Thursday, April 21, 2011

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

I recently finished reading Stieg Larsson's The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo which a friend of mine recommended to me. At first, I didn't get the appeal. Everyone was talking about it and I guess you could say I was quite oblivious. It wasn't until my friend showed me the novel and read the back of the book that it sparked my interests.

The first in a trilogy, the aging Henrik Vanger has been trying to solve the case of his missing niece, Harriet Vanger, for forty years but the case still remains unsolved. He approaches journalist Mikael Blomkvist in hopes that he will solve this age old mystery with a new set of eyes. Blomkvist, convicted of libel for his exposé on the Swedish industrialist and rival, Hans-Erik Wennerström, accepts the offer. With the help of the very eccentric and rambunctious Lisbeth Salander, they find that the Vanger family has a very interesting past. (Trying not to go into too much detail!)

It's a great and compelling novel. Once you start.. you really can't stop. You just have to read till the end to find out what really happened. Larsson has a lot of characters in the novel, so it's best to read it continuously or else you're going to be lost and confused--"Who's Cecilia again?"  I can't believe Larsson wrote three (and a half) novels without it ever being published. Unfortunately he died in 2004 of a heart attack and was never able to see the success of his series. I can't wait to read the next book. I hope this gets you to read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. (:

Also, there will be a US film version of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo coming to theaters near you in December 2011.

7 comments:

  1. I wondered what happened to you. I've heard of this book but never knew what it was about. Im not sure if I could make it through the whole book with those names though, sucks the author died, I hope he wanted his books published and turned into a movie.

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  2. Interesting review, I will try find time to read it

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  3. I like your blog and how it talks about books, I'm going to put a icon on my blog that links back here. If thats coolios with you.

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  4. Wintermute, that would be coolios with me. I'm flattered. :P

    The names aren't that bad, it's the plot that will get you. I read somewhere he wrote three novels.. the fourth was like half way done and there were some notes for future novels. All just for fun. It would suck if he never meant to publish them because they're so good.

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  5. I have always seen people reading this book and the other books in the 3 book trilogy everywhere: on the streets, in coffee shops and especially on the train so I was quite oblivious as well.

    I knew the book had to be really good since it was getting so popular just like an instant trend such as with Twilight. From this blog, I think I have just fallen into the trap again and I MUST read this book now along with the rest. I <3 your recommendations :)

    I hate it when the artists die before their hard work could be celebrated with all the success, but at least they are such a hit now.

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  6. I lovvvved this book! I like your blog too.

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  7. Sounds compelling, I'll be sure to pick it up!

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