The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (Millennium, #1) The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo discussion


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Anyone finding it hard to get through?

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Michael Nina wrote: "Seeing the movie, "The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo," before you read the book is definitely a spoiler. It is like reading the ending before you start the book. I don't remember having trouble with t..."

I saw the movie after reading the book. Seeing the movie first would have been a huge mistake, not only for the spoilers, but for the setup\backstory as well. I felt the movie glossed over some of the important details that are fully explained in the book. My enjoyment of the movie was enhanced by first reading the book.


Michelle It's funny because I felt completely different. I actually was only able to get through the first half of the book because I knew what was coming....and I found the movie of the second one dreadfully boring. I watched it after I read the book. I fell asleep watching it.


Therese It took me about 100 pages or so to get into the first book, but then I was off and running and enjoyed the trilogy.


Carolin Why don't you get the DVD and watch it. So the characters will make better sense as you read the book. I watched the movie first, and between my husband and I we figured out who is who. After I know more about the characters the books were easy read. I stayed up several nights to read.


Carolin I read all three and have not read a good book since then (sad to say). I watched the first movie first and it helped me to know more about the characters. I finished the 2 last books in 2 weeks. My house chores were lagging because of the books.


Michelle I didn't care for this book for a few reasons. I agree it was difficult to get through the first few chapters. There were other parts that were slow as well.

I really am shocked to read some of the reviews though. Many people commented that it was "sexually graphic", but that's not quite accurate. I don't mind some sexually graphic descriptions in a book, but this book was sexually violent. It was creepy and weird. We're talking about rapes, murders, and all sorts of bizarre behavior. To me that's not the same as reading a book that's sexually graphic. And, it wasn't an oh-by-the-way sex scene in the book. The sexual violence against women was at the crux of this novel. I just don't see what all the hype is about this Steig Larsson triology. It's overrated. I thought the first book, although suspenseful, wasn't worth the time, and I sure won't be bothering with the other two. Too many (good) books, too little time!


message 157: by Amanda (new) - rated it 4 stars

Amanda Kerra wrote: "Lol, oh my goodness what did you get yourself into. Having to write papers on books you have read "In A Book CLUB" that is crazy. To me that doesn't sound like fun, and I even enjoy writting. Well when you are done with the library book club, you are more than welcome to join mine :D ..."

Sounds interesting... Well, they're not full papers. More like lengthy reviews. And you don't actually have to write it down, but it helps when you present your information to the group. You're only in charge of three books really, so it's not too bad. :)


Jeanette Johnson The only reason I had a hard time processing the first book was because of the Swedish names. They are foreign to my brain and I had a hard time remembering who all of the characters were. Once they began to click, the story is fascinating....I liked "The girl who kicked the hornets nest the best".


message 159: by Ashley (new) - rated it 4 stars

Ashley Yes, the first hundred or so pages are hard to get through but.. it is so worth it in the end! It is a great read. Once I got past the back story, I could not put this book down!


message 160: by George (last edited May 16, 2011 05:30AM) (new) - rated it 5 stars

George King I found all three easy to read--my interest never flagged. The section in book one on Swedish capitalism was interesting to me because it was a subject that I knew nothing about. I would suggest approaching material like that in this manner: I don't know anything about this, so here's a chance to learn something new. The wealth of details in these books made them that much more interesting and made me more confident in Larsson's expertise.


message 161: by Farrah (new) - rated it 5 stars

Farrah Ashley wrote: "Yes, the first hundred or so pages are hard to get through but.. it is so worth it in the end! It is a great read. Once I got past the back story, I could not put this book down!"

I agree. I say the same thing to everyone...if you can get past the first 100 pages you will be good to go. It's a great book...the whole series is fantastic although I pushed quickly through the legal drama of book 3. I read somewhere that Larssen was planning on writing 10 books for this series! Such a shame he passed away...and he was fairly young.


message 162: by Eva (new) - added it

Eva The first 100 pages are awfull... but when he gets on the island I couldn't put it away.

My mother had the same feeling, and so did my sister. You just need to get through the first part, but trust me (and other readers here) it will be worth it!!!


message 163: by Kate (new) - rated it 4 stars

Kate It took me months to get through the first couple hundred pages...

Eventually it does pick up but it never really got to the stage where I understood why it has so much hype surrounding it.


message 164: by Beth (new) - rated it 1 star

Beth I cannot understand why so many people were willing to put themselves through sometimes months of being bored to get through these books. I only read the first one. I don't know how I got through it either, or why, but I can very honestly say it's one of the top worst books I've ever read. Does anyone in this thread have any other book that they considered to be really good IF you discounted the first TWO HUNDRED pages?? That is nuts. And actually, I heard that from so many people, but I'd argue that just about the last one hundred pages or so are also terribly, terribly boring. And then everything in the middle is just poorly written. Ha. Sorry to be a downer, folks who like this series.


message 165: by Melissa (new) - rated it 1 star

Melissa Catherine wrote: "I had trouble getting through The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, but for different reasons. A lot of the explicit parts had me wincing and I literally had to put the book down to process it.

Reall..."
I totally agree with you Catherine... at first was getting bored until Lisbeth appeared... then i was reading too slow because i was falling asleep all the time.. i even got scare, like: why everybody says is great?! i must be an alien or something!!!... But then it got me interested until BAM! all the sexual assault part i was like omg! I THOUGHT I WOULDNT FINISH IT and i had to put it down too A COUPLE OF TIMES to process everything. My advice is that you have to read it very slow, you can even try to read another happy book on paralell and when you get to the ugly part, read it fast and skip those pages, and then read the happy book...maybe like that you could.


message 166: by Eva (new) - added it

Eva Haha, funny to read that there are people that found it boring.
Not me :) It grabbed me after the first 100 pages. Must admit that the first book eventually was an easy read, but the second en especially the third were a bit harder. But still loved it!

Thank god there is something called "personal taste"... :)


message 167: by Steffi (new) - rated it 5 stars

Steffi I didnt find them hard at all, they grabbed me right from the beginning and the series is on my all time fave list. too bad stieg larsson is dead already :(


message 168: by Charles (new) - rated it 1 star

Charles its hard to read, yeah. because it repeats so much, and spends so much time on page-filling-needless-exposition. that, and the characters are all stereotypical and about as deep and wide and human as a puddle of rainwater.


message 169: by Elysse (new) - rated it 5 stars

Elysse It is slow in the beginning, but once you get through to the half-way point, it picks up quickly, and the other two books in the series are at a much faster pace, and very good.


message 170: by Julie (last edited May 17, 2011 07:05PM) (new) - rated it 4 stars

Julie Peterson The first 200 pages were rough to get through, but the story gets better. This is one of the few books that took me a long time to get through. Worth it in the end!


message 171: by Amanda (new) - rated it 4 stars

Amanda I have a curiosity question for people. For those who could not get through the book and/or disliked it violently, have you been able to read Austen, the Brontë sisters, Dickens, Voltaire, or any other well-known European writer?


message 172: by Melissa (new) - rated it 1 star

Melissa Amanda wrote: "I have a curiosity question for people. For those who could not get through the book and/or disliked it violently, have you been able to read Austen, the Brontë sisters, Dickens, Voltaire, or any ..." I havent read them so i cant really answer your question. But i couldnt finish Henry Miller´s book "Tropico de Capricornio" that is really intense (at least for me).


message 173: by Melissa (last edited May 18, 2011 10:05AM) (new) - rated it 1 star

Melissa Mike wrote: "Nina wrote: "Seeing the movie, "The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo," before you read the book is definitely a spoiler. It is like reading the ending before you start the book. I don't remember having t..." I read the first book and said ok lets see the movie now... but omg! i couldnt finish it. So i start reading the second book and i had to stop it too. And then i gave away the 3 movies! Sorry but is not my type of subject.


message 174: by Amanda (new) - rated it 4 stars

Amanda @ Melissa-- I haven't read that one. I'll have to try it. Have you read Silas Marner?


Jenbebookish Ivy wrote: "Ok, I have had this book for months and continue to try to get through it but I just can't seem to get through the second chapter. I keep hearing from everyone its great, but you have to first get ..."

i'll tell you how to do that. JUST KEEP READING!! I'm sure you've had to read plenty of works that weren't by choice, homework, work, whatever... tackle this the same way. Read. Process. Continue. Soon enough it'll get more and more interesting. I've had several friends that were in the same boat as you, they claimed disinterest in the whole Vanger story line and couldn't get interested. BUUUUT... like I said, once they were about half way thru they were hooked for the remainder of the trilogy. Just trust people on this. It's good, if not at the very least suspenseful and interesting. You won't be sorry.


message 176: by Melissa (new) - rated it 1 star

Melissa @ Amanda - No. I will have to check it out. I do admit i dont have the stomach for every book :).


message 177: by Twila (new) - rated it 4 stars

Twila Casper I had a hard time getting into the book as well. I work at a newspaper so all that talk was extremely boring to me. I hear so much about interviewing, reporting, advertising, printing everyday that I could have done without it. Of course once you take out all that the story is well written and keeps you on your toes. So all in all I did end up liking it and plan to start the next book soon.


message 178: by Carmen (new) - rated it 4 stars

Carmen Ivy wrote: "Ok, I have had this book for months and continue to try to get through it but I just can't seem to get through the second chapter. I keep hearing from everyone its great, but you have to first get ..."

I had the same problem. The financial mumbo-jumbo was overdone. Once I got past that, I found it had been well worth the struggle.


message 179: by Kate (new) - rated it 4 stars

Kate I think after you get past the first hundred pages everything speeds up.

It took me a really long time to get through them and then after that it took only a few days to finish.


message 180: by Melissa (new) - rated it 1 star

Melissa Kate wrote: "I think after you get past the first hundred pages everything speeds up.

It took me a really long time to get through them and then after that it took only a few days to finish."


Thats true... for me was so hard to read that after i finished the first book and left the second at the middle i had to read something romantic and "fresita" (translation in context: like girly) to erase the story from my head. So i read Bet Me. That was really fun!


Robinnbastar well the rape scene kinda disturb me. but if you keep reading it and understand the story; it going to be awesome.

unlike you, i got hooked after the first chapter.


Douglas Pratt The first ten chapters are slow, then it picks up. It is dark and difficult to grasp at times, however the whole trilogy was incredible. One of the few books I read because it was popular that I really wanted more and more. I was sad when I finished the third because there won't be another.


message 183: by Dani (new) - rated it 5 stars

Dani the first three chapters were hard for me to get through but after that i couldn´t put the book down. It is so worth it to stick it out those first few chapters because it is an amazing book.


Sandiigirl I was almost to the end but the chase for this Salamander girl is a bit too much!! I have officially dropped it to the side. Hopefully I will pick it back up later.


message 185: by James (new) - rated it 4 stars

James While I won't spoil the ending, one should consider 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo', 'The Girl Who Played with Fire', and 'The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest' as three volumes of the same story. The first two end abruptly, leaving the reader wanting more. However, the third book does tie them all together and brings the trilogy to a definite end. I admit that I, also, struggled through this series, the second book in particular. However, while I would characterize each the the books, in order, as "good", not so good", and "great", respectively, getting to the end of the third book was satisfying and, all things considered, the trilogy was very good. To those who are thinking of quitting, I say, "Hang in there!" This is a good series and you won't regret it.


Candice Ellis I agree the first three chapters are difficult to get through but once you get past those then its a good book to read.


message 187: by Kathy (new) - rated it 4 stars

Kathy Ivy wrote: "Ok, I have had this book for months and continue to try to get through it but I just can't seem to get through the second chapter. I keep hearing from everyone its great, but you have to first get ..."

Definitely hear you! I tried starting it three times! finally got through it and took note that the book didn't start to get exciting around page 350! after then I couldn't put it down.


message 188: by Jewett (new) - rated it 4 stars

Jewett I found the first 100 or so pages very difficult to get through. Tried it 3 times. After I got through all the economic information, I couldn't put it down.


message 189: by Lisa (new) - rated it 5 stars

Lisa It was a really weird book to get started. I did keep with it and foundit interesting and I was suprised at the ending. Keep with it. Not my favorinte book but not a waste of time either.


Cate (The Professional Fangirl) It was slow at first with all the long names to remember. My mom had the same problem. Only, I got through all 3 and my mom gave up on early.


message 191: by Mirela (new) - rated it 5 stars

Mirela I had a hard time getting into it as well, but once a third of the way in it definitely got better and I did enjoy it very much. I love the way it's written, I've never read a book like this before. And I'm European so it was easier for me to relate and understand what he was talking about! LOL


message 192: by Dori (new) - rated it 3 stars

Dori I read all three of them, and yes they were hard to read; but I was also glad that I had read them. They are definitely books that require concentration and focus. By the time I read "Hornets Nest" I knew the people that had been cast in the upcoming movie, so that really made it easier to visualize. It is the type of book that you really must try to read as though it's a movie. There's a LOT of just extra boring stuff in there and eventually you get to the point where you recognize that and are able to skim over those parts. Don't try to absorb every last detail of the books...you'll drive yourself nuts. Stick with the basic premise of "who are the main characters?", "What is the problem or conflict?" "How are they solving those problems?"
I think this story has been difficult for a lot of readers because it deals with unfamiliar geographical areas. Had this story taken place in London or Berlin, or even Rome, it would probably be easier for people to create the necessary visuals. Not to many average ordinary people are familiar with the streets and neighborhoods of Sweden.
Stick with it....get through the first one and I guarantee, you won't be able to resist the other two!


Jennifer I finished it but didn't think it was ultimately worth the time or effort. Of the three plotlines, I only found one engaging, and that one started last and ended first. I felt like the book had WAY too much exposition and falling action. I won't bother with the rest of the series.


message 194: by Tijana (new) - rated it 5 stars

Tijana The first 100 or 150 pages were hard to get through, but after that I couldn't put the book down! You just have to stick with it because it WILL be worth it, it's an amazing read!!


message 195: by Nina (new)

Nina Yes!


Harriet I would say this book is a good read. Deffinatley worth it! It is the other two that got on my nerves :)


message 197: by Andrew (new) - rated it 5 stars

Andrew Hildreth All 3 books are great! Each one took me about 3 weeks each to get through with average reading times here and there. Some parts are slow moving and slow to get through due to Larsson's offering of large amounts of back story and detail. But by the time you reach the ending, it will be worth it.

Lisbeth Salander is my all-time favorite fictional character so far!


message 198: by [deleted user] (new)

It was easy for me cos i had a mobile which supports ebook. I was reading this book day and night and it took me almost 3 days to finish!! So proud i read it cos it was the BEST!!


message 199: by [deleted user] (new)

It was easy for me cos i had a mobile which supports ebook. I was reading this book day and night and it took me almost 3 days to finish!! So proud i read it cos it was the BEST!!


Heather The first 200, or so, are pretty dry and filled with back story,... but after that it is TOTALLY worth reading!


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