I reread this after seeing the movie. I read it the first time on Mom's suggestion. She told me "It's slow getting started, but once it gets going it's pretty good." and she was right. For those out there who aren't familiar with the story, disgraced Swedish reporter Mikal Blomqvist is hired to find out what happend to industrailist Henrik Vanger's great-neice Harriet Vanger 30 years ago. The other story going on is Lisbeth Slander, the girl from the title. She's a 24 yr old antisocial, but extremelly skilled with computers, ward of the state. She introduced when Vanger hires her to do a background check on Blomqvist.
Mom was right, it takes a while to get going, and at 644 pages it's up there in length, but you want to know how it turns out. Larrson gives you so much detail that you almost believe you are in Sweden. This works both for and against him. You also spend alot of time keeping the Vanger family tree straight as they form the basis of the suspect pool in Henrik's mind. I also like that except for one convinient coincidence, I bought how the mysetry was solved. Lisbeth Salander is an amazingly different heroine. In no way does she fit the mold of any mystery/thriller leading character I've ever read. Much of her story is explained internally with a logic that makes sense to her. Larsson did a good job of explaining to me why she does what she does. It may be a completely alien reaction from my own, but I do understand. Expecially during some violent passages.
I liked this book. Enough that I read the next two, watched all three Swedish films and saw the American version. The story is good, really good. I needed to know what happens next. It scared me in parts, horrified me in others, and (once it got going) kept me completely engaged. It is not for the faint of heart, either in subject matter or length. The swedish title was "Men Who Hate Women".
(originally posted 12/31/2011)
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