Journal Entry 1 by galleycat from San Clemente, California USA on Sunday, January 03, 2010

Synopsis: Harriet Vanger, a scion of one of Sweden's wealthiest families, was murdered more than 40 years ago. Her aging industrialist uncle, in a longshot effort to find out what happened to her, hires a crusading journalist and his unlikely, pierced, tattooed punk computer hacker prodigy to figure it all out.

My Quick Take: Multi-layed, intricately plotted, atmospheric, with two of the unlikeliest partners in any book you'll ever read ... crusading, disgraced journalist Mikael Blomkvist and enigmatic, emotionally scarred Lisbeth Salander, the girl with the dragon tatto.

Starts off a bit slow. Be prepared to wade through half a dozen pages early on of a complicated financial scandal-in-the-making. Then it's pedal-to-the-metal to get to the end to see how this whole thing turns out.

The curious, constantly evolving personal/working relationship between Blomkvist and Salander is mesmerizing. You'll live for the pages when they're together doing their thing.

Kinda odd, though, that the girl with the dragon tattoo isn't in the book as much as you'd expect from a title character. I understand she's the main focus in the second book. I've glimpsed at the opening chapter in the second book, by the way. Terrorizing. All I'm saying.

On a sad note: Larsson didn't live to see The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo published; he died of a heart attack just after he delivered the manuscripts for this book and the two that follow in this widely acclaimed trilogy.

Update: Finished 'The Girl Who Played With Fire' late New Year's Eve. (Yeah, I know ... probably should have been out ringin' in the new year.) Soooooo good. Better by far in my opinion than even this one. 

Journal Entry 2 by galleycat from San Clemente, California USA on Sunday, January 03, 2010

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (U.S. ring) (Group II)

Please log an entry when you get the book, after you've finished reading it and when you mail it forward.

GROUP II

sarradee / Texas
mrsboknows / South Carolina
icekween01 / Missouri
elissamay / New York (Requested skipping)
classicfox / Ohio (Requested skipping)

Completed 

Journal Entry 3 by galleycat at Idyllwild, California USA on Tuesday, January 05, 2010

Released 2 yrs ago (1/5/2010 UTC) at Idyllwild, California USA

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The book is on its way to Sarradee in Texas. (I do hope I remembered to put a BC label inside.) We're under way. Enjoy, everyone. 

Journal Entry 4 by sarradee from Dallas, Texas USA on Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Arrived safely... hooray! And there is a BC label inside, so no worries on that account.
I'll get to reading asap, I'm nearly finished with my current book and this one is highly anticipated so that's a big motivator to finish up. :) 

Journal Entry 5 by sarradee from Dallas, Texas USA on Tuesday, January 26, 2010

This book was excellent, I am so glad that I got a chance to read it. I agree with Galleycat, it starts out slowly but once it gets going it's hard to put down. I loved the interaction between Blomkvist and Salander, I found their relationship utterly fascinating. I am really looking forward to reading the other two books in the series. It's very sad that the author passed away, so much talent gone, just like that.

Am contacting the next on the list and will have it moving along as soon as I have an address. 

Journal Entry 6 by sarradee at Book Ring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Released 2 yrs ago (1/28/2010 UTC) at Book Ring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases

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Mailing off to mrsboknows in the morning.

E-delivery confirmation 9102 7850 9140 1372 0348 04.

Your item was delivered at 4:04 PM on February 3, 2010 in MOUNT PLEASANT, SC 29464. 

Journal Entry 7 by mrsboknows from Mount Pleasant, South Carolina USA on Thursday, February 11, 2010

The book arrived about a week ago. I journaled as soon as it arrived but apparently the post got lost in cyberspace somewhere. My apologies for any confusion or inconvenience this has caused. I hope to be finished with the book in the next few days.

 

Journal Entry 8 by mrsboknows from Mount Pleasant, South Carolina USA on Friday, February 12, 2010

I hate it when I don't enjoy a book, especially a bookcrossing book; but I did not enjoy this book at all. There were times during the book that, due to the multiple stories-within-the story, that I was either bored stiff or confused. The only reason I finished it is because I kept waiting for the "can't put it down" moments that everyone is talking about. Unfortunately, those moments never came for me.

I am grateful for the opportunity to read this book. Thank you galleycat for sharing. My apologies for such a negative review.

Next in line has been contacted and the book will be on its way as soon as I have an address. 

Journal Entry 9 by mrsboknows at St. Louis, Missouri USA on Saturday, February 20, 2010

Released 2 yrs ago (2/20/2010 UTC) at St. Louis, Missouri USA

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Off to icekween01. Thank you again for sharing the book! 

Journal Entry 10 by icekween01 from St. Louis, Missouri USA on Monday, March 08, 2010

This arrived last week. I'm sorry I didn't journal it's safe arrival sooner. We have had a lot going on. I'm in the middle of a book currently but will start this one as soon as I finish the one I'm reading now. Thanks for sharing!! 

Journal Entry 11 by icekween01 from St. Louis, Missouri USA on Monday, March 29, 2010

I just started this one today. I'm sorry for the delay. I haven't had as much reading time lately. I hope to finish soon and pass this along to the next person on the list. I will journal my thoughts again once I finish. Thanks again galleycat for sharing your book! 

Journal Entry 12 by icekween01 from St. Louis, Missouri USA on Saturday, April 03, 2010

1/2 way through. Can't put it down. :-) 

Journal Entry 13 by icekween01 from St. Louis, Missouri USA on Sunday, April 04, 2010

LOVED IT! Couldn't put it down. There was a moment in the beginning where I was confused by what was going on and thought "oh, no, I'm not going to be able to get into it" but that only lasted for a few pages and then I was hooked.

Prior to a co-worker of mine recommending "In the Woods" I had never really read or considered reading anything in the crime/mystery genre. I just didn't think it was anything I would enjoy. I was mistaken.

Thanks galleycat for sharing your book. I look forward to reading the others in this series. I have PM'd the next reader and awaiting their address. I hope to be able to get this in the mail sometime next week.

Thanks again!!! 

Journal Entry 14 by icekween01 from St. Louis, Missouri USA on Monday, April 05, 2010

elissamay asked to be skipped. PMing classicfox. 

Journal Entry 15 by icekween01 from St. Louis, Missouri USA on Tuesday, April 06, 2010

classicfox asked to be skipped as well so I guess it's coming back to you galleycat. Please email me your address so I can get it in the mail. Thanks!! 

Journal Entry 16 by galleycat from San Clemente, California USA on Friday, April 23, 2010

Thanks for playing, everyone. :)

(Note: I told icekween01 she could keep the book, send it out on a new ring or ray, or find someone else to give it to. If elissamay and classicfox ask back in, I'll add them to the end of Group 1.) 

Journal Entry 17 by icekween01 at a fellow BookCrosser, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- USA on Sunday, April 25, 2010

Released 2 yrs ago (4/26/2010 UTC) at a fellow BookCrosser, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- USA

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Sent on to oliviapoolside to fulfill a wish list wish.

Hope you enjoy it!

Happy Bookcrossing! 

Journal Entry 18 by oliviapoolside from Seattle, Washington USA on Friday, April 30, 2010

Oooh, nice surprise in my mailbox today! I love that! And a book I really want to read! Thanks very much icekween01 for sending this to me. 

Journal Entry 19 by oliviapoolside at Seattle, Washington USA on Wednesday, May 25, 2011

I liked it quite a bit for its readability and suspense. I liked the characters as well, especially the heroine Lisbeth Salander.
My mid-twenties son who read the book before I did disliked it strongly. He felt it was misogynistic and full of bad (as in morals) characters.
There is something about the misogyny claim. But to me it is more as if the author has a twisted sexual interest and both lets it loose in this book and reins it in by making the bad guys the perpetrators and letting at least one girl get revenge.
The book is full of characters with bad morals, but I guess if everyone had been living a wholesome life then we wouldn't have had a story to read.
This book kept my interest throughout and I would read more of his books