The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

I'm Not Getting It 2010-07-31

Reviewer: STEPHANIE EDWARDS

If there is such a thing as a woman's novel, then this must be the antithesis-- a men's novel. The main character Mikael Blomkvist, has no emotional life, no self-reflection, no growth as a character, and doesn't have deep feelings or cares. The mystery at the center of the book is the only thing preventing him from being a cardboard figure (like all of the Vangers, characters in the novel who are not developed fully). All of his needs are gratified. His sexual conquests include every woman character except the one that is missing, Harriet (just give him time, I suppose, and she will be on the list). Oh, and by the way, they all pursued him! His ex-wife and daughter never intrude on his life. Like a true male fantasy, the central theme of the novel allows him to prove himself and get full revenge against his enemies and have two women competing to be his partner. The book has episodes of cheap violence that are not essential to the theme. Testosterone, anyone?

It was interesting for me to learn that the title of the book in the original Swedish was "Män som hatar kvinnor" or "Men who hate women," renamed for some reason in the English translation to The Girl with The Dragon Tattoo. The original title actually describes the focus of the book pretty well.

While reading, I would often put the book down and wonder to myself, Why are we supposed to care? What character were we supposed to connect with? Even the scenery is flat. The author apparently doesn't like descriptive language (for example, whenever Blomkvist is going into town or running by the harbor, the author is downright abstemious about the visual details or mood, or, perhaps, just too lazy to conjure a scene.) The only exceptions are the sections with the sadistic sex scenes, in which Larsson clearly revels.

Those scenes were repellant for me and not just because of the violent acts they depict. These are the rare occasions in which the author invites the reader in to see and feel what a character is experiencing. The author is deliberately working the scenes to make the reader uncomfortable. It is as if the author has become the impassive figure at the edge of the bed, and the reader his squirming victim. No thanks!

The way the book has been marketed is ironic. "Mesmerizing, " one critic from USA Today said (on the back of the book). Don't you wish? For me it was one flat and boring scene after another, with no emotional life, no reflection, no depth, no description, and finally, no humanity.

Finally, besides being pedestrian the book was not well crafted. I found it very hard to get into this book. I started it over and over and had to re-read the first part more than once. I looked for an emotional "hook" and never found one. Unbelievably, the central plot wasn't even introduced until after page 100, and there wasn't much in the lead off chapters to hold our attention. The mystery of what happened to Harriet was the only thing that kept me reading, but I wouldn't describe the outcome as particularly compelling. Even the villains are cardboard and lack motive and depth. The religious angle --supposedly the clue that cracks the case-- is never explained. The deliberate edginess of the character Lisbeth Salander put me off and I never felt sympathetic toward her. The chapter headings, mimicking a financial report of a business deal, were somewhat amusing.

When I bought this book, the woman who waited on me told me that others had highly recommended this book but that she didn't particularly like it. I wish I could have had a longer conversation with her. It's a mystery to me that the book got so many positive reviews. I decided I'm going to tell other book lovers I know exactly why I wouldn't recommend reading this one.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo 2010-07-31

Reviewer: Joyce

This book was compelling. I was eager to get back to reading it. Interesting to see the irony in Sweden's liberal sex attitude when many women are abused.

Fun read 2010-07-31

Reviewer: William A. Miller

What can I say like millions of others this book was a fun read, starts just a little slow but picks up steam. I downloaded the other books in this series to my Kindle, finished the second one and well into the "Hornet". I would say that you need to start with this book and read them in series. I fly a lot and one of the 3 books seems to be what everybody is reading. Read it before the American version of the movie is made and released.

Can't believe I ignored this for so long! 2010-07-31

Reviewer: CTExport

For some reason, I kept passing over this book. Then, my daughter recommended I read it. I downloaded it to my Kindle, started reading, and couldn't put it down until I finished. Somewhere in the middle of it, I stopped long enough to download the next two books in the series. I'm now in the middle of the third book and am already upset that this is the last one.

does not live to the hype 2010-07-31

Reviewer:

it starts out as a good story but seems to peak prematurely. not very well written.