What The Girl With the Dragon Tatto is about:
Mikael Blomkvist, a once-respected financial journalist, watches his professional life rapidly crumble around him. Prospects appear bleak until an unexpected (and unsettling) offer to resurrect his name is extended by an old-school titan of Swedish industry. The catch--and there's always a catch--is that Blomkvist must first spend a year researching a mysterious disappearance that has remained unsolved for nearly four decades. With few other options, he accepts and enlists the help of investigator Lisbeth Salander, a misunderstood genius with a cache of authority issues.
Why I wanted to read it: Because of all of the hype surrounding this trilogy!!
Source: Personal Shelves
- Thank goodness that I watched the Swedish version of this movie before ever trying to read this book. Sometimes it is beneficial to see the movie before reading because without some of my prior knowledge I think I would have bailed on this book.
- The first 300 pages were so hard to plod through. Every time I thought about stopping I would go back and read a fellow blogger's review that said is was slow in the beginning but it got better.
- The characters were a bit hard to keep track of, especially the family that Mikael was writing a book about..talk about head swimming with details, people, and financial information that went right over my head. All of it together made it hard for me to enjoy reading.
- I think for me the book started to get more interesting and compelling when Lisbeth showed up more and the author started to peel away her layers of insecurity. I still don't know what makes her tick and why she is like she is, but I believe that more information about her childhood will be brought to light in book two!
This was a book that I wanted to love from page one, however, it turned out that I didn't really enjoy my reading until I was more than halfway involved in this story. I would be hard pressed to tell my friends that it was a stellar read. How can I convince them that even though the first half of the book is tedious, you need to wade through it because it's important to the story??? I will continue on with the next book but I don't feel any rush to get to it.
Overall: 3/5
Bookish Thoughts #26
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Lisbeth definitely made this book and movie for me. I admit I liked the movie better (US version).
ReplyDeleteThis is disappointing. I have all of these on the shelf and yet have not read them. I'm waiting for my expectations to drop after all the stellar reviews....but I think your review helps calm those down a bit
ReplyDeleteYou settled it for me... I told ya I was on the fence on this one... I don't think I will be reading it! Thanks for the honest review Staci!!
ReplyDeleteIt must be official by now - I'm the only person who has not read this book! No plans in the immediate future, either...
ReplyDeleteI totally had trouble through the beginning and was even keeping a spreadsheet on the characters! LOL And yet I loved it too. It is definitely hard to explain! Weird, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteThe second book is easier to get into the story! I agree with Diane, Lisabeth makes the book(s) worthwhile. I really liked the Swedish movies.
ReplyDeleteI quit after about fifty pages. I didn't think the writing was clear and I didn't find the subject interesting. And from what I've heard and seen since of the violence, I'm glad I didn't continue. That's the wonder of reading though. There is something for everyone!
ReplyDeleteI think this is why I haven't bothered starting the books although I have them. I've seen the movie although not the US version and liked it so maybe I'll leave it at that for now.
ReplyDeleteI did okay with this one. I was taken enough with the story to keep with it but each one is a little bit weaker than the first so keep that in mind. Except, you really do want to learn more about Lisbeth by the second book so you just keep reading.
ReplyDeleteThe first 300 pages dragged?!?! I'm not sure I want to make that kind of commitment.
ReplyDeleteYes. For me the first 150 pages were a snooze fest and I almost quit reading it. But once I got past that it was a great read. I think it's worth it to stick with it.
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen the movies but I plan to.
I think you just confirmed my reluctance to read these books. I think I'll keep putting them off.
ReplyDeleteBleh not gonna read it, first not my genre adn secondly I am might tired of these books and the genre in general living next to Sweden
ReplyDeleteAs you know I haven't started, even though friends and family have raved about the series. I'm glad you got to it first, now I'll have more realistic expectations LOL
ReplyDeleteAh, you and I agree on this one. I have the other two books in the trilogy, but have not found the motivation to read them yet. I found the front half of the book plodding and the back half made me want to take a shower *laughs* I did really like the female protagonist and apparently she is the primary character in book two...so I will eventually read it.
ReplyDeleteI quit after a 100 pages, if it hasnt grabbed me by then I do not have time to struggle through. You did a good and honest review. I am pretty sure its not my kind of book even though i enjoyed the movies.
ReplyDeleteJason liked the Swedish movie, but I haven't felt compelled to read or watch. And after reading how slow the first 300 pages were I'd be sure to only watch the movie anyway.
ReplyDeleteThere were definitely slow patches in this book, when it got bogged down in political history or financial details, but I was really glad that I persevered with both this book and the other two books as well.
ReplyDeleteLisbeth made the book(s) for me. If she was in the scene I was intrigued. I actually enjoyed all three but this one had a difficult beginning. Sorry you didn't enjoy it more.
ReplyDeletehmmm really? Good to know that going in. However, I won't be rushing to rad this anytime soon. I saw all three movies, and the third, while wrapping things up, was wayyyyy toooooo lonnnnnnng. Thanks for the honesty
ReplyDeleteI still haven't read this series and am way behind. Sorry to hear it was so slow in the beginning but glad I have been warned!
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