The Dogmother Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 Have any of you read this fascinating trilogy? My boss lent me the books to take on holiday and I became a tad obsessed with reading them and was gripped through all three. There have been two (subtitled) Swedish films released for the first two books and now a Hollywood version with Daniel Craig is coming out at the end of the year... I think it will be this year's 'must watch'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squiffs Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 Have any of you read this fascinating trilogy? My boss lent me the books to take on holiday and I became a tad obsessed with reading them and was gripped through all three. There have been two (subtitled) Swedish films released for the first two books and now a Hollywood version with Daniel Craig is coming out at the end of the year... I think it will be this year's 'must watch'. I bought my nan the trilogy for christmas, birthday and christmas over the course of 18 months - she loves them, thinks they're brilliant, she loves all the thriller/crime fiction, patricia cornwell, kathy reichs etc. Such a shame he never got to see them published. My OH also read the first in the trilogy on holiday and said it was brilliant. I don't get much time for reading for pleasure anymore but perhaps will have a sneaky borrow of my nan's! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 I think they are brill too; real page turners. We got book no 2 (can't remember their titles or the correct order, was 'Girl with A Pearl Earring' one of them ) out the other night on DVD and I was impressed with it - like watching a Wallender. There seems to be a whole world of similar Scandinavian/Icelandic fiction - a friend recommended a few to OH and he has gone and bought them, but offhand I can't remember any of them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 28, 2011 Author Share Posted June 28, 2011 The books are (in order) The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo The Girl who Played with Fire The Girl who Kicked the Hornets' Nest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bramble Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 THese are on my (ever increasing) "to read" list! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 28, 2011 Author Share Posted June 28, 2011 sounds like the pile of unread Sunday supplements and Practical Poultry mag beside my bed Phil looked at them on Sunday and said 'you need a day off to read that lot'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Potts Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 The trilogy itself is brilliant and I have seen the first Swedish film adaptation. It will be interesting to see the American remake. Straying, a bit, I saw an advert on TV for the American version of the recent brilliant Danish series "The Killing". Another really good Scandinavia writer is Jo Nesbo. I've just read a few and they are both complicated and quite dark ... the type of thing you read peeking from behind your fingers, if you see what I mean, in the way you used to watch Dr Who from behind the sofa when you were small. A little gory in places but very well thought out, so give him a go. In Vincent Price voice "You'll never look at a Snowman in the same way ever again ... " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 I thought 'The Girl with a Dragon Tattoo' series was brilliant, too - it's tragic that the author died so young, when there were clearly more stories to explore. I believe there's a fourth book but it's been held up because of a dispute over his estate. As well as being absolutely gripping thrillers, I thought the books were a brilliant social commentary on women's rights issues, and the way that people who don't conform are sometimes treated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 I must be the only one who cant get into it then! I started but gave up... note to self: try harder next time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squiffs Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 I thought 'The Girl with a Dragon Tattoo' series was brilliant, too - it's tragic that the author died so young, when there were clearly more stories to explore. I believe there's a fourth book but it's been held up because of a dispute over his estate. "Larsson wrote about three-quarters of a fourth novel before his sudden death in November 2004. His partner, Eva Gabrielsson, is in possession of the notebook computer with the manuscript but does not own the rights to Larsson's work. This is because Larsson, in an attempt to protect Gabrielsson from the people he was investigating on in real life (Swedish Neo-Nazis and racists), never married and never wrote his will. Thus, at his death, it is his family that ended with the succession.Outlines or manuscripts for one or two more books may exist." He planned to write 10 in the millennium series, apparently. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 Strangely,as I know many like them,& really did not like the books at all Found them too wordy & dull. Anything with Mr Craig in it is worth a watch,though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 Strangely,as I know many like them,& really did not like the books at all Found them too wordy & dull. Anything with Mr Craig in it is worth a watch,though hurrah, I am not alone! I've always respected Cinnamon's judgement Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarlettohara Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 I must be the only one who cant get into it then! I started but gave up... note to self: try harder next time. Me too It's on my bedside table, I keep looking at it thinking I must read that book but never get past page 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 28, 2011 Author Share Posted June 28, 2011 They are very deep books and quite involved - the type is small and it's closely printed. There is a lot of detail in all the novels so you really have to keep up to speed. I agree with Olly about the human rights aspect, and there are also some pretty dark and disturbing parts although they are totally in context. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rachel19 Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 They were the first three books i bought for my kindle - i think they were on offer at the time and absolutely loved them. Definately took a while to get the swing of in the first one but well worth it as you got used to the writers style of writing. Another recommendation is Peter James if you are familiar with the Brighton area. A great series of books with some familiar places! (Sorry slightly off topic). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 If Cinnamon didn't like it - then I'm not sure I would either. Her book judgement is spot on! All books recommended by her - have so far been brilliant! Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abwsco Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 The books are (in order) The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo The Girl who Played with Fire The Girl who Kicked the Hornets' Nest Haven't read the books but watched all three of the films not so long ago. Chose to watch the subtitled version as well although you could chose English if you wanted. They are the first films in a long time that had us gripped from the start and we could easily have stayed up all night to watch them one after the other. Really can't see Daniel Craig in the role. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 28, 2011 Author Share Posted June 28, 2011 I might try seeing if I can get the subtitled ones on DVD from the library and have a go at watching them, I'm not very tolerant of subtitled films. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 Loved the Trilogy! Bought the first two on holiday last year and finished them and couldn't wait to get home to buy the third. I heard that he died before the 2nd/3rd were fully edited, so do agree that they were and bit wordy in places, but the story line had me hooked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 I found them unputdownable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ms Marple Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 You have to give them a go. They are unbearably dark at times, but it is relevant to the story as a whole. Wordy yes, but in parts that may be the translation. Techy at times but you can gloss over it a little. I have to agree with Egluntyne here....unputdownable!!!! Those who haven't tried should and Cinnamon, I usually agree with you on books (and follow your recommendations)-give em another go! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Licken Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 I have read all 3 - they were a 'not to be out down' read. I have also watched all 3 films on DVD. I watched them with the English voice over rather than the subtitles. I would definitley recommend them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 OH and I have read all 3 and loved them . We've got all 3 DVD's to watch too but are saving them for when he's on holiday . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 I know Brighton very well - I'll have to check out Peter James We watched the film with subtitles because we wanted that Wallender feeling - where its all even more incomprehensible! I was very impressed with it because I felt it was quite low key and in keeping with the Scandinavianess of it (all low light levels and pale people), not Hollywoodised if you know what I mean! BTW another book which friends have raved over but I was less keen on, its kind of in the same genre but gentler and much less gory but just as convoluted, is Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow. And one of the books OH has is The Jar, which I think has also been made into a film. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 28, 2011 Author Share Posted June 28, 2011 I have read all 3 - they were a 'not to be out down' read. I have also watched all 3 films on DVD. I watched them with the English voice over rather than the subtitles. I would definitley recommend them. Ahhh, I didn't know that you could get them with English voice-overs, i will try to source them from the library - we are in Norfolk in August and I will get time to sit down and watch them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
