The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is the first novel in The Millennium Trilogy.
It was published in 2005, one year after the author Stieg Larsson’s death.
It received The Glass Key Award form Crime Writers of Scandinavia in 2006.
According to figures from June 2011, the Millennium Trilogy has together sold 60 million copies in more than 50 countries.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo – Plot summary
The middle-aged financial journalist Mikael Blomkvist, publisher of the leftwing magazine Millennium in Stockholm is sentenced to a stiff fine and three months in prison for libeling billionaire industrialist Hans-Erik Wennerström.
Editor-in-chief Erika Berger, Blomkvist’s friend, lover, and business partner, wants to fight on but he believes that unless he steps down as publisher and from the board, his professional disgrace will drag the magazine down with him. Just as he is at a loose end, Blomkvist is offered two richly rewarded projects by Henrik Vanger, former head of the Vanger industrial empire, who had Blomkvist thoroughly invested by Milton Security, who assigned their top dirt digger, Lisbeth Salander, to the job.
On his estate on the tiny island of Hedeby, several hours from Stockholm, Vanger persuades the reluctant and skeptical Blomkvist to take on the search for his niece, already missing 40 years, presumed dead, by promising him evidence that Wennerström committed fraud. Blomkvist’s cover for his investigation is that he’s to spend a year writing the Vanger family history. Vanger believes Harriet was murdered by a member of the extended Vanger family, dozens of whom were present in Hedeby on the day of her disappearance.
The island was isolated by an accident to a fuel tanker that blocked the only bridge, so this is a locked-room mystery, with this exception: while a murder is presumed, there is no body. Each year on his birthday the murderer torments Vanger by sending him a framed pressed flower, a habit Harriet had while alive. Blomkvist moves to a grimly uncomfortable cottage on Hedeby in the middle of a foul Swedish winter. He analyzes forty years of files Henrik Vanger has obsessively built up in his attempt to isolate his relative who murdered his niece.
Blomkvist discovers that the Vanger family includes rather a large number of wife-beaters and what at times appears to be a predominance of outright Nazis, fellow- travelers and racists. The Vanger family, all with shares in the corporation, want Blomkvist gone: they have plenty to hide and don’t want Henrik, 82 and childless, to spend his money on dirt-digging journalists.
Meanwhile, back in Stockholm, Lisbeth Salander’s legal guardian Holger Palmgren falls ill and is replaced by Nils Bjurman. We discover that Salander has been declared unfit to handle her own affairs and is considered mentally and morally subnormal by social services! Bjurman is a sadist who extorts sexual favors from Salander in return for allowing her to spend her own money on a new computer. Later he rapes her; she videotapes this event, returns with a Tazer to stun him, ties him up, then uses the videotape to blackmail him into writing good reports of her to the social services, with a view to eventually having a court declare her rehabilitated and capable. She roughly tattoos, ‘I am a sadistic pig, a pervert, and a rapist’ in large letters on his belly.
Blomkvist discovers that Salander has hacked into his computer and hires her to help him decode the meaning of baffling entries in Harriet’s diary. After some false starts they discover that what they have is a list of names of brutally murdered women corresponding with Bible verses describing forms of terminal ancient punishments. On the premise that Harriet found out about the serial killer and was killed by him before she could expose him, they investigate further.
While Salander is away following a paper trail already half a century old, Blomkvist stumbles into the torture chamber of a serial killer, who strips him naked, hangs him up, and confesses to forty years of rape and murder. He admits to raping but not murdering Harriet, whose disappearance baffles him too. As the killer starts to strangle Blomkvist, Salander, who has just independently solved the mystery of the biblical killings, bursts in and rescues him. Later they solve the Harriet mystery too.
Vanger, of course, led Blomkvist by the nose on the Wennerström matter; he has no useful evidence. It is left to Salander, the computer hacker, to give Blomkvist the goods on Wennerström, which makes Blomkvist, the convicted libeler, a media superstar and ensures the survival of his magazine Millennium.
In the process Salander ends up with Wennerström’s fortune.
479 comments on “The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo”
One of the best book I’ve read. Suspens and good story. I’m starting the 2nd.
- Geraldine Palau,
It’s nice to see a mystery actually engaging some genuine issues, and the writing is feverish, sharp, and mesmerizing. It’s embarrassing, however, for the English publisher to have replaced the original “Men Who Hate Women” with such a ludicrous, anodyne title as “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.” The original title has everything to do with the novel’s themes. The presumably more marketable replacement is completely arbitrary (they could just as easily have called it “The Family with the Ugly Secret” or “The Village in the North of Sweden” or some such ilk). But don’t let that dissuade you from reading what is an utterly engaging and intelligent mystery, unlike anything I’ve read, with themes that elevate the book from the mystery genre into something close to literature.
- Scott in San Francisco,
It’s nice to see a mystery actually engaging some genuine issues, and the writing is feverish, sharp, and mesmerizing. It’s embarrassing, however, for the English publisher to have replaced the original “Men Who Hate Women” with such a ludicrous, anodyne title as “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.” The original title has everything to do with the novel’s themes. The presumably more marketable replacement is completely arbitrary (they could just as easily have called it “The Family with the Ugly Secret” or “The Village in the North of Sweden” or some such ilk). But don’t let that dissuade you from reading what is an utterly engaging and intelligent mystery, unlike anything I’ve read, with themes that elevate the book from the mystery genre into something close to literature.
- Scott in San Francisco,
Just finished “The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo” in English… a great read that got me thoroughly hooked. One complaint, though: the writing is often awkward and stilted — the fault, I assume, of the translation and not the author. Indeed, I note from some Internet postings that the translator himself appears none too happy with what the British publisher did to his work. In any event, since the rest of the series will not be available in English for years, I have just begun the second book, “La fille qui rêvait d’un bidon d’essence et d’une allumette” (in French, obviously), and find it to be far more fluent and readable. Note to Knopf: you still have time to do a better English version of the next two books, and improve the translation of the first one before it is published here in the U.S. Oh, yes, and how about restoring the original title?
- Bernard,
Just finished “The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo” in English… a great read that got me thoroughly hooked. One complaint, though: the writing is often awkward and stilted — the fault, I assume, of the translation and not the author. Indeed, I note from some Internet postings that the translator himself appears none too happy with what the British publisher did to his work. In any event, since the rest of the series will not be available in English for years, I have just begun the second book, “La fille qui rêvait d’un bidon d’essence et d’une allumette” (in French, obviously), and find it to be far more fluent and readable. Note to Knopf: you still have time to do a better English version of the next two books, and improve the translation of the first one before it is published here in the U.S. Oh, yes, and how about restoring the original title?
- Bernard,
This book is very well written and, even in with occassional translation artifacts, has a layered depth that is rare in crime fiction. Again and again I’m being impressed by the crime fiction being written in Sweden and Denmark. The sophistication of the writing in this book provides a strong indicator of this trend.
The small segment of the narrative that takes place in Australia was reasonably accurately drawn. This suggests that Stieg must have been here. I agree that the title is silly and that a closer transliteration of the original would be better support for the themes in the book. Overall one of the best pieces of crime writing I’ve read for years.
- Paul – Sydney Australia,
This book is very well written and, even in with occassional translation artifacts, has a layered depth that is rare in crime fiction. Again and again I’m being impressed by the crime fiction being written in Sweden and Denmark. The sophistication of the writing in this book provides a strong indicator of this trend.
The small segment of the narrative that takes place in Australia was reasonably accurately drawn. This suggests that Stieg must have been here. I agree that the title is silly and that a closer transliteration of the original would be better support for the themes in the book. Overall one of the best pieces of crime writing I’ve read for years.
- Paul – Sydney Australia,
Simply fantastic, stricly recommended..
- Marco Lecis – Italy,
Simply fantastic, stricly recommended..
- Marco Lecis – Italy,
I use to read detective novels. Millenium is one of the best ones I read for years. Kill your TV and read Millenium.
- Gil, a French in Vienna,
I use to read detective novels. Millenium is one of the best ones I read for years. Kill your TV and read Millenium.
- Gil, a French in Vienna,
Great book, best mystery I have read in years. Can’t wait for the next two in English and in the meantime I will read it again…and maybe again! The only suggestion is to add the map of the island to the US release when it comes out this September. A friend with a French version emailed it to me off of his copy. Very helpful in understanding the plot.
- Do, Michigan USA,
Great book, best mystery I have read in years. Can’t wait for the next two in English and in the meantime I will read it again…and maybe again! The only suggestion is to add the map of the island to the US release when it comes out this September. A friend with a French version emailed it to me off of his copy. Very helpful in understanding the plot.
- Do, Michigan USA,
So far, this has to be the greatest crime novel of the 21st century. perhaps only the next two in the Millennium trilogy will top it.
Complex but lucid plotting, a great sense of place and a cast of characters to die for
Above all, this novel has a great heart and that’s what keeps you turning the pages for hours on end.
Also he has a cheeky sense of humour amongst the horror. At the point where I noticed a certain similarity between the Vanger part of the novel and Val McDermid’s “A Place Of Execution”, Blomkvist’s bedtime reading was “The Mermaids Singing”.
Also, actually, I like the English title.
- Bruce Hatton, Suffolk, UK,
So far, this has to be the greatest crime novel of the 21st century. perhaps only the next two in the Millennium trilogy will top it.
Complex but lucid plotting, a great sense of place and a cast of characters to die for
Above all, this novel has a great heart and that’s what keeps you turning the pages for hours on end.
Also he has a cheeky sense of humour amongst the horror. At the point where I noticed a certain similarity between the Vanger part of the novel and Val McDermid’s “A Place Of Execution”, Blomkvist’s bedtime reading was “The Mermaids Singing”.
Also, actually, I like the English title.
- Bruce Hatton, Suffolk, UK,
As an ardent reader of crime novels I picked ‘Dragon Tattoo’ up rather offhandedly and thought to try it. I was glued to the book for the 3 days it took me to read it; nothing else mattered. Well written, super plot and a great read.
- Sue D,
As an ardent reader of crime novels I picked ‘Dragon Tattoo’ up rather offhandedly and thought to try it. I was glued to the book for the 3 days it took me to read it; nothing else mattered. Well written, super plot and a great read.
- Sue D,
After two days, I just finished the first book (in french) and found myself so stupid now that I cannot buy the second one, as it is sunday and the bookstores are closed…
This Salander girl is so nicely plotted and so intriguing I cannot wait to see what will happen next. I felt sorry for her at the end of the book. She definitively is one of my favorite novel characters ever.
For those of you who have not read these fabulous books, do it now!
- O. Voinnet, France,
After two days, I just finished the first book (in french) and found myself so stupid now that I cannot buy the second one, as it is sunday and the bookstores are closed…
This Salander girl is so nicely plotted and so intriguing I cannot wait to see what will happen next. I felt sorry for her at the end of the book. She definitively is one of my favorite novel characters ever.
For those of you who have not read these fabulous books, do it now!
- O. Voinnet, France, ,
I am nearly finished reading The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo and it is without doubt the best novel I have read for years. Just can’t believe I will have to wait until 2009 and 2010 to be able to get hold of English version of the two follow up novels. Might be quicker to learn Swedish !!!
- Bill, New Zealand,
I can only endorse the enthusiasm of my all fellow bookworms. I’ve just read the Danish transalation of the first Book and I’ve already got hold of Book2.
I’m an Englisman living in Denmark but don’t have to wait for an Eglish translation!
- Bill Vase,
Estic llegint “Los hombres que no amaban a las mujeres”. El trobo genial! Molt recomanable, de veritat.
- Jaume,
I’ve just finished reading The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo and I can’t stop thinking about it. I can’t stop thinking about Lisbeth Salander, one of the best and more interesting characters I ever read. Have you seen Hard Candy? I’m spanish and I just can’t believe I will have to wait until 2009 and 2010 to get hold of spanish version of the two follow up novels.
- Ernest,
Well it seems i should be happy that all three books are translated in french already. I’m almost at the end of the first one and will have the luxury to be able to buy the second one once i’m over with it.
Well done Acte sud (publishers in France) for having spotted the potential of this trilogy very quickly.
absolutely genius. absolutely inteligent super book
i’m looking for the second tome
- Rui Campos,
While the translation seems perfectly adequate most of the time, there were a few clangers that slipped through subediting, mostly improper word choice (e.g. importunate…!?) and inexplicable brief switches from past tense to present – for me these take something away from the enjoyment of a superb book, but then I’m Aspie like Salander, what do I know …
- k.rabenstein@btinternet.com,
I lives in Sweden and I have read 1st,2nd and 3rd, in Swedish and I love them. One thing that’s is bothering me is the translation on the title on the 1st book it schould have been someting like this: Men that’s hates Women
- The Swedish Girl,
sono dei libri stupendi. sdtoria geniale davvero bella storia.
lisbeth è una figura stupenda.
lo consiglio e lo regalo. attendo il prossimo ciao grazie
I read these books in Swedish and can’t wait to buy them in English, so I can give them to my friends for Christmas. I gift you will not put down once you start reading.
- Marie-Therese Nyman,
I just finished millenium 1 in french, the title is:” les hommes qui n’aimaient pas les femmes” (men that didn’it like women), to answer The swedish girl.
Fantastic book, I’m starting number 2
- Maud B, New York,
I read this book and I love it.It’s great. I’m waitting that other books are available on portuguese.
- Filipa Gaspar, Portugal,
Excellent! Great read.. I managed to read all 550 pages in 2 days flat! Great characters, nice suspense.. pity there are only 3 of these books! Can’t wait for book 2 to come to India…
- DP India,
I am also amazed by the publishing dates for the English translation. Does anybody have a clue about the Spanish dates? It’s a pity, but I suppose this is what merketing’s about.
- Daniel, Madrid,
Am on the 400th page perhaps and completely intrigued with the turn of events ! Even, was a little petrified going thru the reviews lest somebody has already spilled the beans !!
After a “long” time, am getting the scent of agatha christie merged with a fictional platform ! The combination can be best one gets !
Strongly hoping that the end is as god ! (was a tad dissapointed with Dan Brown !)…..
- Angshuman Chatterjee, India,
Best book I have ever read! I had trouble doing all the things I needed to while reading this book. Have been a huge fan of Harlan Coben for many years and now can add Stieg Larsson to my list. I will recommend this book to all of my book reader friends. Love this man!
- Tracey, Cedar Rapids IA,
I have just finished the first book. Exceptional. I have waited an excruciatingly long time to find a novel so unique, unformulaic, unpredictable, and written with great verve. I second many of the comments made below, but with sadness can’t help but think of the author’s passing, his brief literary candle combining wit, observation of human necessity and needling, and uncommon calls to activism of the ubiquitous. What a craftsman and soul to be lost, Mr. Larsson. You were/are brilliant and missed.
- Helia,
I’ve just finished the first book of Larrsson (the translation in Italy sounds like “mens who hate women”- uomini che odiano le donne) and I’ve already bought and start reading the second one (The girl who played with the fire)… simply wonderful!!! I’m really waiting for the third and for the movie!!!
Enrica – Italy
- Enrica Lodovisi -Italy,
So intense, so well written. Its a pleasure to read, and you actually do not want the book to end. Few books succeed on that, and I cant wait to have the next volume in my hands, unfortunately I will have to wait until January next year for the English version to come out.
Sorry to hear that Mr. Larsson had passed away, we lost a great thriller writer.
- Paul Jacquemin – Mexico,
It’s kinda wrong to name the book ” the girl with the dragon tattoo” when the real title is (direcktly translated) men that hates women. but its one of the best books ever witten! the whole triology is just to good to be true.. I’m soon finish with the last book. and it’s like I dont want to finish, because, I just love them! they are so well written! (sorry for my bad english)
- Eline – Norway,
I just loved this book … it kept me hooked into late nights and even at work! His plots are amazing, twisted enough to be true. He also brings to light society’s views of sterotypes and its attitude towards them. I loved it.
Bring on the rest I have just finished reading The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo it was awesome the plot kept me going all weekend, i found it a little slow in the begining but by chapter 3 I was hooked. I can’t wait to pick up the second in the millenium trilogy. Although the third one isn’t out until late autumn in the english language it will be on my wish list. I loved the suspense and trying to work out what happened to Harriet and how the rest of the Vanger family fell in to their prospective roles, as the plot unfolds it all starts to make sense. One of the most enjoyable reads I have had in a long time. Awsome!!!!!!!
- Monica Michelini-Cave Germany 2009,
I just readed this book (yesterday): wonderful! Espero empezar mañana el segundo y la traducción ya al español!!!
- Marta, Barcelona,
I love “The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo”, and I wish Stieg Larsson could have lived and shared more of his writing with us. It is a fabulous book and very encouraging to women who have been abused.
- Mary Childers,
Really enjoyed the book. I accept the points about the translation but to be honest there were only a few occasions when the prose was a little stilted. Great plot and anti-heroine. Really refreshing to read a book with such an interesting and flawed female lead.
- Gill Walton Northumberland,
Great book but agree with some of the comments about the translation. Swenglish words like plugging (studying) aren’t fun to read.
- Susan, Ireland,
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo is a silly title. Män som hatar kvinnor is the swedish titel and the one that Stieg Larsson wanted. (Men that hates women)
- Fredrika,
I dont like the title in english, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, the one in swedish is better. Män som hatar kvinnor. Den är mycket mer explosiv. Så det så!
- Hanna,
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo is a silly title. Män som hatar kvinnor is the swedish titel and the one that Stieg Larsson wanted. (Men that hates women)
- Fredrika,
I dont like the title in english, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, the one in swedish is better. Män som hatar kvinnor. Den är mycket mer explosiv. Så det så!
- Hanna,
I was enthused over this book. Great reading. Now i´m
waiting for a second one in czech.
- Standa, Prague,
I was enthused over this book. Great reading. Now i´m
waiting for a second one in czech.
- Standa, Prague, 17 February 2009
Wow!
I was interested the book because of the ‘author recommendations’ on the back cover. Every one of them is a must-read mystery/crime writer for me. Still, this book was an unexpected delight and met my highest expectations for a mystery thriller.
I just finished reading it virtually non-stop cover to cover (at least this first time through). I’m ordering the second one now, but will let some time pass before I savor it, as I know there are only the three novels in this series.
- Steve Slaght- Cupertino, California,
Wow!
I was interested the book because of the ‘author recommendations’ on the back cover. Every one of them is a must-read mystery/crime writer for me. Still, this book was an unexpected delight and met my highest expectations for a mystery thriller.
I just finished reading it virtually non-stop cover to cover (at least this first time through). I’m ordering the second one now, but will let some time pass before I savor it, as I know there are only the three novels in this series.
- Steve Slaght- Cupertino, California,
Fantastic, I could not put it down and have just ordered the second one
- Edwin Hopwood,
Fantastic, I could not put it down and have just ordered the second one
- Edwin Hopwood,
The only negative thing I could say about this book that I found distracting was some spelling errors. Having spent two weeks proof-reading SOPs for the armed forces, I automatically proof-read everything.
I read this book over two days. As others have said, it is riveting. I read the last 350 pages at one go, starting at 0230 in the morning. Definitely recommending this to friends. I have pre-ordered the second book which will come out in Canada mid-summer.
- J. T. Cameron,
The only negative thing I could say about this book that I found distracting was some spelling errors. Having spent two weeks proof-reading SOPs for the armed forces, I automatically proof-read everything.
I read this book over two days. As others have said, it is riveting. I read the last 350 pages at one go, starting at 0230 in the morning. Definitely recommending this to friends. I have pre-ordered the second book which will come out in Canada mid-summer.
- J. T. Cameron,
I got the tip from my aunt, who lives in Denmark. Bought the book, laid it aside for a while. But once I start reading, couldn’t stop. I think it will become a succes in Holland as well. Looking forward to the movie in mai.
- Gitte Niessen, Veenendaal, Holland,
I got the tip from my aunt, who lives in Denmark. Bought the book, laid it aside for a while. But once I start reading, couldn’t stop. I think it will become a succes in Holland as well. Looking forward to the movie in mai.
- Gitte Niessen, Veenendaal, Holland,
Larsson combines great characters with a closed borders murder case. The combination between Lisbeth Salander and Kalle Blomkvist is thrilling and the personality balance accurate. Although the author tends to explain a little bit too much the technological stuff, the ambience and surroundings are very good managed. Män som hattar kvinor is a book I’d recomend basically to jounalists (so devaluated now a days in Latin America) and thriller book’s fans.
- gustavo garduno,
Larsson combines great characters with a closed borders murder case. The combination between Lisbeth Salander and Kalle Blomkvist is thrilling and the personality balance accurate. Although the author tends to explain a little bit too much the technological stuff, the ambience and surroundings are very good managed. Män som hattar kvinor is a book I’d recomend basically to jounalists (so devaluated now a days in Latin America) and thriller book’s fans.
- gustavo garduno,
Friend from work, knowing that I love mystery/thriller novels, recommended this book and I read it while I was at cottage. This book really catches you from the beginning to the end! Larsson really knew how to make every character and Hedestad/Hedeby island alive. It’s so shame he started to write fiction so late and never even lived to see his (rightfully earned) fame. Next I’m gonna get my hands to “The Girl That Played With Fire”.
- J.T. Luotonen,
Friend from work, knowing that I love mystery/thriller novels, recommended this book and I read it while I was at cottage. This book really catches you from the beginning to the end! Larsson really knew how to make every character and Hedestad/Hedeby island alive. It’s so shame he started to write fiction so late and never even lived to see his (rightfully earned) fame. Next I’m gonna get my hands to “The Girl That Played With Fire”.
- J.T. Luotonen,
I finished the first book an hour ago and wonder what I am going to do until July for the US release of book2. I was so hooked for the past 24 hours and my kids have made numerous comments about my addiction! It is really what the first book is… The plot is great and the characters are intriguing and touching. If you love mystery books, you will not be disapointed in this one!
- Aurelie, Los Angeles,
I finished the first book an hour ago and wonder what I am going to do until July for the US release of book2. I was so hooked for the past 24 hours and my kids have made numerous comments about my addiction! It is really what the first book is… The plot is great and the characters are intriguing and touching. If you love mystery books, you will not be disapointed in this one!
- Aurelie, Los Angeles,
The book is fantastic! can’t believe that the portuguese version of the second book will be released only in ?!. What i’m going to do until that?
- Frederico, Porto Alegre,
Just finished reading “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” Excellent book …great story… believable characters. Too bad the author died before he got the accolades due him. Will certainly read the next two.
Tried to get this book months before our library had it. Am puttng in an order for next one today!
- Claire P. NH, USA,
I can’t wait to see the movie now!
This book is excellent!
- Frank from The Netherlands,
It’s a really good book with a solid story. What a shame that the creator isn’t here anymore to see how his books are all over the world. Such an amazing work for sure.RIP Stieg.
- Thaís Martins, BRAZIL!!,
alguien sabe donde estan estos libros en CD en catalan?
- ninapantera1@hotmail.com,
THE FIRSTVBOOK I’VE BEEN UNABLE TO PUT DOWN IN MANY YEARS
- P.Ó BEOLÁIN,
wow, I have the same tattoo in the same spot! Creepy!
- hw,
My thoughts exactly.
- Shirley,
This book is all I can think about. It is absolutely taken over my life! I can’t wait to get home everyday and read more. I’m dying to get the other two books.
- caseydarling,
Just finished reading The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.
Excellent read! Original and powerful
- Toni Rock, New York, NY,
I loved The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. I would like to get a copy of it for a friend in German. Does anyone know how I could find out if it has been translated into German? And if so, how can I get a German edition to send to my friend in Greenland?
- Cathy, Wisconsin, USA,
lol
- kk,
Wow! Bought the book while on vacation and was torn—didn’t want to miss the sights of Asheville, NC, but hated to stop reading. Larsson’s characters are unforgettable, especially Lisbeth. A big book in every way, I didn’t want to stop till I finished but saved and savored each page. So tragic that Larson died so young. What else might he have written. Eager to
read the other two in the Millennium series.
- Betty Segell. Omaha, NE,
One thing – St Albans is not a suburb of London any more than Cambridge is. It is a town in Herts.
- pedant,
Watch the Swedish version of the film. It has much better character development a better feeling to the over all film and an acutally talented Lisbeth, unlike Mara who was simply dreadful. The Swedish version may not be the best adaption to the book but it sure was a superior film. FYI the American version wasn’t that much better of an adaption
- D.Dezi,
I hope you found it on amazon.de
do a decent translation for us and post it online
- darren,
I hope that Larssons’ relatives can read this and see how many people love their beloved’s works. I wish them all the best, to be proud of their famous family member and to find at least some consolation in this world-wide success and recognition for their late Stieg Larsson. May God rest him and reward him for all the good he has given us!
- Trixi,
Do yourself a favor: make sure you have three empty days in your calender before you strart reading this book. Also, stock up on water and food. Enjoy!
- David Kakon,
To Cathy from WI. I expect you have found a German version by now, but if not try amazon.de.
BTW, what a fabulous heroine Stieg Larsson created. I’m almost frightened to read in case any more bad things happen to her
- scormus,
lovly boock
- chaouki charbel,
Probably the slowest-moving chapter in the book is the one supplied as the sample chapter for Kindle readers. The preface which precedes it and the chapter that follows it are much more representative of how the book reads.
Lucky for me I bought it anyway ? what a good read this is. And two minutes after finishing it on the beach I had eagerly purchased and started the second (also taut) book.
Waiting eagerly for book 3 in October.
- RogerSPress,
I live in Mexico City. I´ve just finished the girl with the dragon tattoo. It´s been a long time since I read such a good book, so different… I enjoyed learning about Sweeden too.
- monica,
I notice several ways that Salander is similar to Harry Potter, with both honing their unique power to battle evil empires. Their childhoods are destroyed by evil forces, their guardians torment them and they live in different worlds from the middle class/Muggles. They seem just children but have unique powers of mind and body. Computer hacking codes work wonders similar to magic spells, and both can make themselves invisible to their enemies (his cloak/her blond wig etc). They have arch-enemies, Zola/Voldemort, and wise but weakened old guardians, Palmgren/Dumbledore. And the theme of death and resurrection is in both series. Both of these series are wonderful retellings of the mythic story of “The Hero with a Thousand Faces” described by Joseph Campbell.
- John Archer, New Zealand,
It’s hardly a childrens book, why would anyone recommend it to children? Don’t really get your comment here. It’s clearly for grown
-ups…
- MA,
Initially, I found the first fifty to sixty pages of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo slightly offbeat and boring. However, that perception diminished soon after. Prepare yourself for a “rip-roaring,” rollercoaster ride of a mystery novel that strains and pushes the limits of your comfort zone.
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo is an amazing mystery book which raises the bar and sets a new standard in this genre.
- Gary Edmunds/USA,
but it isn’t called “Man who hates woman”?
Hi,
I?m from Bulgaria. I met for the first time ?Millennium ? series? two years ago. I was in Beijing, where I worked (I?m journalist). I red the French edition of ?The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo?. If I must be honest it was a little hard for me because the French isn?t my mother language. After my returning in Bulgaria the big waiting started ? waiting for the Bulgarian edition. Finally ? there is a few weeks I found the book. But I found it because I looked for it. There was no advertising, nothing. But it was my first disappointment. Second- the name of the first book isn?t ?The girl with the dragon tattoo? but something very stupid: ?The men that hated the women?. Very stupid and very ugly ? I don?t know how gave the rights to the Bulgarian editor COLIBRI to change the original title?? I have no idea about the names of the second and the third books of the series, but I?ll keep you in touch.
- Velin PASKOV / Bulgaria / velinpaskov@hotmail.com,
I was urged by folks to read this, even though I don’t enjoy crime fiction or books that have been translated. I think I picked it up more after reading about Larsson and his life. It was a good enough read – a typical ‘bestseller’ in the US – definitely enjoyable but nothing to savor and read again.
- Singharner,
But Harry isn’t getting his freak on with Dumbledore.
- Troy the Norwegian/Dane,
When is the movie going to be released in the US?
- Marie S.,
The Original title in Swedish. Is “Man som hatar kvinnor”, which translates to “men who hates women”. So the question is who gave the right to the English editor.
- Swede,
I waded through the first couple of chapters – and then found myself totally engrossed!
The Girl Who Played with Fire is next up on my reading list. Too bad the series is only a trilogy!
- C,
What an absolutely engrossing enjoyable book. Every page was brilliant! Lisabeth is such a great female character. Reading the final book….so sad that is going to be over sooon
Have not enjoyed a book as much as I have enjoyed his books in a long time.
- Nima,
Chelan, WA USA — Never before have I read a book that so captured me that I had to talk about it whenever I wasn’t reading it. Mikael Blomkvist, more so that Lisbeth, was a great character to pull the reader in. I would never have picked this book up to read based on the title, “The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo” or as I’ve learned here online “Men Who Hate Women” if our Riverwalk Book Club had put it on our reading list.
The excerpt from “The Girl Who Played with Fire” has me looking for this one in paperback asap.
It is so sad the Stieg Larsson only gave us the three books. Next I’ll read his obituary to find out how he died.
- 50-something in Small Town USA,
This well thought detective story is trivialized by sex.
Every important female character save Harriet Vanger jumps into bed with Mikael, who is clearly modelled on the author. The women in this book are remarkably one-dimensional and seem to function only as sexual fodder for our remarkable detective hero. Gross. These books belong to the Harry Potter and Twilight category: entertaining page turners with big sales but not serious novels with any real literary merit.
- MINNEAPOLIS,
The next 2 r less disturbing
- S marriott,
Sorry Nicole, these movies are for Big Girls who read books. If you had read the book you would have realized that it probably wasn’t for you. But that’s okay. And yes, the whole subject is VERY disturbing.
- Grammie,
My boyfriend, 17 yo daughter & 14 yo son picked out “The Girl Who Played With Fire” for me, for mother’s day. I am an avid reader, and I’d never heard of the Millennium Trilogy nor Stieg Larsson, especially not Lisbeth Salander ;
-). I appreciate that my children know enough about me to know the kinds of novels I love to read, boyfriend really didn’t have a clue other than flowers & candy. I could not put the “… with fire” down! I absolutely loved the characters, even the bad ones. The plot was full of suspence and intrigue!! As far as “children” reading this book, get real! My older children are mature enough to understand what happens in the world, especially concerning things that are real! such as the things that happened to Salander at the hands of that bloody perv… I’m digressing, yet the things that happened to her in the book has been happening since the beginning of whenever… It’s just that not all girls (or boys) grow up to have such a tough a skin as Lizbeth. Thank you Stieg for your legacy. I’m looking forward to reading the last in the trilogy… unless… we can all only hope and pray the rest will be written and published! Hoorah!!!!!!
- D.L. GREEN, RALEIGH, NC USA,
pasty white douche
- larson,
Also here in Saudi Arabia a sleepless night! Addiction has a new name – Stieg Larsson
- Catherine,
you can also download an audio book from any torrent site. the book on audio is quite long but worth it!
- puzzle,
I had to get mine at the UK amazon site. I couldn’t wait until May 2010 (when I thought they’d release the last one in Ca.).
- J.Larsson (no releation),
If you simply can’t wait for the movie, do a torrent search for “man som hatar kvinnor”. A DVD rip is available. English subtitles available from subscene.com. I guarantee this is how Monika saw it.
- Sapo,
Steve, I am sorry but I am afraid I cannot tell you how I obtained it…:o) It is a mistery!
I am back :o) has been busy for a while! The movie title I’ve got is “Mann som hatar kvinnor” or something like it. And I saw it three times already – I love it! And Salander is perfect!!! :oP
I’m literary addicted to The Girl With the Dragon Tatoo, I just got it as a present from a friend and I cant put it down, its the best book i have read in long time and i must say Lisbeth Salander is a she-ro! I’m taking this book with me to the bathroom lol Stop me if you can
- Chiedza Chagutah, Zimbabwe,
I t i s a d i c t i v e !
I just finished reading the second book, and I really look forward to know what happens in the next ( and saddly, last book of this trilogy).
I hope there is a movie about it coz I reckon it can be a succes.
I have never ever enjoyed reading a book as much as these ones.
- Mari,
loved it! thrilling and disturbing, yet deeply interesting as well.
- Mary,
I’m peruvian and I really like reading. I came across this book while Iwas “hunting” at a bookshop. I must say this trilogy has changed the way I see this kind of novels. I have read the three boooks and undoubtedly they are the best I’ve read so far.
- fernando. Tacna,
one of the best books i’ve ever read… was glued to it from the first to the last page.
- mahika,
I have not read a book yet. Even did not know about it. I just watched the movie and have been so excited that now I ve been looking for more information about the movie and its details. If movie has been so super, I wonder how reading a book is.
Great experience !!
!
- paban from Poland,
I ripped through the entire novel last Sunday — I barely stopped to eat. Not since reading Helen Zahavi’s “Dirty Weekend” have I been so satisfied by a novel. In fact, for the next three days, I kept it by the bed so I could reread my favorite parts. One of the most powerful female characters EVER in contemporary fiction. Larsson’s critical feminist voice will be sorely missed. Rarely has a male writer so baldly stated the truth about our world in such compelling detail: that the true war on this planet is the war of men against women. Depressing as this truth is, how exhilarating it is to read of a heroine who gets revenge on every single person who victimizes her. Tremendously satisfying how she metes out justice to misogynist-sadist Bjurman, and there’s so much more to come.
- Carolyn McLuskie,
I totally agree, I finished my three books a few months ago, and am so spoilt, not one book I’ve read after these, gives me any satisfaction, they are bland and boring in comparison
- Marianne,
i enjoyed reading the book. its hard to put it down.
i totally agree that once u started reading it, ull be hooked and u wont mind all the things around u anymore.. its like ur there, ,ur part of the book. i love that feeling.. that proves that larsson is really a good writer coz he keeps me excited in every page.
i love the twist and every character!
- rainey from philippines,
Has anyone created a map of the island? Would really help.
- Suzanne,
Could not have a photographic memory. I know a person that has 90% memory for three months Word for word.
Carolyn,If you are the writer of the piece on Dr. James Wilson, I would really like to talk to you for a few minutes regarding the xtra
-cell product (mesenchyme) Please e
-mail me back.Thanks,Mike PriceEl Paso, TX
- mprice.cogmail.com,
This reading simply destroyed my short vacation in Singapore. Also, I’ve got sunburned on the beach. It just glued me from the first to the last page!
Great writer – fantastic book.
Stieg must be a very strong personality. You can feel his character between lines.
I think, it was his expression of all what he believed in just before he died.
Also, he did a lot for Sweden.
- Vlad,
Whew! Girl with the Dragon Tattoo was FANTASTIC! Its a long time since I literally could not bear to put a book down. I even sneaked reading it under my desk in the office. What a terrific story. I am now about to start book 2! Don’t bother me until I have finished it. Saxon in Johannesburg
- ,
Kind of cliched, unfunny humor and rather prudish in a strange way.
- heydon park,
I am in the middle of the second book and am really enjoying it. One minor point about a previous comment: someone complains about the English translation and says they wish the tranlsator had taken more care; they then go on to say they wish they had read the Swedish original and will do so now. So how can the reviewer criticise the translation if they haven’t yet read the original?
Haha everyone has a photographic memory, just not everyones comes with film!!
In the portuguese edition you have two maps: one with the general town (like in www.tomelius.se/Blogg/hedeby1.jpg) and other with the definition of wich people lives in which house. It really helped a lot!
- Julio,
tomelius.se/Blogg/hedeby1.jpg
- John,
It is magnificently atmospheric & moody. It manages to capture & evoke feelings of all kinds effortlessly. An absolute dream of a book backed up by two sequels of equal quality. Dan Brown, give up!
- Geoff Hughes,
I totally agree with Swede. The translation is lacking, and as a Swede you don’t need to read the Swedish version to clearly see it. A pity the translation isn’t better, for such a riveting read.
- Sarmika,
Because if you are fluent in Swedish and English, you probably know what wording the writer will have used in Swedish, by just looking at the English text. And, sometimes translation isn’t the best… (My experience is that whenever translation sucks, the translator hasn’t read the book properly first, but instead started translating right away)
- Swede,
The first 100 pages of the first book were difficult and disturbing, I felt like I was in a -sort of- business class. But there was this turning point, when Larsson made me stick my hands and all senses to the book and finish it in only 2 days. I stayed up to 4 am reading, when my husband woke up and asked me if I had trouble sleeping. Without looking him I told him “NO, MIkael is in trouble” “Psycho” he told me .
HAHAHA.
Hey Larsson come back and give us one more book at leassstt finish what youve started, the 4th one..
- LACY,
I read all the three books in less than a month. I’m SO depressed . I wanna keep reading. I became a milleniumaddict or whatever.
But there’s one question. I never understood the emotional meaning of Lisbeth’s dragon tattoo? The doctor in the third book, asks her, but obviously he had no reply. I mean, I know she has different tattoos that she made in different stages of her life… But to represent what? When she played out the fire in her past?
- Amber,
I wish I was fluent in Swedish. A friend who read all of the books in Spanish gave me the 1st in the Trilogy in English. Riveting. and I hope Hollywood will not ruin it..
- ,
i still reading this book and i cant stop turning bages
i really love it
- Mohammad barghash,
Spelling not your speciality then?
Mikael Blomkvist, as I recall, is not hired to investigate Harriet´s disappearance, but to write the old man´s memoir, no?
- Eva,
Who is this pompous arse ?
- pimmc,
at first it was very boring…but then i just couldn’t stop reading it.
- melina,
it is a book that i liked a lot.i couldn’t put it down.i read it in no time.now i look forward to watching the movie and after that i want to read the second book too.
- melina,
Well, both, officially he’s writing Vanger’s memoir, but he’s also supposed to find the mystery about Harriet.
- A:
-),
What did the dragon tatoo represent? When did she get it?
- julie,
Incredible movie, great actors and very good director.
- Digon,
Can’t believe the hype about this book. Read it after 3 people whose opinions I respect recommended it. Found it bland and bald, lacking in any believable characterisation with rather a weak, uncompelling story. Perhaps it was lost in translation but give me good prose, believable characters and a riveting tale any day.
- Caro,
Actually, there is an AK
-4. It is the Swedish version of the HK G3A3 made from 1965 to 1970. So we may never know if he was meant the AK
-47 or if he was actually talking about the AK
-4.
- Chris Walker,
yes correct but that was Venger’s plan not to ruffle any feathers in the family. I dont think it matters that the film is not failthful to Steig Larssons original.
- a g johnston,
I read the first as a Christmas present. I bought the second. My son got me the third for my birthday. I saw the film tonight, and it is as good as you could hope for as a portrayal of the book. I’ve heard Hollywood is interested in making a version! Can you imagine?! I look forward to the next episode by the same team, with the same actors, please.
- m308,
Fascinating book. It examines the cruelty which exists in our world, and uses revenge as a legitimate antidote to abuse without resorting to the law, it highlights the helplessness and uselessness of the instituitions that are supposed to protect the vulnerable. A real thriller and unputdownable. Spent an evening on the couch reading it and was still reading it going up the stairs to bed.
- Tom Coady,
No one notice the depravity & violence????
- magyar,
I, in part agree with your comment.. I attempted to start this book on a number of occasions before getting bored and putting it back on the shelf. In the end i began reading it from a few chapters in and then i started to get into the story. The following two books i enjoyed much, much more. Would definately recommend them compared to this one.
- Michelle Hutton,
A great read. The next two I have on audio on my ipod so I can exercise a bit more; have spent too much time sitting already! But it was worth it.
P.S. who is Lennart Hyland and how can I get a copy of his rhyming alphabet?
- Liz, Australia,
Do you mean in the books or in real life? I’ve found it in both.
- Jan, Sweden,
nice
I enjoyed reading Girl with the Dragon Tat more for its typical Swedishness rather than its literary merit. In truth, it is a very amateurish novel, one that I do not think would have been published in English had it not been popular in Sweden already, and it surprises me the enthusiasm of English-speaking critics for the book, almost as if they did not actually read the book, just read others’ reviews or the dust jacket. But then, they always surprise me in this way; in the UK every book is “brilliant” and in the US each novel is either a “page-turner” or “one of the year’s best”.
- trej,
Yes the movie is really kind of akward and disturbing to watch HOWEVER the movie does not do the book justice. Sure there are mature things in the book as well but it is really a great series and gets through some messages that you can’t understand from in the movie.
movie watcher, you have to understand that each scenes is interconnected it has to be discuss in the film to be able to send the real motive of the subject
- super inday,
The trilogy is intelligent, profound and delicate. It is sad that I read it that early in my life, I guess I won’t find many good books like these anymore.
I do agree that the book does not have any literary merit. It’s not as if one were reading Anthony Trollope or any other good Victorian novels. However, it does have that feel of sensationalism that thrillers are supposed to have. Myself I am not a typical reader of such books. Nevertheless it has done well and it may be that many have not really read any of the books but it ‘jump on the bandwagen’ so as not to feel left out. Yes, the phrase ‘page turner’ is apt but over used and ‘one of the best’ may just help the sales.
- Myra Walder,
I first heard of this author through my neighbour here in Switzerland where I live. And as it so often is, when I began to read the usual reviews on books ie. Daily Telegraph and other Swiss German newspapers, people when asked what they were reading, I more than once saw ‘The girl who kicked the hornet’s nest’. So I bought the first two whilst on a trip to Luxembourg in my mother tongue, English. I have read all three and I even put other books I had started to read aside in order to finish Larsson’s great milllenium trilogy. Now our son is beginning the second and of course my husband has read all three, the last a rather, to say the least a heavy read.
- Myra Walder,
Just one word : Awesome !
i really love this book. And i will start reading others today =) i have 4 exams next week.. and who care ?
- H.A / Turkey,
Saw the film last night it was amazing!!! Such a shame that Stieg never new he had written a masterpiece. 19th March 2010
- Jaxs – Sussex !,
i wouldnt recomended it for young children. its very yucky in parts
- Cathy,
I finished reading the first one on a Sunday, while the bookstores were closed.. Thats a mistake i wont make again! All i wanted to do was not stop reading. Wow… Steig Laarson Rest in Pease and THANK YOU!
- Marinos – Cyprus,
how real are the hacking techiques and computer techology used by Lisbeth Salander?
- Duane Neitzel – 1/2 way through 3rd book,
how real are the hacking techiques and computer techology used by Lisbeth Salander?
i started reading the girl with the dragon tatoo im having a hard time getting imyo it any suggestions
12 is too young to be reading this book. It is so telling of our generation that we think it is ok for 12 year olds (even advanced as I was at that age) to be reading sexually graphic and violent materials. No wonder the next generation is growing up with such violence! Just because they can read does not mean that they should be……
I’ll take capitalism over socialism any day. these books only serve to enforce the idea that the individual can take care of themselves just fine without the governments interference. on the contrary, when government has too much control over the individual that’s when things start going wrong.
But grubby hands will be on it… just yo wait and see. It’s much too good a book for Hollywood to ignore.
- Rupsfrazer,
There is no doubt that the first socialist experiments had problems. Understandable since humanity doesn’t change the instant the economic/political system changes. To say that humanity is at the root of all social problems assumes there is something innate in humanity. More helpful is to understand that there is a dialectical relationship between human behavior and the systems humans create. Much more interesting to take part in the struggle to change the world and by these actions change humanity.
- Garret
-Boston, USA,
wonderful book. Must disturbing book I have ever read and I was absolutely astonished when I realized that there was a Millennium Trilogy. I thought that the book just ended abruptly but I was surprised to find out there was more books. I am so excited to read more about Lisbeth Salander.
what a great book!!! i stayed up until 3am for a week till i finished the book! i loved it and can wait till the 3rd one comes out!!
Could we request this series be available on the Kindle please.
- Sue,
what film did people see? I looked on IMDb and the english version isn’t supposed to be out til 2012 they say, was it the sweedish version maybe, and where did you find it?!
- Janeymacd,
I put it down for three weeks and finally I can’t put it down. Persevere…it does finally get going.
I had same problem but I skipped 1st 50 pages then I could not put it down. Did not think I missed anything by skipping
- Mags,
Yeah, this was the same for me, but persevere, it is not until after the first 50 pages that the real story begins…
- Liam Harkin, Ireland,
I had the 3 books as an anniversary present, the 3rd book having just come out…..fantastic!
I’ve been up until 4am reading, desperate to find out what Salander does next. I hope the 4th book gets published.
THERE IS A MISTAKE IN THE BOOK, IT SAYS THE BOOK OF ESTHER IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE BIBLE BUT IS PART OF THE APOCRYPHA. THIS IS UNTRUE, ESTHER IS AN INCLUDED NAME IN THE BIBLE.
- ESTHER,
Apple TV has it for rent in the Swedish with subtitles.
- Andrew Janson,
The only version out right now is the Swedish version. I recommend you see the Swedish films with subtitles if you can get a hold of them.
- American Swede,
I bought the audio CD and thought it was excellent. In fact, I was rather happy about sitting in traffic whilst listening to it in the car. I have just purchased the next to books in audi CD format. I look forward to traffic jams!
- G.B,
ONE OF THE BEST SERIES I HAVE EVER READ!!! STAYED UP WAY PAST WHEN I SHOULD HAVE ON A WORK NIGHT AND DIDN’T CARE CAUSE I COULDN’T WAIT TO GET HOME AGAIN AND START READING
- chris,
I MEANT AN INCLUDED BIBLE BOOK
- ESTHER,
this movie is so amazing
- jo,
stop yelling!Jay
- Jay,
Mir ist es so ergangen wie Chris: Das erste Mal seit ich an der Universität studiert habe, dass ich mich wieder an Bücher gewagt habe und nicht mehr losgekommen bin.
- Carmen,
Finished the book and saw the movie, we are reading the book for our book club, and I give both 2.5- 3 stars out of 5. I really wish it were not so very dark, it seems to me that the author has used extreme violence- depravity rather than skillful writing. I wish he had relied more on intrigue than sheer violence. Maybe something has been lost in translation??? I had heard so much about both the book and the movie that I was excited to see and read them…… but just way to dark, for darks sake, and lost is what could have been a really really interesting plot line.
- Hilary- Maryland US,
Wow you’re a little too young even for an advanced reader… You can really get disturbed. BTW: Twilight ain’t got nothin on this. This would way surpass sales of twilight if all people your age could read it too I’m sure. EPIC book!
- Josh N SA14,
I read this whole series, some content is really unappropriate for a twelve year old.
I read The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo last week in 2 days. I saw the movie yesterday. The most powerful aspect of this work is the connection that Larsson makes between the violence against women and it’s connection to patriarchy and power. That he weaves in Nazism, corporate excesses, as well as youth rebellion shows that he gets the fact that capitalism is at the root of all the social problems we face in the modern world. We need more authors like Larsson.
- Garret-Boston, USA,
Don’t listen to others. I was reading Stephen King, Dean Koontz and other authors of this genre when I was 13. You’re not too young.
Hilary, have you only read The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo? I admit that I was a little disturbed by violence in it, but I really liked Lisbeth and so I went ahead and read The Girl Who Played With Fire and by the end of it I had a completely different view of the first book. The more I read the more I love Lisbeth. I’m sorry these books have had to come to an end.
- Sara,
I personally think it’s good for people to realize the realities of sexual abuse, sexual assault and rape. It draws them out of their safe world belief system and makes them aware of the realities that victims deal with on a day to day basis. I am disappointed that you gave it such poor reviews for showing you what others have to live with on a day to day basis.
- Sav,
Really liked this novel; as a teacher, over the years, I have seen several ‘Lisabeth Salanders at close range in different classrooms. Larsson uses this character’s uniqueness to unfold a great story.
- Graham Wride,
I could not put this book down…I was up 24 hours non-stop thrilling reading.
- Wayne,