I know, I'm the last person in the world to be reading these. I've had this book on my Kindle for way over two years and am just getting around to reading it because its up next on my book club list.
I had read a lot about whether or not this book was pro-women or anti-women, with its descriptive violence against different young women in the book. I think my take on it was that it was pro-women, and anti-violence, but that's just my opinion.
I'd read a good about of Henning Mankel books (the Wallender series, in particular) that are of a similar style -- mysteries out in the wilds of Sweden. But what this book has that the Mankel books lack is Lisbeth Salander, who really made the book fly for me. Kurt Wallender is a great character, but like a John Rebus or a James Ellroy detective, he isn't really anyone that you would want to know more about in real life. A good cop with a screwed up life. But Salander was more interesting, and I look forward to finding out more about her in the next two stories.
I really liked the writing style and pace of the book. Will definitely be reading the two follow ups and am sorry that we will never have anything new from this talented writer.
However, I could have done without the endless descriptions of coffee and sandwiches. It just made me hungry.
I agree about the descriptions...also, the first fifty or so pages describing the Swedish banking system almost stymied me.
ReplyDeleteI gave my stepdad these books for Christmas and told him that as long as he could get past the first hundred or so pages, it was gravy.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read it, yet!! But I guess I have to, now. ;) Great review!! :)
ReplyDeleteMy book club just read this book this past fall. I think the group was split 50/50 liking versus not liking the book. I've heard the second & third books are better than the first. The first 300 pages just killed my interest in the series.
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