Scan barcode
gretchenp's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed it, and I definitely had a hard time putting it down, but the ending was off. It seemed to end and then start up again for the last 50 pages. Fun read though!
kirksarahm's review against another edition
4.0
soooooooo good.
one of the best adult fiction series i have read. this book really did it for me. i’m hesitant to continue on with 4-6 just because Stieg is one of my favorite authors and i’m unsure as to how this series will continue. that being said, this trilogy was one of my favorites and i’m already looking forward to the next time i re-read it ;)
one of the best adult fiction series i have read. this book really did it for me. i’m hesitant to continue on with 4-6 just because Stieg is one of my favorite authors and i’m unsure as to how this series will continue. that being said, this trilogy was one of my favorites and i’m already looking forward to the next time i re-read it ;)
veroer's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
trin's review against another edition
4.0
Looking at the task of writing up this, the third book in Larsson’s tragically cut-short series, I feel obligated to sum up not just the book itself—which I found an exciting and overall solid conclusion to a storyline which was not meant to be here concluded—but what this series has meant to me as a whole. Larsson’s books have, of course, become insanely popular—[b:The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo|2429135|The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Millennium, #1)|Stieg Larsson|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1275608878s/2429135.jpg|1708725] was my store’s No. 1 bestseller two years running—and part of me always balks at being an advocate for something that is already a blockbuster. So instead here are just a few words on why these books have been important to me, from which you can extrapolate whatever larger societal meaning as you so choose.
It’s Lisbeth, obviously. Blomkvist is a totally likable character—if you like clever, determined manwhores, which I apparently do—but these books are really all about Lisbeth. And I love her. I know people have said that they find her to be a man’s fantasy of what a badass woman should be, and this may be partly the case, but if so, Larsson’s fantasy-projection synchs up nicely with my own. Moreover, for all her larger-than-life qualities, I find Lisbeth remarkably realistic—by which I mean, she felt emotionally realistic to me. For all her leather and chains, and her brilliant and calculating plans, Larsson never writes Lisbeth as a robot. She is emotionally vulnerable—as the close of book one so brilliantly and subtly demonstrates. But throughout all three books Lisbeth reacts, and in general carries herself, the way the male heroes in other series do. She, like all those male heroes, is an outsider, is outwardly tough, is someone who has been through an unspeakable trauma but survived. She’s like all those male heroes: but she is a woman, and so for once, she’s mine.
I was recently talking to my father about male and female roles in fiction, and about how much happier I was when I realized that I didn’t have to like Princess Leia best. This was a big moment for me, that I really remember: I was maybe ten or eleven, and I finally realized that I could identify with Han Solo if I wanted to. After that I liked Star Wars a lot more, because my character got all the best lines and the cool ship. In fairness, Princess Leia was given more to do than a lot of female characters, but was I really supposed to think it was so great that she got to choke Jabba with her chain after being humiliated for ages in that metal bikini? I wanted more than that, and I still do.
So for years I liked the male characters best, because male characters actually got to do things and I wanted to do things (and preferably say witty stuff in the process). Men were awesome—and doubly so, in that I could project my fantasy self onto them and enjoy a sexual attraction to them as well, which is a little masturbatory and confusing, but also clearly the reason I so like slash fiction. Ahem. The point here, though, is that since men were who I saw and read about being awesome, they’re who I started writing about being awesome, too. If you read my short stories from high school through college (please don’t), you’ll see that a dude is the main character in almost all of them. I saw guys getting all the cool shit to do, so I gave them all the cool shit to do. What a neat little circle!
It’s only recently that I had another oh! moment like I did when I was ten. Too many factors conspired for me to pick out one cause, but maybe it was simply a case of the camel’s back finally buckling under some insignificant straw: where were the women? I wanted to read and write about women! How had things gotten to the point where I wasn’t even in my own stories?
If I, and other women like me, don’t write women awesome things to do, chances are no one will. So examples of women getting to take active roles—being smart and competent and maybe even kicking ass—have become even more precious to me. And I’m not talking about the standard female sidekick in the leather bustier. Real characters—the main characters, even. Which, arguably, Lisbeth is. Larsson, in my view, never writes her as “the woman”—he writes her as a person. As the hero.
People have argued that these books’ violence toward women make them unfeminist. I don’t agree: in my view, what Larsson is doing is clearly showing both that violence of this type exists—and will continue to exist if we choose to ignore it—and that it is survivable. These are books where women rescue the men, and perhaps more importantly, where they rescue themselves. The women are the heroes. And so, yeah, in this case, I am happy to advocate for something that is already insanely popular. If characters like Lisbeth—if women in central, heroic roles—can seep into the collective subconscious the way Han Solo and hundreds of years of male heroes sunk into mine, then maybe the next girl (or boy) growing up won’t have to have some big revelation about how she can write women in her stories. She’ll already know.
It’s Lisbeth, obviously. Blomkvist is a totally likable character—if you like clever, determined manwhores, which I apparently do—but these books are really all about Lisbeth. And I love her. I know people have said that they find her to be a man’s fantasy of what a badass woman should be, and this may be partly the case, but if so, Larsson’s fantasy-projection synchs up nicely with my own. Moreover, for all her larger-than-life qualities, I find Lisbeth remarkably realistic—by which I mean, she felt emotionally realistic to me. For all her leather and chains, and her brilliant and calculating plans, Larsson never writes Lisbeth as a robot. She is emotionally vulnerable—as the close of book one so brilliantly and subtly demonstrates. But throughout all three books Lisbeth reacts, and in general carries herself, the way the male heroes in other series do. She, like all those male heroes, is an outsider, is outwardly tough, is someone who has been through an unspeakable trauma but survived. She’s like all those male heroes: but she is a woman, and so for once, she’s mine.
I was recently talking to my father about male and female roles in fiction, and about how much happier I was when I realized that I didn’t have to like Princess Leia best. This was a big moment for me, that I really remember: I was maybe ten or eleven, and I finally realized that I could identify with Han Solo if I wanted to. After that I liked Star Wars a lot more, because my character got all the best lines and the cool ship. In fairness, Princess Leia was given more to do than a lot of female characters, but was I really supposed to think it was so great that she got to choke Jabba with her chain after being humiliated for ages in that metal bikini? I wanted more than that, and I still do.
So for years I liked the male characters best, because male characters actually got to do things and I wanted to do things (and preferably say witty stuff in the process). Men were awesome—and doubly so, in that I could project my fantasy self onto them and enjoy a sexual attraction to them as well, which is a little masturbatory and confusing, but also clearly the reason I so like slash fiction. Ahem. The point here, though, is that since men were who I saw and read about being awesome, they’re who I started writing about being awesome, too. If you read my short stories from high school through college (please don’t), you’ll see that a dude is the main character in almost all of them. I saw guys getting all the cool shit to do, so I gave them all the cool shit to do. What a neat little circle!
It’s only recently that I had another oh! moment like I did when I was ten. Too many factors conspired for me to pick out one cause, but maybe it was simply a case of the camel’s back finally buckling under some insignificant straw: where were the women? I wanted to read and write about women! How had things gotten to the point where I wasn’t even in my own stories?
If I, and other women like me, don’t write women awesome things to do, chances are no one will. So examples of women getting to take active roles—being smart and competent and maybe even kicking ass—have become even more precious to me. And I’m not talking about the standard female sidekick in the leather bustier. Real characters—the main characters, even. Which, arguably, Lisbeth is. Larsson, in my view, never writes her as “the woman”—he writes her as a person. As the hero.
People have argued that these books’ violence toward women make them unfeminist. I don’t agree: in my view, what Larsson is doing is clearly showing both that violence of this type exists—and will continue to exist if we choose to ignore it—and that it is survivable. These are books where women rescue the men, and perhaps more importantly, where they rescue themselves. The women are the heroes. And so, yeah, in this case, I am happy to advocate for something that is already insanely popular. If characters like Lisbeth—if women in central, heroic roles—can seep into the collective subconscious the way Han Solo and hundreds of years of male heroes sunk into mine, then maybe the next girl (or boy) growing up won’t have to have some big revelation about how she can write women in her stories. She’ll already know.
amayajones's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
joshua_woody52's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
ellasiblik's review against another edition
3.0
The second half was much more interesting. Overall, I loved the time I spent with this series and would highly recommend at least the first book.
gayatriii's review against another edition
5.0
Great satisfying conclusion to the plot started in the last book, and the series started in the first. While, imo this wasn't as explosive as the second book, it was a deeply engrossing read with all its detailed storytelling. So intricate, that it's justified that in some places it may not seem breakneck. But also, super commendable that Larsson could tell a story so vast, without letting it get tedious even in small bits. The ending has been one of the most fulfilling reads for me, just because by then I cared so much, and it ended exactly how I wanted it to.
kathydavie's review against another edition
5.0
Third in the Millennium Trilogy suspense series continues the story begun in The Girl Who Played with Fire.
My Take
I know people like this do exist. everywhere. People more concerned with their own power and status. Willing to do whatever it takes, destroy anyone in their way to maintain or improve their status. Thank god there are people who are just the opposite as well.
The hospital and the police all know that Zala and his daughter are at odds---she did hit him in the head with an axe...twice. So, why wouldn't there be a guard in the hall to prevent any interaction between them?
Interesting peek under the hood of Sweden's justice system in comparison to that of the U.S.
Thank god for the police officers truly investigating the situation, the journalist who keeps pushing, the hackers who dare anything---the friends an unlikeable antisocial woman has in her corner against the secret police.
Quite a bit of the story is about Säpo's origins and its justification for existence. A justification that does not exist. Shouldn't any officer---police or secret agency—understand the necessity to investigate all sides of an issue? Where were the school officials when Lisbeth was being harassed by bullies? When you think about it, I suspect we would find that much of the evil perpetuated is caused by bullies or people who were victimized by them and have grown up passionate for revenge.
I love it! The first meeting of the Knights of the Idiotic Table! Holger Palmgren on his first outing since his stroke; Malin Eriksson, the new editor-in-chief; Sonny Bohman and Dragan Aramsky of Milton Security; and, Mikael Blomkvist.
Ooh, baby, Säpo is screwing up in so many tiny ways. Enough to tip off the good guys!
Interesting side bit about an Irish law from 697 forbidding women from acting as soldiers… Around the same time period when a faction within the Church was insisting that priests be celibate and not allow co-ed religious houses. Was there something in the water?? Another side trip was about imported toilets and child labor laws.
Blomkvist is ahead of everyone and he has own people tailing the spies. Talk about a blow-up waiting to happen!
It seems odd that Larsson pops in Nilsson's concerns and goes nowhere with it. I can see it being an opportunity to create tension, so, why stop?
Hey, I think Erika's cost-cutting ideas are quite sound and make more sense that cutting back on reporters.
I love the fast one Mik pulls on Säpo!! Too much fun!
The judge makes a good point and Annika was brilliant!
And it's good to see that Lisbeth can compromise.
The Story
Thank god for Kalle-fucking-Blomkvist and his stubbornness. He knew Lisbeth well and followed her to Zala's farm. Just in time to call in a medical helicopter for a girl shot several times and buried alive.
Then it all goes to hell when an idiot of an inspector arrives. A policeman dead, another savagely beaten, and Niedermann on the loose. Bublanski sends Modig and Holmberg to Trollhätten where Dr. Jonasson is operating on Lisbeth and Zala is demanding her arrest for attacking him.
If the news that a government agency deliberately conspired to destroy a girl's life to protect its own power and the life of a criminal gets out...
The Characters
Lisbeth Salander is a brilliant young lady betrayed by the system her entire life so it's no wonder that she refuses to speak. Lisbeth's computer friends come to her aid: Plague and the rest of the Hacker Republic.
Mikael "Klasse" Blomkvist is an investigative journalist and partners in Millennium with Erika—even if she's no longer there. He's talked his sister, Annika Giannini, into representing Lisbeth even though she has no experience in criminal law. And just wait until you watch her operate!
The People at Millennium magazine include:
Erika Berger is about to be the former editor-in-chief at Millennium and hasn't had a chance to tell Mik yet. Malin Erikssen is the new editor-in-chief and she's terrified. Henry Cortez is the new managing editor. Christer Malin is another partner and the art director.
Holger Palmgren is recovering well from the stroke that saw Lisbeth placed under Bjurman's Guardianship. The only official who ever listened to her, Holger steps up for her. Advokat Nils Bjurman was part of Säpo's plan to control her.
Dragan Aramsky is the head of Milton Security and Lisbeth's old boss. Hedström is gone, but Johan Fräklund, chief of Milton's operations unit, and Sonny Bohman are still on board. Dragan calls on an old friend for help, Superintendent Torsten Edklinth, director of Constitutional Protection. Supposedly protecting Swedish citizens from having their rights violated. Inspector Monica Figuerola loves to work out and works for Edklinth who now puts her in charge of CP's operational division. The brand new one and she is asked to investigate. Carefully.
The legal side investigating the murders in Stockhom includes:
Criminal Inspector Jan "Bubbles" Bublanski, the police officer in charge. Sonja Modig is methodical, exacting, imaginative, and has the ability to make associations---and Ekström keeps trying to get rid of her. Jerker Holmberg is the best crime scene investigator. Curt Andersson has a rep and is mentoring one of them. Hans Faste is going off the rails. Richard Ekström is the prosecutor against Lisbeth for the murders and he's so incompetent is frightening.
The legal side investigating the events at the farmhouse near Nossebro includes:
Inspector Thomas Paulsson is first to arrive at the farmhouse and he's an idiot. More concerned with arresting a dying Lisbeth than in getting her medical treatment. Fortunately, Criminal Inspector Marcus Erlander takes over from Paulsson.
Dr. Anders Jonasson is head of the trauma unit and the surgeon on call the night Lisbeth is brought in. He adheres to the medical code of honor to help all whoever they may be, whatever they have done. He is one of those few willing to look beyond files and paperwork. Especially when her father gets killed. Idris Ghidi is a Kurdish refugee from the tortures of Saddam Hussein currently working as a janitor at Sahlgrenska hospital. As long as it's not illegal, he is willing to help.
Sonny Nieminen is running the Savavelsjö Motorcycle Club while Maggie is in hospital and no one is happy about this. Ronald Niedermann is a huge psychopath who feels no pain and he's not too bright in the head. He tends to...see things. His own father threw him to the police. Alexander Zalachenko, a.k.a., Karl Axel Bodin, a.k.a., Zala, is Lisbeth and Ronald's father. and an evil, evil man. Martin Thomasson is Zala's lawyer.
Säpo is a secret police organization buried deep inside government departments. As can happen, its members have gotten way too big for their britches and have no moral code. Jonas Sandberg shows up at Zala's bedside to do damage control. Evert Gullberg is retired and now he's back for one last job. Birger Wadensjöö is the current chief of Säpo. Fredrik Clinton retired as chief and is undergoing dialysis treatment. He's happy enough to get back in the saddle and ramrod his desires through. Göran Mårtensson is a bodyguard with SIS and he'll be shadowing Blomkvist.
Dr. Peter Teleborian is the head physician at St. Stefan's Psychiatric Clinic who treated Lisbeth in her early teens. He's more concerned with sucking up to Säpo. You'll love his comeuppance! Thorbjörn Fälldin was the prime minister of Sweden when Zalachenko was given a new identity. He's a friend of Holmberg's father and will prove useful.
Magnus Borgsjö is the CEO and chairman of the board of Svenska Morgon-Posten who has promised Erika a free hand in rejuvenating the paper. Too bad it's not worth the paper it's printed on. Håkan Morander is the outgoing editor-in-chief at the paper, poor guy. Peter Fredriksson is the assistant editor. Gunnar Magnusson is the assistant editor of the front page. Lennart Torkelsson is the photo editor while Anders Holse is the asshole news chief who does everything he can to undermine Erika.
Judge Iverson is presiding over Lisbeth's farce, er, I mean, trial.
The Cover
The cover is a metallic silver with black, detailed outlines of wasps in different sizes.
The title is the cover-up her own government did which destroyed the lives of so many. Funnily enough, it was Zala who started it, Lisbeth was simply The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest open to prove her innocence.
My Take
I know people like this do exist. everywhere. People more concerned with their own power and status. Willing to do whatever it takes, destroy anyone in their way to maintain or improve their status. Thank god there are people who are just the opposite as well.
The hospital and the police all know that Zala and his daughter are at odds---she did hit him in the head with an axe...twice. So, why wouldn't there be a guard in the hall to prevent any interaction between them?
Interesting peek under the hood of Sweden's justice system in comparison to that of the U.S.
Thank god for the police officers truly investigating the situation, the journalist who keeps pushing, the hackers who dare anything---the friends an unlikeable antisocial woman has in her corner against the secret police.
Quite a bit of the story is about Säpo's origins and its justification for existence. A justification that does not exist. Shouldn't any officer---police or secret agency—understand the necessity to investigate all sides of an issue? Where were the school officials when Lisbeth was being harassed by bullies? When you think about it, I suspect we would find that much of the evil perpetuated is caused by bullies or people who were victimized by them and have grown up passionate for revenge.
I love it! The first meeting of the Knights of the Idiotic Table! Holger Palmgren on his first outing since his stroke; Malin Eriksson, the new editor-in-chief; Sonny Bohman and Dragan Aramsky of Milton Security; and, Mikael Blomkvist.
Ooh, baby, Säpo is screwing up in so many tiny ways. Enough to tip off the good guys!
Interesting side bit about an Irish law from 697 forbidding women from acting as soldiers… Around the same time period when a faction within the Church was insisting that priests be celibate and not allow co-ed religious houses. Was there something in the water?? Another side trip was about imported toilets and child labor laws.
Blomkvist is ahead of everyone and he has own people tailing the spies. Talk about a blow-up waiting to happen!
It seems odd that Larsson pops in Nilsson's concerns and goes nowhere with it. I can see it being an opportunity to create tension, so, why stop?
Hey, I think Erika's cost-cutting ideas are quite sound and make more sense that cutting back on reporters.
I love the fast one Mik pulls on Säpo!! Too much fun!
The judge makes a good point and Annika was brilliant!
And it's good to see that Lisbeth can compromise.
The Story
Thank god for Kalle-fucking-Blomkvist and his stubbornness. He knew Lisbeth well and followed her to Zala's farm. Just in time to call in a medical helicopter for a girl shot several times and buried alive.
Then it all goes to hell when an idiot of an inspector arrives. A policeman dead, another savagely beaten, and Niedermann on the loose. Bublanski sends Modig and Holmberg to Trollhätten where Dr. Jonasson is operating on Lisbeth and Zala is demanding her arrest for attacking him.
If the news that a government agency deliberately conspired to destroy a girl's life to protect its own power and the life of a criminal gets out...
The Characters
Lisbeth Salander is a brilliant young lady betrayed by the system her entire life so it's no wonder that she refuses to speak. Lisbeth's computer friends come to her aid: Plague and the rest of the Hacker Republic.
Mikael "Klasse" Blomkvist is an investigative journalist and partners in Millennium with Erika—even if she's no longer there. He's talked his sister, Annika Giannini, into representing Lisbeth even though she has no experience in criminal law. And just wait until you watch her operate!
The People at Millennium magazine include:
Erika Berger is about to be the former editor-in-chief at Millennium and hasn't had a chance to tell Mik yet. Malin Erikssen is the new editor-in-chief and she's terrified. Henry Cortez is the new managing editor. Christer Malin is another partner and the art director.
Holger Palmgren is recovering well from the stroke that saw Lisbeth placed under Bjurman's Guardianship. The only official who ever listened to her, Holger steps up for her. Advokat Nils Bjurman was part of Säpo's plan to control her.
Dragan Aramsky is the head of Milton Security and Lisbeth's old boss. Hedström is gone, but Johan Fräklund, chief of Milton's operations unit, and Sonny Bohman are still on board. Dragan calls on an old friend for help, Superintendent Torsten Edklinth, director of Constitutional Protection. Supposedly protecting Swedish citizens from having their rights violated. Inspector Monica Figuerola loves to work out and works for Edklinth who now puts her in charge of CP's operational division. The brand new one and she is asked to investigate. Carefully.
The legal side investigating the murders in Stockhom includes:
Criminal Inspector Jan "Bubbles" Bublanski, the police officer in charge. Sonja Modig is methodical, exacting, imaginative, and has the ability to make associations---and Ekström keeps trying to get rid of her. Jerker Holmberg is the best crime scene investigator. Curt Andersson has a rep and is mentoring one of them. Hans Faste is going off the rails. Richard Ekström is the prosecutor against Lisbeth for the murders and he's so incompetent is frightening.
The legal side investigating the events at the farmhouse near Nossebro includes:
Inspector Thomas Paulsson is first to arrive at the farmhouse and he's an idiot. More concerned with arresting a dying Lisbeth than in getting her medical treatment. Fortunately, Criminal Inspector Marcus Erlander takes over from Paulsson.
Dr. Anders Jonasson is head of the trauma unit and the surgeon on call the night Lisbeth is brought in. He adheres to the medical code of honor to help all whoever they may be, whatever they have done. He is one of those few willing to look beyond files and paperwork. Especially when her father gets killed. Idris Ghidi is a Kurdish refugee from the tortures of Saddam Hussein currently working as a janitor at Sahlgrenska hospital. As long as it's not illegal, he is willing to help.
Sonny Nieminen is running the Savavelsjö Motorcycle Club while Maggie is in hospital and no one is happy about this. Ronald Niedermann is a huge psychopath who feels no pain and he's not too bright in the head. He tends to...see things. His own father threw him to the police. Alexander Zalachenko, a.k.a., Karl Axel Bodin, a.k.a., Zala, is Lisbeth and Ronald's father. and an evil, evil man. Martin Thomasson is Zala's lawyer.
Säpo is a secret police organization buried deep inside government departments. As can happen, its members have gotten way too big for their britches and have no moral code. Jonas Sandberg shows up at Zala's bedside to do damage control. Evert Gullberg is retired and now he's back for one last job. Birger Wadensjöö is the current chief of Säpo. Fredrik Clinton retired as chief and is undergoing dialysis treatment. He's happy enough to get back in the saddle and ramrod his desires through. Göran Mårtensson is a bodyguard with SIS and he'll be shadowing Blomkvist.
Dr. Peter Teleborian is the head physician at St. Stefan's Psychiatric Clinic who treated Lisbeth in her early teens. He's more concerned with sucking up to Säpo. You'll love his comeuppance! Thorbjörn Fälldin was the prime minister of Sweden when Zalachenko was given a new identity. He's a friend of Holmberg's father and will prove useful.
Magnus Borgsjö is the CEO and chairman of the board of Svenska Morgon-Posten who has promised Erika a free hand in rejuvenating the paper. Too bad it's not worth the paper it's printed on. Håkan Morander is the outgoing editor-in-chief at the paper, poor guy. Peter Fredriksson is the assistant editor. Gunnar Magnusson is the assistant editor of the front page. Lennart Torkelsson is the photo editor while Anders Holse is the asshole news chief who does everything he can to undermine Erika.
Judge Iverson is presiding over Lisbeth's farce, er, I mean, trial.
The Cover
The cover is a metallic silver with black, detailed outlines of wasps in different sizes.
The title is the cover-up her own government did which destroyed the lives of so many. Funnily enough, it was Zala who started it, Lisbeth was simply The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest open to prove her innocence.
lenaroschitz's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0