The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Millennium Trilogy)
by Stieg Larsson
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Book Reviews of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Millennium Trilogy)
Book Review: The Girl with a Rapidly Changing Character
Summary: 2 Stars
Suddenly left devoid of public respect, the Mikael Blomkvist is left with nothing but jail time and a questionable job prospect for the rich industrialist Henrik Vanger. What starts as a whodunit novel, where Mikael's job is to discover what happened to Harriet Vanger in 1966 long presumed deceased under the guise of writing Vanger's biography, becomes a rapid descention into the unknown. When a breakthrough in the research surrounding Harriet's disappearance occurs, Mikael brings in a virtual acquaintance, the 25 year-old ward of the state Lisbeth Salander whose methods are as unorthodox as her appearance.
It is certainly an interesting tale. However, it is needlessly spun over 600 pages. While I sympathize with the author himself, the unfortunately deceased Stieg Larsson, someone should have stepped in and edited this book. It firstly took nearly 200 pages for the plot to be revealled and the reader enticed to continue on with the story. No book worth its weight in deceased tree pulp should take 200 pages to set up the plot.
The remainder of my complaints lies with character development. The first character to be unrealistic in what we are supposed to believe is a sadly realistic story is Mikael Blomkvist himself. In his interactions with Lisbeth Salander, we are led to believe that through her eyes, he is a caring yet not pushy individual who wants to understand her and be a good friend to her without demanding anything in return. That is flawed on two points. For friendships and other relationships to occur, we must give something of ourselves in exchange for something of the other person. This often comes in the form of trust and honesty. The second point is that we do not actually know his intentions. He does not push her in any way nor does he do so with anyone else. Is he really just that sensitive to the needs of others or does he not really care?
Martin Vanger (along with his merry Vanger clan) presents more character flaws. Is every one in this family so naive or proud or whatever the morally corrupt call it, that no one could simply leave an anonymous tip about one of their sadistic, abusive, rapist own? And can such massive flaws be entirely hidden from the outside world? Not only does the family not report any misgivings but neither do possible witnesses who see young women whisked away by the handsome, rich stranger. Is it possible to have such a life so succinctly hidden from the outside world?
Lisbeth Salander represents the final major flawed character in my opinion. The girl with the dragon tattoo herself. Either by nature or nurture she is relatively devoid of compassion but remains a vigilante for truth and justice, going to great lengths to expose the hidden underbelly of society. She presents a character unconcerned with the day-to-day lives of those around her and is incapable of connecting to others with a positive emotion such as love. In fact, she has no friends and is content with that. Then, despite her characterization, she falls in love and instead of confronting that affection, she literally tosses it into the garbage. End of book.
That was where the book ended. It ended both abruptly and without enticing the reader to become committed to not only the book itself but its characters as well. There is thusly no pull to continue reading the series as the plot nor future characters are introduced to sway the reader to continue on.
Book Review: Slow at first but eventually engrossing
Summary: 4 Stars
Scandinavian crime and mystery novels are somewhat different in style and approach than the Anglo-American versions and this first volume of a trilogy is no exception. For one thing, it progresses very slowly, especially at the beginning, and the back-stories of the principal characters are presented at very great length. But you should stick with it, because by the time you get eighty or a hundred pages in, you'll be hooked. Mikael Blomkvist is a financial reporter and part-owner of a well-regarded small investigative magazine who has just lost a libel action brought by a suspiciously-connected billionaire. He not only will have to pay a whopping settlement, he'll also have to spend a few months in a minimum-security prison -- quite a difference from the American system of civil litigation. Worse than that, of course, his professional credibility is now in serious question and the advertisers are beginning to pull out of the magazine. Meanwhile, we meet young Lisbeth Salander, a personal investigator for a security firm and of a rather tattooed and punkish persuasion -- and perhaps a borderline psychopath, as she herself recognizes. She's had a very hard life so far and the various predators whom she has had to survive have left their marks. But she never forgets and she always gets even. On the other hand, she's one of the best there is at her job. Blomkvist (whom Salander has just been assigned to compile a detailed background dossier on) is invited by Henrik Vanger, an aging industrialist, to take a one-year assignment ghosting his tell-all autobiography, which might be just the break Blomkvist needs, as well as a way to get out of the limelight for awhile. But that's just the cover story. In 1964, Vanger's sixteen-year-old niece, Harriet, disappeared from the small northern coastal town where most of the Vanger family live (and which they practically own) under very suspicious circumstance. No trace at all ever was found of her, though Henrik assumes she's long dead. But he's getting old, he's been systematically investigating the tragedy himself for decades, and he wants Blomkvist the investigative journalist to go over everything one last time. He just has to know what happened to Harriet. And at the end of the year, whether Blomkvist uncovers any new evidence or not, Henrik will let him in on the secret knowledge that will allow him to torpedo the suspicious billionaire once and for all. Can't pass up an offer like that. Blomkvist thinks the whole think is a waste of time but he's willing to give it a good-faith effort. And then, of course, certain details lead to certain reinterpretations (the reader will be smacking himself on the forehead and thinking, "Yes, of course!"), and suddenly the case seems solvable. However, a different sort of investigative talent will be needed, and that's where Salander comes in. And one of the best themes of the book is the way in which the two learn to deal with each other, and especially how Salander slowly finds she needs someone she can trust. There are a lot of minor cultural oddities in the story that American readers might raise an eyebrow at, but this is, by and large, a plot that could be set almost anywhere. (I know there's a movie coming out and I'll be curious to see how it handles them.) As I said, it's a slow starter but becomes engrossing soon enough, and it picks up speed in the last third, including a couple of truly horrific scenes. Highly recommended.Book Review: I just don't get it.
Summary: 1 Stars
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Vintage)
I really don't understand the critical orgasms over this book. Amazon pushed it on me for weeks, and the minute I stepped into Borders an employee ran over and recommended it. Thinking, this really better be the best book I've ever read, I took it up to the checkstand, where the register guy asked: "Did one of our employees recommend this?" Um, yeah. And Amazon, too. So of course I asked him why.
"Oh," he replied, "we've been told to recommend it this week." That should have tipped me off right there: recommendations handed down by management. Pfft. I hesitate to suggest a conspiracy, but - did someone end up with too many of these in a warehouse in Duluth? Did Oprah make a bet with someone that she could pull strings and make the most boring book in the world a best seller?
But I am suckered in by numerous good reviews and a fairly interesting book jacket description, so I buy it and take it with me on a trip camping with my family. Of course it totally sucks. I'm kicking myself because I feel like I really should have known. But the reviews - ALL the reviews - are absolutely positive from generally reliable sources, so I just DO. NOT. UNDERSTAND.
Here's why I don't like it: I am about a third of the way into it, and literally hundreds of characters have been introduced. NOT ONE of them has done anything interesting, so I am finding it nearly impossible to keep them straight. I am the type that will be more or less satisfied reading the back of a cereal box, but this is BAD. I mean bad. The mystery is dull. The who done it is more like a who cares. The two primary characters are so far not very likable at all - in fact, the review descriptions are more interesting than the book descriptions of them. I'm betting part of the problem is the translation, presumably - but god, there is just some boring writing in here, too. "He went to the store. He bought milk. He was cold. He went home." - BOR-RING! I am not really exaggerating, either.
Actual content:
"He put on a pot of coffee and made himself two sandwiches. He had not eaten a proper meal all day, but he was strangely uninterested in food. he offered the cat a piece of sausage and some liverwurst. After drinking the coffee, he took the cigarettes out of his jacket pocket and opened the pack."
Again, I'm willing to give the author the benefit of the doubt with the translating, but I wouldn't have gotten out of high school writing with that kind of boring and utterly pointless description. It sets the tone of "lonely dude being lonely" but really: two sandwiches? why two? sausage and liverwurst - fascinating.
That's really just a page I opened to randomly - there is much worse. I am truly bitterly resentful of every minute I am stuck on the side of this mountain without a good book to read. I'm ready to browse the mini mart down the way and read the real estate magazines instead. Why have all the reviewers and Amazon steered me SO WRONG???
I am not starting any kind of flame war here or trying to insult anyone's taste - so please don't get mad about my opinion. But if you love this book, please - tell me WHY. What am I missing?
Book Review: I got to Larsson through Assange
Summary: 3 Stars
When I read fiction I want to be entertained and at the same time I hope that the author did some research to portray the location, time the novel is playing in and the culture correctly. I thoroughly enjoy books showing me how other people, cultures, countries live.
I usually am not interested in reading about serial killers, rapists and Nazi-type characters. I only found my interest in Larsson's books aroused when I made the connection with what is happening to Assange in Sweden. After reading about his problems in Sweden being accused of rape and hearing that the Larsson novel deals with rape in Sweden, I decided to read it.
I am not very familiar with Sweden, but I always considered all of the Scandinavian countries as the most desirable to live in, if you can put up with the climate.
Getting into the book I was shocked first with the language, but as I read it in the American version, I attributed the language to the translator, having experienced many times that books are translated to fit the country they are published in.
But even more shocked I was with the never-ending parade of rapists, serial-killers, cheaters, Nazis, corrupt and completely ineffective policemen, sadists, lesbians, etc. populating Sweden. And if I believe that Larsson's portrayal comes close to reality, I certainly would not consider Sweden as one of the most desirable countries to live in. But I have to say that I do not think that he paints an accurate picture of his home land, but of course I do not know enough.
Being in my sixties I have to say that I was sort of fascinated by the portrayal of the young heroine, though for me she very quickly started to look like a cartoon character. Tiny, abused, poor without any social net she somehow managed to conquer everyone and everything. Being an expert in many fields without any explanation how she got there but pure genius. From my tiny life experience very rarely persons are all around experts. Even more I was fascinated by her incredible ability to hack into any computer she wants too. It makes me afraid to open up my laptop.
I have not visited Sweden in decades but I thought that the author did a good job to show the Swedish life style and I did not mind at all to learn in detail how they live, eat , drink coffee and the location descriptions.
I have never lived in the South of the U.S.,only visited, but every time I read Grisham's novels I love his descriptions of the life in the South and recognize the places I visited from his descriptions. .
I read the book over the holidays and got caught up in it, but with a deep sense of dissatisfaction, having read too much improbable stories and meeting too many people, who do not care about the life or feelings of others.
And somehow the book seemed to confirm that what Assange is going through with the Swedish justice system is pretty close to reality. If Larsson is correct with his portrayal of the police and the way rape cases are handled and the corruption going on, it does not look so surprising anymore to me, that Assange has to fight some rather strange accusations. So what is good journalism and what is fiction?
I already got the whole trilogy and I started the second book, which started with a huge disappointment for me. But this review is about the first book.
Book Review: Too many Swedes are misogynists
Summary: 5 Stars
The title is misleading, the girl with the tattoo is not the leading character in this story. The role of protagonist falls to Mikael Blomkvist (for some reason the translator does not convert proper names to the English version, which makes some of them difficult), a financial journalist and incidentally a real ladies' man. The story begins, however, with two other characters, one a retired police man and the other a man whose name is not revealed and is left for later exposure, along with the reason for the flowers, whose delivery is given in this prologue. Then the story starts.
The beginning starts with the end of the trial of Blomkvist for libel. He is found guilty and is fined and sentenced to jail, although internment is delayed. The plaintiff is an industrialist who felt libelled by Blomkvist in his magaszine, Millenium. The trial is widely publicized and Blomkvist feels betrayed but does not adequately defend himself in order to protect his source. Anyhow he is offered a job to find out what has happened to a young woman some thirty-six years earlier. The trial has brought Blomkvist to the attention of the woman's great-uncle and protector who feels the journalist has the qualifications necessary to pursue the case and add new findings to it. This man is one of the Swedish Vangers, a close knit industrialist family whose fortunes are slowly eroding with time. Henrik Vanger had taken Harriett under his wing and away from her parents. He still feels protective of her and her disappearance so long ago has become a source of discontent to him, he wants to find a solution before he dies. One of the levers he uses to snare Blomkvist as an investigator is possible evidence against Wennerstrom, the plaintiff in the libel case.
This is a story so forget the unlikelihood of the journalist finding something everyone else has not discovered. This unlikelihood is the expression on Harriett's face in one of the photographs taken of her on the day she disappeared. Aha, the game is afoot and we are off to the races.One photograph leads to a search for many others, It is time for the tattooed lady to appear. Blomkvist hires her as a researcher, found for him by Henrik's lawyer. He has been sleeping with two other women, he just automatically adds Solander to his list. Lisbeth has many peculiarities, Blomkvist just as automatically uncovers them and changes Lisbeth's perception of them, not as bad but as prideful, Of course this helps her and improves her feelings for him. It is time for the denouement.
Naturally one of the Vangers is running the industrialist empire. Henrik had retired from the CEO position and let Martin run it, he tells Blomkvist Martin is best qualified. Martin seems to be a likable guy and is doing an adequate job running the company. But the photogra[hs lead to another picture of Martin. Blomkvist goews over to Martin's house and is captured. Now Lisbeth comes to his aid, frees him and Martin commits suicide. The reason for the suicide is hushed up and the search for harriett continues. The photographs provide additional clues and the story ends with the Vanger empire getting a new boss and Lisbth uncovering on Wennerstrom's computers evidence that he is an industrial pirate so Mikael gets his revenge on him as well. There are two books still to go and this one is so good I am looking forward to them.