Reviews with content warning for Sexism - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Reviews tagging 'Sexism'

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

79 reviews

arellareads's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious sad tense slow-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

This is the first book I’ve listened to via audiobook, so this probably influenced my experience, but I was having a hard time following all the characters and plot points at first. I actually read a synopsis after each chapter just to make sure I wasn’t missing anything since the book is very dense. The story doesn’t start picking up until a hundred pages in or so, when the mystery takes hold — at that point I started getting hooked on the crime drama.

Despite the slow start, this book gets extremely dark and disturbing mid-way through as the mystery behind the girl with the dragon tattoo comes to light. It’s a heavy read, with a complex, intellectual plot line about social tensions surrounding the fascist Nazi regime, family economics, domestic violence, serial murders, sexual assault, and systemic abuse and oppression against women (many of these scenes are graphic).

It’s a very meticulously crafted story and I value the planning that had to go into this. However, the writing is very explanatory and matter-of-fact, leaving little breathing room. I’m assuming some of the style was lost in the English translation, but this made it challenging to get through. It wouldn’t be my usual choice, but I can appreciate the serious issues this book tackles.

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aleyajo's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

You know shits bout to go down when they put coffee on the stove.

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lilkingtrashmouf's review against another edition

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dark mysterious slow-paced

Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No

4.5

Despite being 800+ pages, this is a book I devoured.
This is my second read through, but it's been nearly a decade since the last time I read it and I was pleasantly surprised how quickly I was sucked back in.
Some parts are hard to read, but its original title was "Men Who Hate Women" so to be expected.
In spite of the unpleasant parts, I love this book.
The last couple pages irked me, but it's fine because the story doesn't end there. If it was a standalone, I would be pissed.

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frenchfrybri's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

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

5.0

lisbeth salander is an icon

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_annika__'s review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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brodabooks's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective relaxing sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

Not so incredible from start to finish, but incredible overall.

Many rollercoasters throughout, well-penned characters with reasonable development.

I especially love how the plot and the characters effortlessly switch control and takeover under Larsson's pacing.

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mjohn058's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

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

4.0

All things considered, it’s very good. The topics/themes, the plot, the writing, all good.

However,

the entire subplot of the sexual relationship between Lisbeth and Mikael is completely unnecessary. You could simply flip a switch to make their relationship platonic, and both only would nothing fundamentally change, it would actually have been better. Why must she fall in love with him? It’s so out of character with zero justification or pay off.

And this is a minor point, but

why on earth is it titled the way it is? It sounds good. It sure is mysterious. But the book isn’t *really* about her. And her ooooo spooky dragon tattoo is not relevant to the plot at all.

Aside from that, very good.

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