Has anyone read The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson? Why am I having such a hard time getting into it?
Has anyone read The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson? Why am I having such a hard time getting into it?
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I know this sounds bad since most people DNF after 100 pages or so, but it takes about 100-140 pages to really get going. I don’t remember much of the first part, but after I hit 100 pages I loved it. I was warned before I began reading to expect this and I kept reading. It was worth it.
Thanks for the heads up. I keep reading lol
I read it and the beginning is very confusing and hard to get into; I found that once the pieces of the mystery started to come into place (I swear it does make sense) around over half way-the story picks up
It’s… Odd. I was able to get right into, but it is a dense book, figuratively and literally haha. Even the technical talk didn’t deter me. I think I just like his writing and how it was translated
@Lysa my issue was with words, though I did read this book after reading the Inferno by Dan Brown ?? I was probably still in Italian mode
I wasn’t a fan, but that is personal preference.
I loved it but I was also told it takes a while to get into it
I’ve tried to read it three times now and have DNF after 100+ pages. I just can’t get into it.
loved them all
I loved them all also!
I loved them all, but do remember the fist one took a bit to get going. Stick with it, it will be worth it.
Keep going ! They’re good ??
Thank you everyone! I have been really looking forward to this series. I will keep reading!
The hardest part for me was all the names! I kept getting them confused. But if you persevere, you will like the books.
I really couldn’t read that book. I tried so hard and just donated it like this past week because I was never going to finish it.
It was a hard start for me too. I’m not familiar with Sweden or the pronouncement of names but the story was so different and original that I kept reading. Such a good decision. The book is fantastic and Lisbeth is one of my favorite literary characters. I quickly read the second and third books and loved them even more. The newer books are good but lack a certain vibe about them. The new author just can’t reproduce the feel of the originals.
It was difficult to read for the first few chapters. I think I got more into it once it started getting into the actual plot of the story
I found it very brutal and almost too much for me but all in all great writing.
I didn’t like it, it was a while ago but the main character I just didn’t find likable, if I’m remembering right.
Just keep with it. All that meaningless info in the front that you are slogging through will become relevent and the story really picks up! You will be glad you did.
I have. I found it dragged on. It was one that I forced myself to finish. Usually I just give up if I don’t like a book or skip to the end.
I did too at the beginning, and i gave up a few pages in. went back to it nearly three years later and finished it in three hours. ✊
Give it time. It took me to page 100 until I could get into it and then I couldn’t put it down!
It gets better
I watched the film and found it to be a very good story; but also realised there was no way I would manage to read the book. 🙂
I read the first chapter about 5 times! I really want to start it again, but scared ? it will happen again.
I’ve read the beginning 3 times now… I’m going to keep reading it lol
I had a hard time reading them also never made it past the book or finished it.
I have this one on my to read shelf. I was wondering about the pace of it. Looks like I will have to buckle down when I start it till it picks up.
The book starts out slow but it gets better. I loved the trilogy.
I really enjoyed this series. Books I can’t get into, I read by chapter between other books. If I still can’t get into it by page 100. I shelve it.
I couldn’t get into it. Just had to pass.
This is one where the movie was just as good as the book IMHO. I liked the book series for the character development.
Took me a bit but I read all 3
It will get better. I struggled with it ages ago but I’m glad I kept going as it got heaps better and the other 2 books are even better again
There’s a rough start, but the books are great! Keep going.
Our book club read all 3 as our summer “entertainment”…although it wasn’t my choice genre, I enjoyed it…a little brutal in places…lots of technology over my head…and by the end of the third one I was glad I read them, but also happy I was at the end.
I loved it.
I didn’t enjoy the book, personally. I finished it hoping it would get better but it didn’t
it starts very slow but keep reading its really good
Because admittedly it is a hard book to get into at the start. Keep going it’s totally worth it and make sure you have the next books ready to go!
I had a hard time getting into it, but I enjoyed it in the end, and really enjoyed books 2 and 3
@Silvia ohhhh i do own all 3 but just haven’t gotten to them yet ?
I didn’t care for it, but many have liked it. We all are different.
I think it was the foreign setting.
Keep going. It’s so worth it
Gave up on it, too. So dense in detail, and hard to remember all the characters
It is a great series, just keep reading.
Carry on everyone who is honest has trouble getting into it,but then it’s the best. It has the best retribution I have ever read!!!!
keep pushing through it. its worth it. I know movies over books is sacrilegious to suggest but look up the Millennium Trilogy if you really want to understand the Trilogy. The Millennium Trilogy is the original 3 movies done in Sweden. Not the Americanised story.
@Alecia Steg Larson was a huge human rights activist and feminist. He was a social justice champion. Lizbeth’s story is amazing. She is broken. Its about her journey. A Strong intelligent powerful female hacker who rose above to bring down those the powerful that tried to break her. She hides because she cant trust anyone and there still looking for her. Caged in the childcare system and punished for what she knows she breaks free and reeks revenge.
I gave up on it. 🙁
its not like the American movie. You have to watch the Millennium Trilogy.
???
@Kathy The book was originally made into a Swedish movie that stuck to the original story. Then an American movie version came out that took liberties. Just a point of reference if you’ve watched the movie.
I haven’t seen the movie.
Get through the 1st 100 pages (they’re rough but relevant!) and then it gets good and stays good, promise!
As I recall, it took some time to get going, but I loved it. Definitely not my usual type of story, but , for me, a very good book. Nevertheless, everyone is different.
I did, and I had to push myself through it too..
I do loved that trilogy!
I do remember questioning continuing on reading or putting it down. I am glad I kept reading it though. I really enjoyed the second and third novels.
I remembered hearing people love it or hate it so I never read it. My husband just finished it and loved it! He’s enjoying the next one too, so I will give it a try myself soon!
I read the series. I felt it was a bit slow going in the beginning but it picked up fast. It’s one of the best I’ve read. Loved it.
I really liked it, but it did take a little more concentration than your average mystery. Probably because of the translation.
It takes about 200 pages to get into and then you won’t want to put it down and will want to read the next two right away or at least that’s how it was for me.
I had a hard time getting into it also. Finished but wasn’t a fan.
It starts very slow. But it does get better, promise!
Really good!
Sometimes hard to follow with the Swedish names, etc.
I had the same issue.
Everyone I know who has read it or tried to read it says the same thing. It makes me wonder how it got published
The whole series is great.
It’s a very good book, but all the characters and background at the beginning is overwhelming
One of my favorite series, I reread it every couple of years.
It’s tough to get into. The names threw me. Then I listened to it on audio and I was hooked. Flew through the rest of the series.
I did not care for his writing style.
I loved the series. I read it, then listened to the audiobook and then loved it.
It starts out slow. Like a roller coaster slowly tick, tick, ticking… hang on!
Get past the first hundred pages…it is kind of Great
love it
Love the book
I couldn’t get into it either. Read about 1/3 of it, put it down and haven’t gone back. Some books are just not for everyone.
One of my favorite books and series!! I about died when I heard they were making the movies for it
Plus, they’re such a great example of character driven books. Who forgets someone like Lisbeth?
I sometimes felt the same as you. Perhaps because the characters were so outside my experience. But the more I learned about Lisbeth and her story as the books go along, the more I see her as a survivor. The third book was actually my favorite and well worth reading as a trilogy.
Maybe because it’s a translation? I remember that it’s pretty dense and you really have to focus. Not a lite read.
Awesome series. I read the original 3 in 3 days now I’m waiting foe books 4 & 5 to be delivered so I can finish the series.
The beginning is slow. It’s a lot of setup with the controversy of his business etc but it’s worth it 🙂
Luv it!!
I gave my copy away after reading it. ?
Stick with it.
I loved it, but I’ve known people who couldn’t get into it. Usually If I can’t get into a book, I give it 2-3 nights of reading and if I still don’t feel into it, I then abandon it for something else.
I had to force myself to finish it. It was not for me.
I loved it! It’s not set in our legal system or culture, so there’s some stretching to do.
I don’t know. I loved it, but it might not be your thing. Read a bit more and then give it up if you can’t get into it.
not yet, it is good?
It does have a slow start. It was originally supposed to be a 10 book series, so Lisbeths secrets are revealed gradually. Worth your time.
It was hard for me in the first too. Then you will get a hang of it.
It’s been on my bookshelf for like ten years. Still haven’t made it past like ten pages.
I started reading it, first few pages and I found it so slow. It’s on hold for now.
I forced myself to finish it, but didn’t understand why people loved it so much. I had the next two books and donated them all without reading them
The first 100 pages are boring as hell. Keep going. I had a hard time too. It picks up and you won’t be able to put it down.
Personally I loved it but HATE the girl who kicked the spiders web or whatever it’s called. My God, talk about a complicated plot! Steig Larrsen (SP?) wrote a good series but it should have been allowed to die with him! The last one was WAY over my head.
I had trouble getting into it as well but it’s worth finishing for sure
I had trouble as well. I finished it. I finish every book I start. Just my thing! ?
You can’t put the book down after getting into main story for sure so read patiently and you will like this book
Im on book two now… “The girl who played with fire”. You need to take ur time to set the plot. It’s getting you all set up for the Trilogy.
Yap. Loved it..
I liked all of them
Just keep reading… I put it down and after another book started it again.. Try to keep reading. It really is as good as they say it is!
I have never read that book.
It’s a tough one! So much goes on.
This one is great. The last one in the series (The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets’ Nest) was a little bit harder for me.
I had a really difficult time getting into it also! The whole first half of the book was dry and boring to me, but I kept reading and loved it.
I just couldn’t get into it – but loved the movie.
I couldn’t get through it, but I loved the movie.
My book club picked it years ago and I had no idea what it was about. I was slow to get into it, then when I flipped ahead to try to get myself to continue, I stopped reading. Not my kind of subject matter.
The first 100-150 pages are sticky. If you are curious enough and willing to try, you may find that it’s worth all the effort. At least that’s how it worked for me (read all his other books and the continuations as well☺).
It’s 2 story lines for about the first half of the book. When they merge you will be hooked for the entire series!
I believe to the novel itself is not a great book. I was disappointed when I read it, and yes the pace does pick up as the story unfolds, but generally I didn’t believe the work was worth all the hype. That is, until I remembered the book was written in the late 1990’s, and it is one of the first books to have a female main character in an urban set action thriller. What I remember when I first heard of the work it mainly female readers who enjoyed it more than they’re male counterparts. Sort of the same phenomenon as Fifty Shades of Grey, its not the story that resonates it is the target readership that is the main factor. Difference is, in 2018 there is a long list of lead female characters, many of which can be seen on Netflix, North America, or HBO, and probably many other streaming service which features plots written after 2010.
I loved the series. The first 100-150 pages are slow, but after that it picks up speed.
Everyone I’ve heard talk about this one says the first 100 pages, or so, are tough, but it gets really good after that. I say keep pushing through. You never know what the next page may bring!
Yes, I have. In fact, I’ve read the first 4 books. I also had a hard time getting into it, and that’s because the first 50 – 75 pages are just political set -up for the story. Also, I knew nothing about Sweden going in and you also have to bear in mind that this book was translated from Swedish to English so maybe some things were lost in translation. I didn’t actually start to get REALLY invested in it until about the 100 page mark. but its SO WORTH IT. Please don’t give up, I promise its a fantastic and absorbing read and also gets much easier after the first part.
I have….it is a bit rough, but good.
I heard it praised to the skies, but I read it and hated it.