tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33599441.post4633384927276535199..comments2024-03-28T01:11:53.559-07:00Comments on Electric Spec Editor Blog: Writing on Reading: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoolesleylsmithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14872977902924014581noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33599441.post-36344215786915479142011-01-31T19:18:15.927-07:002011-01-31T19:18:15.927-07:00I thought about the setting issue, but decided to ...I thought about the setting issue, but decided to leave that our. It was a Swedish book originally written for Swedes so the world was not special for its intended audience. Also, I had a hard time picturing the settings--description wasn't Larsson's strong point.<br />I agree that the evil evil was good, too. In fact, lots of evil in the bookDavid E. Hugheshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15562347731539228314noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33599441.post-21092628052790083122011-01-31T10:22:06.627-07:002011-01-31T10:22:06.627-07:00One thing I think you left out, Dave, is the amazi...One thing I think you left out, Dave, is the amazingly-evil evil. It doesn't get any worse than Nazi serial killers! :( This made the book very black and white, i.e. good versus evil. <br />Hhm...now that I think about it, the Harry Potter books had this, too...<br /><br />Another thing Larsson's books had in common with Harry Potter is a huge buzz. So, maybe once a book achieves a certain amount of buzz, that makes it more appealing to folks? :)<br /><br />It's interesting to think about. The book business is not entirely logical. :)lesleylsmithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14872977902924014581noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33599441.post-19804404965723940132011-01-31T09:51:40.494-07:002011-01-31T09:51:40.494-07:00I'm not a Larsson fan, but my mother, who read...I'm not a Larsson fan, but my mother, who reads almost exclusively mystery set in foreign locales, is. She loved the descriptions of the city and island, and so I'd call "World-building" a big plus for the book.<br /><br />She thought Lisbeth was so great, too. I say people who think she's so great haven't read Charlie Huston, George RR Martin, James Ellroy, and half a dozen other writers whose writing and characterization of darkness leave Lisbeth in the dust.<br /><br />And I guessed the mystery before it was over, too. I NEVER am able to do that.<br /><br />That said, I don't argue with success, and it's worth examining on that front at least.Betsy Dornbuschnoreply@blogger.com