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Lisa Eskra's Reviews > The Girl Who Played With Fire
The Girl Who Played With Fire (Millennium #2)
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The first book was for the most part plot-driven. The 40-year old mystery took a while to unfold, but was interesting when it did. So was Lisbeth, although she wasn't the main focus. Enter, The Girl Who Played With Fire. The story has now turned character-driven with Lisbeth as the protagonist. But instead of having much of a plot of any character revelations about her early on, we read about her buying a new apartment, grocery shopping, and what furniture she picked out at IKEA in *great* detail. Seriously, you could go down to the store and decorate the same way if you wanted, that's the level of description he gave. I was bored out of my mind. This goes on for a staggering 172 pages.
Mystery thriller? Surely you jest! This book wasn't a mystery whatsoever for me. The fact that the police and everyone else working to solve the case chose to ignore it was pitiful.
The turning point didn't happen until page 172, which was about 100 pages too late to hold the interest of any reader who's not a masochist. The quick pace and interest it generates rapidly disappears until 375.Really. It was more bloated than a rotting whale.
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo was a better book. I wanted to throw this one against the wall a few times.
Mystery thriller? Surely you jest! This book wasn't a mystery whatsoever for me. The fact that the police and everyone else working to solve the case chose to ignore it was pitiful.
The turning point didn't happen until page 172, which was about 100 pages too late to hold the interest of any reader who's not a masochist. The quick pace and interest it generates rapidly disappears until 375.Really. It was more bloated than a rotting whale.
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo was a better book. I wanted to throw this one against the wall a few times.
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Reading Progress
Started Reading
August 31, 2009
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Finished Reading
October 29, 2009
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Katie
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rated it 2 stars
Sep 14, 2010 07:32AM
Geeze, I thought I was not going to find anyone else who felt about this book the way I did. You nailed it. The story was fine, but not great, and Larssen took WAY too long to tell it. Like he had a page quota to fill.
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Same here. I truly enjoyed the story, but it was not worth the effort to read. It wasn't until we meet Paolo Roberto and hear of his deeds in the warehouse did I finish a chapter, put down the book and think, "Now THAT'S good writing." And how far in was that? It may have something to do with a cultural difference in Swedish writing, or it may just be the translation, but this book failed to keep me hooked. I kept falling out of the story, easily distracted by any and everything around me. As such it took three times as long to read as it should have. And I'm left thinking, "Yes, overall it was good. But I could have read THREE other books by now."
I almost tossed the book halfway through and I am now skimming through the rest out of pure stubbornness. I'm glad I am not the only person on the planet that had issues with this book!
I just wrote a review very similar to yours! I liked it a bit more in the middle than you did, but I agree with everything you said!
I read 175 pages and decided that was enough. This book seriously needs a major edit. The movie is better - it cut out all that IKEA junk and the girl didn't get a boob job.
LOL a little harsh but there is definitely truth to your review. It was a good story if you cut all the fat off. Also I think they could've done with out the boob job too. Really there is more to appearance than breasts.
Amen, Lisa Eskra. Where was the editor? Why isn't there reels and reels of film on the cutting room floor, so to speak?
I totally agree with Lisa Eskra. :)
I felt almost exactly the same way. I finished it hoping it would get better, but it was nowhere near the level of the first book, which isn't saying much.
We are the few, the proud, the ones who read Larson and came away with our brains not turned into that rotting fish delicacy that Scandinavians eat. Keep the faith!
Completely agree with you!!
Ah, skimming recommended!
I couldn't agree more :) I was really surprised with all the high ratings here. I almost started to think I was the only one who didn't enjoy it :)
I gave all three books to my coworker and after she read second book,shetold me she like second book morethen first.Few of us hate it but there is always someone who would like that now infamous second book. ;)
I agree they left a lot of fat on it, and some of it could've been done without. But I also think you're being a bit harsh. Their were seriously exciting parts of the book, and as a whole I think it was wetter than the first (and the first was phenomenal). I liked that she had breast implants, it shows a softer side that we rarely see in Lisbeth, and adds to her character. The parts about shopping did drag on, but an optimist would see it as Lisbeth coming into a new, more adult, part of her life. The most trimming probably could've come in the long gap after the couple is murdered and the police begin the investigation. We don't hear anything from salander for a while. Maybe it doesn't deserve the five I have it, but I don't think it deserves a one either.
i also agree with you -- but didn't you think the millennium parts of 'the girl with the dragon tattoo' dragged on as well? i was so bored reading those parts -- seems to me the author likes to dwell on things and did not have an editor....what think you?
I didn't read the first one, instead I watched the movie and I loved it, Fincher is a master of thriller, now after trying to kill myself reading this I'm afraid the next movie will lead Fincher to insanity or wont follow the story and only use the characters(same as Matt Damon's bourne which was way better than the books)
To be honest I was thinking if I go to Ikea, I too can have mysterious and exhilarating life. I wouldn't throw the book against the wall, it could cause more damage and upset me. But you are 100% correct in saying "Th Girl With The Dragon Tattoo" was much better and this had to much blah blah blah filler
Such a rubbish book. I forgot about the sudden "twist" in the middle with the two contrived characters, who we were clearly supposed to like because gosh darn they were doing such good works and other main characters liked them. What a meandering, pointless book.Tattoo was interesting and a page turner. What happened here?
I should have read this review, I'm on 107 and I seriously thought, "who wrote this?" I've done it again, believed the hype. You know who was better? Peter Hoeg.
I started this morning and I'm on page 105. It's pretty dull so far and really nothing has even happened yet except a few hints at something that happened in salanders life.
Agree! I listened to the audiobook, and I was more than 5 hours in before I even knew what the book was supposed to be about! I really liked Dragon Tattoo, but this one was painful.
I guess I don’t mind the small details. I really enjoyed it. I can see why some people might not like it but I’m no way am I a masochist. It’s honestly one of my favorite books in the series. But then again I love character driven books that show how people function under circumstances they’ve never had the pleasure to experience. It may not be for all but it’s a bit harsh to assume every reader is like you and doesn’t fit your idea of how their suppose to enjoy reading. If you don’t like it, fine. But don’t bring other readers down for enjoying it.
I agree with Rachel. Small details are always interesting. Sometimes they have a way of being relevant later. Sometimes they don’t. It shows more depth to the characters, I think.
You described my feelings exactly. Finishing this book was like having my teeth pulled. It really pained me to keep going, thinking it might get better but it never did. Such a disappointment since I loved the first one.
The second book was difficult to slog through .
I felt the opposite of you, but I acknowledge that if I were a plot-driven reader, this would have driven me nuts. Plot definitely takes a backseat to character, BUT if you love Salander and you can read character-driven books, you can enjoy this one plenty. :)
Agreed! And I am honestly so surprised at the high ratings. I was thinking the exact same thinga about her home decoration endeavours 😂
I absolutely loved this book. The small details and every day things are what I live for. Not everybody needs constant action. If you really want to read some detailed writing Then read Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time. This was honestly nothing compared to that.
I completely agree with you . I would just like to add a point, in this book Steig has portrayed salander as completely invincible. Even after getting shot in the hip and in the head, she started walking and also using an axe. Could he have included any more garbage. Like how come a person lives in a city in a 35 square meter aparrment without being identified . Seriously disappointed.
Completely agree! Not even close to the first book, which was great! I'm on the half of the book already and still waiting when the action will finally start.
The first was better as most authors first novels are. I didn't enjoy this one as much but still gave it 3 stars because I believe it was well written. The plot was blah. But how many best selling authors are publishing 30 books w the same formula and everyone is a "fan" giving boring, predictable books 4 stars? I agree not a great book but I felt entertained, finished the book. I don't disagree w your opinion just feel 1 star is harsh for the effort the author put in.
Very slow and exaggerated at times, indeed.
damn, this book stole my heart. I personally love this book and let me give you some spoilers...........SPOILERS
1. People can live on Billy's pan pizza for weeks.
2. Lesbians are supposed to be banned according to Faste ( a shitty police officer )
3. Men can be as big as houses and be made of granite, but they all have balls in the same place *TRUE*
4. A person can live with a hole in their skull
5. If you ever find a sexy dress in a cupboard, you have the right to be sus ( according to Faste ).
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Abhijeet
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