Harry’s review of Blind Goddess (Hanne Wilhelmsen, #1) > Likes and Comments

Articulate review and shocking pictures as ever Harry.
I like how you delineate the fine and blurred line of Holt as a political person yet not a political writer. At the same time though, I can't help but wonder what must be going on behind the scenes in the governmental organizations of any given country that we, the public or the readers, are never supposed to find about. It's said that reality overcomes fiction. Well, there's proof of that. Sadly.
Great review.

Dolors wrote: "Articulate review and shocking pictures as ever Harry.
I like how you delineate the fine and blurred line of Holt as a political person yet not a political writer. At the same time though, I can't ..."

Insightful comments, Dolors. Thanks so much! As to what goes on in governments...this is why the framers for the U.S. wrote the Constitution, to limit it in recognition that governments the world over are necessary evils and that therefore ours should be limited in scope (not that anyone's paying attention to this as of late). But, that's another discussion :-)

Good review Harry, as always. I agree with her about the popularity of crime fiction dealing with universal themes but not with her thoughts about Stieg Larsen and the Millenium series. I consider that trilogy to be an international masterpiece and a breakout of sorts for Scandinavian crime fiction. To me it's all about the story - the mystery; Who did it and why, not how did it happen. The social, political reasons should not get in the way of plot resolution, in my view. In any event Harry, it's good to see you back in the game.....Ed

Ed wrote: "Good review Harry, as always. I agree with her about the popularity of crime fiction dealing with universal themes but not with her thoughts about Stieg Larsen and the Millenium series. I consider ..."

Thanks Ed! I've been around, I've just not had much time on my hands. And I'm sort of on the fence about Stieg Larsson but tend to agree with your points in that regard. That's why I made the comment about the YellowBird Productions...it could be that the films (not books) were a bit sensationalized.

The only example of a good movie adaptation of a book I can think of is Mario Puzo's "The Godfather", so I always think the movie I create in my mind while reading the book will always be better. I think that's because a book like Larsson's first "Girl...." was much too broad to be constricted to a 2.5 hour movie but I thought the American version was very credible (and looked a bit like my imagined movie!)

Ed wrote: "I thought the American version was very credible (and looked a bit like my imagined movie!"

Oh, I too loved that film version, Ed. Especially starting it out with a Led Zeppelin soundtrack. Awesome!

This is a small part of your review I realise, but how can you read Hanne's sexuality as "conflicted"? She is in an unusually stable and understanding relationship it seems to me. Do you just think homosexual people are inherently "conflicted"?

Stef wrote: "This is a small part of your review I realise, but how can you read Hanne's sexuality as "conflicted"? She is in an unusually stable and understanding relationship it seems to me. Do you just think..."

It's been a while since I've read this, but I think that is part of Holt's objective, to pit the universal against society's behavioral attitudes. This isn't my opinion but more reflective of what I learned about Holt's authorial intent.

Having said that: I think it's fair to say that the above does include inherent conflicts, not just for LGBT, but many marginalized people.

Fantastic and informative review, Harry.

Mike wrote: "Fantastic and informative review, Harry."

Thanks so much, Mike!