Review: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo was another surprising treat. I have been having great luck with ready books that my friends recommend, but I know absolutely nothing about the story. Turns out that the story is murder mystery, but for a murder that had taken place forty years prior to the story. The story revolves around the main male lead, Mikael Blomkvist, being hired to look into the murder at the request of an old man whose one last request in life is find justice for his beloved grandniece, Harriet. The trail of break crumbs leads him all over the place, and it is not until he joins forces with the gifted researcher, Lisbeth Salander (who happens to be the main female lead as well as the girl with the dragon tattoo), does his adventure really gain traction.

What I liked best about this book, besides the unique take on a murder mystery, and exciting plot, was that all the characters were so believable. Each character was so flawed that they seemed so genuine. Mikael was somewhat of a womanizer, but also a guy who tried to do the right thing, with the limitations he knew he had, and Lisbeth had a troubled path, a history of mental illness, apparent trust issues, and at points seemed borderline schizophrenic. Together though, the characters play off one another, and are build up by each others strengths into an unstoppable duo. Also, a highly interesting aspect of this book, was that it was written in another language (then translated to English), and as such I was able to get insight into the mind of a whole new culture (the story took place in Sweden). I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a great (not so easy to figure out) mystery, and/or someone who loves amazing character development. I must warn you however, that some parts of the book were a little odd, for lack of a better word. Not exactly a deal breaker, but the scenes did help to make the characters a little more interesting as well, albeit deter me from wanting to see the film adaptation of the book.

Dexter: TV Series vs. Books

At this point I am four seasons into the Dexter Showtime series, and four books into the Jeff Lindsay novel series, so I think I am in good standings to make a judgment as to which is better (at least which one I am finding more enjoyable). That being said, the TV show hands down! The characters are better developed and the storylines are more intriguing on the small screen (with the exception of Cody and Aster, who are great in the books).  The first book was great, and the first season of the show somewhat paralleled the plot, but onto book/series two, the two say their farewells and head their separate ways.  While the novels head the path of mediocre plots, supernatural intervention, and forgets about how to utilize the side characters we have grown to love, while the TV series takes the path of awesomeness.  To me, the television show is just better written, although Dexter's wit is somewhat lost when we are unable to hear his every word. Also, for those who may claim that the television show is too gory, I would say that the book is considerably worse, and then I must point out that I almost closed the book after the descriptions of a certain "art" show on a certain honeymoon.

 

All in all, but are great works and are highly entertaining, but for those who say that the books are always better than small or big screen adaptation, I would call them on shenanigans.  While this may usually true, Dexter may be the diamond in the rough. Let's hope that they keep up the quality work and lets keep reading/watching our favorite serial killer do his thing, and no I am not referring to John Wayne Gacy, I am referring to the lovable Dexter Morgan of course.

The Long Walk by Stephen King

This was an odd book in that the story was relatively boring (one hundred kids walked until they dropped and they would be killed), and there was not too much cahracter development, but somehow at the end of the book I thought to myself, "that was not too bad." I am not sure when it happened, when I was about halfway through I almost put it down because the story kept repeating itself, but I stuck with it, and nothing really changed, but it became better. I can not fully endorse other people reading this book, because I can see why many people would not want to or why they would nto enjoy it, but I liked it, although I can not fully explain why.

I would recommend this book, but only for someone who likes Stephen King and has already read his better ones and is just looking for some King to pass the time.