RED HEADED BOOK LOVER

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Stieg Larsson

Forty years ago, Harriet Vanger disappeared from a family gathering on the island owned and inhabited by the powerful Vanger clan. Her body was never found, yet her uncle is convinced it was murder – and that the killer is a member of his own tightly knit but dysfunctional family.

He employs disgraced financial journalist Mikael Blomkvist and the tattooed, truculent computer hacker Lisbeth Salander to investigate. When the pair link Harriet’s disappearance to a number of grotesque murders from forty years ago, they begin to unravel a dark and appalling family history.

But the Vangers are a secretive clan, and Blomkvist and Salander are about to find out just how far they are prepared to go to protect themselves

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo was a book I was hesitant to read for a long time. When it was released a massive hype and media storm surrounded it; this made me reluctant to buy it, I was scared that this novel would not live up to its expectations and my hopes for a brilliant thriller. However! Despite this, a friend convinced me to read it after she said she could not put it down and so, I read it, and the verdict is that I LOVED it! The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is one of the most incredible, thrilling and exhilarating novels I have ever had the pleasure of reading and along with Gone GirlΒ and Jane Eyre, it is a newly found favorite read of mine. Stieg Larsson’s skill not only as a writer but a storyteller floored me – upon finishing this novel all I could do was sit back in shock and amazement at what a brilliant book I had just read. In my reviews, I like to write a brief description of this book, and although the majority of you will know all about this excellent book, I am still going to write a summary for the readers who are yet to experience this glowing read!

Our story begins in 1966 and follows the mysterious Vanger family. 16-year-old Harriet Vanger, daughter of the CEO of a family-run business (which can only be described as a wealthy empire) known as Vanger Corporations, goes missing from the family’s small island community and is never seen again. No trace of Harriet, not even her body was found. Harriet’s disappearance has always troubled her great-uncle, Henrik Vanger. Henrik has never moved on past Harriet’s disappearance; he desperately wants to know what happened to his beloved and most favorite family member.

The disappearance of Harriet has become Henrik’s obsession over the last 40 years; he has pondered over and over again about what could have possibly happened to Harriett. Sadly, Henrik soon concluded that someone had murdered Harriet but not just anyone… somebody in the Vanger family (now we have ourselves a family mystery book lovers!). Although Henrick believes Harriet was murdered, he nor the police have ever been able to think of a motive or find any potential perpetrators; therefore, he has no idea who to suspect.
Flash forward 39 years and it is now 2005 and Henrik is still obsessed with Harriet’s disappearance. Henrick’s time is running out to find the answers once and for all; He is an ill man with ailing health, he is growing older and sicker with each passing day, so soon, his obsession soon turns to desperation. In his desperation, Henrik decides to spend his riches on hiring an investigator to investigate Harriet’s disappearance so that he can indulge in his obsession one more time… once and for all before his time runs out.

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At this point in the novel, we meet the protagonist of the story, Mikael Blomkvist. Mikael is a forty-something-year-old financial journalist and editor of Millennium magazine; a magazine which he co-founded which prides itself on investigative journalism. Blomkvist, however, and the magazine have suffered a significant blow recently, and he has been convicted and found guilty of libel against one of the most prominent entrepreneurs in Sweden: Hans-Erik Wennerstrom. It is crucial for me to mention Hans-Erik Wennerstrom because he and this subplot plays a considerable part in the latter part of the novel.

Mikael, with his name in poor-reputation, wants to keep a low-profile (understandably so!) and so, he pretends that he has been fired from the magazine to save it from further scrutiny from the media as well as the vicious Wennerstrom. Henrik Vanger is a man of many talents, one of those talents is scouting the right man for the right job. Henrick has been following Mikael and his career for a long time, he admires his journalistic skills, and when he learns of Mikael’s leave of absence, he sees this as an opportunity to hire Mikael and his resourceful knowledge to solve Harriet’s disappearance.

Henrick soon arranges a meeting, and upon Mikael and Henrik’s gathering, the reader learns that Mikael’s father worked once for the Vanger Corporation and Harriet herself had babysat little Mikael a few times. This, unlike the Wennerstrom snippet, is not an essential part of knowledge to the story. However, it does add another depth to this novel, and it helps with Mikael’s later decision.
Henrik jumps at the opportunity of hiring Mikael, and so he makes him a proposition. The proposition is that he come and live at Henrik’s estate with a year-long contract accompanied with an enormous sum withΒ the ‘pretext’ of writing a history of the family – an autobiography of Henrik. I am sure all of you lovely readers can guess by now that this pretext is false and instead, his real mission is to discover what has happened to dear Harriet.

After much convincing and reluctance from Mikael, he finally agrees to take Henrick up on his offer, even though he knows that this is a troubling case as well as a challenging, delicate task and so, he needs help. Now the reader meets the second protagonist of the novel, Lisbeth Salander. Lisbeth is a brilliant, quiet, secretive young woman who excels at her ‘job’ as a masterful, genius hacker. Lisbeth is a woman with a troubled past and an even more troubling present; she is typically a closed book, but she sees something in Mikael. Somehow, he earns her trust and frankly, it takes her by surprise. So begins The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo as this enigmatic duo team up to discover the truth about Harriet’s disappearance.

Book lovers, I am so sorry for my very long synopsis! I get carried away when writing a review of a book I love. It is a novel I am madly in love with; it is mysterious, haunting, twisted and suspenseful… all qualities I love in a mystery! The secrets the reader uncovers will shock you to your core; already I would have to implore you lovely readers to read this book if you have not yet. It is too brilliant to be missed!

At this point in my review, I believe it is essential to write about Larsson’s inspiration for his novel but I warn you, it is incredibly harrowing.Β Larsson’s inspiration for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo comes from a tragic and unsettling incident a young Larsson witnessed at the tender age of just 15. Larsson spoke of how he stood by as three men gang-raped an acquaintance of his named Lisbeth. Larsson, days later, was racked with guilt for having done nothing to help her and begged desperately for her forgiveness…she refused. The incident he said has haunted him for all of his life and in part inspired him to create a character named Lisbeth Salander who is also a rape survivor in the novel. This inspiration is heartrendingly sad, and I was shocked when I read about it. I think readers who know this, will gain an even better understanding of Lisbeth and that is important considering she is the focus of the novel.

The crime elements within these pages are terrifying, and unlike anything I read before and again, I can’t mention it without referring to Larsson’s other line of inspiration. Larsson’s crime inspiration for his novel comes from the murder of Catrine de Costa. Catrine de Costa was a 28-year-old Swedish prostitute who was murdered and horrifically had her body dismembered and placed in separate plastic bags all over Sweden. What is worse is that the killer was never found and ‘him’ setting those bags all over Sweden was a horrible twisted game he was playing with the police.

Larsson as a writer certainly had a very unusual, but an incredible way of thinking and learning about his inspiration for this novel will bring you closer to it and help you understand it better. I just wish poor Larsson was alive today so I could pick his brain about all things The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo!

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo could be labeled as only a ‘crime mystery’ however I think differently. I believe that this novel is so much more than a generic piece of crime fiction; it could never be generalized because it is special, unique. Larsson managed to add depths and layers to this novel which I have never before have come across with a crime novel.
Instead of being ‘just a crime mystery,’ it is the story of a woman’s survival, a story of crime, a story of disordered personalities as well as family relationships. It is more than a mystery, it is an entity of its own, and so I do hope that you lovely readers read this excellent book.

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Lisbeth Salander, where do I start? Lisbeth has to be the most incredible protagonist in the history of publishing. Lisbeth is an introverted, intricate, intriguing young woman; she is a woman who has a fantastic narrative, it grabs you from the first page and hooks you to the last. Lisbeth is not only an intriguing woman; she is a survivor, she has been surviving her whole life. She has survived the horrific state care system she had grown up in; in which she experienced unspeakable acts. She is surviving the prejudices which have sadly been placed upon her throughout her life. She is a remarkable woman for this alone but even more so because she has been surviving all by herself, with no help or support system. Lisbeth is a strong, authentic, poignant character and one of my favorite protagonists of all time.

As a lover of literature, I have to give praise to Larsson for writing such an exceptional novel. His writing will engross, enthrall and entertain you from the very first sentence; ever since the first sentence I was hooked. From that moment onwards I knew it was going to be an unforgettable read and it was! Larsson was a gifted writer; his words held such power over me and the millions of other readers his words touch.
It is tragically sad that Larson never knew the success of his Millennium series and what a critical read it became – especially for survivors. I am sure the majority of you know of Larsson’s fate, but in case you do not, I will enlighten.

Larsson had always only ever been a Journalist and Nazi specialist; however one day he decided to put pen to paper and write a book series. He walked to his publisher and handed his three manuscripts up front, but sadly, just a few days later he tragically died… he never knew the success of his novels, and that is so incredibly sad to me.

The next few paragraphs in my review are going to contain a few spoilers so if you do not know what happens in this book and do not want to be spoiled, then please skip to the spoiler-free sections which will be highlighted!

SPOILER – Having finished reading The Girl With the DragonΒ Tattoo and learning of Martin Vanger’s true nature; I can’t help but see the shocking resemblance between him and his father’s gruesome crimes (but also the inspiration of the true-life murder of Catrine de Costa). As I am writing of how grotesque and immoral Martin’s crimesΒ were, I have to mention that the crimes in this book are equally, if not more grotesque than the crime of Catrine de Costa; which is still a very shocking thought to me.

TheΒ crime in this novel could surpass that of a real-life horror show. If you do not mind reading about gruesome murders and crimes and in fact, have an interest in them then, of course, this is a book which you would revel in because the crimes were so disturbing that it makes your head spin with thoughts and feelings which you would not typically be accustomed. This is yet another reason why I loved this novel because as a lover of psychology and criminology alike, I was in my element!

SPOILER – At this point, I feel that I should write down my thoughts on the ending, not the conclusion but the ending and climax of the Vanger family saga and Martins murders. When Mikael was taken captive and strung up like a carcass by Martin, my first thought was ‘Yes! Now, this is going to be intense’ and intense it was! The conversation was raw, enticing and thrilling; so thrilling that I wanted it to last longer!

To summarise my thoughts on The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, I would say that this exceptional novel is a steady, streamlined, thrilling, gripping read which is distributing and creepy at the same. If you adore compelling mystery crime novels, then this indeed is the book for you and I have no choice but to give this incredible book five stars!

Thank you so much for reading my review book lovers! I appreciate it so much. I truly adore talking with all of you lovely readers so please do comment below and let me know all of those wonderful thoughts of yours! Let me know whether you have read this novel but also let me know if you haven’t and whether you would like to; I hope my review would have convinced you! If you have not read the book but have seen the movie then let me know your thoughts and whether you liked the movie or the TV series; I would love to know! If you have read the rest of the series too then please let me know whether they are worth me picking up! Thank you so much again!

Goodbye for now book lovers,

P.S. Here is a preview of the book for all of you lovely readers to enjoy! Please have a read of the preview and if you find that you have loved what you have read then all you need to do is click the Buy on Amazon button and it will take you straight to the book on Amazon USA! If you are in the U.K. then below I have attached a link to the book for the Amazon U.K. website. Please see attached a Book Depository link for those that are international! Thank you so much again for reading book lovers, I can’t wait to hear your thoughts on this book!

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo:Β Amazon U.K.Β –Β Book DepositoryΒ –Β Publisher; Penguin Random House

Mini Movie Review

As this novel is now a movie I feel the need to quickly divulge my thoughts on it! I personally thought that the movie was insanely good and a perfect adaption of the book. The director David Fincher has a habit of adapting novels incredibly well, as we saw with Gone Girl which is one of my favorite books and movies of all time! I thought how the story was told was incredible and Fincher perfectly captured the harsh, cold setting of Sweden. The casting too was superb, especially Rooney Mara for Lisbeth; she was just amazing and I really implore all of you to watch the movie also!

Thank you so much again for reading book lovers!

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Wanda

Love your reviews! I love following your blog/website because you always post so many reviews that are all different and unique from each other which is rare today so great job! Also as I adore your blog so much and want you to win I have nominated you for the Liebster Award. Keep up the great work and you will always have a follower in me now! You do such great work!

Kim Meyers
Kim Meyers

What a thorough review! I love your reviews so much and have been reading them as well as sharing them for years now. I love books and you always review such a great collection. It has been years since I read this series of books, but through the years it has stayed with me indelibly and your review has made me want to re-read the entire series. Lisbeth ks one of the most unforgettable and inspiring characters I can ever remember reading. Such a gripping story as well. I loved it wildly.Keep reviewing and I will keep reading!

Samantha

I have read the book last year and thought it was awesome as well! Lisbeth was a very compelling and intriguing character. Your amazing review has made me want to re-read it and I will do that as soon as I can. I love your reviews they always make me want to read and re-read books I have loved so thanks!

Joce

You are so talented!!!!!! love your reviews and enjoy reading them and sharing them with my friends so much. Keep up the amazing work!

johnpersico
johnpersico

Great review of the book. Love your visuals to add depth to your writing. You are very ambitious. Amazing how many of us out there love books. I know I may be older than your normal reader but I do really enjoy your reviews even the ones for your YA books because you write so in-depth which is rare to come across. Keep up the fantastic work.

J.S. Mueller

I saw the movie and loved it, but I really want to read the book now. Knowing how it was probably a way for Larsson to exorcise the demons of his past makes it that much more fascinating. Thanks for a thorough review.

milliethom

I’ve been intending to read this book for ages and your excellent and thorough review has made me move it a long way forward on my TBR list. Whenever I read one of your reviews I always trust your opinion as i have been reading your reviews for months now and you are so honest always but never negative which is so refreshing. I will be sure to add this to my TBR pile and let you know how I get on. Thanks again Aimee!

Lexxie @ (un)Conventional Bookviews

I love this trilogy so much, and even if I know the fourth novel doesn’t really have all that much to do with the first three, I do own that one as well. It’s really too bad his family wanted all the money, even if Larsson’s girlfriend had basically co-written all the books with him. That’s the reason why the almost finished manuscript is still not released.
Great review πŸ™‚

books n'at

I liked this book, but didn’t love it and I never picked up any of the sequels. I’m interested to know if you read them and if you think the story gets better as it progresses through the other books. They probably won’t be at the top of my reading list, but I would give them a try on your recommendation.

avidlysubversive

I just finished reading this book a few weeks ago for the 4th time and it is still great. I don’t usually like the movie version of a book, but this time it was different. I loved it.

This post has a good flow to it. Keep it up.

Evelyn @ Books With Chemistry

Oh my god. I never knew these things about his book. Everyone (or at least most of the bookish people I know) raves about this through & through. I’m never a fan of reading books with heavy mentions of rape but I’m willing… so so willing to check this out AS SOON AS POSSIBLE now. Thanks to you, really. I’m especially intrigued by Larsson’s inspirations and this female MC, Lisbeth. Give me a good strong survivor anytime and I’ll go with a smile! Awesome review you wrote there! (Though I skimmed slightly when you mentioned about the ending so that… Read more »

The Opening Sentence

Lisbeth Salander is an amazing character invention and a big inspiration to me and my work. (I often quote her alongside Hannibal Lecter as being the best examples of the anti-hero.) I need to read the fourth book as Langercratz has had good reviews for it.

As for the films: both Noomi Rapace and Rooney Mara captured different sides of Salander so effectively, but I’d give Mara the edge.

Your website too is great, love the wide varirty of reviews and how you welcome all comments and views.

thefirstassertion

WONDERFUL REVIEW! I actually adore your reviews and get happy everytime I see your notification. Your reviews are always so indepth and well written and compell me to read the book so keep up the fantastic work!

Arpita

Hello Aimee,
I loved your review! Its so well written, I wish I were that good with review writing! Makes me want to red that book now! Great Job!

bmackela

Good review. I hope you get a chance to read the rest of the series.

huntersjones

Fantastic review! I love this book and I love your website too. Been an avid follower for years now and love how you are always pushing boundaries with the norm of reviews. Also love how you lace bits about yourself in your reviews, that is great and so unique! Keep up the phenomenal work I will always read now.

Kay - The Desert Bibliophile

I adore the Millennium series! There’s nothing like an amazingly written, chunky novel to get my blood pumping. I just picked up the fourth volume recently and while I’m super excited to read it based purely on my need to know what has happened since the third book, I’m hesitant because it’s not Larsson. Though, I’ve heard that David Lagercrantz leaves it open for a few more books. I can’t wait to see what you think of the rest of the series!

Kay - The Desert Bibliophile

Larsson did a really amazing job of wrapping up the main plot of the first three novels but still leaving enough questions to involve a fourth book and actually had an incomplete manuscript that was left in the possession of her girlfriend at the time of his death. However, because they weren’t married so had no right to his work. There was some drama, if I remember correctly between her, the publishers and his surviving family that retained the rights when he passed. I believe his editor wanted to finish what he had started but the family refused? Apparently the… Read more »

Eric Klingenberg

I loved this book as well. Really love your in-depth review and anaylis of the book. You should expand on the movie review section that would make a great feature.

Ayunda

I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH!!!!!!!I agree with everything you just wrote! It was such an amazing plot and both Lisbeth and Erika are some of my favorite female characters of all time, because both are badass in their own way. I never knew about the inspiration for the novelX and now that I do I have a whole new appreciation for everything that I’ve read. I’m so scared to read Girl with the spider web because I feel like it’ll be a letdown. As a side note I adore your reviews and really enjoy how in-depth they are so… Read more »

Juvie

Hello! I’ve nominated you for the Real Neat Blog Award. I’ve explained all about it here: https://paradigmshifter0912.wordpress.com/2017/06/14/real-neat-blog-award-pure-fun/. Thanks! πŸ™‚

Juvie
Reply to  Aimee Ann

Welcome! πŸ™‚

Juvie
Reply to  Aimee Ann

Noooo. Not yet πŸ™ But I do have the movie. Not sure though if I should start with that… πŸ™‚ Whatchathink? πŸ™‚

Juvie
Reply to  Aimee Ann

I’ll do that. Thanks! πŸ™‚ πŸ™‚ πŸ™‚ I’ll *try to* write a review of the movie once done. Hehe πŸ™‚

Juvie
Reply to  Juvie

I’d start with the movie, then πŸ™‚ Thanks! <3 <3 <3

Juvie
Reply to  Aimee Ann

Definitely! I’ll try to find the copy and if it’s with me I’ll watch it on my rest day πŸ™‚

Juvie
Reply to  Aimee Ann

I’ve seen it. I liked it! It was recommened by a friend. He said it was a good movie and it was! πŸ™‚

Jude

My favourite crime novel (series) of all time!

And many thanks for the follow on my blog! πŸ™‚

Jude
Reply to  Aimee Ann

Thank you so much! πŸ˜€πŸ˜€β˜ΊπŸ˜Š

shweta1625

Wow!! I think I should give this book a try. Coincidentally, my friend has also been suggesting this book to me these days and she even downloaded the movie for me bcoz I was skeptical about the book! Now after reading your review and the fact that everyone is so intrigued by the book, I’m going to give it a try!! 😊 Thankq fr the reviewπŸ˜ŠπŸ‘

shweta1625
Reply to  Aimee Ann

Yes, I always find the novels more interesting, they have a way of nicely building up the character backgrounds, something which we don’t get with movies
And if I happen to read the novel first, I always end up comparing it to the movie to check for plot changes and vice versa 😜

shweta1625
Reply to  shweta1625

πŸ˜€

Eccentric Muse
Eccentric Muse

This book remains one of my absolute favorite book of all time and I always recommend it to anyone looking for a good crime story/mystery. I also enjoy the other two books in the series and for now, it is my favorite trilogy until I reread them because I always discover new things while rereading. I won’t bother to watch the movie/s or TV show because they wouldn’t do the characters enough justice. You might just be my all-time favorite book reviewer. You take your time to write it up and you’re always thorough.

Eccentric Muse
Eccentric Muse
Reply to  Aimee Ann

They are. Don’t stop there, girl, complete the trilogy. Even if you don’t like them you can tell us about it on your blog. I plan to reread them soon.

Eccentric Muse
Eccentric Muse
Reply to  Eccentric Muse

No. I drew my line at the 3rd. I don’t want to take away from his legacy.

Eccentric Muse
Eccentric Muse
Reply to  Eccentric Muse

Yes! I want to know your thoughts. πŸ™‚

Eccentric Muse
Eccentric Muse
Reply to  Aimee Ann

You’re most welcome.Your reviews are wonderful!

Eccentric Muse
Eccentric Muse
Reply to  Eccentric Muse

Hahaha! πŸ™‚

Eccentric Muse
Eccentric Muse
Reply to  Eccentric Muse

There is no need to apologize at all. ^^

Magsi Rover

Whoah! How nostalgic. Looks like I’ll never be too busy not to pay your site a visit. Thanks for this! <3 I think its always amazing to see updated write ups, insights and whatnot about books/stories and authors we like.

Forestwoodfolkart

I liked the Swedish version of the movie best but the novel is just chock full of twists, turns and revelations! A wonderful trilogy that hooks readers from all parts of society and the world.

Forestwoodfolkart
Reply to  Aimee Ann

Yes I am a big Nordic crime reader!

Forestwoodfolkart
Reply to  Aimee Ann

I love the Swedish books by HΓ₯kan Nesser, Karin Altvegen, Camilla Lackberg and Liza Marklund. Also great thrillers are written by Lars Kepler. Danish writers of crime I like Elsebeth Egholm and for Norwegian: Authors Karin Fossum, Anne Holt, and of course the fantastic Jo NesbΓΈ. I have some reviews on some of these on my blog. Some have been made into movies or mini series. Holt, Marklund, Lackberg and Egholm have female protagonists. Is that too much information to start with? If so I apologise. You can see I am quite a fan!! I hope to convert you!!

Forestwoodfolkart

Have fun. I am sure you will enjoy them. The list is not exhaustive either. There is more but I didn’t want to overwhelm You!

Forestwoodfolkart

Headhunters is a movie from Nesbo’s book of the same name. Lisa Marklund’s Annika Bengtzon series has been made for TV, as have Henning Mankind’s Wallender series. ( The Swedish version trumps the British version), Smilla’s feeling for Snow by Peter Hoeg has been made into a movie (Danish novel) to name a few. Check imdb fir more details. The Bridge is an excellent series but not sure if there was a book. Nesbo’s wrote a TV series called Occupied which is amazing. Egholm’ s Dicte series is also on TV but it is subtitled here. I don’t mind subtitled… Read more »

Forestwoodfolkart
Reply to  Aimee Ann

Have fun!

Forestwoodfolkart
Reply to  Aimee Ann

I think if you don’t watch the subtitled ones, you are missing out on so many good ones, particularly from Scandinavia. But I do understand what you mean.

Forestwoodfolkart

I also have a page on the main menu on Scandinavian authors but the individual Reviews are here: forestwoodfolkart.wordpress.com/books-book-reviews-book-releases-a-work-in-progress/

Forestwoodfolkart

Yes, I think it will give you a different and perhaps better impression of the story.

Forestwoodfolkart
Reply to  Aimee Ann

Let me know what you think!

Forestwoodfolkart
Reply to  Aimee Ann

Yes, I have read all of them including the last which was NOT written by Stein as he had passed away by then

Forestwoodfolkart
Reply to  Aimee Ann

I feel that the author was trying to keep the same style but one could tell it just didn’t have the edge that the other’s did. You will have to let me know how you found it.

Forestwoodfolkart

I believed that the fourth book in the millenium series was never finished, and it was his father that refused to publish it as is. I also understood, perhaps incorrectly that the fourth book was based on that story that Larsson half finished.

Forestwoodfolkart
Reply to  Aimee Ann

It is only what I heard in one report. It may just be rumour!

Forestwoodfolkart
Reply to  Aimee Ann

Auto correct on my phone changed Stieg in the previous comment. Of course I meant Stieg not Stein.

Forestwoodfolkart

That is the trouble with phones!!!

Forestwoodfolkart

That is a surprise, but a blog is a little bit different, sort of like writing letters.

GRuchirG ("Jee" Ruchir "Jee")!

till now I havent picked it, the same case, till now i didnt found it that attractive to buy. is it good? some of my friends read and told me it is. well.. thanks for the detailed review. ruchir.

GRuchirG ("Jee" Ruchir "Jee")!
Reply to  Aimee Ann

well no πŸ™‚

beautyblitzblog

Completely agree with everything you’ve just said! I ADORED this book! Like you I was a little hesitant to read it, but after the first chapter I was completely hooked and couldn’t stop until I’d finished it! I’d highly recommend his other works too, if you haven’t read them yet. Great post! xx

letterstoyellow

I agree with you there its so tragic that the man behind such amazing series of books will never know what his work means for some…Lisbeth Salander is such a complicated character with mix of both light and dark…movie was good cause rooney mara was fantastic but nothing beats a book…

letterstoyellow
Reply to  Aimee Ann

read them all…his 3 books and the new 4th as well..waiting for the 5th one…

letterstoyellow
Reply to  Aimee Ann

Second book is really good more mystery..actually interesting ..as for the third one, well its kind of a continuation…you have to read third because the second one continues…its a long story second and third…but i loved it… second and third book will make you what a brilliant mind Lisbeth has…

letterstoyellow
Reply to  Aimee Ann

book 2 is highly recommended…its totally lisbeth…

letterstoyellow
Reply to  Aimee Ann

looking forward to your thoughts on book 2 and lisbeth…

letterstoyellow
Reply to  Aimee Ann

second/third has diff case..its more about lisbeth…

letterstoyellow
Reply to  Aimee Ann

i have this pull towards female protagonists ..Cause a strong woman in lead always makes even the worst story a bearable one…and lisbeth is an extraordinary character…no wonder Rooney Mara had hard time to portray her…

letterstoyellow
Reply to  Aimee Ann

i have been meaning to read it for a long time…have heard good things about it… πŸ™‚ any book with a strong female protagonist must not be left unread…

letterstoyellow
Reply to  Aimee Ann

Definitely…The second best part about a reading a book with strong female protagonist is discussing it… πŸ™‚ when i read one of the books that i have recommended (wont tell the name right now) and one of the main character died…i mourned for days and wanted to find a soul with whom i could discuss that what a mean thing it was for the author to kill that person… ahahahaha

letterstoyellow
Reply to  Aimee Ann

I was just thinking about today one of my very very close friend & I became friends over books….ofcourse we didn’t bond over intellectual books but over Nancy Drew…guess for a teenager Nancy Drew is the intellectual stuff..hahaha…

Books, i think Lisbeth Salander, got us talking…power of fiction …books can connect people … πŸ™‚

letterstoyellow

true that…i mean you and i could be totally opposite but we have books to find compassion & empathy …books make people more humane & warm…for me its always a happy thing to find a fellow reader since not many of my friends read…

letterstoyellow

I know with so much in common, I feel if we were in same school we would have been a team…or maybe its my writer mind that like to imagine scenarios..hahaha

letterstoyellow

hahaha…true…. πŸ™‚

letterstoyellow

wow! so cool…so cool… πŸ™‚ its a crazy but a good-crazy thing to find someone who loves the same thing you do…

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it does not begins with A..but now im curious to know which one did you read.. πŸ™‚

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its a world war fiction πŸ™‚

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i would like to stick a pseudonym, hope that’s okay, let’s call me Virginia. After Virginia Woolf ofcourse, never read her books but find her sharp arrogance, darkness and brilliant writing mind too fascinating…you seem to be a great reader so much better than me, might i suggest a book or two (Hope its not rude)… Vanessa and her Sister and Code Name Verity

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Nice to meet you too fellow bookstalker πŸ™‚ and what should i call you?

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nice to meet you Aimee… πŸ™‚

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yes i would love to give you suggestions, but most of my list is about historical fiction…if that’s your thing i shall send you huge list πŸ™‚ i started with Nancy drew was a thriller lover but somewhere i found myself obsessed with historical fiction…

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Reply to  Aimee Ann

me too… historical fictions are just so great..infact if i have to be honest i was never good in history, wasnt much attentive in history class as well but now i love historical fiction..

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Reply to  Aimee Ann

absolutely…ive learned more about history from fiction than the school books…

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i guess that’s difference between a good novel and text books from classrooms ..hahahaha…my history teacher wont appreciate this comment..hahaha

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classical studies degree…that sounds interesting…mind if you tell me more about this field….

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Reply to  Aimee Ann

Exactly what’s it about…is it about studying diff cultures?

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Truth is I haven’t been to any other land to pick a favourite…so i guess at this moment whole world and every culture is intriguing to me..

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I think the day people will open themselves to other cultures is the day world will be a safe place again…because that’s when the fear of unknown will end & so would hate…

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Reply to  Aimee Ann

so many, sarah’s keys, the book thief, moon at nine, thousand splendid suns, the kite runner, Aimee and Jaguar, princess, code name verity, flygirl, rose under fire, prisoner of night and fall, the storyteller…will try to think of more… πŸ™‚

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Reply to  Aimee Ann

i wonder which one you’ll like the most…though they are all unique in their own way…

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Reply to  Aimee Ann

its always amazing to find people who read..infact im pretty sure some of the books that im suggesting you are the ones i found from other book lovers…

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Reply to  Aimee Ann

i mean i agree internet has robbed us of goodness of simplicity but it does have its own plus side…i mean it has connected the world.. for example you and I two diff people living in different countries miles apart but we are connected because we both love books and movies and are on internet…to find people who are like you , to find a community of book lovers…i think internet is not all that bad an influence…

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that’s the silver lining, right there. Even the monstrous digital world that is making us a lazy generation has the power to connect people and make them happy…truth is im just glad we have internet even if its less classy now with no pen and paper…my very close friends are now living in different countries and without internet calls i would be just a sad soul… πŸ˜›

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I know I miss the time when i used to write letters to friends or use landline to call them at home, but i will also admit a video call to a friend & talking to her face to face at real time even from miles apart makes up for all the evils of internet… πŸ™‚

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Britain & America are way too poles apart in terms of culture

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Reply to  Aimee Ann

i think i too am in the wrong era..sure i love the comfort of netflix shows and instagram uploads…though i dont have any era but i would love be born back in 50s or 60s maybe..or maybe early 19th century of british era… these were tough times but people made it through didnt they…im actually obsessed with world war holocaust stories because among the horror were people both germans and jews who did extraordinary things to survive or to help…what’s your era…

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Reply to  Aimee Ann

hopefully we will have their level of strength too, if we ever find ourselves back in that era in that situation…have you seen the movie Life is Beautiful…

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Reply to  Aimee Ann

its a very beautiful movie about world war era when jews were being taken to camps…i call it beautiful its more about this man and his family..this man and his love and courage and ability to smile even when everything was going upside down… i think you’ll like the movie..

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Reply to  Aimee Ann

on holocaust? a lot of them…boy in stripped pyajamas (movie is good too), Torn thread, Sarah’s key, code name verity, rose under fire, the storyteller…

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Reply to  Aimee Ann

I cried so much at the end of the Boy in stripped Pyjamas….Today I The Zookeeper’s Wife ..its based on a book..but its a real world war story about this polish woman and her husband…Hitler was real life voldemort but there were some brave people even back then and this couple was one of them good ones…

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actually if im not wrong every reader thinks he or she is in wrong era…because a good book has this magic of making you fall in love with another era could be 50s or 60s or 70s or even future…dont you think…

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yeah i think i get that… a day in nature under stars with one person who gets you is anyday better than netflix in a closed air conditioner room with a mobile phone buzzing every other second…

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wow!

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Don’t let that habit go…its such a rare thing to have in today’s busy world… πŸ™‚

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i kind of love the language and tone they used…very class..unlike today’s Sup, Lol, BRB…sure maybe i too use them but that’s cause we are no longer the people who write with a pen and a paper we are digital people now…with the shorter words the better .

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Rare species are people who charm with words and not superficial style… I think I would fall head over heels for any soul who would write me a letter instead of texting me …

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Yes! a simple handwritten ‘I love you’ on a card with smiley is any day priceless and better than any gift…I dont think im ever getting in a relationship…i have too old school expectations ..hahahah

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old school & old soul…very well put…

im 31 but i think im both old school & old soul..hahaha…

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First time i fell in love was when i was 16 i think and now that i look back i think what i loved themost about that relationship was that we had no mobiles, so we would write notes to eachother on pen and paper, we would wish each other on birthdays with handmade greeting cards and we would often write letters when we fought…now I think today even the most romantic relationship is burdened by the presence of digital words and absence of pen & a paper…maybe im hopelessly old school..

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Reply to  Aimee Ann

Unfortunately i don’t even think i can change much…I’m a stubborn 30 some years old… too late to be anything but me… πŸ™‚

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cute… πŸ™‚ well my friend I hope you both end up with endless piles of letters from eachother, spending years and years writing them…

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scrap books? okay now im in love with you both even more…i was once a scrap book person long time ago…it makes me so happy to hear scrap booking is still alive… πŸ™‚

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Im so glad you are…we need kids to love these things more and more… i truly believe children should be given more access to reading, coloring, dance, sports and arts and hide & seek & scrap books and even getting all jumpy into muddy pools..than watchign tv & playing angry birds…

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I’m so glad you think that way. Today alot of parents end up forcing their kids to become a doctor or engineer or lawyer adding pressure to them and also overlooking any interest or art the child wishes to pursue…

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my best friend is software engineer…i rem i always used to get less marks and she was the A-grade kind..and i would look at her and say you are making me look bad.. and we would end up laughing…

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that’s the right way..i mean im not a mom and i probably have no idea how to be one, but i do know kids need to know 3 things compassion, empathy and confidence..they can become whatever they want, doctor, actor, racer, painter, dancer, singer whatever…as long as they are happy and compassionate ..

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true…there is much more to life..and its one life on a magical planet ..the only planet with people, mountains, greenery, rivers and natural wonders…why not let our younger generation live it with a heart and not with pressure of being someone they dont relate to..

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hahaha…either we are too smart or too crazy because not everyone would agree with us…

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I truly agree. It is sad how someone who is good in sports or music is often asked to give more attention to Math or Science because they pay more…

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true..been there…school and college feels like ages ago…i had nightmares of Maths even after i dropped the subject and moved into different field…hahaha..

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apart from my last two years of school every year was not worth remembering..partly cause i never had many friends and partly cause i hated studying, i was awful …but my last two years were fun…grades were decent, i had few friends, even fell in love and i was House captain…

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beautiful but also heartbreaking… i fell in love with a friend and realised what a tragedy my life is going to be… but before we said goodbye and moved on…those two years were amazing….

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actually its good to fall in love with the one instead of falling in and falling out and falling and falling out…the one….i believe in that concept…sure i might be unlucky in department oflove..but im hopelessly in love with the idea of love…

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And my faith in finding it one day keeps me going… πŸ™‚

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wow! i feel old now.. 31…

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Actually i was once scared of entering 30s…but i it think its all too hyped…30s is just 20s (i still dont feel like grownup) except it feels calmer and crazier all together…

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For me like i said, last two years of school and last two years of college…best time…ive spent alot of time in different schools..so i never had a permanent friend or school to lean on to…

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I took time to find forever friends too…Back in my teens and early twenties, I had this urge to please people and not say no…i was like Monica from friends except i am very messy which Monica wasnt…

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Considering im more of a me-time person now, i dont make new friends unless ofcourse happens ..

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i guess i was never shy just awkward when it came to socializing…i still am but now i can handle it gracefully without making a fool of self…:P

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i dont think im shy or introvert…i would love to travel and say hello to random strangers :)…im just in a strange phase of life…my parents need me and im trying my best to be there…

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this is the difference bet grownups and kids…you say hi to a random stranger n you get strange looks..but have you ever tried waving or smiling at a kid on a car passing by…they smile or wave back πŸ™‚ i love this so i do this alot…

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I was once in hospital with my mother to get medicines for my dad..and i was sitting in this waitng area playing some car racing thing on my phone (told you im a kid 31 but a kid i fail to realise i need to grow up)…so this little comes and stands next to me trying to see what im playing… so i shifted a little let him sit and lowered my phone so he can see…it was like we played together…i always make sure i smile if a kid is looking …

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I wanted to be an Astronaut, a detective, an actor , a journalist and finally a writer…today i have a decent job, good salary but i wish i had spent my youth travelling…it is very important to follow what makes you happy…

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and i hope even when yearsss later i on a random day just ask you hows it going…youhave the same thing to say. youre happy and chill.. πŸ™‚

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Wow! that must be tough. Happy is good. ..I wouldnt say im Happy kind all the time, but i love happy kinds …you are a very strong soul i must say…email would be easier than wordpress πŸ™‚ where do i say hello then?

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hahaha no rambling is good…I am rambler myself…i guess for that i have to blame the diaries i write while growing up…theses diaries they never stop you from rambling πŸ™‚

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Wow! I can only imagine the cuteness overload around you.

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that’s what im talking about…the experience of exchanging letters or notes…its just too beautiful… πŸ™‚

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have you seen The Women…the movie..i have not read the book…but the movie makes me so happy about old romance…less lusty and more sophisticated…

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hahaha..no no..this is based on a book with same name…its story about 5 sisters with Josephine as the main character (atleast in the movie as played by Winona Ryder)…the era and the relationship and the story is just too classically exotic for me…Jo or Josephine is rebellious girl who writes and writes because she wants to be a writer…

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Reply to  Aimee Ann

At first I just saw it because of my love for Winona, but I ended up in love with the story..

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i think she is way too talented & pretty..her movies were something…but if i have to pick one actress whose movies i have seen endless times & often rewatch when im low..it has to be Meg Ryan…

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i would love love to recommended her movies…for starters -Youve got mail, french kiss, addicted to love & courage under fire…if nothing else…these are some of her best …youve got mail is my most fav …infact eversince ive seen this (i think i have seen it more than hundred times), i have this dream of going to nyc & visiting cafe Lalo…one of my to-do on my bucket list…

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Im from India. Currently a very hot corner of the world.

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Reply to  Aimee Ann

Oh youve been here? hope it was a good trip..

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Hot …totally…i cant take the heat and ive spent all my life here…

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for me i have itch to go beyond this place..to another land…there is a whole outside and i havent seen it…strange but i feel like i belong somewhere else…or maybe its the summer messing up with me. πŸ˜›

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I know, i do know its basic human psychology for feeling that we belong to somewhere else because the mind and heart yearns to get out of the pond…but with me it feels more than that…because i am just so different from people i know, kind of like a misfit and so the strong feeling of belonging to someplace else…

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Reply to  Aimee Ann

i mean none of the people i know would ever say I wish I was born in bloomington of 19th century…hahaha

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Reply to  Aimee Ann

I wish too πŸ˜›

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I would I think, I almost planned a trip to New York …But someday for sure… πŸ™‚

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I will…i just blame movies for my undying crush over NYC

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I cant pick one…but I think most of Meg Ryan movies have got my head wrapped around America…God knows how much I love NYC and i haven’t even been there…movies i blame movies hahahaha…

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I will i surely will…i think when i’ll catch that plane whole world would know..ill be screaming like a little girl who just got her first puppy… πŸ™‚

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wow..that sound so amazing…i hope you have the best 50s night ever…

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I haven’t but sounds too interesting and now I wish to download it… πŸ™‚ I must

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I shall definitely check it out… πŸ™‚

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Its nice to meet you Aimee :)…you are going to love the Code Name Verity…i loved it…the audio is as amazing as the paperback…Have you seen The crown..its almost like reading a historical fiction…it tells the tale Queen Elizabeth…the dresses, the accent, the story and the era…i think you’ll love it..

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its hard to create a character so balanced…she is broken and vulnerable but just so smart at the same time..and a good person deep down…

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the fourth book in the series is fine too but you can clearly see its not from the hand of original creator…its sort of evident…

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Reply to  Aimee Ann

yes it definitely has Lisbeth, i think without Lisbeth the whole purpose of continuing Stieg Larsson’s series would fail… a fifth book is on its way too

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