First Book: The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Steig Larsson

The late Swedish writer Stieg Larsson wrote a trilogy of mystery novels shortly before his death; they are brilliant, based in Sweden and loosely connected by the main protagonist, Lisabeth Salander, also known as the girl with the dragon tattoo. The first book is premised on the theme of female abuse. Various sections begin with epitaphs highlighting actual facts about the abuse women suffer at the hands of male Swedes. Many of the female characters within the novel endure the casual abuse and violence of male characters. Some have called Larsson's books romantic and mysterious but this book also epitomizes the casual brutality with which women live.

Three stories are braided together in the novel: a tale of financial corruption, a mysterious disappearance, and a pseudo-family history. Larsson seems to indicate casual violence is a subsequent effect of greed and power lust. He examines the role of the financial media in the assessment of Swedish corporations and their almost sycophantic behaviours. He considers the motivations of teen angst and religious curiousity. And, he regards, with suspicion, family narratives masquerading as history.

The story is translated eloquently by Reg Keeland; unfamiliar with Swedish as this writer is, but for location names, by place setting mandatory, the writing is clear and concise. Perhaps an unfair metaphor is a comparison with an Ikea shopping experience: the meanings are clear, subtleties are kept to minimum, and despite the complexity of the narrative, the plot is obvious. Like the store, everything is available, but sometimes a little work is required. Larsson requires the reader to remember pertinent information about specific characters, sometimes such details are more obvious in a second reading. Place names can be difficult and the history of the Vanger family does require a familiarity with the family tree introduced at the beginning of the text. However, the story lines are worth the trouble.

Lisabeth Salander is an unusual character. She is not a protagonist per se but her machinations drive the distinct plot lines and braids them together. As an individual, she is fascinating; the reader is absorbed by her behaviours and curious as to her history. Mikael Blomquist is the story's hero. He is a bit laid back but, as a foil to the uptight Salander, his character has strengths at times unexpected. Other characters weave in and out of the story, sometimes motivating plot, sometimes creating juxtapositions between other people. Larsson does do an incredible job on the fictive reality he has created; it feels as though the reader is in Sweden and a participant in the culture--not just the weather.

A minor drawback is the sexual connection between characters; Erika Berger and Blomquist have a casual sexual history that seems out of place in a platonic relationship. Their relationship is better than friendship but wouldn't survive a marriage. In a tale that does examine sexual violence as illustrative of male dominance, it seems out of place.

Steig Larrson examines women's roles in a society governed by financial greed and the deleterious affects on children and family. Women do not seem to have power in Sweden unless they are beautiful and independently rich or an exile and still independently wealthy. Salander contrasts with the rich and beautiful; she is a survivor although Larsson never reveals her history; she works but does not seem to care about money; and she is a victim of social institutions and, yet, her conscience does seem to govern her actions. Salander behaves as the victim but competently reacts as the vengeful angel. Larsson has created an intriguing heroine with her.

The book is well worth reading.