agameofbooksblog's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
"The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" is a tantalizing mystery that weaves a complex narrative around the decades-old disappearance of Harriet Vanger. Despite its occasional lengthiness, the book manages to captivate with its unexpected plot turns. However, I must caution that the presence of the graphic and violent rape scene caught me off guard and could be distressing for some readers, warranting a trigger warning. Nevertheless, I remain intrigued by the characters and storyline, eager to delve into the next installment of this enigmatic series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Sexual assault
Moderate: Death
chichiasanchen's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
keeganrb's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Sexual assault, and Murder
Moderate: Incest
jb_variant's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Pretty bleak, sometimes easy-reading prose, sometimes it got a bit bogged down. Glad I read it, but not going to be recommending it a lot.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Murder
girlrunsultras's review against another edition
4.0
This book was a tough one and almost lost me more than once. I gave it 4 stars because once the story took off, it really took off but it did take almost 35-40% of the book before I was really enthralled. I see the 2nd book has just as good reviews, if not better so I'm starting it with a bit of caution.
ricksilva's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This had a lot going on, including a fairly deep dive into Swedish finance and journalism, that the author somehow manages to make fascinating. The plot and backstory is very complex, but the two main characters shine through it all brilliantly.
I particularly liked the handling of nontraditional relationships involving both main characters as well as several of the supporting cast.
The story has several moments of extreme violence, including sexual violence, which are that much more shocking because they punctuate long sections of very slowly building tension as the main characters do detective work to solve what seems at first like the coldest of cold cases.
The author manages to wrap up a hugely tangled mess of threads and characters into something that is satisfying in the end, but never so much so that it gets wrapped into a perfect happy ending.
I particularly liked the handling of nontraditional relationships involving both main characters as well as several of the supporting cast.
The story has several moments of extreme violence, including sexual violence, which are that much more shocking because they punctuate long sections of very slowly building tension as the main characters do detective work to solve what seems at first like the coldest of cold cases.
The author manages to wrap up a hugely tangled mess of threads and characters into something that is satisfying in the end, but never so much so that it gets wrapped into a perfect happy ending.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Pedophilia, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Incest, Violence, and Rape
kellhus's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Murder, and Adult/minor relationship
lauvje's review against another edition
4.0
First of all, the og title (men who hate women) is so much better than the silly English translation !!!
This book is 10000% worth it bc of its last 200 pages where the plottwists really plotted AND twisted, you just have to get through PAGES n PAGES of impossibly long and boring information - it still being worth it after all this speaks volumes though. If anything, you get a feeling of accomplishment and look back at all the pages you’ve read with affection(??).
Kind of like a really long hike where you almost gave up multiple times but eventually you get to the top and the view is 1000 x better than expected
This book is 10000% worth it bc of its last 200 pages where the plottwists really plotted AND twisted, you just have to get through PAGES n PAGES of impossibly long and boring information - it still being worth it after all this speaks volumes though. If anything, you get a feeling of accomplishment and look back at all the pages you’ve read with affection(??).
Kind of like a really long hike where you almost gave up multiple times but eventually you get to the top and the view is 1000 x better than expected
freshkatsu's review against another edition
3.0
According to Wikipedia, a TV series based on the Millennium trilogy is currently in progress. Now, I’m not familiar with MPAA’s guideline but if they ever decide to adapt it as faithfully as possible, which would be rare in the history of TV (except for all those 19th century mini series base on George Elliot and Austen, which are only meant for unfortunate high school students anyway), I’m quite confident that it should receive at least a MA 15+, if not a R rating.
Larsson’s novel contains all the elements a successful thriller should have – conspiracy theory, stubborn people that just don’t give up on a mystery (even if it takes longer than 30 years to solve), large transfer of money, blood and sex. Well, it has plenty of the latter two. Before you rush ahead and purchase it though, I should explain my three stars rating. Larsson was not a professional novelist, TGWTDT was more of a hobby for him and it’s not hard to see why. Nothing dramatically sustaining happens. Yes a couple of people die during the course, but it can not be compared to mainstream airport fiction where every single character should receive psychiatric treatment. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is the Twilight of its genre. Its characters are well established and the morals are clearly mapped out for the audience. The plot is straightforward and you are guarantee a surprise at the end that is just proportional to the suspense built up with a pleasant pace. However, the biggest problem I have with the novel is the limitation it places on itself. Perhaps it was my expectation, GR can be quite untrustworthy at times (try the five stars Meyer book reviews). At times it seems that Larsson is giving out a lecture on the vices of globalization. He makes some well observed points but after the short seriousness we’re back to mystery and sex. They don’t blend well and the transition isn’t smooth. Most of the time Larsson swings back and forth between reoccurring social commentaries (mental illness in society, ethics in journalism, violence against women) but nothing really stands out. You remain a spectator the entire time, watching the story unfolds without great excitement.
But is it a good story? The well researched information certainly adds depth but if you’re expecting something educational then you’ll most probably be disappointed. The grotesqueness of the twist also seems unnecessary and is rather odd as a plot device. The redeeming quality of the novel, on the other hand, lies in Larson’s unsentimental portrayal of Asperger’s syndrome. Just because you’re autistic doesn’t mean you’re brain damaged, a psychic or have severe depression. (I do have doubts about how Asperger Salander is though, she seems more of a Schizoid or Schizotypal to me) Larsson’s novel has everything a thriller needs and isn’t, doesn’t try to be more. You can either condemn it for being conventional, or you can just enjoy the story, and it is a hell of one.
Larsson’s novel contains all the elements a successful thriller should have – conspiracy theory, stubborn people that just don’t give up on a mystery (even if it takes longer than 30 years to solve), large transfer of money, blood and sex. Well, it has plenty of the latter two. Before you rush ahead and purchase it though, I should explain my three stars rating. Larsson was not a professional novelist, TGWTDT was more of a hobby for him and it’s not hard to see why. Nothing dramatically sustaining happens. Yes a couple of people die during the course, but it can not be compared to mainstream airport fiction where every single character should receive psychiatric treatment. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is the Twilight of its genre. Its characters are well established and the morals are clearly mapped out for the audience. The plot is straightforward and you are guarantee a surprise at the end that is just proportional to the suspense built up with a pleasant pace. However, the biggest problem I have with the novel is the limitation it places on itself. Perhaps it was my expectation, GR can be quite untrustworthy at times (try the five stars Meyer book reviews). At times it seems that Larsson is giving out a lecture on the vices of globalization. He makes some well observed points but after the short seriousness we’re back to mystery and sex. They don’t blend well and the transition isn’t smooth. Most of the time Larsson swings back and forth between reoccurring social commentaries (mental illness in society, ethics in journalism, violence against women) but nothing really stands out. You remain a spectator the entire time, watching the story unfolds without great excitement.
But is it a good story? The well researched information certainly adds depth but if you’re expecting something educational then you’ll most probably be disappointed. The grotesqueness of the twist also seems unnecessary and is rather odd as a plot device. The redeeming quality of the novel, on the other hand, lies in Larson’s unsentimental portrayal of Asperger’s syndrome. Just because you’re autistic doesn’t mean you’re brain damaged, a psychic or have severe depression. (I do have doubts about how Asperger Salander is though, she seems more of a Schizoid or Schizotypal to me) Larsson’s novel has everything a thriller needs and isn’t, doesn’t try to be more. You can either condemn it for being conventional, or you can just enjoy the story, and it is a hell of one.