brob1856's review against another edition
5.0
FIVE STAR READ!!!!! I cannot believe it took me so many years to discover this series!!!!
kkarthur's review against another edition
1.0
I started reading this book over a month ago. After reading an especially disturbing rape scene I had to stop and have not been able to bring myself to pick the book back up. Not my idea of entertainment.
nglofile's review against another edition
1.0
I'm torn. I respond to the layered storytelling, the mood, and the characters. I was intrigued when I first began and even included it in a booktalk presentation, believing it would be a favorite. As I continued, though, it became rough. A little further, and it became...demented. Then it exceeded even that. It didn't take long before I was very much regretting I had stood behind it. What a waste.
cartermon4's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Minor: Incest
starry2013's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
florapatricia's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
sandra_ariel's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
linneafoote's review against another edition
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
kurtwombat's review against another edition
5.0
The genius of the Millennium Trilogy by Stieg Larsson is the Girl of the titles. Lisbeth Salander alone is worth diving into these books for. Her specific vision of the world and her extreme reactions to almost everything are a delight. This intro to the series was my favorite of the three books largely because Salander is more actively involved throughout. The story sets up one mystery that quickly turns into parallel mysteries that span generations and tease along throughout the book. Journalism is the hero in the person of sexual vagabond Mikael Bloomquist. His heated idealism balances nicely against Salander’s cold pessimistic practicality. Either character alone might tend to smother the narrative but bouncing back and forth between them constantly injects fresh air. My eyes widened at several of the surprises in the book, and my pulse pounded at a couple. One mystery involves family drama and murder while the other corporate malfeasance in the extreme but throughout both extend the ideals of responsibility and watchfulness. The book is busy enough with its mysteries not to dwell on these themes heavy handedly. While the two mysteries have connections, their solutions remain separate—calming my fears of one big tidy solution. Fortunately, not much is tidy about this book especially the relationship of the two main characters—devout individuals realizing their situational dependence on each other and not always liking it.