The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

by Stieg Larsson


Introduction and Acquisition
At this point, who has not heard of these books?  As both a bookseller and a reader, it's hard to avoid.  Then with the final of the trilogy coming out, the death of the author (more sensationalism!), and the movies coming out in both Europe AND the US, I felt an obligation to read it if only to see just what all the fuss is about.

Time and Circumstance
Booksale, sometime in late January 2011, Bainbridge Island library, WA.  Finished in early February 2011, late into the night on a stormy Saturday evening/Sunday morning.

What's cool
Lisbeth Salander is undeniably a character for the ages.  It's appropriate the books were named after her.  She jumps out on the page as soon as she's introduced (a bit late in the book, for my tastes), and the story just crackles around her.  She's exciting, unpredictable, likable, pitiful, vengeful and the unlikely hero of the story.  She outshines everything else in the book.  Plot, what plot?  What other characters?  This takes place in Sweden?  Who cares - it's all about Lisbeth.

But if there was a plot, it was nicely laid out, tantalizingly dropped in place little by little.  The who-dun-it ending was not terribly surprising, just a little.... unexpected.

What sucks
The beginning was awfully slow, enough for me to put it down after the first couple of chapters and complain to a friend, "I can't see what the big deal is about this book.  It's terrible!"  I later looked up some reviews on Amazon, and was reassured that my patience will be well rewarded, just stick with the book.  I dutifully went back to the book, and read for the rest of the night until the last page was complete.  

To refer to the twist ending again, I found some of the more sensational circumstances distasteful and unnecessary, with some of the elements not really making sense.  

Leftover Thoughts
Lisbeth Salander kicks some serious butt, not just in the book but as a character in general.  I can only imagine how much more cultish she could have become if the author had not sadly passed away as suddenly as he did.

There are two more books that complete this trilogy, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo being the first.  While the book was an entertaining read, I am not sure if and when I will care to read the final two books.  Maybe it's the time in my life right now, but I can do without some of the more gory and disturbing images in my head.  As it was, the images stayed with me for the rest of the night and the morning after I finished the book.  And from what I understand, the images get worse in the next book.  Maybe when the  movies all come out, I might be compelled to read the rest of the trilogy.  Until then, my curiosity is satisfied, and I now can nod and say "oh yeah" when Lisbeth Salander references come up on conversation.