Rated of 5
by Liezle Super Salander
First of all, I'm glad they changed the title. The original one just told spoils the story with one phrase.
The prologue was intriguing but by the time I got to the fist chapters, I was ready to give up on the book. It was just too boringly written. The narrative makes me think I'm reading the Business edition of a newspaper. It has too many unnecessary details.
Then I got to meet Salander... From then on, I was hooked! I just love this goth, introvert hacker who was so independent and unemotionally refreshing. Sometimes I want to smack her in the head for her unusual reactions but in the end, she proved that she knows what she's doing and I was wrong to doubt her.
My favorite part was with her first guardian. My eyes got misty in the hospital scene where the author described that she was like a lost dog. It shows the genuine vulnerability of the character.
I noticed that I get bored when the narrative switches to Blomkvist. His character was not so extraordinary. I don't think his character was very developed and I didn't buy the relationship between him and Salander.
In general though, this was an engaging novel with suspense and thrills up to the last page.
Rated of 5
by Lynn Can't wait for the sequel
I am a big fan of crime fiction so I was really intrigued about all the interesting press about this book. I was not disappointed at all. I could not put this book down -- even took it to work one day because I could not wait until the evening to pick it up again. I am so glad there are 2 more books in the future, but so sad that this talented author died so young. Reading about a new location was so fascinating. The story was so different than any other crime novel I have read before. So clever, so interesting. The dialogue was brilliant.
Rated of 5
by Ann-Britt Keillor Breathtaking!
I have read all three of Stieg Larssons trilogy, one in English and the other two in Swedish. I found them impossible to put down and I certainly hope that we get to see the movies here. I had not realized when I finished the first, that there were any more coming and was so disappointed not to learn more of Salander. I went on the internet and was excited to read that there were two more to come. Thanks to my brother I then received both of them in Swedish. I think the English title focuses more on Salander and less on the man's hatred of women and it is Salander that really becomes the focus of all three books. Certainly wish that there was a fourth but my imagination can conclude the series otherwise.
Rated of 5
by Dorothy The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
I have just finished reading The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and enjoyed it immensely. I did find the beginning a little slow.
Steig Larsson's death is a significant loss. He was too young and too talented!
Rated of 5
by Carol Top Notch First Novel Girl with the Dragon Tattoo was not quite what I expected. An international thriller by a new voice, a long awaited translation that had been a sensation in Europe led me to believe I was picking up one of those fast paced, quickly written stories. I never expected the depth of plot, well, actually several stories, layered quite neatly, one upon the other which finally came together with excellence. Yes, it's a thriller, but also a locked room mystery, a study in greed, corruption, the world of finance, violence against women and throws in a love story for good measure.
It's long; I think it could have been cut down but in the end that didn't bother me. The setting is Sweden, but locale is not developed as well as I might have liked. Some reviewers thought the characters not well drawn and didn't care about them. For me, the characters are what captivated me and kept me reading to the very end. Journalist Mikael Blomkvist, (Larsson did work for Tidningarnas Telegrambyra, the largest Swedish news agency) is arrested for libel of a businessman, Wennerstrom, having written a story about him that can't be proven. He is sentenced to jail and though the sentence is short, his career as co-owner of the newspaper Millennium becomes a shambles. Enter, Henrik Vanger, an elderly, wealthy businessman seeking closure to the long ago disappearance of his niece, Harriet. Vanger is the patriarch of a well-known and large Swedish family Vanger proposes to hire Blomkvist to write his biography and to solve the mystery of Harriet's disappearance. He details that day in 1966 when most of the Vanger family was gathered for their annual dinner and board meeting on Hedeby Island. Off island there was a Children's Day Parade planned by the sports club of Hedestad. Harriet had gone to Hedestad to see the parade with some school friends, came back to Hedeby just after 2 in the afternoon. At 2:15 a farmer collided with an oil truck and caused a horrific explosion cutting off any means of anyone coming or going from the island. Moments before the crash, Harriet had told Henrik she needed to talk to him but he was busy and told her he'd catch up with her later.
The accident happened, all heck broke loose, and that was the last time Vanger saw Harriet. With all the confusion of the bridge accident he didn't even realize she was missing until the next morning. There were many people on the island that day and Vanger spent the ensuing years trying to figure out which of them had killed Harriet, as he was certain she was murdered, probably for something she knew and had tried to tell him. No body was ever found; she could not have run away as the bridge was the only way out. The author describes this as a locked-room mystery in island format. Blomkvist is hesitant to take on this assignment but is lured by the payment offered, Wennerstrom 's head on a platter.
Larsson includes a family tree and thank heavens he does as it would be difficult to keep all the Vangers straight without it. There are a multitude of suspects and other great characters with varying roles to keep the story interesting and entertaining. One character, Lizbeth Salander, odd girl out is a fascinating study throughout the story. She plays a central part in her role as a sort of investigative assistant to Blomkvist. Fittingly her birthday is Walpurgis Night, an old pagan festival. The Blomkvist character reads novels throughout the story, one of which is Val McDermid's Mermaids Singing. He pronounces it grisly.
Be forewarned that Larsson also presents a grisly and violent tale. For a first time effort I'd call this one first rate. Four star rather than five for some plot flaws in the wrap-up. Still, I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a sequel!
Rated of 5
by Marganna Didn't Pass the Test
I love a long book rich in characters, challenging plot and layered with ideas, so I had great hope for this book. I was very enthusiastic for 1/2 of it thinking, AT LAST, a good book! However, it began to go downhill for me and continued on that path until the end.
Stieg Larsson's writing style and language skills are good and he started off with strong character and plot development. The story line seemed believable at first but as the various plots played out, I became less and less interested and engaged.
With the various threads to follow I thought it would knit together an exceptional good tale. The potential was there at first. However at the end I felt like the author was stretching to write just a long book with elements of mystery, intrigue, horror, love, sex/violence (anyone could guess the cat component!) Even the list of Vanger family members provided me with substance and I like that technique from an author. However, I did not develop a "relationship" with even the most central ones.
After a book passes the language/writing style/believability qualifications, I ask myself the following "test" questions: 1) do I care what happens to these people? I did not; 2) if I lost the book would I find another one so I could finish the story? No; 3) would I recommend this to a friend? No; and finally 4) would I read another book by this author? No. I will give this book to a friend, but it only rated a 3 at best with me.
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