The Girl Who Played With Fire Shops at Ikea (The Girl Who Played with Fire - Stieg Larsson)

Member Name: mutherh

Product:	The Girl Who Played with Fire - Stieg Larsson
Date:	20/09/09 (45 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Thrilling, intelligent

Disadvantages: Excessive detail

'Millenium' magazine publisher Mikael Blomkvist is recovering from the action covered in Larsson's first novel, The Girl With The Dragon Tatoo, when the prospect of an investigation into sex trafficking comes his way. Again he becomes embroiled in violence. But this time it is his sidekick Lisbeth Salander who is in danger. Not that she's ever been out of danger, it would appear.

The second novel in the Millenium trilogy explores the character of Lisbeth Salander. Larsson's fascination with sado masochistic sex could seem unhealthy, but he balances this with his creation of this strong female protagonist. Lisbeth has been abused all her life, but is never portrayed as a 'victim'. This is why she is such a positive force in these novels.

Two good people are murdered. It would appear that Lisbeth is the prime suspect. Her fingerprints are on the murder weapon, and society has already officially labelled her as abnormal. She has gone to ground like a hunted animal. Only her true friends believe she is innocent. But where is she? We do know that she is not afraid to stand up for herself.

Larsson keeps us hooked on the action and the mysterious 'Mr Big' behind the sex trade. The final revelation as to his identity is breathtaking, and challenges the reader's faith in humanity. All the norms held by a sane society are turned upside down.

I enjoyed this novel, but found some of the detail excessive, and positively obsessive. Though I was fascinated by Lisbeth's shopping trip to Ikea! Did I have the same taste in furniture? And if I did, what did this say about me? I gained the impression that Larsson was thoroughly enjoying this little shopping trip, because he had fallen in love with his character Lisbeth. Or maybe he was suffering writer's block?

This story was confusing at times because of the multiplicity of characters, most of whom seemed to have names ending in 'ssen'. I found myself going back some pages to re-read parts. At one point when encountering a character I actually asked myself 'Who?' and 'Where did he come from?'. It was a very tiring book to read, i.e. you had to concentrate - "No slacking at the back there!"

Summary: A great vehicle for a strong female protagonist and the fight against evil