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Grace Tjan's Reviews > The Girl Who Played With Fire

The Girl Who Played With Fire by Stieg Larsson
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it was amazing
bookshelves: mystery-thriller, 5-star-reads, 2009

ILLUSTRATED!

What I learned from this book (in no particular order):

1. Swedish billionaires furnish their multi-million dollar apartments with IKEA --- well, at least ONE peculiar Swedish billionaire.

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Poang Chair $40

2. Asperger's Syndrome may give you the idea that a T-shirt that says ‘I’M AN ALIEN� is acceptable office wear, but also photographic memory and phenomenal mathematical ability.

3. "Sweden is one of the countries that imports the most prostitutes per capita from Russia and the Baltics". Naughty Swedes.

4. The best computer in the world is a Mac, but no matter what computer you have, Asphyxia WILL suck up all your digital secrets.

5. You can live on Billy's Pan Pizza for days on end and STILL look like an anorexic teenager.

6. All rapists and violent sex offenders should have these words tattooed on their stomachs: "I AM A SADISTIC PIG, A PERVERT AND A RAPIST". The tattoo should be done by an amateur and not be removable even by laser. Repeat offenders will be tattooed on their foreheads. It is recommended that the subject be tasered first before undergoing this involuntary procedure.

7. "There were not so many physical threats that could not be countered with a decent hammer". Buy a good-sized one from the hardware store and keep it in your bag always.



8. Failing that, a girl must always have the following ready:
a. keys (to scratch an opponent's face);
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b. a can of mace, though it's illegal in Sweden; and

c. a taser (a 50,000 volts jolt to the crotch will incapacitate even the burliest of men).


9. "Men could be as big as a house and made of granite, but they all had balls in the same place". A crucial fact to remember in a fight, especially if you are fighting a 300 pounds, six foot six giant with hands as big as frying pans.



POTENTIAL SPOILER


10. A cigarette case is a useful tool for digging yourself out of a grave.




My review of The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest (Millennium, #3) by Stieg Larsson : http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

and

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (Millennium, #1) by Stieg Larsson : http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
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Reading Progress

July 24, 2009 – Shelved
Started Reading
July 27, 2009 – Shelved as: mystery-thriller
July 27, 2009 – Finished Reading
August 24, 2009 – Shelved as: 5-star-reads
September 14, 2009 – Shelved as: 2009

Comments Showing 1-50 of 125 (125 new)


The Book Whisperer (aka Boof) Ooh, I loved this one too. What rating did you give the first one (not sure I saw that you'd finished it).


Grace Tjan Boof, I think I gave 4 stars. This one is supposed to be better, right?


message 3: by Lee (new) - rated it 5 stars

Lee I liked the second one better.


Grace Tjan Elizabeth wrote: "That's a really funny review, Sandy. "

Hahaha --- I'm glad you like it, Elizabeth. Some of the quotes are hilarious, though there are plenty of gore and darkness in the story.




Laura I also liked it!!!


Grace Tjan Laura wrote: "I also liked it!!!"

Thanks, Laura! :)



Laura The third volume is coming next October in UK. It seems his widow have some more original manuscripts, can you imagine that??


Grace Tjan I don't understand why they have to have long gaps between novels? Business reasons, I suppose.

I read about the widow having the laptop where the manuscript of the 4th novel is stored, but she is now in a legal dispute with Larsson's family. As long as they're still quarelling, we won't see that manuscript published in any form. Too bad.


Laura It is a matter of translation I think since all 3 volumes were translated at once to French. Besides, the editors perhaps didn´t imagine the great success that these books could make in the market.


Shea Ivy Hahaha, I enjoyed this review almost as much as I enjoyed the novel itself. Great work.


message 11: by Grace Tjan (last edited Aug 11, 2009 08:30PM) (new) - rated it 5 stars

Grace Tjan Shea wrote: "Hahaha, I enjoyed this review almost as much as I enjoyed the novel itself. Great work."

Glad you like the review, Shea! The book is a load of fun, isn't it?




Laura It will be hard to wait for the third one.....


Blue Eyed Vixen Great review has got me curious to read the books ... thanks ... off to the library.


message 14: by Jude (new) - rated it 4 stars

Jude Sandy I give your review 5 stars!! I remember thinking the same things while reading the book, especially points 1, 4 & 5!! Thanks for the laughs.


Aimee Laura wrote: "It will be hard to wait for the third one....."
If you go to amazon.co.uk you can order it. Might pay more in shipping, but at least you wouldn't have to wait until it's released in late May!




message 16: by Jim (new) - rated it 4 stars

Jim Aimee wrote: "Laura wrote: "It will be hard to wait for the third one....."
If you go to amazon.co.uk you can order it. Might pay more in shipping, but at least you wouldn't have to wait until it's released in..."


Thanks for the tip. I ordered it this way yesterday.


message 17: by Anonymous (new) - added it

Anonymous I am not read yet. Waiting for Indonesian translated. But point is... I like your review.


Jenny Nice review! But be aware - there's a spoiler in it.


Grace Tjan Jenny wrote: "Nice review! But be aware - there's a spoiler in it."

Thanks. In my reviews, I generally try to avoid plot spoilers. I consider any spoiler that might be in this one to be mild ones. They won't destroy your enjoyment of the story. However, if you haven't read the book and want to avoid ANY spoilers, you might consider not reading it.





Jenny Thanks for specifying. I don't know your method of writing reviews, but my understanding of open reviews are that they are available to those who don't expect to be exposed to details in the plot . Since the burying scene is something important that happens in the last 10 pages I count that as a spoiler. Not one that ruins the ending, to be sure, but when I read reviews that are not hidden, I don't expect a plot point that happens in the last chapter to be revealed.


Grace Tjan It's very vague --- if you haven't read the book, you won't have any idea about what I'm talking about in # 10. I purposefully avoided any character/place names that might refer to any specific plot point. But again, it's up to the reader to consider whether he/she wants to read the review prior to reading the book or not. So far, I've not received any complaints about the potential spoilers.

Thanks for your comment.


Patrice Fitzgerald Sandybanks wrote: "It's very vague --- if you haven't read the book, you won't have any idea about what I'm talking about in # 10. I purposefully avoided any character/place names that might refer to any specific plo..."

Sandybanks: I'm one of those folks who likes to know nothing about a book that would allow me to anticipate any of the plot -- I'm a writer myself and so I can often figure out plot points in advance... though this book surprised me! I try not to read reviews in advance at all, but I would argue that your point 10 gives the savvy reader a bit of info, since a particular character receives a memorable cigarette case early in the book.

Fun review, nonetheless!

Has anyone heard that the first book has been bought as the basis for a film? I thought I read that somewhere.



Grace Tjan Patrice wrote: "Sandybanks wrote: "It's very vague --- if you haven't read the book, you won't have any idea about what I'm talking about in # 10. I purposefully avoided any character/place names that might refer ..."

I've put up a spoiler warning ahead of item # 10. I hope that will keep savvy readers from getting a hint, vague though it is, about the plot.

If I'm not wrong, all three books have been made into movies by a Swedish company. It's rumored that there is going to be a Hollywood remake.



Louise Love this review... I'm about 400 pages in and enjoying it more than the first one...

Oh - and I didn't mind your spoiler!


message 25: by [deleted user] (new)

3. "Sweden is one of the countries that imports the most prostitutes per capita from Russia and the Baltics". Naughty Swedes.

And Italians too... Naughty Italians

Great review. Just read the first one and can't wait to read this one too!!


Grace Tjan Hayes wrote: "3. "Sweden is one of the countries that imports the most prostitutes per capita from Russia and the Baltics". Naughty Swedes.

And Italians too... Naughty Italians

Great review. Just read the firs..."


Berlusconi is a naughty Italian man. lol

Thanks, Hayes. I actually think that this second book is the best in the series.


message 27: by [deleted user] (new)

*rubbing hands together*

will now go check my position in the bookring!!


Alisha-Dear Constant Reader Love the review and that's exactly why I loved this book!


message 29: by Ritz (new) - rated it 5 stars

Ritz Jaaaaaaaaaaajajajajajaque divertida reseña!


message 30: by Keri (new) - rated it 4 stars

Keri J Great review! Everything I wanted to comment about and more!


message 31: by Jenn "JR" (new) - added it

Jenn "JR" Wait a minute - now - I think "I'm an alien" is much better office wear than what I see in the Bay Area - I wear "It was on fire when I got here" but I have seen programmers wearing "Evildoer" and "I read your e-mail" and other sorts of shirts to work... maybe it's just us techies??


Christy Very funny review... I'm glad I am not the only one thinking the IKEA thing was kinda weird. Are there no decent furniture stores in Sweden?


message 33: by Lisy (new) - rated it 5 stars

Lisy V I enjoyed your review!! Clever! I could not put this book down. It was better than the first one and I didn't think that was possible!! LOVED IT!!!


Grace Tjan Lisy wrote: "I enjoyed your review!! Clever! I could not put this book down. It was better than the first one and I didn't think that was possible!! LOVED IT!!!"

Thanks. : )


Grace Tjan MaryZorro wrote: "Just finished the book. Love your review - so clever!"

Thanks, Zorro. I'd be interested in hearing about your opinion on the third book.


message 36: by Bita (new) - rated it 3 stars

Bita Awesome, I loved your review , hilarious.

Also, in Sweden Michael Blomkvist is totally the hottest dude. It seems like all women of all walks are totally in love with him!!!


Grace Tjan Bita wrote: "Awesome, I loved your review , hilarious.

Also, in Sweden Michael Blomkvist is totally the hottest dude. It seems like all women of all walks are totally in love with him!!!"


Glad you like it!

I made a comment about Blomkvist being a hot dude despite being a middle-aged, out of shape journalist in my review of The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest.


message 38: by Viji (new) - rated it 5 stars

Viji Haha.. I had to so laugh when I read the 9th comment. I did the same when I was reading the book.. Wonderful review.. thanks :)


Denyce I actually laughed out loud with this review Sandy:) You're hilarious!


Denyce You forgot the coffee! lol Every character was constantly pouring themselves and drinking a cup of coffee as if their very lives depended on it! lol. You gotta add that to your list for me ;)


Grace Tjan Denyce wrote: "You forgot the coffee! lol Every character was constantly pouring themselves and drinking a cup of coffee as if their very lives depended on it! lol. You gotta add that to your list for me ;)"

They do drink lots of coffee, do they? But how to incorporate that into the list in a humorous way? I'll think of it. : )


message 42: by Henry (new)

Henry I have GOT to read this book.


Carol or go to No shipping charges.


Carol Hilarious review! While reading, I remember wondering if Mr. Larrson had stock in both IKEA and Billy's Pan Pizza. I chalked it up to having an opportunity to promote a few of Sweden's products. As far as how Lisbeth stays skinny with all the pizza she is eating, all your aforementioned activities..digging, fighting giants, et. al... burn lots of calories. If not for this, she would be a sedentary computer nerd and unable to maintain that lithe figure for long.


Grace Tjan Carol wrote: "Hilarious review! While reading, I remember wondering if Mr. Larrson had stock in both IKEA and Billy's Pan Pizza. I chalked it up to having an opportunity to promote a few of Sweden's products. ..."

Mr. Larrson also like to extol the advantages of having a Mac (as opposed to a PC?) and a Jura Impressa coffee machine (if I remember correctly). lol


Graham 11. Swedish people have sex with each other constantly.
12. All Swedish people own coffee machines.


Rhiannon 13. The Swedish consider espresso machines as luxuries.


Marcy Reiz Great comments Sandy!


message 49: by Mizz (new)

Mizz it's adoreble


message 50: by Michelle (new) - added it

Michelle Lessons from Lisbeth. Hilarious.


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