Larsson, Stieg. The Girl Who Played with Fire.When I found this one on the new book shelf at the library, I immediately looked for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Larsson, but no luck. Disappointed, I nevertheless went ahead and began in the middle of this trilogy, determined to read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo eventually.
Liz Salander left Sweden after the events in the first novel and this novel begins with Salander relaxing on the Caribbean island of Grenada. She is busy reading Dimensions in Mathematics and observing the behavior of the couple in the next room of her hotel. The husband is abusive, and Salander is curious enough to do some investigating.
The episode in the Caribbean provides some basic background about events and characters from the first novel and a hint about Salander's values. She's definitely flawed, her values skewed, but abusive men are a red flag to this young woman, and when given the opportunity, she does something about the situation.
The story then moves back to Sweden where the magazine Millenium, under the direction of Mikail Blomkvist, is preparing to run an expose on the sex trade. Soon after Salander returns to Sweden (buying and furnishing a new apartment and attempting to live a "normal" life), she finds herself the main suspect in the murders of the journalist writing the article about the sex trade and his girlfriend, who has written her doctoral thesis on the subject.
The Girl Who Played with Fire is fast-paced and suspenseful, the plot evolves seamlessly, and the characters are well-drawn (all flawed, but many idealistic in spite of it).
Such a shame that Larsson died after delivering his three manuscripts for publication.... At least I have two more to go, the first and the last. Since - d%**it - I started in the middle!
Fiction. Mystery/Suspense. 2009. 503 pages.
I have thoroughly enjoyed this series. I've read Books 1 & 2 and am currently making my way through Book 3 (it's out in the UK and I had to order it from Book Depository). It is a real tragedy that there will only be 3 books. I love these stories!
ReplyDeleteKay - I don't believe it is scheduled to come out here until 2010! In fact, the second one was just published here in July. Hope the third one is living up to your expectations!
ReplyDeleteI am really looking forward to reading the first one in the series. I like Kay's idea of buying the 3rd book through the Book Depository. I've done that before with series books I can't wait for. :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm trying with all my might not to buy books, even though I know how easy it would be to get this from Book Depository. Hopefully my wish list at Paperback Swap will come through for me soon because I'm weakening!
ReplyDeleteI have the first book in this trilogy on my wish list.
ReplyDeleteLF - I really wish I'd waited and read The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo first, but the library didn't have a copy. I looked again when I saw that they had this one, but no dice. Guess I'll have to see if I can get it on inter-library loan. Or maybe the Book Depository!
ReplyDeleteCathy - :) Will Power only lasts so long! Good luck with the Paperback Swap!
Kailana - I am more eager than ever to read the first one!
I always forget that Larsson has died, and it's a shock when I'm reminded. Guess it's because he's so popular now. Too bad it's too late for him to enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteOh, wow, I didn't know Larsson had died. I've been going back and forth about reading these books - everyone seems to just love them in the blogosphere, but I've also read that he depicts violence against women very graphically, which makes me reluctant to try them. Did you find the violence troubling?
ReplyDeleteBybee - Yes, since he died so soon after delivering the manuscripts, he had no idea of the popularity the books would achieve or of the devoted fans that would follow the series.
ReplyDeleteJenny - Actually, not as much as the threat of the violence. The hints about the insensitivity of the characters kept me on edge. The Prologue had me wondering if I could read the book, but it was, for me, the worst part.
Some of the political/governmental policies disturbed me, i.e. the idea of guardianship.
One other thing that I don't especially care for--knowing too much about the sex lives of characters. I just want the plot.
Yet, in spite of those quibbles, the author won me over completely.
I'm so glad you still enjoyed it despite starting in the middle. I went to the library this morning to see if I could find this one but there are 88 people on the wait list for it. Darn.
ReplyDeleteSo did I - read #2 first, now i have to go back and read #1. I'm a big fan of the Scandinavian mystery writers.
ReplyDeleteIliana - OMG! I had no idea! Obviously people in our area are not as current because it was sitting there on the New Book Shelf waiting for me.
ReplyDeleteDeb - :) I'm not the only one who will go ahead and begin in the middle of a series then. It isn't my preferred method, but better a little something, than nothing at all.
I'm really curious about the Larsson book. I've heard various things about it and am looking forward to reading it. I have the first one on hand. I hate starting in the middle of something but maybe it won't matter in the scheme of things.
ReplyDeleteDanielle - I wish I'd been able to read them in order, but sometimes reading them out of order gives some insight into earlier books. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it--since I have no choice! :)
ReplyDeleteMy view of the book is completely different. I thought that it was slow and a little on the boring side.
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