My husband borrowed The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson as a book on tape from our local library. The first time we listened to it, I fell asleep in the middle of the prologue. Being the sweetheart that he is, my husband turned off the CD so we could try again at a later date.
Second try: I fell asleep in the middle of the prologue.
Third try: Just kidding. there was no third try. My husband returned it to the library.
Then my book club chose it as our April read. So I went to Costco and bought the paperback.
For the first two weeks, I couldn’t get past the first 20 pages. Even though I skipped the stupid prologue I’d heard twice.
“This is an international bestseller, nay, a phenomenal international SENSATION,” I chided myself. “Why don’t you like it?”
I consoled myself with the fact that I did not like The Da Vinci Code either. Nor have I ever cracked a book by Danielle Steel or The Dude Whose Sappy Best-Sellers Become Blockbuster Movies That Make Chicks Cry.
Then I talked to my friend and co-book club member who said she hated it for 100 pages. And then she couldn’t put it down.
So I kept at it.
For 62 pages, I could only go for one to two pages until I fell asleep from sheer boredom.
But once I hit that sixty-third page, it became one of those books that I read until three o’clock in the morning every night.
Mini-plot summary: One of the great things about this book is that the plot is deliciously complex. You’ve got a financial conspiracy. A bizarre genius with a convoluted past. A disgraced reporter with revenge on his mind. An unsolved disappearance. A crazy, effed-up family – whose members largely live on a single island outside Stockholm. A sadistic lawyer. An Australian sheep farm. Blond wigs. Money laundering. Computer hacking. Animal cruelty. Murder. Rape. Incest. Open-faced sandwiches.
All wrapped up in one shiny, blood-chilling, heart-racing, amazing story.
I am a sucker for great character development. The two main characters? I grew to care about them, root for them to succeed, fear for their safety. Especially the odd, brilliant, fiercely-independent Lisbeth Salander. She’s like a socially-stunted Jason Bourne, and I love her.
Now that I have a little distance from the book, I realize it wasn’t perfect. There were a couple instances of foreshadowing that seemed needless and even forced… like the author thought that point needed something foreboding to set the mood, but maybe was running late for a hot date and asked his little brother to “just put something in.” Then there were a few loose ends that were tied up just a little too neatly. One big aspect of the plot was kind of glossed over. And a couple of characters seemed like they weren’t addressed as fully as they needed to be. (I’m hoping the sequels delve deeper into what happens with them.)
And yet? I don’t care.
That’s how much I loved Salander.
I mourn the loss of Steig Larsson, because I can’t imagine that three books will be enough Lisbeth Salander for me.
Should you read it? I say, give it a go! And if you hate the first 100 pages? Just keep reading. It WILL get better. And better and better and better. (That’s right – this book is 600ish pages.)
I bought the sequel (The Girl Who Played with Fire) before I’d gotten halfway through this book. I started it the second I ended Dragon Tattoo (at 1:17 a.m. on Sunday night). And I’ll be sure to report back.
**********
Anybody else read this book? Let me know your thoughts in the comments. Warning: May contain spoilers.
While I was in Florida with my Mom, she had her nose in both this book as well as the sequel. Honestly, she could not put them down. Needless to say, she loved them and tried to get me on the bandwagon too. And as much as I would love to get into them, I’m frightened. Those suckers are HUGE, and I’m seriously short on reading time. But, I will definitely keep it in mind for whenever I can squeeze some extra hours into my day. Thanks for the honest review of the book!
it’s awesome that you’re part of a book club. I’d love to do that!
I had the exact same problem. The only reason I kept at it was because my mom was raving about how fabulous it was. Once I got past the first 100 pages or so, I absolutely loved it. I tell everyone now not to worry that the first bit is seriously dull. 🙂
It’s been turned into a movie in Sweden. We have it in our theatres here with subtitles. 🙂
Okay, so I’ve been raving about these books for months now 🙂 I adored the first book, and immediately bought the second, and completely devoured it. And then, because it was January when I read them, and there’s no way in hell I could wait until May 22nd when the 3rd book is released in the US, I bought the third from Amazon UK. The trilogy is so complex and amazing, but at the end of it all, you don’t feel like anything is missing from the storyline. It’s wrapped up completely and, while it was disappointing to let go of Lisbeth, you can’t help but love her all the more in the end. I also saw the Swedish movie of the first book a few weeks ago, and it stuck very close to the book. I was impressed with it. There’s also talk of making an American version of the movie, without the subtitles that turn American movie watchers off. I’m so happy you liked this so much, and you’re going to love #3!!!
I can’t wait! I’m having trouble with the first part of book #2 – not that it’s boring, it’s been a quick read from the get go – but because Salander did something that I find completely out of character for her. So I’m a little skeptical about the thing so far… But I will take your comment to heart and read on!
Thanks for the review… I almost picked up this book at Sam’s Club…
Maaaaaan. I had given up on this book. I really did not want to read it. But now you’re making me think I should maybe give it a second chance. Hmm.
You’re going to LOVE the second one, I liked it better than the first. I can’t wait to read #3. I think Lisbeth is one of the most compelling and interesting characters I’ve read about in a long time, and you get even more background in book #2.
I totally agree about Lisbeth – so compelling and courageous.
OK, you’ve convinced me to put this on my “to read” list (are you on Goodreads, btw?? I love that thing). I will read anything and there is nothing I love more than having a book that I just cannot put down. (OK, there are some things I love more, but that ranks really highly!) The last book I read that I could. not. put. down was American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld. I thought it’d be kind of chick lit-ish but it was really a great piece of writing. Totally recommend it!
I am on GoodReads! Am still trying to figure it out though…
I agree totally. It took me 50 pages to get used to the Scandinavian names, and another 150 pages to get into the plot! (Not enough Salander early on, I say.) When I bought the book at Barnes and Noble, the cashier told me it was a great book but “had a slow start.” She was not wrong. The Girl Who Played with Fire is even better!!
I have heard good things, I will have to check it out! That is how I felt about The Book Thief, the beginning was rather slow but when it picked up it was amazing. I’ll have to add this to my to-read books on goodreads. Are you on it?
It is ridiculous how behind on reading I am. I belong to a book club AND I have to do a book review and neither book has been read yet. Geesh!
I totally loved this book, although it also kind of scared me stiff (partially because I was coming home to an empty house for a week when I read it). I agree that the beginning was a bit slow, but happily it was the only thing I had to read on the airplane, so I couldn’t really give up.
So I am reading this after I JUST GOT the email that this is our May Book Club book… I am so glad you ended up liking it!!
I’m a hard sell. If I can’t make it past chapters three or four you have ruined your chances. I don’t have enough time for that. As Gooner grows I have even LESS chance to read. Bah. Glad you liked it LATER though!
You know, I am usually like that… My time has value, and if I’m not enjoying something, I’ll stop reading. But I guess the pressure of needing to read this for book club… plus that knowledge that EVERYBODY on the planet likes this book… pushed me to keep going. And it was totally worth it. I’m on page 400 or something of the sequel and LOVING it.
I’ve been hearing a lot about this book but no real reviews.. yours is the first I’ve read. Since my summer is nearing and I plan on reading a giant stack of books by the pool, I might be adding this to the list. Thanks for the heads up about the slow start.. some really great books seem to be that way.
So I had to come back and tell you that I’m 100 pages away from finishing the book…and I’m loving it! Again, the beginning was so boring and I had to force myself to keep opening it up, but now I’m so wrapped up that I’m spending all of Avalon’s nap times reading. Have you finished the second or third book yet? My mom claims that the second is her favorite.