Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

92 reviews

ed_moore's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Thus concludes the oldest book on my TBR, which I have had intention to read for at least 5 years when thriller was my go-to genre. Stieg Larsson’s thriller ‘The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo’ follows journalist Mikhail Blomkvist and his unlikely partner, hacker Lisbeth Salander in their freelanced job to find the missing niece of a industrialist tycoon CEO who went missing 40 years prior, the case closed as an unsolved mystery. It also follows a side plot of a corporate legal battle which highlights the faults of capitalism as a system. It was an extremely engaging story throughout, as the case with most mysteries as clues begun to emerge me progressing through the book much faster, and some moments succeed in sending literal chills down my spine. The mystery was really well written and full of twists, though it is impossible to ignore how harrowing the book was. Larsson writes extremely graphic and detailed scenes of rape and torture that are extremely uncomfortable to read. Each part of the book is epigraphic by a statistic about women and sexual violence in Sweden, which is extremely important in addressing the crisis beyond being in fiction, and in most cases the sheer size of the statistic percentages were tragic. (Men are disgusting.) I end on that note as it is the primary message of the novel, though the mystery was engaging it was an extremely uncomfortable and illuminating read. TW’s are crucial with this one. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Incest, Sexual assault, Torture, Rape, and Body horror

Moderate: Car accident and Child abuse

cerealceec's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-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

3.5

huh, ok. went into this with a sense of obligation because i've heard a lot about this book (and movie adaptation) and wanted to form my own opinion. i'm sure i would have had a much harder time staying focused and invested if i'd read it, but as it turned out, vance's reading was so perfectly done that i thoroughly enjoyed listening to even the "boring" parts. this might actually get me into audiobooks for good.

it's hard to say exactly what it was about the characters, but i found them and their relationships just fascinating. many of them weren't portrayed with unusual depth, but i guess i loved how unflinchingly their flaws were portrayed. i love that lisbeth is infuriating at times in her anger and propensity to fly off the handle. it makes perfect sense for her character. 

mikael's relationship with erika was such an unexpectedly loving, earnest portrayal of relationship anarchy and nonmonogamy that i couldn't believe i was reading it in such a well-known book. i'm really curious how it'll be expanded on in further books, especially with lisbeth involved.

i'm not a great plot critic but i was more or less satisfied with the resolution; not sure how i feel about some aspects of the villain's portrayal but i'll have to think on that one.

lots more thought but i'll sit on it, probably going to check out the next one.

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sat on it, updated thoughts:

started the next book and it's unfortunately put the first book's flaws closer into focus... think i might give up on this series. blomkvist's Nice Guy characterization is starting to get on my nerves, especially the way all female characters can't help but be attracted to him... also the page on lisbeth's breast implants, jesus christ. think it's best to appreciate the first book for what it was and leave it there.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Misogyny, Pedophilia, and Rape

jarah123's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Hate crime, and Misogyny

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, and Domestic abuse

Minor: Cursing, Animal death, and Animal cruelty

meraru's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

Out of all the traumatic, horrible things that happened in this story, Lisbeth having coffee and toasts with pickle slices was the hardest to read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Violence, Sexual violence, Torture, Death, Kidnapping, Murder, and Misogyny

Moderate: Kidnapping, Alcohol, Sexism, Racism, Pedophilia, Drug use, Xenophobia, Addiction, Alcoholism, Sexual harassment, Rape, Misogyny, Mental illness, Death, Incest, Grief, Drug abuse, and Death of parent

Minor: Xenophobia, Antisemitism, Animal death, Animal cruelty, War, and Trafficking

There's several rape scenes, also several of the deaths are described in graphic detail.

dontthink2x's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

I thought I was going to love this book. I did love the story line, the detail, and how the mystery keeps you wondering from beginning to end. The book is incredibly dark, which I normally really enjoy but I found myself lacking connection with the book and struggling to feel invested in the outcome. I think this is due to the lack of emotion in the book and the overwhelming amount of business blah blah. The entire book reads as an incredibly long list of facts with not a shred of poetic wording or connection to any deeper meaning. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Pedophilia, Incest, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Confinement, Grief, Animal death, and Animal cruelty

rchltnnswd's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

An interesting book, I agree with others that the beginning was a bit fussy and had too many characters to keep track of, also a bit slow. Once it got started I was really into it. 

I did find all the references to sex just annoying and childish. “I would like to have sex with you”. “I like having sex with you too” it was just weird and felt so basic and unnecessary. I felt there didn’t need to be so many sexual relationships, it didn’t add anything at all to the story. 

A lot of mention of “the anorexic girl” or “the girl who looks anorexic” as descriptors. Again, just felt flat and unnecessary. We get it, she looks anorexic *eye roll*. 

Generally though I did enjoy the story and will read the next in the series. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Mental illness, Pedophilia, and Child abuse

Minor: Eating disorder

boogiebeez's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-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? It's complicated

4.25

this shit insane

• I never read mystery but this was actually very good!
•  definetly was a good book to make into a movie cause the dialogue in the book feels like a movie script.
• I 🖤 lisbeth salander
• i feel like I'm probably not gonna read the other books in the series but you never know 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Incest, Physical abuse, Death of parent, Transphobia, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Sexual content, Torture, Toxic relationship, Animal death, Blood, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Domestic abuse, Sexism, Forced institutionalization, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual violence, Ableism, Misogyny, Murder, Pedophilia, Stalking, Body shaming, Death, Kidnapping, Child death, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Cursing, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Addiction, and Car accident

Minor: Abortion, Cancer, Chronic illness, and Confinement

keelya's review against another edition

slow-paced

• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

2.0

How this book was a National bestseller is beyond me. The actual mystery plot was good but there was so much wrong with the book it was hard to focus on the mystery. 

 

My main grievances lay with how the author wrote about Lisbeth. My first grievance is way the author presents the character Lisbeth. She is first described by her boss in the most disrespectful and misogynistic way. And guess what, her boss’s weird infatuation has no connection to the plot! It’s just a weird way to sexualize Lisbeth for no reason! Second, the brutal rapes of Lisbeth also have no bearing on the plot!! What was the reason for the creepy conservator?! It was not needed. Women’s assault and rape is not a plot device!! The second rape is graphic, cruel, and violent. There was absolutely no reason for this. Third, every person who comes into the book has something mean to say about Lisbeth’s body. Why? She is described as anorexically thin several times. When she is looking at her body in the mirror she says because she’s thin “She didn’t have much to offer”. Why all the body shaming of this character from everyone? The male characters body is NEVER described in a negative way, only Lisbeth’s.  Fourth, Lisbeth has a “photographic memory” - which does not exist. The author essentially gave her a magical power to further the plot. Lazy. Sixth, the author hints that Lisbeth is autistic. Oh this made me mad. Lisbeth is described as anti social - because she had a rough past and doesn’t want people to know she’s under state conservator. Not wanting to talk much doesn’t mean you’re autistic. I hate when people minimize autism like this. 

Blomkvist’s character was okay. The most annoying thing was that every woman couldn’t help but throw themselves at him. Literally he sleeps with everyone woman who he talks to in this book. He’s also an absent father. Also Lisbeth, who he sleeps with (of course) is closer in age to his daughter than to him. Gross. 

Lastly, I knew Martin was involved from the beginning. I didn’t know to what extent but I knew he wasn’t innocent. It was not that big of a plot twist. 

Overall, this book was terrible. I only finished it to see if the creepy boss and rapes of Lisbeth would add to the plot - which they didn’t. I would not recommend this book to anyone.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Violence, Racism, Child abuse, Sexual violence, Incest, Torture, Death, Sexual assault, Stalking, Trafficking, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Murder, Rape, and Sexism

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Antisemitism, Animal death, Animal cruelty, and Body shaming

nxdiac's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo was very different to what I expected. It’s a murder mystery that offers twists and turns when you least expect them. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Violence, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, and Sexual content

Minor: Eating disorder

brooksdac's review against another edition

dark mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

This book was amazing. I never wanted to put it down. The mystery was so well crafted with layers and twists. It takes a bit to get into, but once you do you can’t stop. I loved how everyone was given an ending. Every question I had was answered and more! I can’t wait to read the next book in the series. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Animal death, Body horror, Antisemitism, Torture, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Incest, Physical abuse, and Rape

Moderate: Eating disorder