Did Anyone Else Hate This Book?

[Ginger]

I actually enjoyed the series very much.. BUT.. I started the first one and put it down, read another book before going back to it.. However, the first 2/3 of the book was slow going... it then picked up, and I started to enjoy it.. I do think you must read all three to get a clear understanding of the plot... Some of the drivel makes more sense...

[Phebe]

I didn't HATE it......and it was a good intro to both movies. I almost liked the Swedish movie better.

But Scandinavian fiction seems to me both cold and stiff: I am reading the Icelandic "Daybreak" now and while I plan to finish it (unusual plot), still --- the translators never seem to actually make it sound like we're used to! No emotion, no color.

I keep resolving NO MORE SCANDINAVIAN FICTION! I didn't finish the trilogy, anyway.

The best Scandinavian novel I ever read was "Smilla's Sense of Snow" by Peter Hoeg. Dynamite. They made a movie, but everything great fell out of it. Smilla's Sense of Snow I recommend this novel. I may read it yet again.

But otherwise, Scandinavian fiction is too cold for me.

[John]

I agree on "Smilla's Sense of Snow" and on the disappointing movie version. I'm not sure how a movie could have captured Smilla, though.

[Runningrabbit]

I loved this book, though I did find the next couple not quite up to the standard of the first. Generally the way with books that introduce new characters etc. Pretty difficult to keep up the innovative concepts after that.

[S]

I really liked the book, but I 'm actually a little surprised it was so popular, because it takes so long to get started, and the sex and violence is so extremely graphic and unpleasant. Lisbeth is a truly original character--even if she is something of a male fantasy--and transcends the sometimes mundane plotting of the second and third books.

[Stephen]

Some do not like the book because it is too Euro for them. An open marriage, a bi-sexual lead character and a lot of economics. That okay, there are lots of books other people rave about that I can not get into.

[Karleene]

I LOVED all three of the books though admittedly the first one was a bit difficult to get into.Once I did though, I read them one right after the other. And when I finished the last line in the last book, I went right back and started from the beginning in book one. All three books are so rich in detail and plain old good writing, but apparently one either loves them or hates them. My vote goes for Love Them. Thank you Steig, RIP. Your books live on.

[Cathy]

I can only say I hated the first couple of chapters, because after that I quit reading. Three times I tried to pick it up after that, because everyone was raving about how good it was. Then I saw the movie and the horrible violence and knew I would never be able to read it.

[Phebe]

I loved the violence: deeply satisfying. In American abuse of women novels, the women are so NICE. What I want is for the women to do horrific vengences on these men, and that's sure what happened in this novel, so good.

[Michael]

It took me 6 months to read the first 1/3 to 1/2 when he was investigating the family. When THE GIRL got into the picture I finished the book in 2 weeks. I tore through the other 2. Two things: Seig's girlfriend has the 4th novel in a laptop. She claims she doesn't know where it is to keep his crud father and brother from taking it since they have rights. The other thing is this: I THINK THE GIRLFRIEND WROTE THE BOOKS. In the books there is total role reversal: THE GIRL is the hero, the girl saves the guy, the girl is the dominant one, the girl is obviously smarter, rougher and meaner then he is. Just my opinion but, if it is his girlfriend she should continue. He told someone he had about 6-7 more stories about them. Got me hooked on Scandanavian mysteries. Now into Jo Nesbo.

[Shelly]

Yes, it made my top 5 most not liked books. The sub plots whew too graphic and detracted from the main plot.

[Dancomfort]

I really like the way the books cover several genres. The first is a straight ahead mystery (What happened to Harriet?" and a caper movie (Lisbeth steals the crook's millions).

The second is a police procedural as we follow the detectives trying to solve the three murders.

And the final book has a trial worthy of Perry Mason, and a business/newspaper novel (Erika at the big daily).

Stig managed to hit fans of all these genres, which I think helps explain their popularity.

[Shelly]

Hi Dancomfort et.al,
I was definitely in the minority in terms of not liking the books.
My friends LOVED them for the very reasons you mentioned.
I had purchased the series and my friends literally begged me to borrow them next.

[Elaine]

I have all three books and tried to read the first one on four separate occasions and just gave up in the end. I just got too frustrated waiting for the story to start. I am glad I am not the only one, because I was starting to wonder what I was missing, because everyone I know seemed to love it.

[Dyanna]

I agree with Dancomfort the books covered several genre but was delivered very well. As to the 50 year old Journalist it's personality and charisma that attracted people to him not to mention that he was "famous". Lisbeth was not loveable,likeable yes, but I would not mind having her on my side in a scrape. I enjoyed all 3 books it did take me a bit to get into the first one but I am not one to put a book down until it is done which has given me a chance to like some books that started off slow and tedious.

[Lauren]

I always try to persevere and swallow it down, no matter how much I dislike a book. I cannot, CANNOT get even a quarter of the way into this book. Ugh. Biggest waste of $14.95.

[Devon]

Anna wrote: "I got about 2 chapters in and stopped (which is something I never normally do.)
I just was not interested, it didn't grip me, I couldn't get into the story and found it didn't flow.
Maybe I should ..."

I felt the same way that you did. I have never stopped reading a book before in my life and did within the 3 chapter. I'm just glad that I was not the only one

[Lovgren]

I actually disliked all of these books:).

[Jenny]

I did like it. I had to choose the right day, really chill out, and just let all the names wash over me until they started sinking in. That was really it for me: the names. Those darned Swedish names! At first, I was frustrated because they all sounded alike to me, and I couldn't sort out who was doing what.
The plot lines of all three books were a little convoluted, also, and the author's journalistic style was at odds with that...ironically, the feeling that I was reading the story in the newspaper (stylistically) didn't help with the whole 'suspension of disbelief' thing.
I disagree that the relationships in the book are immature, as one reader put it. I found a lot of intricacies there.

[Eyehavenofilter]

Guin wrote: "Katrina wrote: "i did read the book i didnt really like it but i want to see the movie"

If you want to see the movie closely associated with the book. You must really get the Swedish version of th..."

I just did a major marathon straight through all 3 Swedish versions of the dvd's , it was far better than the sanitized, and polished American version. It was pretty much scene for scene by the book, gritty, tense, very Scandinavian! I highly recommend it for fans only.

[David]

I didn't care for it much and thought it was slow through most of the book. Did anybody else notice all of the references to food throughout the book?

Seems like every other page somebody is eating some disgusting sounding sandwich. I read a blog that counted 18 mentions of sandwiches and 19 coffee. Far more than the words murder or rape in a book about a serial rapist.

http://popwatch.ew.com/2010/08/23/the...

[J]

For the love of god, end this thread!

[Justine]

It was so boring. After the first couple of chapters,I gave up.

[Gene]

H-A-T-E-D this book and didn't even finish it, even though I had less than 100 pages to go. I just thought it was very badly written, sections that did nothing to advance the plot went on and on, every woman slept with the lead guy (or so it seemed)... My dislike didn't have anything to do with violence or sexual exploitation, it was against the meandering plot and, at times, unnecessary back story.

[Carol]

Saw the movie first...it was okay, then read the book for bookclub and found it dragged, was confusing at points (to the point hat I was glad I had read the book so I knew what was going on). Others in my bookclub didn't like it, but some loved it.

[David]

I thought I was the only one who didn't think much of the story. Can't bring myself to read the other two.

[Kelsey]

I found that it was easiest to listen to Larsson's novels. I read the first book and rather felt the same way--that it was slow and clunky. But listening to the second two...they are two of my favorite books! I don't know if the series just got better (possibly, as the last two focus more on Lisbeth, and that's what I enjoy), or if Larsson's journalistic style is just easier heard than read.

[Susanne]

Despised it. Four-square dull descriptions of rooms, sandwiches, unbelievable characters, smarmy coincidences; creepy modernist sadism disguised as something "new" or "literate" -- it's not new, not original.

[Susanne]

Ray wrote: "This is not a book for women. It is too close to the true evil and anger in the world. I loved it because of that reality. Not that I like those things, it's just real life."

Real life? Whose real life? What an absurd comment.

[Kelsey]

Susanne wrote: "Ray wrote: "This is not a book for women. It is too close to the true evil and anger in the world. I loved it because of that reality. Not that I like those things, it's just real life."

Real life..."

I'm more concerned with the "not a book for women" comment. As though books are gender specific or women should be kept pure and safe from "the true evil and anger in the world."

[Michelle]

cbw wrote: "I also hated this book. There were entire sections of the book that had nothing to do with the mystery at hand, they didn't help to develop a character or move the plot forward. Pointless."
I really have to agree with you here. I really didn't see how the title of the book had any relevance to the story line since she only had a small part in this book. Maybe it's building up to something more, but nothing pertaining to this book. The beginning of the book was slow and also had no relevance to the plot and there was just way too many characters that cluttered the story line. A good book, but not a favorite.

[Dee]

Michelle wrote: "she only had a small part in this book"

were we reading two different books - Lisbeth played a huge role in the book...

[Rjchaussee]

I am so glad to find these comments as everyone I know loved the books.
I finally quit half way through the 3rd book. I suddenly realized I was so tired of reading the series and wondering when the amazing part would surface.
Given the fact that I won't live long enough to read all the wonderful books out there, I gave myself permission to say bye bye to Salander, Blomkvist and
Stieg Larsson

[Srini]

I really enjoyed reading the book (in fact all of them). In terms of plot and approach, it was quite different from other plots.

[Samantha]

I read the whole book and regretted it. I didn't waste my time on the sequels. Too much detail where it wasn't necessary, an obvious plot, and too much...gore. Over all I thought it was a nasty read.

[Liz]

Definitely one of the best trilogys I've read, love Salander. Anyone I have lent the set to just loves the story. I loved it!!!!

[Cláudio]

No?

[[deleted user]]

Sigh...I read book one. I tried, I really did, but I didn't "get it". What IS it that I am missing?

[Wayne]

Everything I found wrong with the novel is fixed in the movie, which is — by contrast — excellent.

[Tcush]

I didn't get all the hype on this either but I can tell you I enjoyed the next two books much more.

[Marcia]

This trilogy was one of the best I've ever read...I have the books alone on my bookshelf ...displayed I will never ever get rid of them. I had a book block after reading them.. I couldn't get into or find a book to read .. I was still in love with lisbeth and Blomkvist. I loved their faults ..and understood why they were they way they were.
The fact that some of you hated these characters speaks volumes to the excellence of steig's writing. Consider Salanders background, what did you expect? a homecoming queen?

[Euraylie]

I think most readers liked Salander even if they hated the book, Blomkvist, a very bland author insert, was the major problem when it came to the protagonists.
And I agree getting people to hate characters requires writing skill, but there are right and wrong reasons to hate a character.

[David]

Euraylie wrote: "I think most readers liked Salander even if they hated the book, Blomkvist, a very bland author insert, was the major problem when it came to the protagonists.
And I agree getting people to hate ch..."

Agreed, I also liked the Salander character but the others were so bland. In fact for a psychological thriller the entire book is bland.

[Marcia]

Meran wrote: "Nope. Loved it. Yes, it's from a different country, a different culture. Other peoples think differently, plots SHOULD be differently paced. I enjoy the differences.

I must note that reading all t..."

I agree 100 percent.....great post.

[Amanda]

I always struggle to understand how people don't love the same books I do but I completely understand that's your opinion. I really could not fault these books at all and that's extremely rare for a book series. I loved them from start to finish and raced through them. I felt like I could not even read the pages fast enough. The third book was maybe slightly less interesting than the others but I still loved it. Can I ask did you attempt to watch the movie versions? Either the American or Swedish versions.



http://divaliciouzbookreviews.blogspo...

[Ken]

Amanda wrote: "I always struggle to understand how people don't love the same books I do but I completely understand that's your opinion. I really could not fault these books at all and that's extremely rare for ..."I not only read the complete series I watched the American and Swedish movies versions and I also went a step by listening to the Audio Book version.

[Amanda]

Ken wrote: "Amanda wrote: "I always struggle to understand how people don't love the same books I do but I completely understand that's your opinion. I really could not fault these books at all and that's extr..."

Oh really, wow. So did you enjoy them Ken?

[Julie]

I loved this book! And the ones following it.

[Ken]

Amanda wrote: "Ken wrote: "Amanda wrote: "I always struggle to understand how people don't love the same books I do but I completely understand that's your opinion. I really could not fault these books at all and..."

Yes I enjoyed them very much. Especially when Lisbeth got even with a few of the despicable characters in the books.

[[deleted user]]

Shaking my head. David called it just right:bland...BUT it was a huge best seller so it has to be me. I tried.