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4.13 AVERAGE
4.13 AVERAGE
The first book of the trilogy is the most powerful, the second is second most and the third third most. While that disappointed me that the intensity was not sustained as a whole the trilogy is very satisfying and easy for me to recommend. All of the lose threads are wrapped up in a good way by the end of this novel. Salander is my pick for best character I've read in a novel for 2010.
Although this book is great, it's incredibly frustrating to read as it prolongs the unsolved issues presented in the second book. Multiple characters are all trying to solve the mystery and their debates are all written out for several pages. This book (like the last) could easily be 100-200 pages shorter if it only followed one character trying to solve the mystery.
Lisabeth actually starts to get annoying in this book as she stubbornly refuses to say anything to investigators even though she is innocent and can easily prove it! She spends the majority of the story stewing in a hospital bed which is so different from what we were used to in the previous novels. However, (like the other books in this series) the last 100 pages or so are amazing and action-packed and even feature a new badass heroine who had just been a minor character throughout the book.
The subplot sticks with the theme of men mistreating women, but this time in a non-physically violent (though still awful) way. It reveals that sexual violence can come from all walks of life and may manifest itself in different forms other than physical violence, which I thought was shown in a powerful way.
Lisabeth actually starts to get annoying in this book as she stubbornly refuses to say anything to investigators even though she is innocent and can easily prove it! She spends the majority of the story stewing in a hospital bed which is so different from what we were used to in the previous novels. However, (like the other books in this series) the last 100 pages or so are amazing and action-packed and even feature a new badass heroine who had just been a minor character throughout the book.
The subplot sticks with the theme of men mistreating women, but this time in a non-physically violent (though still awful) way. It reveals that sexual violence can come from all walks of life and may manifest itself in different forms other than physical violence, which I thought was shown in a powerful way.
Wow. This third novel in the series was so satisfying - the way the same characters interacted in new ways, the way fascinating plot lines shot off in tangents, and the way the issues weighing on Lisbeth Salander were resolved....I love that the author didn't tie up her life in a neat little bow. She's still messy and flawed and damaged. But she has healed some and learned.
For a woman who spent the first 2 novels refusing to scream about the injustices heaped upon her, it was satisfying to have her finally publicly acknowledged that she was given a raw deal. Honestly, some of the issues that the Swedes got up in arms about seemed a bit forced (yikes! Someone profits from child labor sweatshops!), and at times it strained credibility that everyone was so obsessed about the damage done to Lisbeth all those years ago – while they were being mugged and shot at and hiding from bad guys. But it was so darn fun you just wanted it to go on.
The trial of Lisbeth was fascinating. As a practicing attorney in the U.S. I shook my head frequently at the Swedish jurisprudence system. Remember in the U.S. we introduce documents in a staid, several-layer procedure. We have the document marked for identification purposes. We lay the foundation, obtain testimony as to its relevance, we formally offer it into evidence, the other side has an opportunity to object, the judge rules on admissibility and then the document is admitted. In Sweden, apparently, trials are much more like a Jerry Springer show. People pull documents out of their butts, co-counsels stand up and testifies without ever having been sworn in, and surprises abound! Let’s face it – the trial and cross-exam of Teleborian would never have worked in the U.S.
These books worked for me for some simple reasons and some complicated ones. Simply, they balance intense violence and disgusting, shocking behavior with mundane details – what the detective put on when she went to work that day, what people ate for lunch at the café. It worked on a complicated level for me because it gave voice to the dangerous part of the world that most of us only imagine or see in movies. It made me live an antisocial, selfish life through Salander, and it felt good at times.
Thank you, Stieg Larsson, for creating one of the most fascinating “heroines” I can remember, a smart, resourceful, proud, flawed, frustrating dynamo of a woman. If there was any complaint it was that Blomkvist was somewhat flat and one-dimensional. But knowing that he was there to teach Lisbeth about trust and friendship made him my friend, too.
For a woman who spent the first 2 novels refusing to scream about the injustices heaped upon her, it was satisfying to have her finally publicly acknowledged that she was given a raw deal. Honestly, some of the issues that the Swedes got up in arms about seemed a bit forced (yikes! Someone profits from child labor sweatshops!), and at times it strained credibility that everyone was so obsessed about the damage done to Lisbeth all those years ago – while they were being mugged and shot at and hiding from bad guys. But it was so darn fun you just wanted it to go on.
The trial of Lisbeth was fascinating. As a practicing attorney in the U.S. I shook my head frequently at the Swedish jurisprudence system. Remember in the U.S. we introduce documents in a staid, several-layer procedure. We have the document marked for identification purposes. We lay the foundation, obtain testimony as to its relevance, we formally offer it into evidence, the other side has an opportunity to object, the judge rules on admissibility and then the document is admitted. In Sweden, apparently, trials are much more like a Jerry Springer show. People pull documents out of their butts, co-counsels stand up and testifies without ever having been sworn in, and surprises abound! Let’s face it – the trial and cross-exam of Teleborian would never have worked in the U.S.
These books worked for me for some simple reasons and some complicated ones. Simply, they balance intense violence and disgusting, shocking behavior with mundane details – what the detective put on when she went to work that day, what people ate for lunch at the café. It worked on a complicated level for me because it gave voice to the dangerous part of the world that most of us only imagine or see in movies. It made me live an antisocial, selfish life through Salander, and it felt good at times.
Thank you, Stieg Larsson, for creating one of the most fascinating “heroines” I can remember, a smart, resourceful, proud, flawed, frustrating dynamo of a woman. If there was any complaint it was that Blomkvist was somewhat flat and one-dimensional. But knowing that he was there to teach Lisbeth about trust and friendship made him my friend, too.
Good book, NOT predictable! I enjoyed this series, despite some very explicit scenes. Glad that I read all three!
Wow, this was even better than the first two books! Couldn't wait to get to the end so I would finally understand everything but then I was sad it was over. I'm hoping the rumor about a 4th book is true.
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
By the far the best of the series. This time around the book was much more entrenched in politics, conspiracies, and corruption rather than violence, like the first two.
Was amazing series and this was the perfect end. Could not put it down.