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"There Are Things I Want You to Know" about Stieg Larsson and Me
Here is the real inside story—not the one about the Stieg Larsson phenomenon, but rather the love story of a man and a woman whose lives came to be guided by politics and love, coffee and activism, writing and friendship. Only one person in the world knows that story well enough to tell it with authority. Her name is Eva Gabrielsson.
Eva Gabrielsson and Stieg Larsson shared everything, starting when they were both eighteen until his untimely death thirty-two years later at the age of fifty. In “There Are Things I Want You to Know” about Stieg Larsson and Me, Eva Gabrielsson accepts the daunting challenge of telling the story of their shared life steeped in love and sharpened in the struggle for justice and human rights. She chooses to tell it in short, spare, lyrical chapters, like snapshots, regaling Larsson’s readers with the inside account of how he wrote, why he wrote, who the sources were for Lisbeth and his other characters—graciously answering Stieg Larsson’s readers’ most pressing questions—and at the same time telling us the things we didn’t know we wanted to know—about love and loss, death, betrayal, and the mistreatment of women.
Eva Gabrielsson and Stieg Larsson shared everything, starting when they were both eighteen until his untimely death thirty-two years later at the age of fifty. In “There Are Things I Want You to Know” about Stieg Larsson and Me, Eva Gabrielsson accepts the daunting challenge of telling the story of their shared life steeped in love and sharpened in the struggle for justice and human rights. She chooses to tell it in short, spare, lyrical chapters, like snapshots, regaling Larsson’s readers with the inside account of how he wrote, why he wrote, who the sources were for Lisbeth and his other characters—graciously answering Stieg Larsson’s readers’ most pressing questions—and at the same time telling us the things we didn’t know we wanted to know—about love and loss, death, betrayal, and the mistreatment of women.
209 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2011
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1109 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 248 reviews
May 29, 2023
Interesting revelations about Stieg Larsson. He died without a will. His unmarried partner got nothing and his estranged brother got all of the money from Stieg's books
November 28, 2011
This was very different from Forshaw's book, but in a good way. As Larsson's life partner, Gabrielsson has some great insight into the author's personality. She gives more biographical information, emphasizing Larsson's family relationships. Much of the book covers their 32-year relationship; she also points out where the places used in the books came from, and which characters are based on real people.
The last few chapters are dedicated to her unfortunate battles with Larsson's family over his legacy; it is a serious problem, and very sad. I'm glad to have read this book to get a better understanding of the situation, and hope that the inheritance laws are changed in Sweden.
The book is clear and well-written, though parts are understandably very emotional. While I don't think that the author (or her partner) were 'crazy', in parts they do seem a little paranoid - that's blamed on their work covering anti-Nazi and other extremist groups, but their security seems a little sever even with that. However, since personal information sounds like it's more readily available in Sweden, it's possible that their fears were founded. But to an outsider, it does seem a little extreme.
The relationship between this author and Larsson was obviously very loving; the title of the book is from a letter he wrote her. She is a very sympathetic character, and reading this made me re-think if I want to spend any more money on Larsson's books, films, etc if it's all going to the pockets of people who oppose her. She also addresses the 4th book, which does seem like a possibility here (unlike what Forshaw said). She focuses on Stieg's writing process and life; there's not as much discussion of the plot of the books here, but she lets us know how Stieg's life influenced his work.
If you're a fan of the Millennium trilogy and are only going to read one book about Larsson, this should be it. This book sheds light on his writing and creative process that can only come from someone who knows him well, and I found that to be very valuable when considering his work.
The last few chapters are dedicated to her unfortunate battles with Larsson's family over his legacy; it is a serious problem, and very sad. I'm glad to have read this book to get a better understanding of the situation, and hope that the inheritance laws are changed in Sweden.
The book is clear and well-written, though parts are understandably very emotional. While I don't think that the author (or her partner) were 'crazy', in parts they do seem a little paranoid - that's blamed on their work covering anti-Nazi and other extremist groups, but their security seems a little sever even with that. However, since personal information sounds like it's more readily available in Sweden, it's possible that their fears were founded. But to an outsider, it does seem a little extreme.
The relationship between this author and Larsson was obviously very loving; the title of the book is from a letter he wrote her. She is a very sympathetic character, and reading this made me re-think if I want to spend any more money on Larsson's books, films, etc if it's all going to the pockets of people who oppose her. She also addresses the 4th book, which does seem like a possibility here (unlike what Forshaw said). She focuses on Stieg's writing process and life; there's not as much discussion of the plot of the books here, but she lets us know how Stieg's life influenced his work.
If you're a fan of the Millennium trilogy and are only going to read one book about Larsson, this should be it. This book sheds light on his writing and creative process that can only come from someone who knows him well, and I found that to be very valuable when considering his work.
February 2, 2016
5 Estrellas
El mejor libro non-fiction que he leído. Eva Gabrielsson nos muestra en 225 páginas lo que fué su vida por 32 años al lado de Larsson. Los ideales, las creencias, lo que amaba y lo que despreciaba era lo que definía a Stieg
Vemos que tanto hay de Stieg en Millennium e incluso de Eva. Por ejemplo ninguno de ellos tuvo una continua o fuerte presencia materna en sus vidas y esto se refleja en las novelas. Si nos damos cuenta no hay personajes que sean madres en ninguno de los libros con la excepción de Annika Giannini, la hermana de Mikael.
La pareja siempre estuvo en constante lucha por las amenazas que recibían de aquellos a los que Stieg investigaba.
Gabrielsson continúa la batalla por obtener los derechos de Millennium y los escritos de Larsson. Expresa lo que realmente piensa de un 4to libro no escrito por Stieg y que nunca piensa divulgar de que se trata el que el ya había escrito.
"¿Podría rendir Stieg un homenaje más hermoso a las mujeres que el de convertirlas en heroínas de novelas políacas feministas y mostrarlas tal como las veía: libres, valientes y lo bastante fuertes para cambiar el mundo negándose a ser víctimas?"
El mejor libro non-fiction que he leído. Eva Gabrielsson nos muestra en 225 páginas lo que fué su vida por 32 años al lado de Larsson. Los ideales, las creencias, lo que amaba y lo que despreciaba era lo que definía a Stieg
"Sin los combates y el compromiso de Stieg, Millennium no habría existido jamás. Sus inquietudes son el corazón, el cerebro y los músculos de sus novelas."
Vemos que tanto hay de Stieg en Millennium e incluso de Eva. Por ejemplo ninguno de ellos tuvo una continua o fuerte presencia materna en sus vidas y esto se refleja en las novelas. Si nos damos cuenta no hay personajes que sean madres en ninguno de los libros con la excepción de Annika Giannini, la hermana de Mikael.
“En Millennium aparece “gente de verdad”, a quien Stieg quería rendir homenaje al incluirla en su obra; aparecen, también, detalles de personas en las que se inspiró y, por supuesto, personajes imaginarios, aunque ciertos individuos crean reconocerse en ellos.”
La pareja siempre estuvo en constante lucha por las amenazas que recibían de aquellos a los que Stieg investigaba.
Gabrielsson continúa la batalla por obtener los derechos de Millennium y los escritos de Larsson. Expresa lo que realmente piensa de un 4to libro no escrito por Stieg y que nunca piensa divulgar de que se trata el que el ya había escrito.
"Millennium permitió a Stieg denunciar a todos aquellos a los que aborrecía por su cobardía, su irresponsabilidad, su inmoralidad y su oportunismo: los militantes de salón, “guerreros que necesitan el viento a favor” o “timoneles de viento suave”; los falsos amigos que le utilizaron para hacer carrera; los empresarios y los accionistas sin escrúpulos que se asignaban primas desproporcionadas…En este sentido sus libros fueron una terapia extraordinaria para Stieg."
August 8, 2011
Eva Gabrielsson, Stieg Larsson's (The Millennium Trilogy) partner of 30+ years up until he died, tells her story. She provides an excellent context to more fully appreciate his books. She talks about people, events and the social/political climate that has violated human rights and freedom in Sweden and that influenced his writing. We learn about both their early lives, their lives together, and her ongoing struggle to gain control of his intellectual property, which includes a fourth book that tells the story of how Lisbeth finally deals with the demons that have plagued her since childhood. Gabrielsson's book addresses Swedish law that offers no rights or protections for unmarried partners and specifically deals with the issues she has been facing since Larsson's death in 2004.
September 26, 2011
There were interesting points to this book. I did enjoy how the author identified how aspects of hers/Stieg Larsson's life together were woven into the Millenium trilogy. It wasn't until after getting a bit more midway through the book that it dawned on me that this was done more for manipulative purposes than to really celebrate their lives together. Slowly, the author started throwing in tidbits of information re: beliefs that the "estate" of the Millenium proceeds/rights being solely hers due to a living together for 32 years and feeling that justified the same rights granted as in a marriage. I found the book to be whiney and simply "bitchy"..I also found it to be overpowering "catty"...I guess one line I would say to this person if, God help me I ever had the chance to meet her would be "Woman get over thy self!" I had a feeling in the pit of my stomach when I saw who the publishers chose to review this book, yet I kept reading.
There is one person I felt bad for after reading this book and that would be Stieg Larsson..However, you know the old saying...you are who your friends are! Needless to say, it didn't give me the most positive impression of an author I had really enjoyed!
There is one person I felt bad for after reading this book and that would be Stieg Larsson..However, you know the old saying...you are who your friends are! Needless to say, it didn't give me the most positive impression of an author I had really enjoyed!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 27, 2012
Any good Norse saga features an intractable family feud, death and usually a legal dispute. The tale of Stieg Larsson has it all.
Given the huge posthumous success of his Millennium trilogy (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played with Fire, and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest), it's not surprising a bitter postscript to Larsson's life has become as gripping as his fiction.
The novels have sold more than 27 million copies worldwide, and have been adapted into successful films in Sweden. The Hollywood version of the first book, starring Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara, hits theatres this December.
Sadly, Larsson's partner of 32 years, Eva Gabrielsson, won't see a dime or have a hand in managing his literary legacy. Her new memoir is a long-anticipated broadside at her main foes in her protracted legal battle, Larsson's father Erland and brother Joakim.
Larsson died of a heart attack in November 2004. But Swedish law grants no marital status to what in Canada would be common-law couples.
Now, Larsson's father and brother -- whom he barely knew as a child, having been raised by his maternal grandparents in northern Sweden until he was eight years old -- have claimed all rights to his novels. And to Gabrielsson's chagrin, Larsson's publisher Norstedts has gone along with it.
Gabrielsson's memoir is full of vignettes of Larsson's life, from his childhood to their time together in social and political struggles. Fans of his novel will delight in the reasons why he chose details for his fiction. A crucial Ford in one novel is based on his grandfather's car; he set a pivotal scene aboard a sailboat because he and Gabrielsson spent many hours sailing around Sweden's islands; and many characters were based on real people they both knew.
The early separation between Larsson and his parents engendered a lasting emotional distance. According to Gabrielsson, the second and final time Larsson's brother Joakim set foot in his apartment was the day of his funeral.
Unfortunately, Gabrielsson and Larsson never married, despite living together for 30 years, in order to escape detection by his political enemies in far right and neo-Nazi groups.
Thus, watching the legal train wreck over Larsson's legacy unfold in Gabrielsson's account is as gripping as anything Larsson himself wrote.
Larsson's father Erland and brother Joakim barely come into the story until Larsson dies, which may be the most damning aspect of the book. And then, despite protests they "didn't want any part of Stieg's estate," it dawns on Gabrielsson, reeling from shock at her partner's death, they aren't just slow to respond to her attempts to straighten out Larsson's affairs. They're secretly freezing her out.
The ironies are cruel. Larsson had actually composed a will in 1977, before leaving for a dangerous sojourn in Africa. In it he left everything to Gabrielsson, but did not have it witnessed. She only discovered the document when looking for an old letter of his to read at his memorial service.
Larsson had also eagerly agreed, on the advice of Norstedt, to set up a company owned by himself and Gabrielsson, to control his rights and royalties. But she learned after his death he never got around to doing it.
It would be easy to forgive her a little bitterness, yet the memoir is largely free of it. She prefers to skewer Erland and Joakim with frank accounts of their deception and arrogance. Outrageously, Erland suggests (and later repeats publicly) their legal problems could be solved if Gabrielsson would agree to marry him.
She also disparages false friends who emerged after Larsson's death who "trot out apocryphal memories and bizarre stories about Stieg for the media or in books." It's hard not to wonder if Kurdo Baksi's memoir, Stieg Larsson, My Friend, published by Norstedts (Gabrielsson's, significantly, is not), is a target here.
Gabrielsson also asserts she has the manuscript for Larsson's unfinished fourth novel, The Vengeance of the Gods, and that she's quite capable of finishing it. That manuscript is the only card she holds in negotiations with Erland and Joakim.
Sadly, despite his death, the tale of Stieg Larsson is not over. Though there are other stories of his life out there -- Baksi's, as well as Barry Forshaw's biography The Man Who Left Too Soon -- Gabrielsson's is likely the most personal we'll see. But there will be no complete picture of his life and legacy until the dispute over his work is settled.
And like any Norse saga, it may take a generation or two. Gabrielsson isn't likely to give up. "I know how [Stieg] would react in every situation I'm facing today," she writes. "He would fight."
David Jón Fuller is a Winnipeg writer and editor.
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition June 25, 2011 J10
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts...
Given the huge posthumous success of his Millennium trilogy (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played with Fire, and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest), it's not surprising a bitter postscript to Larsson's life has become as gripping as his fiction.
The novels have sold more than 27 million copies worldwide, and have been adapted into successful films in Sweden. The Hollywood version of the first book, starring Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara, hits theatres this December.
Sadly, Larsson's partner of 32 years, Eva Gabrielsson, won't see a dime or have a hand in managing his literary legacy. Her new memoir is a long-anticipated broadside at her main foes in her protracted legal battle, Larsson's father Erland and brother Joakim.
Larsson died of a heart attack in November 2004. But Swedish law grants no marital status to what in Canada would be common-law couples.
Now, Larsson's father and brother -- whom he barely knew as a child, having been raised by his maternal grandparents in northern Sweden until he was eight years old -- have claimed all rights to his novels. And to Gabrielsson's chagrin, Larsson's publisher Norstedts has gone along with it.
Gabrielsson's memoir is full of vignettes of Larsson's life, from his childhood to their time together in social and political struggles. Fans of his novel will delight in the reasons why he chose details for his fiction. A crucial Ford in one novel is based on his grandfather's car; he set a pivotal scene aboard a sailboat because he and Gabrielsson spent many hours sailing around Sweden's islands; and many characters were based on real people they both knew.
The early separation between Larsson and his parents engendered a lasting emotional distance. According to Gabrielsson, the second and final time Larsson's brother Joakim set foot in his apartment was the day of his funeral.
Unfortunately, Gabrielsson and Larsson never married, despite living together for 30 years, in order to escape detection by his political enemies in far right and neo-Nazi groups.
Thus, watching the legal train wreck over Larsson's legacy unfold in Gabrielsson's account is as gripping as anything Larsson himself wrote.
Larsson's father Erland and brother Joakim barely come into the story until Larsson dies, which may be the most damning aspect of the book. And then, despite protests they "didn't want any part of Stieg's estate," it dawns on Gabrielsson, reeling from shock at her partner's death, they aren't just slow to respond to her attempts to straighten out Larsson's affairs. They're secretly freezing her out.
The ironies are cruel. Larsson had actually composed a will in 1977, before leaving for a dangerous sojourn in Africa. In it he left everything to Gabrielsson, but did not have it witnessed. She only discovered the document when looking for an old letter of his to read at his memorial service.
Larsson had also eagerly agreed, on the advice of Norstedt, to set up a company owned by himself and Gabrielsson, to control his rights and royalties. But she learned after his death he never got around to doing it.
It would be easy to forgive her a little bitterness, yet the memoir is largely free of it. She prefers to skewer Erland and Joakim with frank accounts of their deception and arrogance. Outrageously, Erland suggests (and later repeats publicly) their legal problems could be solved if Gabrielsson would agree to marry him.
She also disparages false friends who emerged after Larsson's death who "trot out apocryphal memories and bizarre stories about Stieg for the media or in books." It's hard not to wonder if Kurdo Baksi's memoir, Stieg Larsson, My Friend, published by Norstedts (Gabrielsson's, significantly, is not), is a target here.
Gabrielsson also asserts she has the manuscript for Larsson's unfinished fourth novel, The Vengeance of the Gods, and that she's quite capable of finishing it. That manuscript is the only card she holds in negotiations with Erland and Joakim.
Sadly, despite his death, the tale of Stieg Larsson is not over. Though there are other stories of his life out there -- Baksi's, as well as Barry Forshaw's biography The Man Who Left Too Soon -- Gabrielsson's is likely the most personal we'll see. But there will be no complete picture of his life and legacy until the dispute over his work is settled.
And like any Norse saga, it may take a generation or two. Gabrielsson isn't likely to give up. "I know how [Stieg] would react in every situation I'm facing today," she writes. "He would fight."
David Jón Fuller is a Winnipeg writer and editor.
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition June 25, 2011 J10
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts...
November 18, 2019
V zasvěceném pohledu Evy Gabrielssonové, životní družky Stiega Larssona, není Milénium pouhým světoznámým bestsellerem — je to alegorie neutuchajícího zápasu za mravnost a spravedlnost. Ty knihy jsou pro Evu Gabrielssonovou zrcadlem společných prožitků a vzájemné lásky, ale také zhmotněním všech těžkostí, jimž musela spolu se svým přítelem čelit. Ve svých vzpomínkách zachytila dvaatřicet let společného života — od mládí až po Stiegovu smrt. K bolesti ze ztráty milovaného muže se však přidružily i další nepříjemné okolnosti. Eva — coby Stiegova družka, nikoli zákonná manželka — přichází o veškeré dědictví. Nesouhlasně a bezmocně sleduje vzmáhající se „larssonovský průmysl“ a bojuje za to, aby jí byla svěřena správa duševního vlastnictví Larssonova díla — nejen Milénia, ale i všech ostatních textů, v nichž se vyjadřoval k závažným sociálním a politickým problémům.
Milénium trilógia je kapitola sama o sebe, ako ten Marmite...you love it or you hate it, ale nič medzi tým…. Tak u nás je to jednoznačne Team Stieg. Všetci sme čítali všetky 3 diely a rozprávali sa o nich. O ich autorovi som však doteraz vedela, až toľko že zomrel krátko po vydaní. Aj preto som rýchlo zdvíhala ruku, že chcem požičať práve tento životopis.
Eva rozpráva o sebe, o Stiegovi i o živote, ktorí viedli a ja som mala pocit, že idem cez jej zážitky spolu s ňou. Iste, môžeme povedať, že to nebude objektívne, ale otázkou ostáva, je možné aby osobné zážitky boli objektívne? Mne sa páčilo, že som zistila, prečo bol Stieg feminista, prečo sa vždy zapájal do boja, prečo je biblia taká dôležitá, kto sú niektoré postavy z dielov, a zároveň čo sa udialo, keď knihy vyšli.
Osobne som videla švédske filmy a bola som rada, že som ich videla a prečo boli natočené. Na druhú stranu chápem, prečo by si sám autor chcel nechať práva a využiť ich keď uzná za vhodné. Čo ma mrzí, je smutné, sledovať, ako sa ľudia menia, keď príde na peniaze…..ale to je asi normálne.
Celkovo táto útla kniha mi priniesla veľa poznania za celou sériou a ja len dúfam, že jedného dňa vyjde to skutočné Milénium číslo 4.
Prvá veta:Lidé se mě často ptají, zda Švédové opravdu vypijí tolik kávy jako postavy v Miléniu.
Posledná veta: Kvůli sobě, kvůli nám, a protože jsme zkrátka takoví, budu pokračovat.
Goodreads Challenge 2019: 44. kniha
Milénium trilógia je kapitola sama o sebe, ako ten Marmite...you love it or you hate it, ale nič medzi tým…. Tak u nás je to jednoznačne Team Stieg. Všetci sme čítali všetky 3 diely a rozprávali sa o nich. O ich autorovi som však doteraz vedela, až toľko že zomrel krátko po vydaní. Aj preto som rýchlo zdvíhala ruku, že chcem požičať práve tento životopis.
Eva rozpráva o sebe, o Stiegovi i o živote, ktorí viedli a ja som mala pocit, že idem cez jej zážitky spolu s ňou. Iste, môžeme povedať, že to nebude objektívne, ale otázkou ostáva, je možné aby osobné zážitky boli objektívne? Mne sa páčilo, že som zistila, prečo bol Stieg feminista, prečo sa vždy zapájal do boja, prečo je biblia taká dôležitá, kto sú niektoré postavy z dielov, a zároveň čo sa udialo, keď knihy vyšli.
Osobne som videla švédske filmy a bola som rada, že som ich videla a prečo boli natočené. Na druhú stranu chápem, prečo by si sám autor chcel nechať práva a využiť ich keď uzná za vhodné. Čo ma mrzí, je smutné, sledovať, ako sa ľudia menia, keď príde na peniaze…..ale to je asi normálne.
Celkovo táto útla kniha mi priniesla veľa poznania za celou sériou a ja len dúfam, že jedného dňa vyjde to skutočné Milénium číslo 4.
Prvá veta:Lidé se mě často ptají, zda Švédové opravdu vypijí tolik kávy jako postavy v Miléniu.
Posledná veta: Kvůli sobě, kvůli nám, a protože jsme zkrátka takoví, budu pokračovat.
Goodreads Challenge 2019: 44. kniha
April 11, 2015
-Indignación probablemente justa y contenida, pero… ¿el orden de sustantivos en el título no es oportunista?.-
Género. Biografía (en realidad no lo es exactamente, o al menos no lo es por completo, pero no hay que llenar el blog de etiquetas y podría servir como calificación aproximada).
Lo que nos cuenta. Acercamiento a Stieg Larsson y a la relación de pareja de algo más de tres décadas que tuvo con la autora, pero todo a través de la conocida trilogía Millennium con la que constantemente se forjan lazos y vínculos personales o laborales.
¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:
http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...
Género. Biografía (en realidad no lo es exactamente, o al menos no lo es por completo, pero no hay que llenar el blog de etiquetas y podría servir como calificación aproximada).
Lo que nos cuenta. Acercamiento a Stieg Larsson y a la relación de pareja de algo más de tres décadas que tuvo con la autora, pero todo a través de la conocida trilogía Millennium con la que constantemente se forjan lazos y vínculos personales o laborales.
¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:
http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...
September 15, 2012
got this book at the public library, but had I invested $24 in it, I'd be disappointed. It attains 209 pages by a low per page word count and blank pages following chapters ending on odd numbered pages. Gabrielsson mentions photos, but shares very few with the readers.
If you want to learn about Steig Larsson, this is not the book to read. Try Kurdo Baksi's book Stieg Larsson: Our Days in Stockholm, which, while also short, provides more context than this one.
Gabrielsson's book provides background on Larsson's family and childhood. She mentions his work in Africa and their trip to Grenada. Larsson's death, funeral and burial are described. Another value to his book is in naming the series' characters based on and named for real people and how places, plots and images match real life. Interestingly, Kurdo Baksi, Larsson's business partner, who appears in the final volume, gets merely a mention (if it is him, the spelling is changed) in a different context.
The Baksi book provides more insight as to Larsson's professional life and how he coped as a stalked target and recipient of baskets of hate mail. He arrived late for appointments, took unusual routes and transport exits. Baksi writes of Larsson's work commitments and political work such that the appearance of these novels was a surprise and suggested a grueling schedule. With breakfast out, and fast food for dinner it seems there is little time for a life with Eva.
The final part of the book is about Gabrielsson's grief and legal problems. The trilogy has huge earnings and potential earnings. Larsson's estranged father and brother have wound up with the legal rights to it. At times, Gabrielsson's victim righteousness was off putting, but that these two multimillionaires could not give her Larsson's half of their 600 SF apartment is telling.
For the sake of not just Gabrielsson, but also the reader fans, these parties need to come together so that the final book of the series can be forthcoming. She is not asking for the fortune, but control is obviously something they do not want to give up.
If you want to learn about Steig Larsson, this is not the book to read. Try Kurdo Baksi's book Stieg Larsson: Our Days in Stockholm, which, while also short, provides more context than this one.
Gabrielsson's book provides background on Larsson's family and childhood. She mentions his work in Africa and their trip to Grenada. Larsson's death, funeral and burial are described. Another value to his book is in naming the series' characters based on and named for real people and how places, plots and images match real life. Interestingly, Kurdo Baksi, Larsson's business partner, who appears in the final volume, gets merely a mention (if it is him, the spelling is changed) in a different context.
The Baksi book provides more insight as to Larsson's professional life and how he coped as a stalked target and recipient of baskets of hate mail. He arrived late for appointments, took unusual routes and transport exits. Baksi writes of Larsson's work commitments and political work such that the appearance of these novels was a surprise and suggested a grueling schedule. With breakfast out, and fast food for dinner it seems there is little time for a life with Eva.
The final part of the book is about Gabrielsson's grief and legal problems. The trilogy has huge earnings and potential earnings. Larsson's estranged father and brother have wound up with the legal rights to it. At times, Gabrielsson's victim righteousness was off putting, but that these two multimillionaires could not give her Larsson's half of their 600 SF apartment is telling.
For the sake of not just Gabrielsson, but also the reader fans, these parties need to come together so that the final book of the series can be forthcoming. She is not asking for the fortune, but control is obviously something they do not want to give up.
January 16, 2020
"V zasvěceném pohledu Evy Gabrielssonové" - no zasveceny a bol aj velmi subjektivny, myslim ze o zboznovanom Stiegovi nepisala objektivne, vsak ani nemohla ked bola jeho druzka/zena/milenka/priatelka. Trochu ma zaskocilo kolko zasti sa v nej naslo, ze dokazala urobit ten obrad prekliatia. To bolo pre mna dost velke susto, prislo mi to, ze dokazala obvinovat z jeho smrti tolko ludi okolo. Ale to, ze sa nestaral o seba po stranke zdravia, stravovania, to bolo len tak nejako vedla spomenute. A to neustale zdoraznovanie toho, ze knihy boli ich spolocne, nielen Stiegove... Stale som mala pocit, ze to musi zdoraznovat, aby nemal nikto pochybnosti o tom, ze ona ma pravo na knihy a je to vsetkych svata povinnost jej to pridelit. Nebolo to pisane s odstupom, ani s objektivitou, co som teda ani neocakavala, ale dost ma ten styl sklamal. Aha, uz viem, nenechala ma urobit si na Stiega vlastny nazor, cely cas mi vnucovala ten svoj, to su asi tie spravne slova.
July 28, 2011
Does Lisbeth Salander remind you of Pippi Longstocking? This is a suggestion made by Eva Gabrielsson, partner of Stieg Larsson, creator of the Millennium Trilogy. As a huge fan of both Pippi Longstocking and Lisbeth Salander, I found this comparison fascinating!
Apart from that little snippet, what I got from this book was exactly what I was looking for, just some background on the legal dispute between Gabrielsson and Stieg Larsson's father and brother. Perhaps it’s not a strictly neutral account, but that wasn’t to be expected! I must admit to being surprised by the anger and desire for revenge – the strangest part of the book, in my opinion is her description of an elaborate Viking curse she delivered against all her and Larsson’s enemies. According to Eva, the ritual brought her a lot of relief. I think I would have preferred a more neutral account of the legal battles for control of Larsson’s work – perhaps Eva is too close to the situation?
The book gives some detail about their relationship, their shared ideals and their lives together. It also gives a great picture of Sweden – I had a romantic view of Sweden as some sort of liberal and tolerant paradise, but not so - the distress caused by neo-Nazi groups and their influence is shown here, as are some of Sweden’s archaic laws, particularly those in relation to de facto relationships. It’s these archaic laws that are at the bottom of Eva’s struggles.
It provides some fascinating information about Larsson the man, Larsson the political animal and Larsson the writer. One point that does come across strongly is his naivety with regard to looking after his rights and his carelessness in regard to his health.
Generally, I feel that, as a biography, the writer is too close to her subject and the writing is a bit disjointed. Perhaps some more editing would have been beneficial. Despite that, it was a fascinating book, and one which I’m glad to have read. But I’m glad I got it from the library and didn’t spend money on it!
Apart from that little snippet, what I got from this book was exactly what I was looking for, just some background on the legal dispute between Gabrielsson and Stieg Larsson's father and brother. Perhaps it’s not a strictly neutral account, but that wasn’t to be expected! I must admit to being surprised by the anger and desire for revenge – the strangest part of the book, in my opinion is her description of an elaborate Viking curse she delivered against all her and Larsson’s enemies. According to Eva, the ritual brought her a lot of relief. I think I would have preferred a more neutral account of the legal battles for control of Larsson’s work – perhaps Eva is too close to the situation?
The book gives some detail about their relationship, their shared ideals and their lives together. It also gives a great picture of Sweden – I had a romantic view of Sweden as some sort of liberal and tolerant paradise, but not so - the distress caused by neo-Nazi groups and their influence is shown here, as are some of Sweden’s archaic laws, particularly those in relation to de facto relationships. It’s these archaic laws that are at the bottom of Eva’s struggles.
It provides some fascinating information about Larsson the man, Larsson the political animal and Larsson the writer. One point that does come across strongly is his naivety with regard to looking after his rights and his carelessness in regard to his health.
Generally, I feel that, as a biography, the writer is too close to her subject and the writing is a bit disjointed. Perhaps some more editing would have been beneficial. Despite that, it was a fascinating book, and one which I’m glad to have read. But I’m glad I got it from the library and didn’t spend money on it!
Read
June 26, 2011“Some Things I Would Like You to Know” about Stieg and Me, by Eva Gabrielsson, Marie-Francoise Colombani, Linda Coverdale (translator), narrated by Cassandra Campbell, produced by Tantor Media, downloaded from audible.com.
Here is the greatly anticipated story of Stieg Larsson’s life told by Eva Gabrielsson, his companion of 32 years, but unfortunately not his wife. This is unfortunate because since his death, his estranged family has claimed all rights to his property and his writings. Eva has fought to get control only of his written articles as well as the rights to the books in the trilogy. In this book she tells of their intimate life together, what went into Larsson writing the trilogy and what experiences he brought to bear in this writing, and his time as a journalist, especially at “Expo” which he helped to found and spent so much time trying to keep viable. Eva tells about the legal hassles as well as the steps she took to allow herself to grieve Stieg’s passing. And she gives a teasing hint of what would be in the fourth volume, which she says she could complete, if only allowed to do so, because Larsson had the plot already in place. His family even went so far as to remove her importance from the Wikipedia article about Stieg. Very sad to see such bitter conflict. I felt angry with Larsson that he didn’t provide better for Eva should he die. But then how many of us expect to die at 50? Anyone who has read the Larsson trilogy will want to read this book.
Here is the greatly anticipated story of Stieg Larsson’s life told by Eva Gabrielsson, his companion of 32 years, but unfortunately not his wife. This is unfortunate because since his death, his estranged family has claimed all rights to his property and his writings. Eva has fought to get control only of his written articles as well as the rights to the books in the trilogy. In this book she tells of their intimate life together, what went into Larsson writing the trilogy and what experiences he brought to bear in this writing, and his time as a journalist, especially at “Expo” which he helped to found and spent so much time trying to keep viable. Eva tells about the legal hassles as well as the steps she took to allow herself to grieve Stieg’s passing. And she gives a teasing hint of what would be in the fourth volume, which she says she could complete, if only allowed to do so, because Larsson had the plot already in place. His family even went so far as to remove her importance from the Wikipedia article about Stieg. Very sad to see such bitter conflict. I felt angry with Larsson that he didn’t provide better for Eva should he die. But then how many of us expect to die at 50? Anyone who has read the Larsson trilogy will want to read this book.
May 15, 2013
After reading the Millenium Trilogy, I saw a documentary on Larsson's life called "L'horreur boréale". As you must know, Larsson died a few months after finishing writing his trilogy and never enjoyed fame and fortune from the great success that came.
In the documentary, they paralleled his real life with the characters depicted in his books and it was also a portrait of Swede troublesome past since World War II. Also, we learned that his life partner, Eva Gabrielsson, didn't get anything after his death because as a precaution, they hid their relationship. They had been together for over 20 years but they were still "singles" in the public eye. Larsson was afraid she might be attacked because he received threats so he wouldn't be involved in exposing the somber areas of Swedish society. When you see Larsson's estranged father and brother that inherit everything in the documentary, you want to slap them.
So, this book is Gabrielsson's way of telling her side of the story. Her life with Larsson and their relationship with all it implies helps us get a better understanding of the situation.
In the documentary, they paralleled his real life with the characters depicted in his books and it was also a portrait of Swede troublesome past since World War II. Also, we learned that his life partner, Eva Gabrielsson, didn't get anything after his death because as a precaution, they hid their relationship. They had been together for over 20 years but they were still "singles" in the public eye. Larsson was afraid she might be attacked because he received threats so he wouldn't be involved in exposing the somber areas of Swedish society. When you see Larsson's estranged father and brother that inherit everything in the documentary, you want to slap them.
So, this book is Gabrielsson's way of telling her side of the story. Her life with Larsson and their relationship with all it implies helps us get a better understanding of the situation.
January 31, 2016
It is hard to say that you enjoy a book where the focus is the death of the spouse of the author. I'll have to say that I'm a fan of Stieg, notwithstanding his Salander trilogy, he cared about what is right. He worked to expose injustice, and I'm totally with him. His novels certainly convey that importance.
Further, to recall he died at 50 is a wakeup call. Not to mention in 2004, where both my father and Sheri's mother passed, so that resonates.
You might oppose Stieg's politics (and sometimes mine), but the intention is always for making the world a better place. Naive, sure, but some of us have to try.
I wrestle with helping achieve the hope of Stieg and Eva in their careers. Kudos.
All that being said, Eva's book and situation is heartbreaking, and I hope that, in the end, she triumphs.
Further, to recall he died at 50 is a wakeup call. Not to mention in 2004, where both my father and Sheri's mother passed, so that resonates.
You might oppose Stieg's politics (and sometimes mine), but the intention is always for making the world a better place. Naive, sure, but some of us have to try.
I wrestle with helping achieve the hope of Stieg and Eva in their careers. Kudos.
All that being said, Eva's book and situation is heartbreaking, and I hope that, in the end, she triumphs.
August 12, 2011
Eva Gabrielsson has a reason to be angry. When Steig Larsson, the novelist famous for the Millenium trilogy, passed away suddenly of a heart attack, Gabrielsson lost more than her partner. His family took over control of his books, his other work and half of her apartment. This was an interesting insight into how some of the things in the books come out. That said, I thought Gabrielsson was sometimes too snobby - that's not the right word, but it is the one that comes to mind - about her partner and their lives. When she waxes poetic about how intellectual they are, it is a little off-putting.But the book is probably a must-read for Larsson fans, of which I am one.
September 17, 2020
#SparkJoyReadathon
Book by author you’ve never read
There are things I want you to know about Stieg Larson and me
209 pages
Genre: biography
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Unread shelf since: July 2020
Keep/donate?: Keep
SYNOPSIS: Here is the real inside story— not the one about the Stieg Larsson phenomenon, but rather a love story of a man and a woman whose lives came to be guided by politics and love, coffee and activism, writing and friendship. Only one person in the world knows that story well enough to tell it with authority. Her name is Eva Gabrielsson.
REVIEW: Wow ok so this destroyed me. Eva and Stieg spent 32 years together when he suddenly died and she fought for years to get the rights to his writing. This book shares his early life, their life together, and what she was fighting for when he died. My soul feels crushed, hearing what Eva has to go though, and how she learned to survive without her partner. I loved how personal this was, although it’s categorized as a biography, I felt way more attached. I cried a lot. I went into it telling myself not to cry, and then right there on page four my heart was shattered and I think it was a pretty constrain flow of tears through the end. Highly recommend reading this AFTER the trilogy, as Eva talks a lot about inspiration of characters and how they connect to their lives.
Book by author you’ve never read
There are things I want you to know about Stieg Larson and me
209 pages
Genre: biography
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Unread shelf since: July 2020
Keep/donate?: Keep
SYNOPSIS: Here is the real inside story— not the one about the Stieg Larsson phenomenon, but rather a love story of a man and a woman whose lives came to be guided by politics and love, coffee and activism, writing and friendship. Only one person in the world knows that story well enough to tell it with authority. Her name is Eva Gabrielsson.
REVIEW: Wow ok so this destroyed me. Eva and Stieg spent 32 years together when he suddenly died and she fought for years to get the rights to his writing. This book shares his early life, their life together, and what she was fighting for when he died. My soul feels crushed, hearing what Eva has to go though, and how she learned to survive without her partner. I loved how personal this was, although it’s categorized as a biography, I felt way more attached. I cried a lot. I went into it telling myself not to cry, and then right there on page four my heart was shattered and I think it was a pretty constrain flow of tears through the end. Highly recommend reading this AFTER the trilogy, as Eva talks a lot about inspiration of characters and how they connect to their lives.
February 22, 2012
An easy-read if you are looking for/needing to read a biography. But more importantly, like The Millennium Trilogy stresses over and over again, this biography gives you the truth about Stieg Larsson's life, about his death, and about what happened after his death, all told by the person that knew him best. What a heart-wrenching and interesting read that answers a lot of questions surrounding both the novels and his purpose for writing them. Fans of the novels shoudl definitely read it! You will not be disappointed!
"To understand Stieg's work, I said, one had to know who he really was."--pg. 185
I picked up this book yearning to learn more about the author who died before his novel legacy was even published. That fact in itself intrigued me; I just really wanted to learn more about Stieg Larsson's life without having to deal with all of the legal mumbo jumbo that seems to be following him, even into his death. With this relatively short biography, you get the straight facts--no beating around the bush, just the candid and honest facts--from the one constant presence in his life: Eva Gabrielsson.
For thirty-two years, Eva Gabrielsson was Stieg's life partner--no, they never married, though not for lack of trying. Job circumstances, politics, and then Stieg's untimely death prevented them from ever making their relationship formal and legal. Because they were not married, legally, Eva was left with nothing--she can only own half of her apartment, has no access to the bank accounts they shared, and could not legally take any part in or have control over the publication of Stieg's novels. But most of all, she just misses Stieg, her "soul mate".
A general overview of Stieg's interesting life: He was raised by his grandparents in a little cabin in Northern Sweden. He got involved in political activism at a young age, and consequently met Eva at a support meeting of the Front National de Liberation in Vietnam. Stieg had so many idea, and Eva encouraged him to start writing about them and sending in his pieces to local newspapers. Thus, his journalism career exploded. He was involved in many controversial political arguments through the articles he wrote for many different newspapers and magazines all across Europe. Together with a few others, he and Eva founded the magazine Expo, which wrote unbiased articles about the different political dilemmas they saw, as well as their own ideas. And because of his involvement in journalism and political activism, his life (and, consequently, Eva's too) was threatened on multiple occasions by multiple groups and gangs, compromising his physical safety. And yet:
"Without Stieg's battles and crusades, The Millennium Trilogy would never have seen the light of day. His struggle is the heart, brain, and brawn of that saga."--pg. 64
What I found absolutely fascinating is that almost every detail found in The Millennium Trilogy is autobiographical in some form or fashion, whether it be similar situations and problems Stieg dealt with in real life, or creating his settings based upon his favorite spots around town, or paying homage to important people in his life by literally naming a character after them. In many ways, Mikael Blomkvist is very similar to Stieg Larsson, from the way he dresses to his passion for investigative journalism to his obsessive love of coffee. And the addresses where all of the characters lived in his novels? They came from the many walks that he and Eva took through the parts of town where her architectural projects were taking place, or from the plans sitting in her office, or from her most current work. The Millennium Trilogy was born from the people and places in Stieg's life, and this book series (intended to be 10 novels) was the impetus in Stieg taking life slower and remembering how much he cherished Eva.
Yet, inspite of all of those fascinating details, the center of this biography/memoir to me is the emotional journey that Eva is forced into (and still faces everyday) when Stieg suddenly passed away in November of 2004. Her unconditional love and affection for her "soul mate" is so incredibly evident as she recalls his death, the preparations, the funeral, and the mythological cursing ceremony she holds for all of those individuals (work-related and political) that pushed Stieg into such a premature death. Her grief is such a prominent part of this entire biography, and you can feel her love for Stieg from striaght off the page. She includes snippets from her diary in 2005, where she kept ephiphanies as well as accounts of the mundane daily life, saying that "the diary was a way of proving to myself that I was alive" (pg. 159).
A majority of what is published in this diary chapter deals with the legal aftermath of Stieg's death, and of his father and brother's hostile takeover of all of Stieg Larsson's estate, including The Millennium Trilogy. This part of the biography also describes the deep emotional turmoil Eva was left in after Stieg's death and how she learns to survive and to keep on living. All that she continually fights for is extremely inspiring to those who knew and loved Stieg, but also to those who got to know him through reading his works. Eva's struggles have gone global, and many people have joined up in her fight not only to gain control of Stieg's intellectual estate (books, articles, etc), but also to change the law so that other couples in their situation do not have to suffer through what she had--and still has--to go through.
"The Millennium Trilogy is not just a good story made up by a good author of good crime novels. These books talk about the need to fight to defend one's ideals, and the refusal to give up, to sell oneself, or to grovel before someone powerful."--pg. 195.
This is what Stieg Larsson did until the day of his death, and this is what Eva Gabrielsson continues to do to this day--to fight for what they believe in, and to refuse to give up.
"To understand Stieg's work, I said, one had to know who he really was."--pg. 185
I picked up this book yearning to learn more about the author who died before his novel legacy was even published. That fact in itself intrigued me; I just really wanted to learn more about Stieg Larsson's life without having to deal with all of the legal mumbo jumbo that seems to be following him, even into his death. With this relatively short biography, you get the straight facts--no beating around the bush, just the candid and honest facts--from the one constant presence in his life: Eva Gabrielsson.
For thirty-two years, Eva Gabrielsson was Stieg's life partner--no, they never married, though not for lack of trying. Job circumstances, politics, and then Stieg's untimely death prevented them from ever making their relationship formal and legal. Because they were not married, legally, Eva was left with nothing--she can only own half of her apartment, has no access to the bank accounts they shared, and could not legally take any part in or have control over the publication of Stieg's novels. But most of all, she just misses Stieg, her "soul mate".
A general overview of Stieg's interesting life: He was raised by his grandparents in a little cabin in Northern Sweden. He got involved in political activism at a young age, and consequently met Eva at a support meeting of the Front National de Liberation in Vietnam. Stieg had so many idea, and Eva encouraged him to start writing about them and sending in his pieces to local newspapers. Thus, his journalism career exploded. He was involved in many controversial political arguments through the articles he wrote for many different newspapers and magazines all across Europe. Together with a few others, he and Eva founded the magazine Expo, which wrote unbiased articles about the different political dilemmas they saw, as well as their own ideas. And because of his involvement in journalism and political activism, his life (and, consequently, Eva's too) was threatened on multiple occasions by multiple groups and gangs, compromising his physical safety. And yet:
"Without Stieg's battles and crusades, The Millennium Trilogy would never have seen the light of day. His struggle is the heart, brain, and brawn of that saga."--pg. 64
What I found absolutely fascinating is that almost every detail found in The Millennium Trilogy is autobiographical in some form or fashion, whether it be similar situations and problems Stieg dealt with in real life, or creating his settings based upon his favorite spots around town, or paying homage to important people in his life by literally naming a character after them. In many ways, Mikael Blomkvist is very similar to Stieg Larsson, from the way he dresses to his passion for investigative journalism to his obsessive love of coffee. And the addresses where all of the characters lived in his novels? They came from the many walks that he and Eva took through the parts of town where her architectural projects were taking place, or from the plans sitting in her office, or from her most current work. The Millennium Trilogy was born from the people and places in Stieg's life, and this book series (intended to be 10 novels) was the impetus in Stieg taking life slower and remembering how much he cherished Eva.
Yet, inspite of all of those fascinating details, the center of this biography/memoir to me is the emotional journey that Eva is forced into (and still faces everyday) when Stieg suddenly passed away in November of 2004. Her unconditional love and affection for her "soul mate" is so incredibly evident as she recalls his death, the preparations, the funeral, and the mythological cursing ceremony she holds for all of those individuals (work-related and political) that pushed Stieg into such a premature death. Her grief is such a prominent part of this entire biography, and you can feel her love for Stieg from striaght off the page. She includes snippets from her diary in 2005, where she kept ephiphanies as well as accounts of the mundane daily life, saying that "the diary was a way of proving to myself that I was alive" (pg. 159).
A majority of what is published in this diary chapter deals with the legal aftermath of Stieg's death, and of his father and brother's hostile takeover of all of Stieg Larsson's estate, including The Millennium Trilogy. This part of the biography also describes the deep emotional turmoil Eva was left in after Stieg's death and how she learns to survive and to keep on living. All that she continually fights for is extremely inspiring to those who knew and loved Stieg, but also to those who got to know him through reading his works. Eva's struggles have gone global, and many people have joined up in her fight not only to gain control of Stieg's intellectual estate (books, articles, etc), but also to change the law so that other couples in their situation do not have to suffer through what she had--and still has--to go through.
"The Millennium Trilogy is not just a good story made up by a good author of good crime novels. These books talk about the need to fight to defend one's ideals, and the refusal to give up, to sell oneself, or to grovel before someone powerful."--pg. 195.
This is what Stieg Larsson did until the day of his death, and this is what Eva Gabrielsson continues to do to this day--to fight for what they believe in, and to refuse to give up.
November 1, 2018
Întâi de toate, aș vrea să menționez că sunt foarte dezamăgită de prelucrarea textului. În viața mea nu am mai citit o carte care să nu aibă textul aliniat, îi era chiar atât de greu redactorului/corectului sau cui se ocupă de aspectele astea să dea un justify?
Mai apoi, îmi lipsesc 4 pagini din carte, iar la 2-3 am duplicat, aici pe cine să trag de urechi? Tipografia?
Și nu în ultimul rând, aș vrea să știu și eu cine sunt Rosa Figuerola și Malou Eriksson? Poate MONICA Figuerola și MALIN Eriksson! A trecut ceva vreme de când am terminat trilogia, dar pot să bag mâna în foc că astea sunt numele corecte ale personajelor.
E un pic bătaie de joc…
Coperta în schimb e foarte îngrijită, mi-a plăcut super mult, și chiar m-am întrebat dacă imaginea folosită este o poză autentică cu cei doi, Stieg Larsson și Eva Gabrielsson.
Prima jumătate a cărții este un pic plictisitoare, ori nu au fost redate cele mai interesante părți ale vieții lui Stieg, ori cine a scris nu a știut să facă textul interesant. A doua jumătate, sau mai bine zis, ultimul sfert de carte, partea în care Stieg dă spre tipografie cărțile, după care moare, au fost cele mai interesante.
Nu am avut idee despre scandalul acesta legat de moștenirea Millenium, și sunt foarte tristă că s-a întâmplat așa ceva. Toate ideile pentru care a militat Larsson în carte și toată nedreptatea împotriva căreia a luptat, s-au revărsat postmortem asupra partenerei sale de viață. Foarte urât cum banii pot schimba oamenii într-un asemenea fel. O lectură interesantă, care m-a făcut să retrăiesc iar o parte din sentimentele pe care le-am avut citind despre Lisbeth Salander. Așa cum ei i s-au făcut numeroase nedreptăți, din cauza lăcomiei unora, așa i se fac și Evei Gabrielsson, și sper din tot sufletul ca aceasta să câștige drepturile asupra operei lui Stieg.
Pe de altă parte, nu pot să nu mă bucur că există această “industrie Millenium”, pentru că trilogia lui Stieg Larsson este deschizătoare de ochi și minți, mesajul este unul puternic, și mă bucur că a ajuns la atâția oameni, că a fost citit și rascitit pe tot mapamondul. Ideile din carte sunt la fel de actuale pe cât erau și prin 2000 și ceva, când a apărut cartea, deci nu pot să sper decât că trilogia va dăinui.
Am fost curioasă, desigur, și în legătură cu cărțile lui David Langercrantz, și chiar am avut o intenție să le citesc, dar acum nu mai sunt atât de sigură în legătură cu asta, pentru că nu știu cât de bine ar putea un străin să dea viață unor personaje gândite de către altcineva.
Recomand tuturor trilogia “Millenium”, din toată inima, m-a marcat pe viață și nu cred că va mai scrie cineva o poveste atât de realistă care să rămână cu mine mulți ani după terminarea ei! Mai jos am scris despre fiecare carte în parte:
Bărbați care urăsc femeile
Fata care s-a jucat cu focul
Castelul din nori s-a sfărâmat
Mai apoi, îmi lipsesc 4 pagini din carte, iar la 2-3 am duplicat, aici pe cine să trag de urechi? Tipografia?
Și nu în ultimul rând, aș vrea să știu și eu cine sunt Rosa Figuerola și Malou Eriksson? Poate MONICA Figuerola și MALIN Eriksson! A trecut ceva vreme de când am terminat trilogia, dar pot să bag mâna în foc că astea sunt numele corecte ale personajelor.
E un pic bătaie de joc…
Coperta în schimb e foarte îngrijită, mi-a plăcut super mult, și chiar m-am întrebat dacă imaginea folosită este o poză autentică cu cei doi, Stieg Larsson și Eva Gabrielsson.
Prima jumătate a cărții este un pic plictisitoare, ori nu au fost redate cele mai interesante părți ale vieții lui Stieg, ori cine a scris nu a știut să facă textul interesant. A doua jumătate, sau mai bine zis, ultimul sfert de carte, partea în care Stieg dă spre tipografie cărțile, după care moare, au fost cele mai interesante.
Nu am avut idee despre scandalul acesta legat de moștenirea Millenium, și sunt foarte tristă că s-a întâmplat așa ceva. Toate ideile pentru care a militat Larsson în carte și toată nedreptatea împotriva căreia a luptat, s-au revărsat postmortem asupra partenerei sale de viață. Foarte urât cum banii pot schimba oamenii într-un asemenea fel. O lectură interesantă, care m-a făcut să retrăiesc iar o parte din sentimentele pe care le-am avut citind despre Lisbeth Salander. Așa cum ei i s-au făcut numeroase nedreptăți, din cauza lăcomiei unora, așa i se fac și Evei Gabrielsson, și sper din tot sufletul ca aceasta să câștige drepturile asupra operei lui Stieg.
Pe de altă parte, nu pot să nu mă bucur că există această “industrie Millenium”, pentru că trilogia lui Stieg Larsson este deschizătoare de ochi și minți, mesajul este unul puternic, și mă bucur că a ajuns la atâția oameni, că a fost citit și rascitit pe tot mapamondul. Ideile din carte sunt la fel de actuale pe cât erau și prin 2000 și ceva, când a apărut cartea, deci nu pot să sper decât că trilogia va dăinui.
Am fost curioasă, desigur, și în legătură cu cărțile lui David Langercrantz, și chiar am avut o intenție să le citesc, dar acum nu mai sunt atât de sigură în legătură cu asta, pentru că nu știu cât de bine ar putea un străin să dea viață unor personaje gândite de către altcineva.
Recomand tuturor trilogia “Millenium”, din toată inima, m-a marcat pe viață și nu cred că va mai scrie cineva o poveste atât de realistă care să rămână cu mine mulți ani după terminarea ei! Mai jos am scris despre fiecare carte în parte:
Bărbați care urăsc femeile
Fata care s-a jucat cu focul
Castelul din nori s-a sfărâmat
July 13, 2013
I read this book in one day. I am a massive fan of what Stieg has done to create the Millennium trilogy. I now know to think of Eva Gabrielsson when I think of this series too as she, as his partner, also had some part in shaping this book. I learnt how cruel and vicious not only Swedish laws are, but of the evil inside some human beings from this book. As his partner she has received ZERO profit from the royalties. Nothing directly from his work. Only what good people from around the world have donated to support her. I won't reveal any plot or spoil anymore for you but I sympathise for any fan of the Millennium trilogy who haven't read her book. It focuses on Stieg, his books, future plans and was a great read. So, yep, I highly recommend!
November 25, 2011
This isn't a great book, but it does answer some questions that fans of Stieg Larsson are sure to have. I would have liked to have learned a little more about their relationship--it seems strange to me that over 32 years they never found the time to get married. (Which is the way she makes it sound.) Also, there are some vague references to their lives possibly being in danger which really needed more explanation. I got the impression that this was written quickly just to get some information out there about her and Larsson and the controversy over his estate.
August 22, 2019
More of an editorial defending herself after her father- and brother-in-law took control of Stieg's estate, but there's some genuinely interesting trivia in the short tome. I get that she's protective of his estate and doesn't to contribute to the 'Girl/Tattoo' industry, but I kind of wish his anti-fascist work would be collected and translated to English. Imagine all the trouble it would've saved if that aspect of the work had been more prominent when these books went big with the soccer mom crowd.
December 29, 2014
Eva Gabrielsson's memoir is at once heart-breaking and angering. The background on the author of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo is even more interesting than the plot of that book.
The sense of injustice is blatant and infuriating. In some ways, it makes me feel a little embarassed at enjoying his books. I hate to think any of my money went to his father and brother.
I really enjoyed this memoir and have a great sympathy for Ms Gabrielsson.
The sense of injustice is blatant and infuriating. In some ways, it makes me feel a little embarassed at enjoying his books. I hate to think any of my money went to his father and brother.
I really enjoyed this memoir and have a great sympathy for Ms Gabrielsson.
September 17, 2011
it's sad that she felt she had to write this book and really that's about the best thing about it. it's not well written. she mostly manages to sound whiny and there are too many exclamation marks. really, don't bother reading it, just feel bad for her and know that there's more to stieg larsson than the milennium series (which is obvious from that series). whatever.
April 14, 2018
A very personal hagiography of Stieg Larsson, the author of the Millennium series, by his long-standing partner.The first half of the book is a rather uncritical biography, highlighting the times they spent together, as well as highlighting elements from the series that are lifted from real life. The second half, on the other hand, is a rant about how unfairly she was treated after he died. In Swedish law, a childless cohabiting couple is not recognised as a civil union, unless explicitly recorded as such, and therefore the sole recognised heirs to the estate are Stiegs brother and father. They had a reasonably cordial relationship up until the series became an international success, but the tone has turned acrimonious.
February 16, 2022
Una mirada delicada y diferente al Stieg que conocimos a través de las paginas de Millenium.
Se vislumbra el origen de todo ese universo creado para que fuéramos testigos de una Lisbeth que se “esconde” de sus demonios en las mismas paginas transitadas por un Mikael Blomkvist que nos guía para descubrirla.
En este libro Eva Gabrielsson nos ilustra, sin escatimar en detalles, como todo ese universo Millenium que conocimos, no es mas que el reflejo directo de la esencia disruptiva que perteneció en un principio a su autor, el gran Stieg Larsson.
Se vislumbra el origen de todo ese universo creado para que fuéramos testigos de una Lisbeth que se “esconde” de sus demonios en las mismas paginas transitadas por un Mikael Blomkvist que nos guía para descubrirla.
En este libro Eva Gabrielsson nos ilustra, sin escatimar en detalles, como todo ese universo Millenium que conocimos, no es mas que el reflejo directo de la esencia disruptiva que perteneció en un principio a su autor, el gran Stieg Larsson.
December 6, 2019
Am plans la ea... Mai ales cand moare el...
Este prima carte la care am plans asa... (este si din cauza ca e vorba de o persoana reala - scriitor iubit).
M-am infuriat cu privire la nedreptățile pe care le are de înfruntat atat Stieg, cat era in viata dar si Eva, dupa moartea lui....
Recomand din inima cartea, chiar daca ati citit sau nu ceva de Stieg Larsson! Chiar daca are 216pag. Toate ⭐ din lume!
Este prima carte la care am plans asa... (este si din cauza ca e vorba de o persoana reala - scriitor iubit).
M-am infuriat cu privire la nedreptățile pe care le are de înfruntat atat Stieg, cat era in viata dar si Eva, dupa moartea lui....
Recomand din inima cartea, chiar daca ati citit sau nu ceva de Stieg Larsson! Chiar daca are 216pag. Toate ⭐ din lume!
March 23, 2025
Short and to the point. This is a summary of something vast, full of injustice and such deep hurt for this woman’s life. Without hearing any facts on the father or brothers side of the story, this is a situation that would have any sane person frothing at the mouth in anger and frustration.
I think this is very important to read, just for an extra perspective after having read the Millennium trilogy.
I think this is very important to read, just for an extra perspective after having read the Millennium trilogy.
July 8, 2021
Recomendado para los fans de “Millennium”
Creo que como estos libros me “volaron la cabeza” hice investigaciones y vi documentales y ahora que leo el libro de Eva yo sentía que ya todo lo había leído por ahí… sin embargo, es un libro precioso y sentimental que vale la pena leer, conocemos a Stieg Larsson en el ámbito personal.
Creo que como estos libros me “volaron la cabeza” hice investigaciones y vi documentales y ahora que leo el libro de Eva yo sentía que ya todo lo había leído por ahí… sin embargo, es un libro precioso y sentimental que vale la pena leer, conocemos a Stieg Larsson en el ámbito personal.
October 14, 2025
Lovely and moving in its simplicity, this makes up in emotion for what it lacks in writing. She sometimes comes off as a bit snobby, though.
October 27, 2011
Eva Gabrielsson lived thirty years of her life with Stieg Larsson, most known for the Millennium Trilogy - The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played With Fire, and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest. Unfortunately, Stieg Larsson died unexpectedly at the age of 50, and would not live to even see the first one in print.
Even more unfortunately for those left behind, Eva and Stieg never married, and Stieg did not have a will. Under Swedish law, since they had no children, Eva was left with no claim to anything, and the rights to his novels went to his brother and father.
One interesting theme to the book that I just didn't expect was that of revenge. According to Eva, Stieg believed heavily in revenge, and she believes he demonstrates this through the characters in the Millennium Trilogy as well. To help her own emotional journey through grieving Stieg, Eva researched and put on a traditional Icelandic nið, which is basically a curse or revenge poem based in Skaldic poetry. She includes the text of what she wrote and a description of the ritual her group of friends had, and it was raw and painful, but somehow it made perfect sense that the woman Stieg loved would go to that kind of extreme. It was a very Lisbeth Salander thing to do.
I do think this is worth the read. The end gets a little fragmented and she throws in her journals and some letter segments, making it feel like she was rushing to have it published, but I suspect that is true. Part of me wishes she'd had more distance between his death and writing this, but something tells me that her honest emotions are part of what brings Stieg to life so clearly.
See my longer review here, which talks about a connection to Neal Stephenson, other Swedish crime authors, and more details on the legal battles.
Even more unfortunately for those left behind, Eva and Stieg never married, and Stieg did not have a will. Under Swedish law, since they had no children, Eva was left with no claim to anything, and the rights to his novels went to his brother and father.
One interesting theme to the book that I just didn't expect was that of revenge. According to Eva, Stieg believed heavily in revenge, and she believes he demonstrates this through the characters in the Millennium Trilogy as well. To help her own emotional journey through grieving Stieg, Eva researched and put on a traditional Icelandic nið, which is basically a curse or revenge poem based in Skaldic poetry. She includes the text of what she wrote and a description of the ritual her group of friends had, and it was raw and painful, but somehow it made perfect sense that the woman Stieg loved would go to that kind of extreme. It was a very Lisbeth Salander thing to do.
I do think this is worth the read. The end gets a little fragmented and she throws in her journals and some letter segments, making it feel like she was rushing to have it published, but I suspect that is true. Part of me wishes she'd had more distance between his death and writing this, but something tells me that her honest emotions are part of what brings Stieg to life so clearly.
See my longer review here, which talks about a connection to Neal Stephenson, other Swedish crime authors, and more details on the legal battles.
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