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Original poster

Why am I not enjoying Stieg Larsson?

86 replies

annh · 23/06/2010 20:38

Ok, I admit I have started with the third book, The Girl who Kicked the Hornets Nest, as I saw it in the library on Sat, but I just can't get into it. Am only on about page 90 but finding it difficult to identify with any of the characters or indeed even keep all the various policemen straight in my mind. Two of the characters also have confusingly similar names. Should I persevere or would I be better trying the first book in the trilogy?

OP posts:
said · 23/06/2010 22:17

I abandoned the first one halfway through. They are so shittily written/edited/translated that I gave up

BecauseImWorthIt · 23/06/2010 22:09

You have to start with the first one, otherwise the relationship between the characters is pretty incomprehensible.

brimfull · 23/06/2010 22:07

I tried to like the first one but gave up about 3/4 through

Original poster
annh · 23/06/2010 21:21

OK, I will return the third one to the library, picked it up in a hurry and didn't realise it was no 3, but then thought it probably didn't matter. Will try again with no 1 if I can get it in the library but am not liking the whole characterisation sufficiently to go out and buy it!

OP posts:
lal123 · 23/06/2010 21:05

I found the 3rd one repeated alot of the first 2 and just took a long time to say what could have been done in a couple of chapters

gonaenodaethat · 23/06/2010 21:03

1 and 2 are really good.

I've been wrestling with no 3 for months and have read loads of books in between which I never usually do. It's just really badly edited with a lot of pointless detail. Tedious.

isthatporridgeinyourhair · 23/06/2010 20:47

This is not good, I have them, DH loves them, but have been sidetracked into a book on beekeeping and Jilly Cooper. I need to work up some enthusiasm for them.

Portofino · 23/06/2010 20:45

I loved them - but yes you have to start with the first one, or it will no sense! I found the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo a bit tedious for the first chapter then I was hooked!

AnyFucker · 23/06/2010 20:44

I tried really, really hard to like these books

I failed

jamaisjedors · 23/06/2010 20:42

Why did you start with the third one?

It's a trilogy isn't it?

Stop reading it now.

I am off to bed to continue reading number one, it is finally gripping me, I am half-way through.

I will be pleased to find out the mystery but not sure I will read the other 2 books.

All the other people in my book group have loved it though.

moulesfrites · 23/06/2010 20:41

nooo, you have to read them in order - books 2 and 3 are really one long story so it will be very confusing to start with 3 as that is in the middle of the action. The first one is slow going at first as it discusses some boring financial corruption stuff, but persevere with that and it becomes brilliant.

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