Did Anyone Else Hate This Book?

[Chaitali]

I hated the first book ...don't think I even finished it, but oddly I did enjoy the Swedish movies.

[Jonna]

I hated it. I tried, but couldn't get past all the architectural & business mumbo-jumbo to the actual story.

[Fran]

I love a good mystery, but this just wasn't one. I don't understand the attraction.

[[deleted user]]

Christine wrote: "Yes, I hated it. I was the only one in my book group that hated it. When I asked if they were comfortable with the sexual violence several of them said they skimmed it. Ok, then you can't say yo..."

Sure you can. I see people cover thier eyes when watching certain movies, but still comment that they love the film and can't wait to see it again.

[Global]

Ali wrote: "Sorry! Not offended by your comments! I loved all three books, even though they are not within the genres I normally go for. I would agree that the first half of the first book is very slow to get ..."

I agree.. all of them start off slow but the subject matter I think is quite intense...

[Richard]

Fran wrote: "I love a good mystery, but this just wasn't one. I don't understand the attraction."

Completely agree with you. Not much of a mystery at all, really.

[David]

Totally sucked.

[Linda]

I loved the books and more so the movies (Swedish versions) but I have to say I find Jo Nesbo a better writer and easier reading.

[Beth]

I was not a fan of this trilogy at all. It wasn't terrible, but it certainly didn't deserve all of the hype it garnered.

[Steven]

i read the first book becoming unhappy with the writing but feeling that lots of people i respected loved the book. Started the second novel and hated it. Found the characters badly drawn.

[Annie]

Hated it.

[Simon]

I found the first 90 pages or so really tedious and dull. I came very close to putting it down and never picking it up again, but a colleague told me to stick with it, and I'm glad I did. After the tedious character build up it exploded into a fast paced thriller that I couldn't put down. Read the trilogy back to back. Didn't think the final book was as good as the first two though.

[k e]

I thought the 3 books comprised an excellent trilogy and would have loved to have been able to read more about Lisbeth, a true 21st century heroine.
I was not the least distracted by detail, life is full of detail and I happen to really enjoy the works of Thomas Pynchon.
I was captivated by the exploration of a foreign culture that is both counter to, and reflective of, American culture.
Intrigued by a society where a successful lawyer lives in a 4-room apartment and successful journalist lives in a 700 sq ft studio apartment. Where people use foot, bus and rail as the primary means of transportation. A society where sexual relationships are more natural and less Puritanical.
So many people seem hung-up about 50-year old Blumquivst bedding younger women (he really wasn't that discerning in the book, a facet overlooked in the movie). I saw that as a cultural difference (and one that seems common throughout Europe).
All-in-all, while not great literature I thought the trilogy was a thoroughly entertaining read and definite page turner.
To each his own, not everyone can get through Ulysses either.

[Ashley31]

Can't believe you didn't enjoy this book - best read I've had in years.

[Darren]

(Did anyone else hate this book?) Yes, greatly so. love the story behind the books, sad the author died on the day he dropped the manuscripts off at his publisher, but I think this added to the storyline/marketing that allowed this boring book, (books) to become successful. Also, his original titles, were terrible. These titles were someone else's idea.

[Ashley31]

Darren wrote: "(Did anyone else hate this book?) Yes, greatly so. love the story behind the books, sad the author died on the day he dropped the manuscripts off at his publisher, but I think this added to the sto..."

Darren wrote: "(Did anyone else hate this book?) Yes, greatly so. love the story behind the books, sad the author died on the day he dropped the manuscripts off at his publisher, but I think this added to the sto..."

Darren wrote: "(Did anyone else hate this book?) Yes, greatly so. love the story behind the books, sad the author died on the day he dropped the manuscripts off at his publisher, but I think this added to the sto..."



Sorry you didn't like it Darren - have you read all 3?

[Emma]

So many people seem hung-up about 50-year old Blumquivst bedding younger women (he really wasn't that discerning in the book, a facet overlooked in the movie). I saw that as a cultural difference (and one that seems common throughout Europe).

I think I can see your point. I'm from London, England and for all the people I have discussed this book with, I don't think one of them has picked up on the age differences with the sexual encounters. It seems a strange point to pick out amongst all the violence, disillusion, farcical systems and abuse.

[Darren]

Ashley31 wrote: "Darren wrote: "(Did anyone else hate this book?) Yes, greatly so. love the story behind the books, sad the author died on the day he dropped the manuscripts off at his publisher, but I think this a..."

no, I stopped after the first. I really tried to like it, but just couldn't in the end.

[Emma]

To each his own, not everyone can get through Ulysses either.

Now now. It's not a competition - it's about preference!

[Ashley31]

Darren wrote: "Ashley31 wrote: "Darren wrote: "(Did anyone else hate this book?) Yes, greatly so. love the story behind the books, sad the author died on the day he dropped the manuscripts off at his publisher, b..."

The next two aren't quite as good in my opinion, although I still enjoyed them immensely.
Reading JK's new one now - far better than the critics have led me to believe - though haven't finished it yet, so they may be right!!

[Emma]

Ashley31 wrote: Reading JK's new one now - far better than the critics have led me to believe - though haven't finished it yet, so they may be right!!"

I have heard polar responses to that book. I never read any of the Harry Potters but I'd be interested in your opinion of it - make sure you let us all know.

Emma

[Supriya]

I am glad to know that i am not the only one who hated this book! considering the fanfare and hype about this book.. I found it quite disappointing!!

[Katy]

Fatin wrote: "I couldn't get through the second chapter and gave up on it after trying thrice."

ditoo

[Katy]

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."

I didn't finish it...but hey don't say it's not a book for women because of the ugliness in it...we handle plenty of ugly things..including sexist attitudes, comments, and actions.

[[deleted user]]

Katy 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."

I didn't ..."

I think its a message to women. It shows them How a woman like Slander copes with situations like that. Women can learn from her.

[Katy]

Ron wrote: "Did you all read the same book as I did? All three books were easy reads, picking up speed along the way and developing into pageturners. The characters were very real to me and the intrige complex..."
I just read a quote today that said "No two people have ever read the same book" =)

[K]

Emma wrote: "I have to be honest; I hated this book.

I found the first third of the book clunky, slow and bogged down with jargon and pointless detail.

I found it disturbing and hard to read (which is not nec..."

Thank you! I hated this book also and it was disturbing...there are so many great books to read and this one should be dumped in a landfill.

[Terence M - [Quot libros, quam breve tempus!]]

Katy wrote: "Fatin wrote: "I couldn't get through the second chapter and gave up on it after trying thrice."

ditoo"

Double ditto! I tried three times and finally gave up.

[Shweta]

I only got up to page 20 lame i know
but i couldn't get into the book at all. i mean i know this book is a phenomnem but for me it just wasn't my type to book to read so i gave up on it.
I hope that other crime books are better than this one.

[Dhriti]

i hate this book so much. i got to the third chapter. when my best friend told me that the author was going to write another 7 books but couldnt because he died, i started cheering.

[Trike]

Emma wrote: "I have to be honest; I hated this book.

I found the first third of the book clunky, slow and bogged down with jargon and pointless detail."

Yes, I hated this book so much that it made me think perhaps the Nazis and book-banners are right sometimes.

The pointless detail was painful. It seemed as if some parts were taken directly from his notebook of random crap. A lot of the people I've talked to who liked the book had no recollection of the comparing the laptop computers or the details of publishing... which is when I realized those who really like it seemed to have simply skipped over those parts and read the sex and violence scenes.

[k e]

Emma wrote: "To each his own, not everyone can get through Ulysses either.

Now now. It's not a competition - it's about preference!"

My apologies if you took my comment as condescending, I meant only to point out that even a book such as Ulysses, which some consider to be the greatest work of "modern" literature, is difficult for many to finish, let alone read.

[Wendy]

I read it about three years ago, and was appalled by what seems to be Larson's delight in sexual violence. Aside from that, the book was boring as hell. The characters are all unlikeable; the only interesting part was the history, and that story was quickly told. The ONLY reason I didn't run this thing over mercilessly with my car is because it had a review from "The Advocate" in the front. I thought, okay, it's got a gay subplot. Pfft. The review was from a Louisiana newspaper of that name, not the gay magazine. Those are hours of my life I will never get back.

[Wendy]

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."

-- how would that not be a book for women? And if it is so problematic, why isn't it a problem for men, shouldn't that be an even better and more necessary reason not to read it?

[James]

I think it suffered from the hype of almost Da Vinci Code-esque proportions. It does clunk along in parts and the sexual violence is gratuitous, but it is a great story - hence like The Firm, by John Grisham, it makes, arguably, a better film than it does a novel.

[Jen]

Mike wrote: "I was beginning to think I misplaced my cup of Koolaid."

I almost choked on my beverage when I read this. Funny stuff.

[Emma]

Wendy wrote: "[...]Aside from that, the book was boring as hell. ..."


Yeah I agree. It seems to be one of those novels where people assume that you cannot handle the contents or you missed some important part in the book if you confess to not being an avid fan. But I honestly thought the book was dull too. There were a few pages, maybe about 20 (when he spots the missing girl in the photos of the street party) when I got quite excited about the posibilities but it all seemed a bit tedious to me after that, and I felt that the violence was a way of making up for the tedium. Then to find, after all this time, that she had just managed to slip away made the whole thing pointless... okay, so he managed to uncover a horrific secret, but the whole plot was based around a woman sneaking off in someone's boot? hmm. Lazy.

[Ray]

As usual, I'm late to the party, but thought I'd drop in my two pennies. I first started the Dragon because my writing coach/editor said it was a great book. I later found out she hadn't even read it. At any rate, it took me at least 150 pages to begin to get into the book. I did think it was well written, just hard for me to get going. But, since Rosemary had said it was great, I kept plugging away. It finally grabbed me by the throat, and I had trouble putting it down. I loved it, and couldn't wait to read the next two. Wish there was more from Mr. Larson

[Lola]

oh i hated it it bothers me that it is so popular

[Desiree]

Mish wrote: "If I hadn't seen the movie first (the Swedish version), I would never have made it through the first half of the book. I've found all the books in this series to be like that - you have to wade thr..."

Same here. Though I bought the American version on Bluray and the first book at the same time...ya I know...lol.
But seriously, after watching the movie before reading the book, I found it to be a great help in understanding what was going on. I am pretty sure I would have been just as lost as many of the other people who eventually gave up on the book.
I bought myself the Millenium Trilogy in a hardback collector's edition with bonus book. I can say that I am definately hooked on the series. I am 1/3 of the way through the last book. I loved the movie too. (American Version) I loved the Swedish versions as well. Thought I haven't watched the 3rd one until I finish the last book.
Excellent trilogy. Can't wait for the American versions of the next 2 books!

[Lenore]

Just downloaded the first free chapters of Fifty Shades of Grey and found it to be as badly written as the Dragons - it's as if a high school girl churned it out in a single, unedited draft, after reading a tabloid article on the story. Unlike the Dragons, the main characters are not memorable or even interesting. Maybe the sex parts of Shades are worth the price of admission, but they are not included in the free sample. Are they?

[Dan]

The three books are awfully and if they weren't so grim and, well, nasty they wouldn't have got published. Word of mouth can lead the world astray.
But because they were published and were such a success Icelandic, Danish, Norwegin, etc. authors have greatly broken out of their countries and found new readers. Unfortunately - for me at least - they are also pretty dark and grim. But as they came out I loved the Martin Beck books.

[Emma]

Dan wrote: "Word of mouth can lead the world astray."

What an excellent way of putting it. I may have to steal this expression and pass it off as my own!

[Wendy]

Ray wrote: "As usual, I'm late to the party, but thought I'd drop in my two pennies. I first started the Dragon because my writing coach/editor said it was a great book. I later found out she hadn't even rea..."

Wow, fire your writing coach! :)

[Ken]

Emma wrote: "It's a shame Steig Larson never got to enjoy his fame.

I agree with you there. Very sad that he didn't see other people share his vision."

I also agree

[Ken]

personally I liked all three books.

[[deleted user]]

I thought I would like the books but its just Lisabeth Salander that's exciting to me.

[Yvonne]

You are not alone. I reluctantly read the entire thing, because several people said they had a time getting started with it, but then they ended up loving it. I can't bring myself to even consider reading the other books.

[Ken]

I liked all of the books and I've seen the movie which I did like also.

[June]

I hated the books also! I couldn't relate and it was just too disturbing for me. Wasn't interested in the next two books. My husband loved the series.