Sigurdur read and liked Jen's review of The Girl Who Played with Fire (Millennium, #2):

"I like Larsson, at least I think I would if I had had the chance to meet him while he was living. Thus far in his Millenium trilogy he seems to be a feminist. He writes unapologetically about sexuality. He's on a crusade against misogyny in all level...more I like Larsson, at least I think I would if I had had the chance to meet him while he was living. Thus far in his Millenium trilogy he seems to be a feminist. He writes unapologetically about sexuality. He's on a crusade against misogyny in all levels of society. (My apologies to New Critics here) Problem is, he smacks the reader in the face with his crusade and downright preaches at times. Every incident seems to include some undercurrent of sexism, and the line between moral and amoral, good and evil, is too clearly proclaimed by characters' attitudes toward women. Reality is not this clarion. After a a grand total of more than 1200 pages living with his protagonists and their endeavors in Sweden's squalid underworld of crime, I think I might've had enough. I know their eating, drinking, and smoking habits by now --- cafe lattes, cheese sandwiches, and a smoke (and complaint from Berger) for Blomkvist, Billy's Pizza, black coffee, and a smoke on the balcony for Salander. This predictability, unfortunately, is a hallmark of the novel. No matter what, I know our protagonists will survive every grueling and near deadly ordeal and solve the mystery to everyone's satisfaction.

Girl with a Dragon Tattoo, the first installment of his Millenium trilogy, is stimulating and refreshing --- a bisexual, venturesome, audacious heroine in a black leather jacket solves mysteries and fights crime together with a once reputable journalist trying to salvage his reputation. Larsson just couldn't keep the freshness and vigor in The Girl Who Played With Fire. It's stale and repetitive, and I grew numb and indifferent to the hundreds of miraculous exploits that Larrson flings and tosses into the novel. (less) "