Stieg Larsson and coffee

[AndrewH]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

I know this is an old, old resuscitated thread, but... coffee making/drinking/talking aside, I just never quite understood all the hype these books generated. I have to assume they were much better in the author's original language, because the English translations were pretty unremarkable. Decent. But not sweep-through-all-the-best-seller-lists "wow", by any means.

I agree. I enjoyed them, but as I was reading I couldn't help but wonder why they were on the bestseller lists. The writing is rather dry.

[rkomar]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

I know this is an old, old resuscitated thread, but... coffee making/drinking/talking aside, I just never quite understood all the hype these books generated. I have to assume they were much better in the author's original language, because the English translations were pretty unremarkable. Decent. But not sweep-through-all-the-best-seller-lists "wow", by any means.

If all it took was a good book to sweep the nation, we'd have one after another of these big-time bestsellers. I think they're more like fads. Nobody knows why any particular one takes off. The main thing for most is to join in and be part of the fun; what the fun is doesn't really matter.

[maxiart]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

the English (...) was pretty unremarkable. Decent. But not sweep-through-all-the-best-seller-lists "wow", by any means.

You could say about most best-sells anywhere.

Bewildering, isn't it?

[DiapDealer]

You could say about most best-sells anywhere.

Bewildering, isn't it?

I guess I might not agree. I don't always find best-seller list titles mostly devoid of "wow." I can usually find some fairly worthy stuff. And even while I may not personally be nuts over a particular best-seller, I can still usually imagine why someone other than me might love it. But in the case of these books... I got nothin'. *shrugs*

[jbcohen]

Well slightly
What made you want to read the Stieg Larson books?

[DiapDealer]

What made you want to read the Stieg Larson books?

In my case: the same thing that usually makes me want to try any author I've never read before... buzz.

Originally Posted by afv011

I personally found the details about coffee and food (like naming brands) over the top. I read the first 2 books as there was lots of talk about them, but I found them average, and couldn't be bothered to try the 3rd.

I commented in a different thread some time ago about the excessive product placement in the Millennium Trilogy. Not just mention of brand names, but actual incorporation of ad copy.

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

In my case: the same thing that usually makes me want to try any author I've never read before... buzz.

That's why I first picked up The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. I actually found myself hooked into reading all three. Even though the writing was not that great and things became more and more implausible (Lisbeth Salander, zombie super hero), Larsson did produce page turners.

The buzz and massive sales is the same reason I picked up the first of the Twilight Series books. Everything about that, including the quality of writing, was so bad that I did not get far there.

[applesauce]

I am glad I read this thread I was going to buy them this week and add them to my list to read. I think I will make sure I read a good chunk online to see if I like it first. I hate dry and want to murder boring describers. I would rather poke at my eyes with a pencil than read Patrica Cornwell. Tho My sister begs me to try again as she is her favourite author. Steg sounds to much like her. That woman can prattle on for half a page over a door she is going to walk though or 5 pages over a meal she is eating.

applesauce

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Hamlet53

The buzz and massive sales is the same reason I picked up the first of the Twilight Series books. Everything about that, including the quality of writing, was so bad that I did not get far there.

I rather suspect that you're not a member of the target audience for the series: teenage girls.

[Synamon]

Originally Posted by applesauce

I am glad I read this thread I was going to buy them this week and add them to my list to read. I think I will make sure I read a good chunk online to see if I like it first. I hate dry and want to murder boring describers. I would rather poke at my eyes with a pencil than read Patrica Cornwell. Tho My sister begs me to try again as she is her favourite author. Steg sounds to much like her. That woman can prattle on for half a page over a door she is going to walk though or 5 pages over a meal she is eating.

I doubt reading a sample would help, the book starts off slowly with a court case for libel, the mystery isn't introduced at the start. Dry does not equal overly descriptive, often it's the opposite, lacking in the flowery descriptions you are talking about. In this case it reflects the unemotional and methodical approach to life of the two introverted characters the book is centered on.

I read the books because I like mysteries and when one shows up on all the bestseller and critic's lists I'm willing to give it a shot. Some people found all the research/investigation in the books boring and the violence jarring, but it was the right mix for me.

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by applesauce

I am glad I read this thread I was going to buy them this week and add them to my list to read.

Even though they weren't my cup of tea, I always recommend a "just see for yourself" approach, rather than giving much extra weight to the opinions of internet strangers whose tastes and reading histories you know next to nothing about. After all, I'm an idiot when it comes to what you might enjoy.

[tompe]

Originally Posted by Hamlet53

I commented in a different thread some time ago about the excessive product placement in the Millennium Trilogy. Not just mention of brand names, but actual incorporation of ad copy.

In the books I do not remember any product placements. The brands that was mentioned was typical Swedish brands that was very right for the scenes where they were used. Som of the brands used have also become more a generic word with more meaning.

I still like the books a lot but I have not read them in English. I have read them more than once in Swedish.

[tm3]

Originally Posted by Synamon

I doubt reading a sample would help, the book starts off slowly with a court case for libel, the mystery isn't introduced at the start. Dry does not equal overly descriptive, often it's the opposite, lacking in the flowery descriptions you are talking about. In this case it reflects the unemotional and methodical approach to life of the two introverted characters the book is centered on.

I read the books because I like mysteries and when one shows up on all the bestseller and critic's lists I'm willing to give it a shot. Some people found all the research/investigation in the books boring and the violence jarring, but it was the right mix for me.

i concur. slow start, but overall interesting plot and unique setting made the book enjoyable to me. as far as best sellers go i have seen much, much worse.

i'd recommend trying book 1 and if not to one's liking then don't read the other two.

[HarryT]

What do you mean by "unique setting"?

[tompe]

Originally Posted by HarryT

What do you mean by "unique setting"?

Well, Stockholm is unique, there is only one of them :-)

But I think that what can be considered a bit unusual is the small town/village setting in the book. I refer to the island were Michael Blomquist lives for most of the first book.