The Girl Who Played with Fire: Coffee and a sandwich, Part 2

The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

First, my criticisms of this book:

1. I think he should have named it Coffee and a Sandwich, given the number of times the characters drink coffee and eat sandwiches. Enough already.

2. It contained way too many characters and side plots--I had a hard time keeping all the various (and many, unimportant) characters straight at times. Did he really need to have three investigations (with multiple investigators) going on at once?

3. He included too many unnecessary details such as specifications of each computer and cell phone, IKEA furniture, and expensive coffee makers.

4. For a series about "men who hate women" (the original Swedish title of the first book), why are these books all titled about "girls"? I realize that the term "girl" is widely used in the UK and the rest of Europe, but I find it jarring considering that the book features a kick-ass, spunky, vigilante WOMAN. Yes, she might look like a "girl," but she is most definitely a woman.

5. Beyond the excessive detail, this book (and the first one) desperately needed a kick-ass, spunky, vigilante EDITOR to tighten up the text and hit the "delete" key.

6. I still struggle with the rampant promiscuity in these books--why would a man who presumedly respects women so much sleep with just about every woman he knows, with no apparent long-term attachments? It's not just the men, either--the women are just as promiscuous as the men are.

7. The math theories? I scanned them--quickly. Just not interested. And I wasn't too sure how they fit into the plot, but maybe it's just beyond me. But for her to solve a math puzzle just as she's about to pursue the killers? Come on already!!

8. Did she really have to get a boob job? That makes me have so much less respect for her. But then again, I've never known what it's like to have a flat chest, so I suppose I should not judge her decision too harshly since I cannot walk in her shoes (or bra).

And now for the good:

In many ways, I enjoyed this book more than the first one. A major reason for this is the virtual lack of extreme sexual violence that exists in Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. I liked learning more about what makes Salander tick (and explode like a bomb), and I understand much more about her simmering anger, character, and inability to form attachments now. Larsson deftly peels back layer upon layer of Salander's history (in addition to many of the other characters).

I think it's clear that Larsson didn't have a whole lot of faith in sibling and parent-child relationships...especially interesting given his own fallout with his nuclear family and their selfish fight with his long-time lover over his now-substantial estate. The only positive parent-child relationship in Larsson's books is Blomkvist's relationship with his sister (although in the beginning of this book we learn she was upset with him for not involving her during his libel trial). Most of the family relationships are bitter, violent, abusive, and sadistic....or just absent (note the complete absence of any mention of Blomkvist's daughter in Book 2).

In spite of this, it was a hell of a good read. Yes, much of it is unrealistic and far-fetched, just as most thrillers are. I won't reveal any spoilers, but suffice it to say that some plot elements are difficult to believe.

The bottom line is that Salander is a great heroine. Yes, she's violent, anti-social, and unfeeling at times. But who wouldn't be, given what she survived as a child? She is a survivor, and I find myself rooting for her.

And now onto the next one, because I don't know how long I can hang off this cliff.
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The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest: Coffee and a Sandwich, Part 3

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I finished this late last night, both relieved to be done with the series (so I can get other things done in my life) and sad to say goodbye to Lisbeth Salander forever (unless Larsson's lover really does have a partially finished fourth manuscript).

Like the others in the series, this book has its flaws:

*Too many characters
*Too many unnecessary details (Larsson classically flunks the "show, don't tell" school of writing)
*Too many subplots
*Too many implausible plot points (most implausible: what hospital would house two people who tried to kill each other two rooms away from each other, without ANY police security?)

*Yet again, too much coffee and sandwiches (although slightly less than Book #2)

*Not enough Salander

*What the heck happened to Blomvkist's daughter???

And yet, despite its flaws, I couldn't put it down. I liked the facts about female warriors between each section (versus the math equations in Book #2!) and the parallels he drove with these historical warriors and the ones in the book. This series--more than most thrillers or mysteries--contains tons of strong (both intellectually and physically), independent women. I love that.

Book #3 doesn't have as much suspense as the other two...it's more of a legal thriller. Larsson's knowledge of the Swedish political system is amazing. Clearly, he was a stellar researcher and his journalist roots show heavily in his novels.

I'm convinced that Larsson would have proudly described himself as a feminist, because he does show a great deal of respect for his female characters. (If only he hadn't created a middle-aged male lead who was magnetically sexually attractive to every woman he met, leading to constant jealousy...talk about a classic male fantasy.) Sometimes the villains are a bit too villainous...take for example the vast number of bad guys who were perverts in addition to being otherwise evil.

The best thing about these books for me is survivor Lisbeth Salander: complex, quirky, insanely bright, strong, sensitive, and deeply damaged. The Millennium books are the types that don't leave you when you've put them down--they stay in your brain while you go about your daily business. The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, while somewhat flawed, was a highly satisfying end to the series.
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The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo: Coffee and a Sandwich, Part 1

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book's original title in Swedish was Men Who Hate Women. The English title is catchier, but the Swedish one better describes its content.

I'm glad I was warned that the first 40 to 50 pages are slow moving. In fact, the last 50 pages or so move slowly as well. Many people have commented that the books get better as they go along. It seems that Larsson was just beginning to hit his stride when he died.

The book opens with a libel suit against journalist Mikael Blomkvist. Parallel runs the story of Lisbeth Salander, the dragon-tattooed "girl." Salander is by far the most interesting enigma in the book--some have called her an avenging feminist angel. We know that she is a damaged soul, but we have mere glimpses into why that is the case.

Blomkvist appears to be married to his work, with a failed marriage behind him and a loose relationship with his married colleague. Admittedly, he is a "bad father."

Here's what I didn't like about this book:

-Horrific, brutal scenes of violence against women
-Most of the meat was sandwiched between the less-interesting beginning and end of the book
-Too many Vangers, most of which do not matter to the story
-The fact that Blomkvist hops in bed with three different women--all of whom seduce him but require no commitment (talk about a male fantasy!)
-The high percentage of sexual sadists in the story--how realistic is that?
-The fact that Salander is so helpless to stop her own victimization (being a ward of the state)--can't she hack her way out of that?
-Not happy about another middle-aged man/young-woman-who-looks-like-a-child relationship--again, Larsson's fantasy?

And this is what I liked:

-Lisbeth Salander--I wanted to know more about what makes her tick
-The story--it drew me in and I wanted to know how it would end
-The fact that Blomkvist reads female authors (and Larsson himself cited mostly female authors when asked about his literary influences--this is extremely rare among male writers and readers!)
-Statistics about violence against women in Sweden--Larsson was trying to write his own morality tales in the form of thrillers about men who hate women
-The creative ways Salander finds to get her revenge on men who have wronged her or other women
-The gray areas--people are not good or bad, and difficult ethical situations are not always clear-cut right or wrong--I enjoy reading about difficult ethical decisions
-The stark Swedish setting and descriptions of its climate, food, and people
-Discussion of how violent or abusive childhoods can shape a person's humanity and the way they see the world


Some feinists claim the series is misogynist, while others defend it. Knowing that the author was a political crusader and fought against fascism (in addition to being in a 32-year, long-term committed relationship with a woman, unlike his main character), I am sure he had good intentions. What I like best about Larsson's heroine (who is vastly more interesting to me than his hero) is that she is fascinating and strong. I read that she gets breast implants in Book #2, which does not delight me. She is a complicated character and I look forward to seeing how she develops in the next two books.

I'm hooked and I've already ordered the next two books. It's certainly not a perfect first novel, but it was a rollicking good start.

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Sadly, Larsson's partner of over 32 years--and first-time reader and editor--stands to receive none of the millions of dollars in royalties, because they never married and he did not have an updated will.