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A review by kavita_badal_07
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
3.0
I enjoyed the Swedish movie quite a bit, s surprisingly I was a little disappointed with this book. One of the issues I had, as with the movie, was the sequence of events which does not induce much of a desired to actually care about the characters and their lives. Another thing is that it took me 12 chapters to finally get into the book and if I didn't what it was aiming for, probably would not have continued or taken a year or 2 before reattempting to take it off my list.
The one exception being Lisbeth, who by the end of the book is still not entirely likable but you are left wondering what it is about her past that she doesn't share with the reader. You already know that she's wicked smart and her that a history of abuse (which seems to be mostly expected of men throughout the novel) and many social aversions keep her extremely withdrawn and isolated. Despite the stereotypes that surround her and those that have been perpetuated by her, she appears to have a very strong, if slightly off-kilter mind. She is accustomed to darkness and delights in breaking through the worldly facades and uncovering that darkness.
Blomkvist is even less likable as a character, though everyone seems to either really love him or hate him. I Found myself not caring about his illustrious career or his fall from grace. He supposedly the one moral figure, this really great guy with values and conviction but I don't know if it is the subject matter of the financial or just the writing but anything relating his articles or magazines bored the hell out of me. I also find it a little that all the woman who spend an extended amount of time in company and or bed inevitably fall in love with him.
The one part I actually grew to enjoy was the Vanger plotline, even though there are way too many of them and once again they too are not very likeable. I eventually found myself drawn into this mystery and was pretty content with outcome and climax. The juxtaposition of the motivation and actions of both the victims was also done really well, if slightly uncomfortable and often quite disgustingly.
All in all not the worst book I have ever read but also one that leaves something to be desired. There is also a dearth of real character development and what somewhere in writing or the translation the warmth of the characters is lost. You don't a fall in love with them and you don't really care all that much where they go next. It is almost as if it is merely set pieces being moved around without any emotion or inclination of their own.
The one exception being Lisbeth, who by the end of the book is still not entirely likable but you are left wondering what it is about her past that she doesn't share with the reader. You already know that she's wicked smart and her that a history of abuse (which seems to be mostly expected of men throughout the novel) and many social aversions keep her extremely withdrawn and isolated. Despite the stereotypes that surround her and those that have been perpetuated by her, she appears to have a very strong, if slightly off-kilter mind. She is accustomed to darkness and delights in breaking through the worldly facades and uncovering that darkness.
Blomkvist is even less likable as a character, though everyone seems to either really love him or hate him. I Found myself not caring about his illustrious career or his fall from grace. He supposedly the one moral figure, this really great guy with values and conviction but I don't know if it is the subject matter of the financial or just the writing but anything relating his articles or magazines bored the hell out of me. I also find it a little that all the woman who spend an extended amount of time in company and or bed inevitably fall in love with him.
The one part I actually grew to enjoy was the Vanger plotline, even though there are way too many of them and once again they too are not very likeable. I eventually found myself drawn into this mystery and was pretty content with outcome and climax. The juxtaposition of the motivation and actions of both the victims was also done really well, if slightly uncomfortable and often quite disgustingly.
All in all not the worst book I have ever read but also one that leaves something to be desired. There is also a dearth of real character development and what somewhere in writing or the translation the warmth of the characters is lost. You don't a fall in love with them and you don't really care all that much where they go next. It is almost as if it is merely set pieces being moved around without any emotion or inclination of their own.