REVIEW: The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo

Title: The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Author: Stieg Larsson
Finished: January 30, 2011
Pages: 644
Published: 2005
Format: Paperback

I have finally managed to enter the world of the dragon tattoo and this fantastic trilogy of books that has had the world talking for quite some time.

I’ve been wanting to start this series since last year but the list was long and I just couldn’t push this to the top. Finally I picked it up and after a good portion of the book waiting for the inevitable reel in that had me reading until all hours of the night, I found myself hooked.

I will admit it took until almost halfway through before I found myself craving the next pages, but that doesn’t mean the beginning wasn’t interesting enough to read. Knowing that it was only going to get better kept me going.

A quick plot line of a complicated story, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is the story of the intertwining lives of a journalist facing the end of his career, a hacker/researcher looking for her next big break or secret, and an old man searching for the truth to the greatest mystery in his families history. They all come together in what is only the beginning of a great series of books.

I can’t wait to pick up book number 2.

*challenges: 1st in series, new authors, mystery & suspense, 100+ challenge, a-z challenge, countdown challenge, tbr challenge, 11 in 11 challenge

Other Reviews:

• My Friend Amy
• Jules Book Reviews

Book vs. Movie Challenge – COMPLETE

DETAILS

In 2009 read a minimum of 6 books that have been made into movies and then watch the movie. I finished this yesterday by watching Cold Mountain. Here’s my complete list:

1. The Reader (movie) – watched Jan 19
   The Reader by Bernhard Schlink – finished Jan 25
2. The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd – finished Apr 3
   The Secret Life of Bees (movie) – watched Jan 2009
3. Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi – finished Jan 30
   Persepolis (movie) – watched Jan 30
4. The Spiderwick Chronicles Series by Holly Black – finished Feb 8
   The Spiderwick Chronicles (movie) – watched Mar 17
5. A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley - finished Feb 16
   A Thousand Acres (movie) – watched Feb 27
6. Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris – finished Mar 28
   True Blood: Season 1 (TV series) - finished watching Mar 2
7. East of Eden by John Steinbeck – finished Mar 15
   East of Eden (movie) – watched Apr 25
8. Mystic River by Dennis Lehane – finished Mar 15
   Mystic River (movie) – watched Apr 10
9. Sin City: the Hard Goodbye (Vol. 1) by Frank Miller – finished Mar 29
   Sin City (movie) – watched Apr 29
10. The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks – finished Apr 4
    The Notebook (movie) – finished Aug 4
11. Watchmen by Alan Moore – finished May 23
    Watchmen (movie) – watched Aug 3
12. Fried Green Tomatoes by Fanni Flagg – finished May 27
    Fried Green Tomatoes (movie) – watched May 28
13. Atonement by Ian McEwan – finished June 1
    Atonement (movie) – finished July 12
14. Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis – finished July 2
    Prince Caspian (movie) – watched January 2009
15. Marley and Me by John Grogan – finished July 25
    Marley and Me (movie) – watched April 2009
16. Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden – finished August 23
    Memoirs of a Geisha (movie) - watched October 2009
17. Generation Kill by Evan Wright – finished October 8
    Generation Kill (mini-series) - watched in August 2009
18. The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje – finished October 25
    The English Patient (movie) – watched September 2009
19. Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Haris – finished May 24
    True Blood: Season 2 (TV series) – finished September 2009
20. Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier – finished June 20
    Cold Mountain (movie) – watched December 16, 2009

REVIEW: Generation Kill

Title: Generation Kill
Author: Evan Wright
Finished: October 8, 2009
Pages: 354
Published: 2004

Based on the true story of the first marines to arrive in Baghdad, told by Rolling Stone writer Evan Wright, who traveled with them, witnessing the beginning of the war on terrorism.

I never would have thought to pick up this story, mainly because war and true stories about war aren’t always entertaining to me, my attention span is short for them. But after watching the mini-series based off the book, it was hard to avoid.

The focus of the book is on the four guys Wright travels with in a Humvee and their travels through Iraq and into battle, ambushes, road blocks, and feeding children. It is a very emotional rollercoaster that covers all aspects of war, from bonding, depression, strength, laughter, etc.

It’s hard to summarize such a book up in such a short amount of space, especially since the mini-series spanned five 2 hour segments. It’s a great way to find the truth in what happens during war, the uncertainty of everything, the courage of the team, and the strength of inner self.

*challenges: A-Z challenge, 100+ challenge, book vs. movie challenge, 999×2 challenge, fall into reading challenge, countdown challenge

Book to Film – The Reader

Book Review.

This is one of the first movies I have seen that is almost identical to the book it was fashioned after.

The Reader is about a 15 year old boy who has an affair with a woman twice his age. After a summer long romance she disappears, leaving the kid wondering what happened, until ten years later he sees her on trial for murder.

I watched the movie before reading the book and was mesmerized by the story of this relationship that developed so quickly and unexpectedly.

The main difference I found between the book and the film was that the book was separated into three different parts for the different periods in Michael’s life, while the movie incorporated Michael’s later life into tell us the story.

During the film I was surprised at how I managed to be surprised at all the little twists and towards Hanna’s secret even up until the reveal. It made watching the film more enjoyable and the book a faster read because I just wanted to find out more.

I did feel more emotional towards the film and felt the chemistry between the characters more raw and intimate than when reading the book. The book almost made the coupling of the characters as a bad thing, while in the movie I almost forgot Michael’s age.

I was also conflicted by how you can’t love and hate a character all at the same time. As a viewer I wanted Hanna to be a lovable person, to pity her and feel for her, but during the trial you almost aren’t sure whether or not she can be a likable character. Even after her secret is fully revealed, as a viewer/reader it’s hard to come to terms with the real feelings you have for Hanna.

Book to Film – Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Last night I had the opportunity to see an advanced screening of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button starring Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett. Early this year I read the short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald in anticipation of going to see the movie once it was released on Christmas day.

My short review of the short story can be found here.

Walking away yesterday, I realized this is one of the few films that can stand alone from it’s original story. While similiar in theme, the movie is vastly different from the short story Fitzgerald wrote and intertwines a different story of Benjamin that equals what was originally told.

The movie was facinating and detailed. The aging process of all characters was amazing and not easily done, I would suspect. The theme of time plays out from the very beginning – running out of time, losing time, gaining time, timeless.

Brad Pitt does an amazing job as Benjamin Button, giving viewers a glipse of what we may be picturing as the actor himself ages, bringing us all back to Thelma and Louise days when he was younger. I did hear many girls swoon as Benjamin aged younger.

Cate Blanchett, as well, did an amazing job playing Daisy, the woman who has Benjamin’s heart. The age transformation is another glipse into the future only to show us that at any age Blanchett is flawless and beautiful.

Making an extended cameo was Tilda Swinton, who was a surprise to the cast for me. I was unaware she was in the film. She also lends a great performance. As well as Pitt’s own daughter, Shiloh, making her first film debut in a very quick shot. See if you can find her.

A great Christmas day movie to see with the family. Worthy of an Oscar nomination.