The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Steig Larsson

My sister and I picked up the first and second books in this series by Steig Larsson after seeing the movie The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo in theatres. We both enjoyed the movie and figured that the books had to be good as well. She reviewed the second book earlier, so here are my thoughts on the first.

The plot and the characters in the movie were so intriguing that I wanted to see if the book would provide further details, and it did. The characters were all well developed and interesting and despite the fact that I already knew the story, I was still pulled into the mystery. You find out more about the lives of Mikael and Lisbeth and gain a deeper understanding of the Vanger family history. There were some pretty disturbing scenes in the movie that made me a bit uncomfortable but they weren't depicted too graphically in the book. The translation from novel to film was definitely done well, there were a few things left out and some small changes to the story but it really stayed true to the book. Overall, Larsson created a well-thought out story and it is more than just your typical crime/mystery thriller. It touched on some interesting and important themes, and I felt like I had actually learned some new things after reading it.


Was it worth the read?

Yes. As soon as I finished it I found myself wanting to read the next novel in the series.

The Other Side of Paradise by Staceyann Chin

This memoir details the trying, and turbulent young life of Staceyann Chin, a half Chinese, half Jamaican girl growing up in Jamaica. Staceyann and her brother have different fathers, and have been raised by their grandmother since their mother abandoned them to go to Canada. Eventually Staceyann is separated from her family and moves through various homes, all the while trying to succeed in school so that she can be someone someday. Her journey is not made easy as she struggles with unresolved feelings towards her family and tries to deal with the racism and sexual harassment that she is subjected to on a regular basis.

The book is well written and the way that Staceyann describes her surroundings and feelings made me feel as if I was right there watching her grow up.I found it really interesting to learn about Jamaican culture as I've never really read a book set in the country.

Was it worth the read?

Definitely. The book can get kind of depressing, but I never wanted to put it down because I became invested in the characters' lives and was interested to see how they turned out. Staceyann is a strong and determined girl that you can't help rooting for. Her vivid descriptions and the harsh realities that she portrayed really made the story come to life.

Return to Sullivan's Island by Dorothea Benton Frank

I read Dorothea Benton Frank's debut novel, Sullivan's Island, several years ago and loved it. When I saw that there was a sequel I was really excited to read it. The book focuses on Beth, the daughter of Susan (the main character from the original story). Beth has just finished university and has deferred her graduate studies to look after the old house on Sullivan's Island for a year, something she is both dreading and looking forward to at the same time.

The premise sounds promising, but it really falls short of the magic of the original novel. Frank still has some of that low country charm, but the story is just not strong. If you're looking to be comforted by familiar characters, then you're out of luck because they don't play that large a role in this novel.I thought I would be able to relate to Beth really easily as she is in pretty much the same situation as I am (just graduated, trying to figure out life, etc.), but the story was just too unrealistic to take seriously.

Was it worth the read?

Probably not. It just seemed like a really amateur story compared to the original, but it did make me want to reread Sullivan's Island.

The Girl Who Played with Fire by Steig Larsson

Last weekend I went to see the movie The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. I enjoyed the murder-mystery so much that I went and bought the sequel novel, The Girl Who Played with Fire. The book is huge and it's a testament to Larsson's writing that I finished the whole thing last night.

If you can't tell yet, I love strong female characters. After one weekend Lisbeth Salander has already made her way into my top five. At four-foot-eleven and 90lbs with the face of a teenager, Lisbeth's appearance doesn't immediately strike fear in the eyes of her enemies. Yet everyone who crosses her path in the wrong way finds out soon enough that her looks are more than a little deceiving. Whether it's using her keys as brass knuckles to punch out a thug who's trying to kidnap her, or using her wonderful brain to crack any computer security system that tries to keep her out, Lisbeth is a force to be reckoned with.

The novel drags a bit in the middle (how could it not with over 752 pages?), but even the slower parts have their purpose. Some great new characters are introduced that weren't in the first book and the relentlessly good Mikhail Bloomkvist is back and going at it working for Millennium.

Was it worth the read?

Yes. If length scares you off, just know that the writing is superb; straightforward, with a great flow. Larsson's trilogy (the third book comes out in a couple of months), is one of the best stories of the decade. Also, see the movie if you can--it's top notch.

Sidenote: I found out that Larsson died of a massive heart attack shortly after submitting the three manuscripts for this trilogy.

Dead in the Family by Charlaine Harris

Sookie is back--and the cover is awesome! This is the book I've been waiting for all year...so did Ms. Harris do it again? Or is Sookie going the way of Anita Blake?

I have to admit I read some reviews online before I started the book (I needed to know if my expectations were going to be met!). The reviews were really mixed, the main complaint was that the novel didn't have one main cohesive story to tie everything together. I can see where the reviews were coming from, but I felt like after the last novel's explosive events Sookie needed a break from mayhem and madness. Not to say there aren't some deaths–there are–but I felt like we were getting back to the heart of Sookie, along with easing the readers into her and Eric's relationship.

The novel also did a great job of setting up the next book, which is sure to have a lot of game-changing events.

It was just so nice to be in Sookie's world again and find out what's been going on with the characters I've come to love. There's a great side-story about Bill and another about Sookie's nephew, that could have easily turned into a "jump the shark" moment, but managed to make sense.

Was it worth the read?

Yes, of course. Ten books into the series and Sookie is still Sookie, a great feat for any writer, and a real reading treat!

Lullabies For Little Criminals by Heather O’Neill

The story follows 12-year-old Baby as she straddles the fine line between childhood and becoming an adult. This isn't your average coming of age story though. Baby lives with her 26-year-old father Jules, who looks and acts more like her brother than her dad and has a big problem with "chocolate milk"–his code name for heroin. Jules can't hold a job, so he and Baby move from apartment to apartment in the Red Light District of Montreal.

Through the eyes of Baby, the seedy underbelly of Montreal is where the nicest people are those on heroin and one of the coolest things to become is a prostitute. Baby's innocent observations of a lifestyle that most people would run screaming from, are fascinating, disturbing and whimsically beautiful all at once. O'Neill's writing is so rich and detailed that you have to wonder if it's all really fiction, although for her own sake, you hope it is.

Was it worth the read?

Yes. I couldn't stop reading it and rooting for Baby all the way. Please write a follow-up Ms. O'Neill!