I finished reading Steig Larsson's NYT bestseller, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, and I found absolutely zero satisfaction in it. In fact, I might go so far as to label it a literary and moral failure. Harsh, I know. (Sorry, Grandfather. I hope you don't read my blog!)
My first complaint is that its characters remain highly underdeveloped. If you strip away from each character (with one possible exception), the details of his job and his sex life, you've virtually nothing left. And these two aspects are not portrayed in a way that builds understanding of or empathy with the characters. They are simply the means (often unnecessary) to move the reader from one page to the next...or to fill in between elements of the plot. I would go so far as to argue that the gratuitous views into the characters' active, and often perverse, sexual lives, is highly voyeuristic and might explain the book's popularity.
I also take extreme issue with the elevation of the main man, Mikael Blomkvist, as The Good Guy of the bunch. He strays thoughtlessly from one woman's bed to another's to another's, regardless of her age or marital status and with complete disregard for the women's heart and dignity. Yet he is esteemed merely because he never forces himself on any of them. The sex is consensual...therefore he is The Hero. Hm.
I also find Larsson's depiction of the violent sex crimes sensationalistic. They seem an excuse for this middle-aged male author (now deceased) to "legitimize" his sado-masochistic fantasies. Bottom line: I find no entertainment value in the representation of sex crimes - perhaps because I've been too near one in real life (long story...here if you're interested...but it's decidedly NOT entertaining). I suppose parents of a child who has been kidnapped don't appreciate novels about that subject either.
For those of you who may regret admitting to me that you LIKED the book...be assured that when you think I am looking askance at you and wondering, "How could you?", you're right.
OK...I'm kidding, of course. Feel free to pick (or blast) apart my evaluation and enlighten me as the the story's redemptive value. I'm listening. But with a seriously negative prejudice...so be persuasive!
I think the series' original title, "Men Who Hate Women" may have been most apt.
My first complaint is that its characters remain highly underdeveloped. If you strip away from each character (with one possible exception), the details of his job and his sex life, you've virtually nothing left. And these two aspects are not portrayed in a way that builds understanding of or empathy with the characters. They are simply the means (often unnecessary) to move the reader from one page to the next...or to fill in between elements of the plot. I would go so far as to argue that the gratuitous views into the characters' active, and often perverse, sexual lives, is highly voyeuristic and might explain the book's popularity.
I also take extreme issue with the elevation of the main man, Mikael Blomkvist, as The Good Guy of the bunch. He strays thoughtlessly from one woman's bed to another's to another's, regardless of her age or marital status and with complete disregard for the women's heart and dignity. Yet he is esteemed merely because he never forces himself on any of them. The sex is consensual...therefore he is The Hero. Hm.
I also find Larsson's depiction of the violent sex crimes sensationalistic. They seem an excuse for this middle-aged male author (now deceased) to "legitimize" his sado-masochistic fantasies. Bottom line: I find no entertainment value in the representation of sex crimes - perhaps because I've been too near one in real life (long story...here if you're interested...but it's decidedly NOT entertaining). I suppose parents of a child who has been kidnapped don't appreciate novels about that subject either.
For those of you who may regret admitting to me that you LIKED the book...be assured that when you think I am looking askance at you and wondering, "How could you?", you're right.
OK...I'm kidding, of course. Feel free to pick (or blast) apart my evaluation and enlighten me as the the story's redemptive value. I'm listening. But with a seriously negative prejudice...so be persuasive!
I think the series' original title, "Men Who Hate Women" may have been most apt.
5 comments:
This doesn't seem like a book I would like. But meanwhile, while you were commenting on my blog, I was reading your older post about the terrible experience you had back in 1988. I can't imagine!
"This doesn't seem like a book I would like." Haha! How very discerning of you!
Yes...the experience of '88 was more than a little devastating and profoundly life-altering. I didn't think anyone would take the time to read that post...it's quite a long ramble. Thanks...
It was a good read. I've never actually been that close to something like that. But, back in 1987 (I think) a young girl of 18 or 19, who we knew well, was murdered across the street from my dad's office in our small town. The crime is still unsolved. In fact, a black man was arrested for the crime, tried and sentenced to death, only to be exonerated later. My dad and a couple of his employees were interviewed about the crime since they were in the office in eye shot of the murder that Saturday morning.
The story later became a book called "Circumstantial Evidence" about the rush to judgment on the man. The book wove in "To Kill a Mockingbird" themes since my town was the basis for that book. But in both cases, justice will be served.
I feel for that girl's parents. The reality that whoever did it is still "out there" has to be horrible. You're right, though, that justice will ultimately be served...in every case. Without that assurance, we would necessarily be obsessed with the need to personally execute vengeance.
Maybe I'll check out "Circumstantial Evidence." Although the last book I ordered at your recommendation (Stonewall Jackson), came in at $50!! I had to tell B&N they could keep it!
Well, sorry 'bout that cost. I suspect Circumstantial Evidence is much cheaper and maybe at the library. Or, I may still have my copy you can read. Message me on FB and we can figure out how to get it to you.
BTW, to this day the prime suspect in the case is a young man I went to HS with. He was renting some space in my dad's office at the time. He was not in the office that morning.
Post a Comment