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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:
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.

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.

AnyFucker · 23/06/2010 20:44

I tried really, really hard to like these books

I failed

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!

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.

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.

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

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:
brimfull · 23/06/2010 22:07

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

BecauseImWorthIt · 23/06/2010 22:09

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

said · 23/06/2010 22:17

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

deaconblue · 25/06/2010 11:38

no no you must read them in order and the first one takes about 50 or so pages to get inot. I thought they were brilliant and I hate crime fiction

lisasimpson · 25/06/2010 11:59

Yes you must start with the first (although they do go back over some of it in the third) I am about half way through the third now and I agree about all the Swedish names - I keep having to remind myself who's who!

FolornHope · 25/06/2010 17:14

GOD NO DONYT START WITH THE LAST BOok
that was shit anyway and i was a hardbackbuyer of the otehrs such was my addiction

PuppyMonkey · 25/06/2010 17:21

Is the Girl with the DragoN Tattoo the first then? I had no idea it was even part of a trilogy, I just liked the book cover! I have nearly finished it... rather good I thought.

glastocat · 25/06/2010 17:23

I read the first one and thought it was shit.

Itsjustafleshwound · 25/06/2010 17:24

Can't say I was a fan of the subject matter and thought 'so what' at the end ...

Life is too short to be persevering with books you don't like, but as others have said, you should read them in order...

mousymouse · 25/06/2010 17:25

I just cant seem to get into it. hoped that they are a bit like the wallander books but its quite different.

Headbanger · 25/06/2010 17:34

I wash CRUSHED with disappointment. They desperately needed an editor. If he hadn't rather glamorously dropped dead before the manuscripts were found, he would've worked with an editor to reduce them by about 30%, and they'd've been fantastic.

I ploughed through the first 150 pages and lost patience. When I saw the film, they managed to cover those first 150 pages in about 10 minutes...

Headbanger · 25/06/2010 17:35

wash was

Not pissed, honest!

lilyliz · 25/06/2010 17:35

Same as you mousymouse,just could'nt get into it. Tend to find the swedish detectives a bit slow and depressing,I know there are thousands who will disagree just a matter of preference.

PuppyMonkey · 25/06/2010 17:37

So was it? Eh? EH? The first one? Someone answer me!!!

Headbanger · 25/06/2010 17:37

Yes it was Puppy!

Raahh · 25/06/2010 17:37

I loved the first two and waited (tight arse) for the paperback of the 3rd- and have read about half and given up. I was very disappointed

PuppyMonkey · 25/06/2010 17:42

Thanks HB...