A review by neha2lal
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is a riveting, unflinching look at men who hate women (which happens to be the title of the original Swedish novel). What would otherwise be a basic thriller/mystery is elevated by its unapologetic examination into the intersections between misogyny, Nazism, financial corruption, and systemic failures in all sorts of institutions. Lisbeth Salander and Mikael Blomkvist were interesting and compelling leads. Their stories start out separate, and when they intertwine it lights a spark going forward in the novel that remained strong until the end. I found myself unable to put the book down and highly recommend it, with the caveat that the novel heavily features triggering topics and may not be suitable for all readers.
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