Hope you like this book! I thought it was great.

Me too! My book club is meeting next Tuesday to discuss this one so I don't have much time to read it--I hope I like it. :)

Looking forward to your review on this one, Beth. :)

I loved it! I've already started compiling a mental list of people I can start recommending it to.

Love your review, Beth (I am MN born and raised too..). I will be reading it. Thanks!

Great review, Beth! :)

It is definitely bizarre and NOT what I was expecting but was very, very entertaining. :)

Hi Beth ~

Reading your intriguing review of The Girl With The
Dragon Tattoo moved this book from "Eh, Maybe Someday, Interesting Title" to "Definite Slot on Sept/Oct Reading List".

Thanks!

I hope you like it--I was definitely surprised by it! This kind of book is not normally my "thing" and it wound up consuming me (maybe because I had no expectations?) I don't know--I'm really looking forward to catching the sequel.

Hi Beth,

I know EXACTLY where you went to school. My brother went too.

We share the same name and the same state, very cool.

Great review. I loved this book, just finished the sequel.

It's a small world!

I'm looking forward to the translation of the third book. It's too bad I gave up on learning Swedish after only one semester. I hate waiting. ;)

Wow, that's quite the review. Don't hold back or anything. Okay, I'm partly Swedish, only we settled in Wisconsin. I expect they were nuts too. My Swedish grandmother was without humour, and very rigid. I grew up afraid of her, but she loved me, and I knew that.

Not sure I want to read the book after that review, but I'll keep it in mind.

Not knowing a huge deal apart from I like ikea and meatballs I wasn't sure what to expect. Wanted to watch the film but wanted to read book 1st...loved it and agreed 100% with ur review about the book content. I took 3 days to read it. I loved both blomkvist and salander and am already on book two! Genious!

I just finished this book and LOVED it..didn't know the original title was "Men Who Hate Women"...I just watched the swedish version of the movie also and really liked it..

I want to visit Minnesota now.

Yep, I'm from Minnesota too and am half Swedish (other half German-Polish). I'm enjoying the Swedish flavor very much.

P.S. We're not all crazy....

Not all Swedish people are nut, I'm heading there in 2 weeks for my 6th visit to see my best friend, who is Swedish, born and raised in Lund. This book doesn't represent Swedes as a group but more the authors wonderful storytelling abilities and his feelings on cruelty to women all over the world, how they are used, abused and taken advantage of because they are "weak". His objective was to show a strong woman, who, despite her many shortcomings in life, was able to take control of a very ugly situation through sheer force of will, intelligence and determination. The Swedish title of this book is actually "Men who hate Women" but they felt it would be too "harsh" for the American market. I read all three books in this trilogy a few years ago and find them all amazing. The movies are excellent too (the Swedish version, not the American version that I'm sure will be screwed up). This trip to Sweden will take me to Stockholm and I'm excited to look up a few of the key places mentioned in some of the books :)

Maybe they are nuts but beautiful Swedish women! I did enjoy thee hospitality of the Swedish people during my visit in Nov 2003 and looking forward to see the country again in the near future.

I didn't view Lisbeth as "strong," more like shattered and so vulnerable that she couldn't bear to let anyone in. Quite a bit different from strong - if she were emotionally not so vulnerable, she would be able to let people in and have healthy, normal (...i say "normal" with an ironic quirk of the mouth) relationships, both platonic and sexual. She doesn't even have a healthy relationship with herself, or sex, or... anything, really. If anything, she personified what happens when your defenses are completely shattered and you have no choice but to retreat behind very high walls. I suppose you could argue that the walls represent strength, but I just don't see it that way.

i wont to read this really bad what is the book about

Moms born in Minnesota..also I'm half Swedish. So, I gotcha. Be considering this more than I was before, so thank you. (:

I am of Swedish heritage and did visit one summer. Stayed with cousins and toured the sights. Loved it. Loved the book. And I had no idea there was an original title. It was great...but probably not the media grabber that the American title is. We seem to think "Men Who Hate Women" would have to be some hack shrink diatribe.

Ahhh fellow Minnesotan! Thanks for the wonderful review, I know EXACTLY what you're talking about.

They actually changed the title? Damn, always trying to appeal to the North Americans and censoring everything. Lame.

wonderful review! I love it! I wish I could hunker down for a week in Blomkvist's cabin!

I feel like Ive lived a very sheltered life if this is all going on in Sweden ;) *is swedish*

Ofcourse .... So much in that book wrapped in one

My goodness. I haven't been on the comment page for this book since 2009 so I've been missing out on all this discussion about the motherland.

And now I think this review may actually have garnered more comments than the filthy tirade I wrote for The Book Thief. Huh.

Beth F. wrote: "My goodness. I haven't been on the comment page for this book since 2009 so I've been missing out on all this discussion about the motherland.

And now I think this review may actually have garn..."

I will go and check it out ;)

brilliant review :D

I never finished this one because it was due to the library and I couldn't renew it. I do want to get back to it some day, but I already saw the movie so I'm debating just skipping to the second book. Is that a bad idea?

Yeah, look at Betty White's character on Golden Girls LOL Only kidding, I love Betty White.

The first line of your review made me laugh!

Beth, FYI - humans are nuts! And, since Swedes are human, you are right.

Hi to Beth F. & anyone else who was surprised by The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Positive and other comments are welcome. Mainly I want to know if you read any sequels & why? If your answer is "yes" then how did they compare with "1st book, in your opinion? That's a lot of questions so please don't feel compelled to answer more than one...unless you want to add insights or other comments. Between Jobs, families or dating, errands & other obligations, how do you find the time? I'm retired but made the mistake of buying an I-Pad. I'd hate to admitt how much time I waste on designs & games. Thanks!
Julie G or Jiouxleigh.

I agree, the English title is just so random, like the whole story is just about Lisbet Salander...

Great review and right on target IMO.