Anyone finding it hard to get through?

[Xan]

It really does end up being worth it.

[Kat]

Everyone kept telling me I would reach a point in the first one and from that point onwards the rest of the series would fly by. I don't think I ever got to that point in the first book. I finished reading it with an "okay feeling" about it but I wasn't thrilled. However, I had already purchased the second book and (as an English major) I felt that I had to at least give the second book a try. I felt completely different about the second and now the third books. For some reason, I find them more compelling. Maybe it's the fact that I already know most of the characters or that the story line kind of carries over, but I like the second and third books so much better than the first one.

[Dale]

yeah I've been on book 3 for 4 months. I am having such a hard time getting through that one that I even removed it from my active reading list. Once I finish the current seven that I am working on I'll give it another go. This series is definitely over-hyped, however it is a good story line. I wish that it translated better to english or that I could read it in its native language and judge for myself if the writing style is as much rubbish as I believe it to be. Since it is a translation though he gets a freebie from me on that type of critical analysis.

[Carol]

I slogged through this whole book, but found no reason for it to be a best seller--paragraphs on the Apple she bought? Yuck.

[Dale]

you know, I am coming to find out that books and movies have one more thing in common: best sellers typically suck to the average person who watches or reads. Why is it that media controls what we are supposed to like so much? I might as well throw in music into that category as well.

[Paul]

Dale wrote: "I am coming to find out that books and movies typically suck to the average person who watches or reads."
I think that you make a good point, Dale. Some of the narrative of the books is overly drawn out and concentrates too much on the size of rooms and the furniture within it, some of the background story is too intricate and of little value in the overall scheme of things, and most people have said that a lot of the thrust was lost in translation and that they really needed a good editor.
Still, I enjoyed the books despite the hype and enjoyed the Swedish extended versions of the three films.
The media, for the most part, and particularly critics are a rather hypocritical sycophantic bunch that like to 'jump on bandwagons' to pretend that they are 'hip', 'up to speed' with current trends or try to set trends of their own to justify their existence.
Larsson wrote three pretty good books dealing with violence towards women that were made into three good movies and they are his legacy.
There won't be any more, so we can only speculate as to what he may have ultimately planned for the future.
They are 'love it' or 'hate it' novels...
However, when the music industry is dependant on the likes of Simon Cowell and his cronies, X Factor and Britain/America Has Got Talent, I fear that the future is very bleak.
New literary and musical talent are stifled in the morass of mediochrity and celebrity pap.

[Eric]

In concurrence with most comments I've seen, I had a difficult time hooking up with the novel. After the initial slog, though, I had no real problem finishing it, even if I wondered why quite the huge hullabaloo? I've almost finished the 2nd novel, and I find that I'm enjoying it more. I do find it curious that sex tends to be a major focus---or rather, I find odd the liberal inter-mixture of sexual predation and abuse and casual, kinky sex. I'll give the third book a try, and I read somewhere that Larson's longtime girlfriend has the material for a fourth novel.

[James]

As a wannabee author this book amazes me. I think it is a masterpiece of marketing! No agent would get past the first fifty pages. It's not a thriller, that's for sure. Glacial pace, pages of backstory. All the things authors are told NEVER to do! I'm 170 pages in and there still is no suspense, no action, just a bunch of people with unpronouceable names freezing their butts off and an antisocial girl. In a state of morbid curiosity I continue reading, wondering when it will get exciting. I'll bet the movie got rid of all the flannel in the first half!

[Cayla]

im only to the part were the old man had gotten the flower for his birthday, and how he had went into great detail about how he gets one for his birthday every year and could not find out who they were from, and i just re-read that part, and then i get bored of it!! :)

[Thomas]

Dee wrote: "maybe a recommendation if you are struggling reading, I listened to the audiobooks of all three in the series because it was easier for me to visualize it...i found myself at times, taking the long..."

This was exactly how I got through the difficulty of reading these. I have loved them, but couldn't read them, but listening I don't feel that I have lost anything in the book and the reader is very good.

[Alex]

I picked up this book by chance on the day it came out in the US, if there was hype about it then, well, I never heard it.
I thought it had a nice cover, I liked the size of the type, the feel of the pages and the blurb on the inside flap sounded good.

That said, I think it's a timing thing. I read all kinds of fiction books, but find I do so because different portions of my brain? personality? emotions? mentality? like to be "fed" at different times.

This book and I met at the perfect time. I found the first one hundred pages difficult, but apparently needed the mental challenge as I was able to "let go" and let the author guide me into the story rather than try to "catergorize" it.

I learned more about publishing and secret police than I ever thought I would want to know. But the book was impossible to put down, incredibly fascinating, my brain was "hungary" for the difference it brought me. I had to know more about the characters.
Gritty yes, dry or uninteresting definitely not.

My best advice relax and go on the journey the writer is taking you, try not to think about where you think he might be taking you, try not to compare it to any tale you think it might be like... open yourself to learning things that you never thought would interest you... and suddenly the book will be magic.
I think the first 100 pages feeds your mentality or intellect, then the book feeds your emotions and so on and so on.
: ) It's worth the trip.

[Katherine]

I tried like hell to get into this book and around page 200 or so I realized that I didn't give a damn about any of the characters or what happened to them. So I ended up bringing it back to the library unfinished. I hate doing that, but it had to be done.

[Dale]

one I have a book in my possession I always make myself read it. I call it fate, however, when it comes to those that I just keep falling asleep while reading or my mind cleverly attaches to another story to read I have started "speed reading" running through the books reading paragraphs instead of pages and rushing through the book to find out how the book ends.

[Jacob]

It took the story forever to gain any momentum and the only parts I liked were the ones with Salander. Honestly the only reason I read this is because the film is directed by David Fincher.

[Michael]

Yes the first 2 chapters are had to get through but after that what a great book.

[Kristi]

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 can read about anything but I did find the first 200 pages of this book extremely dull. I just finished and it did get better but I am debating on whether to even read the other 2 books.

[Dale]

without giving anything away I believe that second book is much better and I have the third book on hold haven't finished it. I stopped on like page 50 about 8 months ago because I kept falling asleep everytime I opened it up. So my opinion 2 is the best book of the series without having a completed version of the last book ( I doubt that I do read it just not interested in the characters to push through 3 books of steig larrsson)

[Emma]

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 never finished it. I could not find anything to enjoy about it. I cannot understand all the hype about these books. It was SO sexist - but apart from that, just plain BORING. One paragraph all about what kind of computer she bought... Good Lord!!!

[Emma]

Joy H. wrote: "I still haven't read past the first chapter because I was so turned off by the dense and boring content, but I DID watch the movie. I especially liked the end of the movie. That was its redeeming f..." I agree with you, Joy!! Don't understand the hype at all. BORING AND BADLY WRITTEN! Hated it.

[Dale]

great books are often debatable, however, I think that anyone who says that this book is great simply hasn't read enough books to gauge greatness. I wouldn't say this book is dreadful. The actions scenes very good but looking back even those are lacking in prose and poise. after finishing the first two books I was left with the impression that there aren't very many writers in his home country because his dribble that they published wouldn't have made it out of any of the america or the majority of Europe.

[Emma]

Dale wrote: "great books are often debatable, however, I think that anyone who says that this book is great simply hasn't read enough books to gauge greatness. I wouldn't say this book is dreadful. The actions ..." Agreed. I wonder if the media hype was related to the author's death soon after writing this series (I am afraid I didn't venture on to the second book)...and his focus in real life on extreme right-wing groups in Sweden. There must have been some interest not necessarily related to the book itself...

[Kristi]

Emma wrote: "Dale wrote: "great books are often debatable, however, I think that anyone who says that this book is great simply hasn't read enough books to gauge greatness. I wouldn't say this book is dreadful...."

I just started the second book. It has a LOT of mathmatics in it. But it is much more enthralling than the first one. I'm sure Stieg's death did contribute to the media hype. I've read that there is a fourth book also but because of his death it probably won't be published. His girlfriend wants to finish it but the rights were left to his father.

[Emma]

I don't think I want a lot of mathematics in a novel, I wouldn't find that enthralling at all! I can only conclude that you either love or hate these books!

[Michael]

You're not doing the math just reading what she says in the book.

Don't let that scare you off a great book.

[Jenn]

I have tried to read this one several times and I have to say I could not get past the first chapter. I even tried to push through to the second chapter and I just could not get through it.

[Emma]

Michael wrote: "You're not doing the math just reading what she says in the book.

Don't let that scare you off a great book."

Well, like the comment below, I struggled through the first one and barely finished it, so I am not going to go for the second one. Sorry!

[Dale]

With all the great books out there I don't understand how this one managed to get published, make the bestseller list, make the list for all time great thrillers, and get a movie deal. Whether you consider this book good or bad I am sure you are wondering the same. Why did this book series become so famous overnight?

[Emma]

Dale wrote: "With all the great books out there I don't understand how this one managed to get published, make the bestseller list, make the list for all time great thrillers, and get a movie deal. Whether you ..." You tell me Dale - I have no idea. Must have had an amazing publicist!

[Veneta]

Dale wrote: "With all the great books out there I don't understand how this one managed to get published, make the bestseller list, make the list for all time great thrillers, and get a movie deal. Whether you ..."
How did the Da Vinci Code sold more copies than the bible?.... PR

Although I thing the series are great, the violence is a bit too much at times. The Swedes love their violence.

[Hamid]

its all about going to bed,waking up,coffee,sandwich

[Andre Jute]

Dale wrote: "With all the great books out there I don't understand how this one managed to get published, make the bestseller list, make the list for all time great thrillers, and get a movie deal. Whether you consider this book good or bad I am sure you are wondering the same. Why did this book series become so famous overnight? "

Dale, Andrew McCoy and I wrote a whole book, Stieg Larsson Man, Myth & Mistress, on the subject. Keith Brooke, the writer, publisher and teacher of creative writing headlined his review: "Excellent guide to how publishing does and doesn't work", see http://www.amazon.com/STIEG-LARSSON-M...

[John]

My own position about this trilogy, as I stated a while back, was that after the first 100 pages of book one I found it good, much better in any case than the Da Vinci Code.

As to why some books become best sellers and others don't, legacy publishers have been trying to figure that out for for years. It seems their main school of thought is that lightening will strike twice in the same place. That's why, now, we are getting so many pale Larsson look alikes and Da Vinci Code knockoffs.

On Peter Rozovsky's blog he mentions a review he did for the Philly Inquirer of another Swedish crime writer, Lars Kepler, another member of the Stieg Larsonnism school of Nordic Crime Writing.

Here's an excerpt from Peter's blog post:

My review of The Nightmare by Lars Kepler in Sunday's Philadelphia Inquirer posits the existence of a school of Nordic crime writing called Stieg Larssonism (its practitioners are Larssonists) that
"combines potboiler thrills and righteous anger in a fat, sprawling tosh-filled package, often with 475 or more pages plus a didactic, statistics-filled epilogue in case the reader doesn’t get the point – or in case he or she thinks the point was just to have some fun. That way the reader get dirty thrills but feels morally uplifted at the same time."

You can read the rest of the review here:
http://detectivesbeyondborders.blogsp...

[Emma]

Hamid wrote: "its all about going to bed,waking up,coffee,sandwich"
And don't forget the sex (in the film I saw, Daniel Craig only got to sleep with one girl, but...)

[Bill]

I could not put this one down, was done in a few days. The last one. The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest I couldn't finish.

[Blou4432]

When I first started reading this book, it was not what I expected and that, predictably, caused a bit of a delay. However, it did not take long to get into the story after that. The trilogy itself intrigued me because long before they mention it, I knew about Lisbeth's possible autism. Lisbeth thinks and acts almost in perfect tandem with how my own son does. It was interesting for me to see how she rationalized things and though the books are not solely based on her character, she was the reason I read them. -Bri

[Hamid]

How come such a big dangerous criminal keeps records of all his trades with arm dealers and drug dealers on his personal computer? maybe just to get discovered by a hacker or cops!!!
its so unlikely

[Shivani]

I'm glad I'm not the only one to feel this way. The book took me forever to read but I kept going hoping to eventually see what all the hype was about.

[Erna Yuli]

bought the book yesterday..
I start to read it..
50 first pages and I got dizzy with all (I can't remember) the Sweden names..

read this discussion helps me a lot..
encourage me to finish it..
I'm so curious..
slowly but sure, I'll enjoy the book..

[Deb]

I had the very same problem!!! I suggest you see the movie or even buy it, and watch it a few times...you will be able to sort out the names and understand it all better...I am going to retread the book now and hopefully I have it straight!!!!! Very confusing at first but well worth it if you have time to do the movie....

[Deb]

Also, I netflixed the Swedish version of the movie too with subtitles...that was a great copy.....and they also have the next two books out in Swedish so you can get the whole series...try that as well....the subtitles help distinguish names better.

[Shari]

I read this in 12 minute snippets - my train ride. It was an excellent choice for this punctuated reading. I read it. I had something to do on the train, and now I can participate in others more enthusiastic conversations about it.
I never was pulled in to the story. It is a different expectation to read for social reasons.

[Patrice]

I felt this book was extremely boring but I stuck in there and made it to the second book, The Girl Who Played With Fire. I'm glad I hung in there because the second book is so much better than the first.

[Joyce]

Yes!! It's a very slow-moving book. Awesome details and well written, but I tend to get bored if it doesn't move along, making it hard to finish!

[Tabitha]

This series is one of those "you like it or you don't" series. If you push yourself through it and end up enjoying it then great and if you read them and don't then maybe they are too dark for you or not your style. Some people don't understand they "hype" about the books but not everyone can read or will like this style of book. I guess it is a matter of what you enjoy and if you are willing to push yourself through a difficult beginning to a series that in my opinion as well as others opnions is aboslutely amazing!

[Lisa]

Joy H. wrote: "Carol mentioned the unfamiliar names. I can't stand it when too many characters are introduced at once without any character development. I also don't like being flooded with proper names and place..."

Having two characters with the same name was really confusing, too. Even though they were spelled differently -- Berger and Burger -- I really had to stop and think every time about which character it was. I really did enjoy the book though, and am getting ready to start the second one.

[Anastasia]

I tried the audiobook of this and abandoned it after spending what felt like an hour listening to the narrator talk to me about aspects of Swedish finance and then some incredibly longwinded story about a traffic accident on an island, and how the accident happened, who was involved, how everyone involved was affected, how the community as a whole was affected, how the economy of the island was affected, only for it to turn out the point of the sodding story was that because of the accident the island was closed that day.

I think, after that, the main character remarks that the man telling the insufferably-pointless-overdetailed story is an excellent storyteller, and I gave up.

[Andre Jute]

All this sounds like hard work just to read some books because everyone else is reading them.

[Jessica]

I found the discussion of economics difficult to get through for two reasons. First, economics is a topic to which I have minimal exposure. Second, the economics described is foreign, making the words/terms even more difficult. It took me two weeks to get through it. I'd read a paragraph or two and have to put it down for confusion and lack of interest. Finally, I just skimmed through it until it got back to the plot of the story. Honestly, you don't need all of that information to enjoy the plot. The rest of the book (and series) was extremely compelling and relatable.

[Arpitha]

Narration is bit slow in the start, and it takes time to learn about the characters. If you get through the initial few pages, then it would be hard to put it down. Good one.

[Jennifer]

IT WAS HORRIBLY BORING AT FIRST THEN A FEW MTHS LATER I TRIED AGAIN ....AWESOME BOOKS .. TRY TO PASS THE FIRST 200 N HOPEFULLY U FEEL THE SAME WAY :))