MEN WHO HATE WOMEN

Claire was wondering, what's the deal with "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo"? Why is everyone buzzing about it? I think the reason is recently there's been talk that it's going to be turned into an American film. The Swedish version already exists, and it's been widely praised, so there's no real reason to remake the film, except that the American market is bigger, and perhaps more easily accessible to the mainstream. How do the books hold up?

"The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" is actually part of a trilogy, and whose Swedish title translates more accurately to "Men Who Hate Women." I think it's telling that I didn't feel compelled to read either books that followed. I'm not an avid mystery reader but I often feel cheated out of proper resolution in "closed-room" mysteries, where a situation appears isolated, but the key to solving them means escaping that isolation. In other words, you have to go along with authorial intent because there's no way to suss out the details of the mystery on your own. And with mysteries, I want a sense of wit and cleverness that can be discovered with re-readings. You know. Like with any of the "Harry Potter" books. It's true. Those books are so meticulously planned that you feel satisfied that YES, Harry really DID see the Ravenclaw diadem in book 6 when he ended up in the Room of Requirement. And when he finally finds it in book 7 after 500 or so pages? It feels so soul-crushingly right, doesn't it? Go on. Check it. Right? I'm right.

"Girl" has a few problems in its execution. It tackles too many issues: feminism, political and social corruption, love/relationships... and it doesn't meld. The main storyline involves a fallen journalist taking on a family mystery in order to escape the tribulations of his own sorry life at the moment. Right there, that's two plotlines that need to be completed. To compound that mess, author Steig Larsson invites us to enter a young modern-day investigator with hazy morals and very unfortunate happenings with the law and men. There's about another billion players involved, all of which make for hectic, distracted reading.

So no. It's not necessary for you to read the book. I recommend the movie, even though I haven't seen it. Why? Sometimes shitty books make for exciting movies. I can see at least one dominant plot-line and a few relationship arcs that a competent screenwriter could play to celluloid advantage. The best part of "Girl" is that its characters have the potential to be revamped as sexy. A journalist involved in a possible murder mystery while pondering over his disgraced reputation? A 25 year old expert computer hacker that is tatted up, pierced, questionable morally and totally fond of said middle-aged journalist, who happens to have a totally casual sexual relationship with his married best friend and colleague? Please. Someone get me a Netflix account so I can watch this Swedish drama mystery.

In the meantime, Lisbeth Salander, said 25 y.o. computer hacker, is watching your back.

xx t