In my last post I put up a review of
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by
Stieg Larsson as a part of my two weeks with Lisabeth Salander and Mikael
Blomkvist.
I read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo in the spring of 2009 and was
anxious to read the second in the series, The
Girl Who Played with Fire, as soon as possible. I was able to get a copy in
the fall and I read it in a rush. It is my favourite in the trilogy. Tonight I
put up my review. Thank you to those who have already provided their reaction
to the series.
****
35.
– 498.) The Girl Who Played with Fire
by Stieg Larsson – The second novel in Larsson’s trilogy featuring Lisbeth
Salander and Mikael Blomkvist is as wonderful as the first. Lisbeth, after
traveling the world for a year using the billions of kroner stolen from
Wennerstrom, returns to Sweden. Fiercely independent and extremely reluctant to
commit to any personal relationship she cuts off all contact with an extremely
puzzled Blomkvist before her departure. On her return she looks for work to
fill her life. While Lisbeth is adjusting to life with unlimited resources
Blomkvist and Berger decide to publish both an issue of Millennium and a
companion book on the sexual exploitation of young Slavic women lured or taken
to Sweden for prostitution. Lisbeth’s legal guardian, the lawyer Bjurman, is
plotting his revenge on Lisbeth and reaches out to criminal connections for
assistance. In one horrifying night Bjurman, the writer of the expose, Dag
Svensson and his partner Mia Johansson are murdered. When Lisbeth’s fingerprint
shows up on the murder weapon, a gun owned by Bjurman, a massive womanhunt for
Lisbeth is immediately launched. Tension builds from page to page as the
police, her former employer Milton Security and the Millennium staff search for
her. Cleverly Larsson goes weeks into the hunt without letting us know
Lisbeth’s actions. Lisbeth is as frustrating, quirky, unpredictable, brilliant,
violent and stubborn as the opening book. I could see every young Hollywood
actress wanting the role. (There is a Swedish production.) It has been some
time since I started or almost exclaimed aloud while reading a book. I did it
twice in this novel. Lisbeth has become an unforgettable heroine. I raced along
eager to read the next progression or twist in the plot. I hope the third book
will be published this year. Larsson’s website said 12 million books have been
sold out of the trilogy. Hardcover. (Sept. 4/09) (With The Girl with the Dragon
Tatoo Best fiction of 2009)
Lisbeth Salander is most definitely an innovative character, Bill, and that doesn't happen very often. And it's interesting how this trilogy moves between fast-paced action and background narrative, or at least a slightly slower pace. I'm not surprised you found it so powerful.
ReplyDeleteMargot: Thanks for the comment. It is hard to have an unconventional credible character. Larsson succeeded brilliantly with Salander. From appearance through behaviour to her mind she is fascinating.
DeleteBill, I enjoyed your review. It gives me a very good idea of what to expect in Larsson's trilogy without spoilers. I get the feeling that the series plays out over a considerable period of time. Of course, I could be wrong there.
ReplyDeletePrashant: Thanks for the comment. The series does not precisely flow from book to book but there is not a lengthy period involved in the trilogy.
DeleteI never got on with Lizbeth Salander, but your enthusiasm is infectious, maybe I should give her another go!
ReplyDeleteMoira: Thanks for the comment. I find Lisbeth intriguing but not likeable. Of course, she could care less what I think of her.
DeleteI enjoyed Lisbeth's story, and I probably would have been a big fan of the trilogy had the books been briefer. But I stuck it out and read all three, so there obviously was some good there.
ReplyDeleteTracyK: Thanks for the comment. Except for the last book in the trilogy I did not mind the length. I certainly roared through the reading of them.
ReplyDeleteYes, Lizbeth Salander is quite a character, memorable. A genius.
ReplyDeleteIn The Girl in the Spider's Web, the so-called fourth book by David Legercrantz, nothing really comes alive until Salander gets onto the pages. It's somewhat slow for 100 pages.
Then Salander is at a very high-level math class and contemplating equations that reach infinity when I realized she's out of my league, but fascinating.
She plays a good role in this book. Her people skills are lacking, but her genius is not.
Kathy D.: Thanks for the comment. I think one of the reasons we love Lisbeth as a character is her utter fearlessness. Few of us could claim that trait.
ReplyDeleteLisbeth Salander is fearless and brilliant.
ReplyDeleteBut I love V.I. Warshawski, alter ego of Sara Paretsky. She is also fearless, brilliant, tough, independent, feisty and witty. But she has far better people skills than Salander and has friendships and romantic relationships.
Kathy D.: V.I. is another wonderful character. I have not read the most recent books. I should get back to V.I.'s adventures.
ReplyDelete