Excellent, excellent book! I was just talking to a Swedish friend Monday night about the book (which takes place in Sweden). He thinks it's one of the best books ever. And the Swedish version of the film has amazing visuals that matched my mind's eye perfectly. Can't wait to read the next book in the trilogy.

Jodi-

I just picked up that book to start today. Our dentist here in
town can't say enough good things about it and also The Girl Who Played With Fire.

Overall, I really liked the book but some of the subject matter was difficult for me to read. I found the story compelling and was glad I stuck with it, even with the sex and violence, since it was key to the story. I also read the "Fire" book and am looking forward to the third book. I do want to know what happens to these characters.

I think my local art house movie theater might be showing the Swedish movie soon. I'm torn about seeing it. I'd love to see the book come to life but I'm also worried the parts of the book that I had trouble reading will be worse in living color, so to speak. It's one thing for me to imagine it and then forget it, it's another for the image to be burned into my brain.

Gee, I hope I'm not scaring you off with my squeamishness. Bottom line: I would recommend the book to most of my book club friends.
Jean

My gosh, it has over a thousand reviews on Amazon--why had I never heard of it?? Now I'm intrigued......

I'm not a squeamish person, I read Stephen King! LOL But I just find it boring. I'm going to give it another 100 or so pages and if it doesn't get any better I will give up on it. I've got a ton of other books I want to read.

Casey, this (from an Amazon review) will at least reassure you that you're not the only one:

I am about a third of the way into it, and literally hundreds of characters have been introduced. NOT ONE of them has done anything interesting, so I am finding it nearly impossible to keep them straight. I am the type that will be more or less satisfied reading the back of a cereal box, but this is BAD. I mean bad. The mystery is dull. The who done it is more like a who cares. The two primary characters are so far not very likable at all - in fact, the review descriptions are more interesting than the book descriptions of them.

Ah-ha! I feel the same way about all the characters, and he switches from one to another so quickly I'm having trouble keeping them straight too.

I tried and it was a no go. I hate to waste my time on a book I don't finish. That's why recommendations are so important, but I know people who loved it. It's just not me!

Interesting comments! I have this book on loan from a friend who just raved and raved about it and I started it and put it away 2 months ago. I might try it again and see how it goes, but there are just too many other books to read to keep reading something that just doesn't connect with me.

hhireno, there are some very confronting scenes in the movie; you may find them difficult.

I tried reading it, too. I thought the writing style, as well as some phrases and wording, a bit strange. I tossed it up to the translation. I also found it boring. I may try it again, though.

casey nfld,
If you're not hooked in the first 100 pages then I'd say move on to another book. I used to be the type that had to finish a book once I started it. But with age sometimes comes wisdom, or maybe less patience, so now if it's not speaking to me I move on to the next book on my pile. Life is too short to waste it on books that don't interest you.

colleenoz,
Thanks for the heads-up, I think I'll just skip the movie. I'm sure someone is already planning a US version of the story. They'll probably change the story so much, except the sex parts!, that it won't be recognizable. I'll also be skipping that movie.

I've read 35 pages so far and now I'm wondering if I should continue. I think I will and hope I enjoy it as much as many have.

I read it and enjoyed it but I know what you are saying. It is a little slow.

100 pages... I'd give it up. If you aren't in to it now,
I wouldn't waste anymore time.

Actually, the movie is very good, they've tightened it up and cut out most of the minor characters and all the little side-plots but remained very true to the book. One of the best book-to-movie conversions I've seen.

Well I stuck with it. It finally started to get a bit intereting at page 200....I think I'll finish it now.

I just finished it and really enjoyed it! I couldn't put it down.