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48 reviews for:
The Girl Who Played With Fire
Manolo Carot, Rachel Zerner, Sylvain Runberg, Stieg Larsson
4.1 AVERAGE
48 reviews for:
The Girl Who Played With Fire
Manolo Carot, Rachel Zerner, Sylvain Runberg, Stieg Larsson
4.1 AVERAGE
More coffee chronicles from the Millennium trilogy:
Coffee is mentioned 89 times.
Caffe latte: 8
Coffeemaker: 8
Espresso: 5
Latte: 2
Coffee machine: 2
Cappuccino: 2
Coffee package: 1
Coffee breaks: 1
Coffee is mentioned 89 times.
Caffe latte: 8
Coffeemaker: 8
Espresso: 5
Latte: 2
Coffee machine: 2
Cappuccino: 2
Coffee package: 1
Coffee breaks: 1
Finally finished this after not one, but two hiatuses. One was a year and a half, the other was from over 10 years ago! I guess that says something when you don't come back so a book for so long. That being said, I think that for me that mostly has to do with not reading a lot of mystery/thrillers as well as the very tough themes of this one and all of the hate and bias that is thrown at Lisabeth (and anyone who associates with her). The sheer amount of people who judge her is painful, and I know that the book is showing this to show how it's not right to do this. I just find that a very uncomfortable place to be, and so many horrific thoughts, actions and occurances, it's just not something I like to read. At all. It just isn't a good fit for me.
I think this series is more suited to people who enjoy stories that are about justice and/or vengeance, which isn't me.
As I have seen the original film trilogy, I have enough of a sense to know where this is going and I can feel complete with leaving the book series here. It was a huge effort and a long time coming to finish this title, and I feel accomplished that I finally made it through.
I think this series is more suited to people who enjoy stories that are about justice and/or vengeance, which isn't me.
As I have seen the original film trilogy, I have enough of a sense to know where this is going and I can feel complete with leaving the book series here. It was a huge effort and a long time coming to finish this title, and I feel accomplished that I finally made it through.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, Murder
Let me begin by saying that when the pace quickened, this became a fantastic book worthy of 4 or 5 stars. That being said, Stieg Larsson has to be one of the WORDIEST authors I have ever read and spends an inordinate amount of time explaining things that don't need to be explained. There were a few too many "coincidences" that seemed to be stuck into the story for the sake of plot and didn't seem believable.
Otherwise, I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the last part of the trilogy.
Otherwise, I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the last part of the trilogy.
This book has a lot of vulgar things in it that I feel only take away from the story. It takes about 200-250 pages to really get going but once it gets going it gets going. The writing is incredible and the story is really well thought out and nothing seems forced.
Slow af. Took more than 2 months to finish and the ending left on a cliffhanger. Will be needing a break before I start the 3rd book
The Girl Who Played with Fire continues to follow the adventures of Swedish journalist Mikael Blomkvist and the brilliantly crafted character of Lisbeth Salander, a sort of Pippi Longstocking-meets-cyberpunk-computer hacker young woman who is, in this reader's opinion, infinitely interesting. To paraphrase Blomkvist, whose relationship with Salander is, to say the least, complicated, Salander is a "woman who hates men who hate women" and there is no shortage of opportunity in this book for her to pursue her somewhat black-and-white sense of justice, while Blomkvist assists from the sidelines.
What makes Larsson's books appealing, for the most part, is his tireless dedication to a complicated, plot-driven story. This one includes Soviet defectors, sex trafficking, and corruption in the Swedish government, among other layers of intrigue. The narrative perspective of the book is third person omniscient in the truest sense...the reader gets into the heads of dozens of different characters. This is interesting, of course, because of the multiple viewpoints one gets on the situation, but the point-of-view switches happen so quickly and so frequently that it is impossible for the reader to get a full understanding of any one character's perspective, so you're left wondering why you are provided with that perspective in the first place.
The two things that are most fascinating about this world that Larsson has crafted are the character of Lisbeth Salander and the magazine that is the namesake of the series, Millennium, and there simply isn't enough of either of these in this second book in the series. The irony is that it probes Salander's mysterious past, which readers of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo will appreciate and will not be disappointed by, but at the same time, her character is conspicuously absent for the vast middle of the book. Likewise, Blomkvist's magazine plays a key role in setting in motion the events of the plot and is all-too-close to the violent crime around which the story centers, but I would rather have remained focused on the journalists' investigations into the crime rather than the tedious politics and goings-on of the police that ensue.
To sum it up, the beginning, which culminates in Salander's dramatic involvement in an abusive relationship while she is traveling in the Caribbean, and the end, which is so fantastic that I dare not even hint at it, are what I love about Larsson's storytelling. The problem is that the big, sagging middle of the book is less than satisfying.
While I can easily see past Larsson's fact-by-fact, journalistic style when I'm engaged by plot and character development, I think I need to take a break from it before I move onto the 3rd and final book in the series, even though this one ended with something of a cliffhanger. I need some poetry and nuanced language, which is definitely not Larsson's strength. But, rest assured, I will return to the Millennium series...Mikael Blomkvist and Lisbeth Salander are way too intriguing to abandon now and I hold out hope that this book was simply the bridge to something greater.
What makes Larsson's books appealing, for the most part, is his tireless dedication to a complicated, plot-driven story. This one includes Soviet defectors, sex trafficking, and corruption in the Swedish government, among other layers of intrigue. The narrative perspective of the book is third person omniscient in the truest sense...the reader gets into the heads of dozens of different characters. This is interesting, of course, because of the multiple viewpoints one gets on the situation, but the point-of-view switches happen so quickly and so frequently that it is impossible for the reader to get a full understanding of any one character's perspective, so you're left wondering why you are provided with that perspective in the first place.
The two things that are most fascinating about this world that Larsson has crafted are the character of Lisbeth Salander and the magazine that is the namesake of the series, Millennium, and there simply isn't enough of either of these in this second book in the series. The irony is that it probes Salander's mysterious past, which readers of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo will appreciate and will not be disappointed by, but at the same time, her character is conspicuously absent for the vast middle of the book. Likewise, Blomkvist's magazine plays a key role in setting in motion the events of the plot and is all-too-close to the violent crime around which the story centers, but I would rather have remained focused on the journalists' investigations into the crime rather than the tedious politics and goings-on of the police that ensue.
To sum it up, the beginning, which culminates in Salander's dramatic involvement in an abusive relationship while she is traveling in the Caribbean, and the end, which is so fantastic that I dare not even hint at it, are what I love about Larsson's storytelling. The problem is that the big, sagging middle of the book is less than satisfying.
While I can easily see past Larsson's fact-by-fact, journalistic style when I'm engaged by plot and character development, I think I need to take a break from it before I move onto the 3rd and final book in the series, even though this one ended with something of a cliffhanger. I need some poetry and nuanced language, which is definitely not Larsson's strength. But, rest assured, I will return to the Millennium series...Mikael Blomkvist and Lisbeth Salander are way too intriguing to abandon now and I hold out hope that this book was simply the bridge to something greater.
4.5 — I enjoyed this one more than the first one (& i really liked the first one). More interesting to have the story tied closer to the main characters
Much better than the second book - the pace was faster, though it did jump around to different POVs at times and included too much unnecessary detail. (Let's put it this way: I know more about the IKEA catalog than I need or care to know.) If you liked the first one (and could stomach the violence), you'll like the second.
Good story again by Larsson. Keeps you turning page after page. The only disappointing thing so far with the first two books in this trilogy is for 80% of the book all the mystery and intrigue is built up then, BAM, all the pieces come together so fast and quick it feels uneventful. Sorta leaves you wanting more. But again there is just something I can't quite put my finger on with these books I find so addicting. I'm still amazed at how much coffee these people in Sweden drink....not as crazy as in the first book but damn close and how these people aren't all obese with all the junk food they eat, pan pizza everyday, McDonalds, latte after latte....etc......and lets not skip a meal regardless of the drama or craziness thats going on around you, there's always time for a late lunch, oh, and a latte.
And with paragraphs like this in the book how can you not be interested....."Then she opened her cardboard boxes from Lundagatan and put away books, magazines, clippings, and old research papers that she probably should have thrown away. Without any regret, she discarded her old T-shirts and socks with holes in them. Suddenly she found a dildo, still in its original box. She smiled wryly. It had been one of those freaky birthday presents from Mimmi. She had entirely forgotten that she had it and had never even tried it. She decided to rectify that situation and set the dildo on her bedside table."
All kidding aside, these have been good books so far and I look forward to reading The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest next.
And with paragraphs like this in the book how can you not be interested....."Then she opened her cardboard boxes from Lundagatan and put away books, magazines, clippings, and old research papers that she probably should have thrown away. Without any regret, she discarded her old T-shirts and socks with holes in them. Suddenly she found a dildo, still in its original box. She smiled wryly. It had been one of those freaky birthday presents from Mimmi. She had entirely forgotten that she had it and had never even tried it. She decided to rectify that situation and set the dildo on her bedside table."
All kidding aside, these have been good books so far and I look forward to reading The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest next.