book. Harry Hole is..."

Awesome! Let's add another series. ha!
Hahaha!!!! You're totally right. If I watched "Thinner", "The Snowman" couldn't be any worse then that. Wow, it was so bad. LMAO

Ginger wrote: "Terry wrote: "Ginger wrote: "Terry wrote: "Ginger wrote: "I got to Ch8 last night. I think we should have started at the beginning of the series but I think we'll still be fine and enjoy this book...."

Done, another added!
And you're right, wow it was so bad, but I'm glad I watched it too. Maybe if they tried making it again today, they could make it look better, but they just cut out too much stuff to be able to get the background story right too.

I noticed you guys are reading this . . . I am not joining in because I am reading the series in order and I am still a couple books behind. (Need to read The Redeemer first)

I thought int interesting that they made a movie about a book in the middle of a series . . . I need to follow up on the reasons why after I read it (maybe when I read it it will make sense)

I see you guys talking about reading from the beginning. I will say this . . . I am still working through the series, but the way Nesbo writes there are a few great parts, but tons of places I just wanted to stop and not continue. Excessive writing and incoherent rambling. I think that Steig Larsen did this, too, maybe that is common for writers from this area?

Matthew wrote: "I noticed you guys are reading this . . . I am not joining in because I am reading the series in order and I am still a couple books behind. (Need to read The Redeemer first)

I thought int interes..."

Very possible on the writing style. I'm not familiar enough to know. I had heard that the first two books in the series were just so-so, but they got better after that. Is that your experience so far?

Matthew wrote: "Excessive writing and incoherent rambling. I think that Steig Larsen did this, too, maybe that is common for writers from this area? "

Yeah, I can see this. Maybe it's the Norwegian to English transition?

What # are you on? Are you liking the series so far?

Terry wrote: "Ginger wrote: "Terry wrote: "Ginger wrote: "Terry wrote: "Ginger wrote: "I got to Ch8 last night. I think we should have started at the beginning of the series but I think we'll still be fine and e..."

I agree! They cut out too much stuff and added stuff that I didn't really need. Like the (view spoiler)[possible romantic relationship between his wife and doctor. (hide spoiler)]

Ginger wrote: "Terry wrote: "Ginger wrote: "Terry wrote: "Ginger wrote: "Terry wrote: "Ginger wrote: "I got to Ch8 last night. I think we should have started at the beginning of the series but I think we'll still..."

Exactly! They should have just stuck to the original instead of making stuff like that try to fit.

Finished book #5 (Devil's Star) recently.

Improved over time? Eh, maybe . . . a little perhaps . . . I have also heard that it gets better as it goes along. That is why I am still going. Since they bothered to make a movie after a book in the middle of things, I am hoping that is a good sign for improvement!

Matthew wrote: "Finished book #5 (Devil's Star) recently.

Improved over time? Eh, maybe . . . a little perhaps . . . I have also heard that it gets better as it goes along. That is why I am still going. Since th..."

I hope so! :D

Chiming in here because I finished this recently before I saw the movie. I won't spoil anything, but the movie was...odd, and not great. I had high hopes for it but it didn't quite live up to my expectations. It was beautifully shot, though. Great vistas.

Matthew wrote: "I see you guys talking about reading from the beginning. I will say this . . . I am still working through the series, but the way Nesbo writes there are a few great parts, but tons of places I just wanted to stop and not continue."

Agreed. I also thought it was odd that they were starting in the middle of the series. I was a bit tempted to start from the beginning, but the story wasn't compelling (and I couldn't muster up enough positive feelings toward Harry) to want to continue. I'm glad I read it, but I don't think the combination of this writing style and these characters work for me. I felt the same way when I watched the English version of Wallander.

Esse wrote: "Chiming in here because I finished this recently before I saw the movie. I won't spoil anything, but the movie was...odd, and not great. I had high hopes for it but it didn't quite live up to my expectations. It was beautifully shot, though. Great vistas. "

Hey Esse! Thanks for chiming in. It looks like maybe I'll just read the book and avoid the movie. It looks like critics and the audience were not fans. They agree with your thoughts....
The Snowman Rotten Tomatoes

My sister just sent me a copy of this book. Dont think I can read it right now ,though. have so many library books out.

Rachel wrote: "My sister just sent me a copy of this book. Dont think I can read it right now ,though. have so many library books out."

I completely understand about library books. They do not give you much time!

Ginger wrote: "I completely understand about library books. They do not give you much time! "

Yup, it is for this reason I probably wont get to Elantris this year - I have to take it back this week and since it is on load from another library, I will have to wait to get it back again!

Hi everyone! I've read just the first two (The Bat and Cockroaches) of this series, and liked them enough to plan on continuing, but, not exactly blown away. I've also heard that they get better as the series progresses. I find Harry's character basically decent and interesting, but I'm starting to feel like I'd find it refreshing to encounter a detective who's not a hopeless drunk :)

Matthew wrote: "Yup, it is for this reason I probably wont get to Elantris this year - I have to take it back this week and since it is on load from another library, I will have to wait to get it back again! "

I totally understand this. I have "The Snowman" and "Doctor Sleep" as library books right now and they won't let me renew. Too many people waiting for them. Ahhh!
I love library books for the FREE FACTOR but you really can't negotiate with them about the due date. hahaha

Lisa wrote: "Hi everyone! I've read just the first two (The Bat and Cockroaches) of this series, and liked them enough to plan on continuing, but, not exactly blown away. I've also heard that they get better as..."

Hey Lisa!
I'm glad the 1st two were okay. I'll have to get to them one day.

Haha! Yeah, you're right.
Here's the writing formula:
Cop + Drinking Problem = Detective LOL

Lol, you are so right 😊

Ginger wrote: "I got to Ch8 last night. I think we should have started at the beginning of the series but I think we'll still be fine and enjoy this book. Harry Hole is an intriguing guy!
There's some information..."

Just got to ch8 also. I see what you mean about the prior info. (view spoiler)[ I assume you're talking about the Aussie serial killer that Harry was talking about. (hide spoiler)]

Terry wrote: "Just got to ch8 also. I see what you mean about the prior info. (view spoiler) ."

Yes! That's what I was talking about. I'm sure that's in another book before this one.

Ginger wrote: "Terry wrote: "Just got to ch8 also. I see what you mean about the prior info. (view spoiler) ."

Yes! That's what I was talking about. I'm sure that's in another book before this one."

Yup, that's from (view spoiler)[book 1 - The Bat (hide spoiler)]. He brings that up A LOT!

Matthew wrote: "Yup, that's from (view spoiler). He brings that up A LOT! "

Thanks for the heads up Matthew!

Well, I've only made it up into the middle of ch10. (view spoiler)[ Pretty creepy part when the killer ended up getting Sylvia in the woods! This guy is evil, and that tool he's using to decapitate his victims - wow! I wondered, though, what was the meaning of the chicken that the killer went back and killed in the barn? She had killed two, but the detectives found three and one had the burn marks. I'm assuming he went back and did it after killing her since there was no time otherwise. Curious... (hide spoiler)]

Terry wrote: "Well, I've only made it up into the middle of ch10. [spoilers removed]"

I didn't even think of that! Yeah, this killer is a strange and creepy dude.
I got to Ch15 yesterday. So it starts really coming together in the next 5 chapters if this helps.
I was feeling a bit lost with names, trying to follow the clues, pronounce all the Norwegian names and neighborhoods.
The scene with the ski-lift comes back up with Gert Rafto from Ch5. I didn't even realize that was back in 1992.
We're in 2004 with Harry Hole. I should have been paying more attetion to the Chapter names and blubs.

I totally agree on the names and places! Starting to get the hang of it a little more now. I’m excited about things coming together, but probably won’t make any progress until tomorrow.

Terry wrote: "I totally agree on the names and places! Starting to get the hang of it a little more now. I’m excited about things coming together, but probably won’t make any progress until tomorrow."

I felt the same with getting the hang of it.
No worries! I haven't been able to read today as well.

I got to Ch23 last night.
(view spoiler)[Looks like Jonas wasn't Filip Becker's son after all. I wonder if the Snowman is killing women that have cheated on their partner and the kid is not the fathers. I have a feeling the serial killer's Mom likely cheated on his father? (hide spoiler)]

I'm trying to figure out this killer's MO. I'm trying to be Harry Hole. ;) haha

I've neglected this one while I was trying to get Brimstone done, ☹️. I'll get back to it today!

Terry wrote: "I've neglected this one while I was trying to get Brimstone done, ☹️. I'll get back to it today!"

No worries! I'm reading 5 books right now so no rush. LOL

Thanks, Ginger! Just need to make sure we get it done before any real snow gets here and snowmen start to appear, 😊

Terry wrote: "Thanks, Ginger! Just need to make sure we get it done before any real snow gets here and snowmen start to appear, 😊"

I already had snow last weekend!! And I did think about snowmen while watching it fall. hahaha
All these books are slowly morphing into my thoughts. ha!

Ginger wrote: "Terry wrote: "Thanks, Ginger! Just need to make sure we get it done before any real snow gets here and snowmen start to appear, 😊"

I already had snow last weekend!! And I did think about snowmen w..."

Wow, is that early for you to get snow already? We had flurries on the day I started this, and that is early here. Normal highs should still be in the upper 50’s. I totally agree about the morphing of these books, too, lol!

Terry wrote: "Wow, is that early for you to get snow already? We had flurries on the day I started this, and that is early here. Normal highs should still be in the upper 50’s. I totally agree about the morphing of these books, too, lol! "

Yeah, it's super early. I couldn't believe it last weekend with a temp of 33 degrees. I have a feeling this is going to be a cold and wet winter. Ugh

Ginger wrote: "Terry wrote: "Wow, is that early for you to get snow already? We had flurries on the day I started this, and that is early here. Normal highs should still be in the upper 50’s. I totally agree abou..."

I think you're right!

I've gotten to Ch33! I have my suspicions. I think it's (view spoiler)[Mathias which means Rakel is in trouble. (hide spoiler)]

I saw that you finished, Ginger. Nice. I'm just past the midpoint, so lots more to go before I can check your spoiler. I'm mixed on my feeling for Harry so far.