52 {Books} in 52: The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

My brain was on crazy, high alert with this book. Stieg Larsson outdid himself with The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. There is so much going and storylines that have nothing to do with one another but everything to do with one another at the same time. The two main characters, Mikael (the journalist) and Lisbeth (the titular character), don't even meet until 300-something pages into the book. They are each doing their own thing but through fate, or the art of good storytelling, they unite to crack the case of a mysterious disappearance and clear Mikael's name.  More time is spent with Mikael's character but you know that Lisbeth is the force that keeps moving things forward. The parts with Lisbeth are incredibly intense and the first few scenes of her are hard to swallow. In a way you don't blame her for being so withdrawn but you do wonder what secrets she has lying behind that facade. What made her this way? How did she become what she is? Will she ever change?

The book is complex and has so many layers. You start with Mikael's trial for libel but the book is mainly about the mystery of Harriet Vanger and the uncovering of horrid family secrets. This is the most interesting part because you are constantly guessing what happened and even if you have an inclination as to what happened, the why is a huge shocker. All loose ends are tied at the end of the book but your head is left reeling after the rollercoaster it went on. The book is a good read, but it is by no means a light read. There is so much going on and so much to keep track of. The best way to describe this book is intense. If you want an intense and intellectual book, then this is the book for you.

Here's what I've read for my 52 {Books} in 52 challenge:

1. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
2. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
3. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
4. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
5. Bad Mother: A Chronicle of Maternal Crimes, Minor Calamities, and Occasional Moments of Grace by Ayelet Waldman
6. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith
7. The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
8.  Misery Loves Cabernet by Kim Gruenenfelder
9.  The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson