# Are the Stieg Larsson books any good? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 1, 2010, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-stieg-larsson-books-any-good/545194 "2010-07-01T15:10:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-stieg-larsson-books-any-good/545194/1 "2010-07-01T15:10:24Z")
I guessed they’re called the Millenium trilogy: _The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo_, _The Girl Who Played With Fire_, and _The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest_. There’s been a lot of talk about them but there doesn’t seem to be much talk of what they’re about. I guess there’s a man and a woman and they investigate some big crime or conspiracy or something. The books seem to be incredibly popular. But I’m getting a whiff of Dan Brown here. Are these books actually any good or are they the kind of books that get read by people who don’t normally read books? ---
**Author:** ![MissRancher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71c47a/32.png) [@MissRancher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MissRancher)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-stieg-larsson-books-any-good/545194/2 "2010-07-01T15:18:22Z")
I think they’re great - I whipped through them. And I don’t think they are anything close to Dan Brown - in a good way. They are really well paced, although it did take me about 40 pages to get into the first one because I find anything financial incredibly boring, but once I got past that, I couldn’t put it down. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-stieg-larsson-books-any-good/545194/3 "2010-07-01T16:01:58Z")
I read a contrary review somewhere complaining that there was a lot of sexual violence in them. Is that true? ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-stieg-larsson-books-any-good/545194/4 "2010-07-01T16:08:23Z")
I couldn’t get past page 30 in the first volume, so, no, I’m not on that particular bandwagon. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-stieg-larsson-books-any-good/545194/5 "2010-07-01T16:17:31Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#): > > I read a contrary review somewhere complaining that there was a lot of sexual violence in them. Is that true? Oh yes, cases of sexual violence are a major part of the plot, and they are depicted very graphically. But if you can get past that, it’s a great read. ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-stieg-larsson-books-any-good/545194/6 "2010-07-01T16:24:46Z")
I finished _Dragon Tattoo_ last week, and after working (I mean _working_) my way through the first 25 pages, I really didn’t want to put it down. Yes, there are graphic depictions of sexual violence against women (the Swedish title was _Men Who Hate Women_, or something along those lines). Yes, they’re very well-written. No, they’re nothing like Dan Brown. Larsson writes in a way that compels you to keep reading, but he doesn’t play tricks like making the last paragraph of every chapter a cliffhanger, or anything so schlockey. I picked up the 2nd (_The Girl Who Played With Fire_) the other day at Barnes & Noble and the little old lady behind the counter smiled when I put it down and she said “You read the first one, right?” I said yes and she said “this one’s just as good- I’m starting the third one tomorrow!” with obvious glee. Violent, but not enough to faze her, I guess. **twicks** - if you can get through that first chapter, it flies. You might want to give it another shot. Also- _Dragon Tattoo_ was made into a film in Sweden a couple years ago and there’s talk of an American remake, but evidently the girl who played the title character was so good she’ll be a contender to reprise the role, over better-known American actresses. ---
**Author:** ![Susie\_Derkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47774/32.png) [@Susie\_Derkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Susie_Derkins)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-stieg-larsson-books-any-good/545194/7 "2010-07-01T16:41:44Z")
Just started the first one last night and I’m VERY glad to hear that it gets more interesting. My eyes were crossing! ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-stieg-larsson-books-any-good/545194/8 "2010-07-01T16:55:53Z")
Boring start then gruesomeness? I’ll pass. But thanks for asking, **Nemo** , I’ve been wondering about these too. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-stieg-larsson-books-any-good/545194/9 "2010-07-01T17:33:43Z")
The first two were very good. The third one really dragged for me, until near the end. ---
**Author:** ![PhiloVance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e19adc/32.png) [@PhiloVance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhiloVance)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-stieg-larsson-books-any-good/545194/10 "2010-07-01T17:44:32Z")
I’ve just started the first one and I already like it. My daughter, who bought it for me for Father’s day, want’s to read it when I’m done. Sometimes I am slow to take to books, but this one is a page turner and in a good way. ---
**Author:** ![Wakinyan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wakinyan/32/352_2.png) [@Wakinyan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wakinyan)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-stieg-larsson-books-any-good/545194/11 "2010-07-01T17:56:07Z")
> [@corkboard](#): > > (the Swedish title was _Men Who Hate Women_, or something along those lines). Yes, that would be the literal translation of the original title, _Män som hatar kvinnor._ ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-stieg-larsson-books-any-good/545194/12 "2010-07-01T17:59:36Z")
Read the first one and really enjoyed it, but I agree it takes a little bit og patience to get into. I am about 150 pages into the second one and I am enjoying that as well. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-stieg-larsson-books-any-good/545194/13 "2010-07-01T18:19:22Z")
I put all 3 on hold at the library after enjoying the “Dragon Tattoo” movie so much. Just picked up the 1st to come in - wouldn’t you know it is the 3d! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-stieg-larsson-books-any-good/545194/14 "2010-07-01T18:24:18Z")
> [@corkboard](#): > > **twicks** - if you can get through that first chapter, it flies. You might want to give it another shot. Okay, but… > [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > Oh yes, cases of sexual violence are a major part of the plot, and they are depicted very graphically. But if you can get past that, it’s a great read. … I can’t get past that. Really doesn’t sound like my kind of thing. > [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > Boring start then gruesomeness? I’ll pass. You and me both. ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-stieg-larsson-books-any-good/545194/15 "2010-07-01T18:27:41Z")
By the way, I meant to mention that while there are fairly gruesome descriptions of sex and violence, there are only a couple scenes like that in the entire 600-page book. It’s not as if you’ll be assaulted with it repeatedly. It’s a great book in spite of those passages, not because of them. ---
**Author:** ![Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7cd45c/32.png) [@Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Glory)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-stieg-larsson-books-any-good/545194/16 "2010-07-01T19:50:33Z")
Anyone mind spoilering the first 25 pages in a one paragraph summary so I can start on page 26?? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-stieg-larsson-books-any-good/545194/17 "2010-07-01T20:13:29Z")
The first one is more comparable to Thomas Harris (Red Dragon; Silence of the Lambs) than Dan Brown. Well-written best-seller serial-killer thriller - don’t expect Fine Lit’rahcher, but for that type of genre, it is quite effective. Another comp would be Caleb Carr’s The Alienist - where instead of the historical fiction aspect, you are in Sweden, so you are still in a new place (for non-Swedes) so there is an immersive aspect to it… ---
**Author:** ![sideshowkar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5e9695/32.png) [@sideshowkar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sideshowkar)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-stieg-larsson-books-any-good/545194/18 "2010-07-01T21:42:05Z")
> [@corkboard](#): > > Also- _Dragon Tattoo_ was made into a film in Sweden a couple years ago and there’s talk of an American remake, but evidently the girl who played the title character was so good she’ll be a contender to reprise the role, over better-known American actresses. The DVD is coming out next Tuesday (July 6). It’s also supposed to be available for streaming on Netflix the same day. ---
**Author:** ![araminty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5e925/32.png) [@araminty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/araminty)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-stieg-larsson-books-any-good/545194/19 "2010-07-01T22:27:05Z")
I just finished book three, which was my least favourite. Very political and quite slow, and didn’t seem to add much of a resolution to the series. If the author hadn’t died, I would be predicting a few more Salander/Blomkvist stories. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-stieg-larsson-books-any-good/545194/20 "2010-07-01T22:45:17Z")
I saw the first movie a couple of weeks ago and then bought the first book at Borders. I started it on Friday night, and picked it up again on Saturday morning, and read through the whole thing that day. It is a page-turner, even though I’d seen the movie and knew what was coming. The movie is very faithful to the book, though they cut out some subplots that weren’t necessary for the movie. I hear there’s a television version in Sweden that includes the subplots. I liked the process, utilizing both high-tech and low tech methods, of how they went about solving the decades-old, unsolvable crime. That’s what was most fascinating to me. I tend to like police/detective procedurals, but this was done by an investigative reporter and an observant hacker. Very unusual. I liked the two characters and I liked how they started as an unlikely alliance, and then their friendship grew and they made a great team. The 2nd movie is opening in Chicago soon. I’m not sure when, but I think sometime this month. I do want to see the movies before I read the books, but I will read the books. I believe the 3rd movie is already on DVD in Europe, and is supposed to open in the US this fall. The first book is being made into an American movie directed by David Fincher. Casting isn’t set yet, but rumors are that George Clooney or Daniel Craig might be Mikael Blomkvist, and Carey Mulligan or Ellen Page might be Lisbeth Salander. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-stieg-larsson-books-any-good/545194.md?page=2)