Group Read - The Girl in the Spider's Web Final Comments Spoilers Welcome

[Ann]

Now that you have finished the book, what did you think? Did David Lagercrantz do the series justice?

[Joey]

While it's nowhere near the level of the first three books in the series (hard to bottle lightning twice), Spider's Web is still an admirable effort with plenty of good bits. The narrative is definitely the weakest part though. Hard to imagine that a plot involving the NSA, hackers, and a shadowy organization could even match the brilliance of the first three true crime novels. This novel just didn't have the eerie atmosphere that made the original series so great.

But I don't dwell on the past, because it's great to see the characters we know and love back at it. Blomkvist continues to be a fascinating character, now struggling with the future of Millenium and hoping to write another home run. While Mikael and Lisbeth rarely interact throughout the 400-page book, I loved how you can still feel the effect that each character has on the other. The implications of their previous relationship still provide a solid foundation for good plot twists and character development. What's awesome about Spider's Web as well is that we get to learn more about Lisbeth and her past. With Zalachenko out of the picture, we see how she became this enigma of a woman, and the discoveries are fascinating.

The new characters are interesting in their own rights as well, but this is a Salander novel through and through (it even says so on the cover). Lagercrantz does his best to pick up the pieces left by Larsson, and he succeeds in some places but falls behind in others. He lacks the vivid imagery of Larsson, but I think he still understands these characters and their motivations. There were no doubts that the series would continue, and it's hard to do much better than The Girl in the Spider's Web.

[Ann]

I am not reading your comments yet Joey, but look forward to doing so when I have finished the book. Glad to see you jumping in with your thoughts. I am only up to chapter nine at this point.

[BarryP]

A little squishy on the last couple pages maybe?

I thought Salander was a bit harder, and more the superhero in this book, but the tone was right, and I certainly enjoyed it.

[Ann]

Barry: I could agree with the squishy at the end part; I did like the book, a lot. I am grateful to have a chance to revisit these characters and like the Blomkvist character even more this time around (And still love Lisbeth)

Joey: I do agree, Lagercrantz 'gets' the characters and their motivations very well. Overall I really like the presentation and the way the different points of view intersect nicely with each other while looking at a scene from different angles. He does fall behind even if slightly in the end, but I think that was to be expected, the bar is set very high in the legacy of the first three books.
It was rather interesting that no matter how much Lisbeth is off screen, she is very much present and much of that is from Blomkvist's awareness of her. Berger's jealousy is subtle, (yet not!) and the hatred shared by the sisters, explained by the foster Mom of Camilla is palpable.
I think that is where it fell short for me, Camilla just disappeared (to come again I imagine) and while I didn't need to know exactly what happened with Zander, I felt the police case and Officer Bubble were cut off a bit prematurely.

Blomkvist and Berger's struggles with the solvency of the magazine and of writing the "home run" stories rings true and Millennium is still the kind of journalism you would like to find available readily and keeping a watchful eye out for wrongdoing.

[Carol/Bonadie]

I recently had an email exchange with a friend on this book, and he said he liked it but missed the passion of the Larsson series. I'm not sure I picked up on that deficiency. What do you think?

[Carol/Bonadie]

I couldn't have said it better, Joey. I hadn't noticed that Lisbeth and Mikhail didn't interact that much throughout the book, and it's a testament to the skill of the author that we never forget their past strong connection that is a continuing thread in their lives. And that the series survives in the absence of any continuing "romance" between the two.

Joey wrote: "While it's nowhere near the level of the first three books in the series (hard to bottle lightning twice), Spider's Web is still an admirable effort with plenty of good bits. The narrative is defin..."

[Carol/Bonadie]

On this point I did find myself wondering if the imminent demise of Millennium was going to be the kickoff point for each book. It feels like it's being used alot. I don't know the industry well enough to know if this is accurate (frequent flirting with insolvency, only to land on the "story of the millennium," pun intended).

Ann wrote: "
Blomkvist and Berger's struggles with the solvency of the magazine and of writing the "home run" stories rings true and Millennium is still the kind of journalism you would like to find available readily and keeping a watchful eye out for wrongdoing. ..."

[Mary]

Carol/Bonadie wrote: "On this point I did find myself wondering if the imminent demise of Millennium was going to be the kickoff point for each book. It feels like it's being used alot. I don't know the industry well ..."

Carol, I'm with you, as I have noticed the struggles of the magazine seems a recurrent theme. I also am no more familiar with the industry that you. However, in this digital age, in this digital age, it might make sense that a magazine would have struggles. It makes sense to me to think there has to be a strong competition for quality work and good material in order for a publication to be outstanding enough to keep subscribers. My guess is that subscribers are looking for material that is may be more accurate and more in depth than what you'd find on a run of the mill website.

Also, newspapers are having a hard time of it these days. That would seem evident on the mornings early enough to see the paper carrier come through and noticed that he only throws two papers on my street. I imagine that's the rule now, not the exception. Therefore, it's not much of a stretch to think magazines May be faced with the same sort of issues.

[Ann]

Carol and Mary: I agree that the industry in general lends itself to a "brink of disaster" situation for a publication that could continue to happen as a story backdrop again; and yet I wonder if in this case, Lagercrantz used that device to connect to Stieg Larsson's Millenium for continuity.
It certainly gave good reasons for the interaction between Erica Berger and Mikael as he was researching his story and reconnecting with Lisbeth and added that relationship triangle in a mirror fashion to the previous books.
Which woman is jealous of the other, which would have cause to be jealous, and then as usual, Mikael seems to have both of them again, so in truth, both do.
Carol/Bonadie wrote: "On this point I did find myself wondering if the imminent demise of Millennium was going to be the kickoff point for each book. It feels like it's being used alot. I don't know the industry well ..."

[Carol/Bonadie]

You both make excellent points about the credibility of the perpetual demise of Millennium as a plot point. It also serves as a satisfying literary device that allows readers a moment to enjoy victory of the righteous over the wicked... again. And the reaffirmation of our heroes Blomkvist and Salander.

[Ann]

Agreed, Carol! And what the feeling of that victory can do for us is quite valuable!
Carol/Bonadie wrote: "You both make excellent points about the credibility of the perpetual demise of Millennium as a plot point. It also serves as a satisfying literary device that allows readers a moment to enjoy victory of the righteous over the wicked...again..."

[Dawn]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Joey I understand what you're saying, and it also lacked the brutality of the previous books - but I can say I wasn't looking forward to that anyway. But I think you nailed it when pointing out how little Salander and Blomkvist interacted but how connected I felt they were throughout the whole book. That's very impressive for Lagercrantz to master!

[Sherry]

Carol/Bonadie wrote: "I couldn't have said it better, Joey. I hadn't noticed that Lisbeth and Mikhail didn't interact that much throughout the book, and it's a testament to the skill of the author that we never forget t..."

i was a little disappointed that lizbeth didn't "appear" until we'd read a good chunk of the book . also thought we'd see more personal interactions between her and blomquist. did like the way they communicated via email and the fact that even though they weren't physically together, they knew that the other would check that website.
i also thought, although we needed to know all that background, that the parts where what's his name- salander's therapist(?)- palmgren?- were very wordy and a bit tedious to read. so much of the book was action packed and kept me on the edge of my seat, that those parts were a bit of a let down for me.
overall, really liked the book and glad i read it.

[BarryP]

I felt this was consistent with the distance that developed between Salander and Blomkvsist previously.

[Ann]

I agree the distance between Mikael and Lisbeth with the hint of jealousy between Erica and Lisbeth was a continuation from the end of the last book, I missed having Lisbeth at the beginning of the book too though.

Sherry wrote: "i was a little disappointed that lizbeth didn't "appear" until we'd read a good chunk of the book . also thought we'd see more personal interactions between her and blomquist. "

Barry wrote: "I felt this was consistent with the distance that developed between Salander and Blomkvsist previously."

[Sherry]

Barry wrote: "I felt this was consistent with the distance that developed between Salander and Blomkvsist previously."

agreed, given how the last book ended. still, i was hoping that they'd work together (in person) to solve the problem. :)