Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 671
 Fantastic September 6, 2010
P. Knight (London UK)
Possibly one of the best books i've read. Get it, read it and lose yourself for a few hours.
 Flawed diamond September 5, 2010
Ellen V
I bought this book on impulse as the name rang a bell, and glad I did.
It is a gripping read but far from perfect. I am assuming that as the author died just after submitting the manuscripts it missed out on being edited, which would no doubt have improved many of the flaws. The tale is set in Sweden, which is interesting and well presented - I felt I understood the essence of the country, both politically/socially and in terms of geography. The plot involves a historical murder and an unconnected current corporate fraud, but the two are awkwardly intertwined, really only by the main character working on both projects. The novel stutters about a bit, with the best section being the Harriet Vanger murder plotline. The author has put in too much - too many characters are mentioned that we just don't need to know about (other staff at Millenium, too many Vanger cousins etc), there is too much detailing in some areas and not enough at other points. Overall there are too many ideas - corporate fraud, murder, hacking, pseudo-spying, Salander's story, and an edit would have ensured these where simplified and strengthened. There are also odd errors (there is no mention of x knowing y yet x pops into y's office etc). The main characters are in the right ballpark but could be strengthened. However, saying all that the Swedish essence and the gripping Vanger murder plot mean you can't put this book down, and it's worth accepting the flaws for this. The Salander character is compelling enough for me to want to read the next 2 books.
I will be interested to see both the Swedish and awaited US film versions of this, as hopefully the screenwriters will have addressed the novels flaws, and the main plot would lend itself well to the big screen.
The Girl with the Golden Tattoo September 4, 2010
Jenny Wren (Leeds, England)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
The book arrived promptly and in pretty good condition. Am reading it for my book club. I found it hard to get into at the beginning and find the Swedish place names a bit distracting and difficult. Now I've read quite a bit I am really enjoying it. Not finished it yet but am looking forward to the next one.
 COFFEE AND SANDWICHES September 4, 2010
MAN ON TRAIN (Cambridge, UK)
If you like hearing about coffee and sandwiches this book is for you. There is lots of coffee consumed and a whole host of open sandwiches are scoffed by Mikael, one of the main characters. He seems to eat nothing else. Apart from that, the book is one long crashing bore from start to finish. Nothing actually happens for 187 pages, even the eponymous heroine makes few appearances. We do get a lot of very dull stuff about some implausible investigative Swedish magazine (the very words want to make you nod off), and a reporter, the sandwich eating Mikael, who for reasons not really explained has got on the wrong end of a libel judgement and is packed off to open prison.
The central plot is an unlikely rambling tale about some Swedish magnate who wants the Sandwich Scoffer to look into an old family mystery. It's been on his mind for 40 years and now seems a good time to do something about it. We then have to endure a lengthy and torturous trail through and endless list of weirdo family members, all of whom seem to hate the rest of the family. I know how they feel. There is a nasty detour involving the Girl with the Dragon Etc and a sadistical lawyer. The plot groans towards its denouement where we come across, yes you've guessed it, a rather nasty serial killer. In the style of the best James Bond villains, he inexplicably makes a stupid mistake which results in his downfall.
The only positive thing I can say is that I finished it. I was rather hoping for a twist that would make it all worthwhile, but was sadly disappointed. At least I don't have to read the two sequels. Horrible stuff.
 Don't believe the hype September 4, 2010
Petra Bryce (Malvern, Worcs)
I was debating whether to write a review for this book or not and waste any more time on it, but seeing as the trilogy is still in the Top Ten of the bestseller list, I have decided to add my voice to the discussion after all. I thought the variation of the locked room-mystery quite unusual and intriguing and found it quite gripping in places. Unfortunately the way to the rather unlikely solution was filled with further incredible coincidences and rather nasty scenarios that left a bad taste in my mouth. I guess the author fancied himself as the male protagonist, the honest but wronged journalist with a bristling sexual energy so that most of the women he encounters during the course of his investigation can't help but go to bed with him. The character of the titular girl with the dragon tattoo is, admittedly, a far cry from every other heroine I've ever come across but is a walking contradiction; I certainly won't bother with the other two titles in the trilogy and my copy will go straight to the charity shop. I'm all for making up your own mind about a book but save yourself the money and get it from the library.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 671
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