The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
By Stieg Larsson
Once I started reading this book, I couldn’t put it down. I remember when it was published last year, there was a ton of buzz that I largely ignored because it didn’t sound appealing to me. Based on the summary on the back of the novel, which included the words “financial intrigue” and “corporate corruption,” I assumed it would be a mystery involving white-collar crime. Yawn.
I finally decided to purchase it in paperback when we were flying home from Seattle, and I was wandering around the airport Borders looking for something to read. I couldn’t look anywhere without seeing The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo staring at me from a shelf, and decided it must be pretty good if it’s continuing to sell this well.
It was actually a very good book, and the plot was so much more interesting than I could have imagined. There are a few sections that dive pretty heavy into corporate greed, embezzlement, etc., but they’re minimal and essential to the overall mystery that involves a mysterious kidnapping 40 years earlier. The main female character is quite intriguing – definitely not a cookie-cutter heroine by any means.
I wasn’t thrilled about the last couple of paragraphs, only because it wasn’t a neatly-wrapped happy ending (and, I have to admit, the ending was true to the characters whether I liked it or not). The book ends in such a way that you know there will be a second novel .And there is – “The Girl Who Played with Fire” came out in hardcover last month. I’ve already put myself on the waiting list for it at the library.
The interesting, real-life story behind this book is that the author, Stieg Larsson, wrote the first three novels in what he intended to be a series. After turning in these first three manuscripts in 2004, he died unexpectedly. It makes me sad to think that he died without knowing that his books have become an international phenomenon.
The verdict: 5 stars out of 5
By Stieg Larsson
Once I started reading this book, I couldn’t put it down. I remember when it was published last year, there was a ton of buzz that I largely ignored because it didn’t sound appealing to me. Based on the summary on the back of the novel, which included the words “financial intrigue” and “corporate corruption,” I assumed it would be a mystery involving white-collar crime. Yawn.
I finally decided to purchase it in paperback when we were flying home from Seattle, and I was wandering around the airport Borders looking for something to read. I couldn’t look anywhere without seeing The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo staring at me from a shelf, and decided it must be pretty good if it’s continuing to sell this well.
It was actually a very good book, and the plot was so much more interesting than I could have imagined. There are a few sections that dive pretty heavy into corporate greed, embezzlement, etc., but they’re minimal and essential to the overall mystery that involves a mysterious kidnapping 40 years earlier. The main female character is quite intriguing – definitely not a cookie-cutter heroine by any means.
I wasn’t thrilled about the last couple of paragraphs, only because it wasn’t a neatly-wrapped happy ending (and, I have to admit, the ending was true to the characters whether I liked it or not). The book ends in such a way that you know there will be a second novel .And there is – “The Girl Who Played with Fire” came out in hardcover last month. I’ve already put myself on the waiting list for it at the library.
The interesting, real-life story behind this book is that the author, Stieg Larsson, wrote the first three novels in what he intended to be a series. After turning in these first three manuscripts in 2004, he died unexpectedly. It makes me sad to think that he died without knowing that his books have become an international phenomenon.
The verdict: 5 stars out of 5
1 comment:
Well, based on your review, I just ordered this book from the used book site I like to use.
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