The Fur Quits - jackbauer's book

swissmiss · 2009-07-01T19:39:59+00:00

jackbauer's choice: TGWTDT by SL Discuss

LightShinesInTheDarkness · 15/07/2009 09:01

Just finished it! Was definitely not the sort of book I would have chosen myself but really enjoyed it.

As I don't know much about business or publishing, I actually was not that interested in the Wennerstrom/Millennium thread of the book.

It was really the Harriet murder that made me want to carry on reading. Once that part of the book had reached its conclusion, I wasn't that bothered what happened to anyone after that.

The Vanger family tree was far too complex to keep it all in my head at once, and I lost track of the details. But it didn't matter that much, same as the bank accounts at the end, I didn't really understand the transactions Salander made.

I liked Blomkvist, although he was obviously just a vehicle for the storylines, and not a very full character.

Did not care very much for the violent scenes, found them a bit too graphic and distrurbing, but could see they were essential to the story.

Wanted to know more about Salander, her family background etc. But maybe more is revealed in later books?

Good choice of book, thrilling read.
Recommend to other readers and think its a book which men would enjoy as well.

JackBauer · 21/07/2009 21:06

Thanks. I chose it as it was one of a BOGOF type deal that I just chose randomly, it took me awhile to get into it as well, but once it got past the publishing stuff (which I agree I wasn't that interested in, but I thought added a nice sense of 'normality') I thought it went off at such an odd tangent.
Salander's character/background was a big shock as from the early descriptions of her I found it hard to match the 2 up IYSWIM.

I did figure out about Harriet a few chapters before they did, no other explanation really, but I did like the way they solved it, very good and beliveable.

I do agree with teh violent scenes, you could tell it was written by a man....

I actually am quite interested in reading the others in the trilogy in the hopes they are about Salander and not mainly BLomkvist, who was a lovely character, veyr sweet and likeable, but not as intersting as she was.

Glad you liked it!

LightShinesInTheDarkness · 27/07/2009 17:26

I didn't figure out about Harriet until it was revealed at the end, I can never work out mysteries!

BadgersArse · 27/07/2009 17:37

i loVED this book
and the second one

JackBauer · 28/07/2009 22:16

I bought the second one yesterday. Am glad it has same 2 in it, looks good!

JackBauer · 20/08/2009 09:42

Just finished the 2nd one (DD hid it in teh bottom of teh toybox!) and it's brilliant, better than the first actually and actually got me weepy at the end.
Can't wait for 3rd now, such a shame about him not being able to write more

Original poster

swissmiss · 31/08/2009 20:40

I really enjoyed this book. Amusingly it came up on my amazon.com recommendations when I was on there just the other day.

Vagner family did seem quite messed up! Their family tree was hard to keep track of too. Agree that the violent scenes, by more than one character, were a bit much but can see how they fitted the story. I didn't work out the whole Anita / Harriet set up in advance so was kept page turning to find out. Found it quite beliveable unlike some of the hunting down of people in the old photographs and them happening to still have the negatives etc. available.

Rather disconcerting how much infomation can be "dug up" about ones self legally or illegally. Reminded me of how Big Brother-esque our world is becoming and that's without anyone with a grudge trying to gather info, iykwim.

Found Salander very intriguing character. Look forward to finding out more about her in the next book which I will def. get. Am curious as to the story line? What role does Blomquist play?

OP posts:

JackBauer · 04/09/2009 20:37

They are both big parts in the next book, Salander gets in big trouble and Blomkist has to help her out. Very good, I actually thought it was better!

Wheelybug · 14/10/2009 12:02

Finally finished this !!

Well, it did get better but I was never really that in to it. I didn't hate reading it or find it a chore but it didn't grab me like it seems to have done everyone else (inc. people in real life who encouraged me to keep reading).

I guessed v. early on that Harriet was still alive although not the whole story. The graphic stuff was a bit graphic but part of the story. Again, I didn't really get what was going on with the transactions at the end but I think by that point I was so pleased to be almost finishing it I didn't concentrate too hard.

the whole murder/mystery bit was definitely better than the wennstrom stuff which I thought was a bit weak tbh in that it was a useful vehicle at the beginning for getting him to get the project but felt the book really ended when the harriet mystery was solved. Maybe this part gets developed in other books.

I don't think I would rush to read the others but I am going to pass it on to DH to see what he thinks.

cathcat · 02/11/2009 12:43

Just finished this, although I have to admit I nearly didn't But once I got to a certain point I realised I did want to get to the end. I agree with a lot of the points already made about the characters, the plot and the violence. Also, how much blooming coffee do they drink in Sweden - every second page there is a pot of coffee on the go .

I didn't think the writing, in some parts, was that great to be honest but I am not sure if it was due to the fact it has been translated or if this style is more to do with the genre of the book.

I didn't think that I would read the second one but as Jack says it is really good then maybe I would. However the third one got a real slating on a review show on Radio4 which has put me off a bit. It is a real shame the author died suddenly and didn't get to see his success. I can see this book being made into a film ~ anyone heard a rumour of that?

headintheclouds · 13/11/2009 18:00

.

headintheclouds · 04/12/2009 17:55

I didnt read this because Ive read it already earlier this year-I absolutely loved it,and loved the cold swedish descriptions-Ive also just finished the 2nd of the trilogy and am looking forward to the third when its out in paperback.(I only read paperbacks-I find the hard backs too heavy).
Ive posted it on and hope that Simpson enjoys it. -I thought some of the violence was a bit gratuitous,but did enjoy Salander getting her revenge on her guardian-(and that was even more grisley than what he did to her I thought!

LightShinesInTheDarkness · 02/01/2010 00:29

Just popped in to say that, having read TGWTDT 'cause it came via Fur Quits MN Swap, I read the second one in the trilogy over Christmas. 'The Girl Who Played with Fire' concentrates more on Lisbeth, reveals some of her background and puts her actions into context much more. Really brilliant, could not put it down. Recommended if you liked the first one.

The last in the trilogy 'The Girl who Kicked the Hornet's Nest' is currently only in hardback, out in paperback 1 April 2010. I will be queueing at the bookshop!

caykon · 29/01/2010 08:50

This book had been one I wanted to read for ages, but never got round to buying. I was really pleased when I opened the package and saw it.

When I started reading I was a first dissapointed the whole court case bit at the begginning didn't grip me, but I kept going luckily.
Once it got on to the harriet case it got much more interesting and I read it in 2 sittings. I now want to buy the second one, but have so many books on my to read pile that I am trying not to buy anymore, but I'm sure soon it will accidently find its way into my amazon basket.

When I get the chance I will add more detail to why I liked it.

simpson · 03/02/2010 17:07

Only just got round to writing what I thought of book now

I loved it but did get a bit bogged down with who was who (lots of characters) and the courtcase at the beginning did not really grip me but once the investigation into Harriet started then it good really good.

I raved about book so much that my RL friend has used it for her RL bookclub this month

Definately going to get the next book

steamedtreaclesponge · 23/03/2010 13:44

I didn't read this, like headintheclouds, as I'd just finished the third in the series when it arrived!

I LOVED this book, although I found it rather slow going to start with, and the family tree definitely helped as it was sometimes hard to keep track of who was who. Once I got into it, though, I couldn't put it down. Lisbeth is a great character, and I didn't predict any of the plot twists and turns - it's a thoroughly satisfying thriller.

Am looking forward to seeing the film, too, it should be interesting to see how they've adapted it for the screen.

madamy · 02/05/2010 20:34

This is my kind of book! I loved it and have the next 2 on order from the library! I liked the characters and was kept engaged all the way through - the publishing stuff and the large family tree too. I enjoyed reading about the swedish environment etc - I'm often not a huge fan of translated books, but this hit the mark!
Thanks for a great choice!