Grant Perry’s Reviews > The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo > Status Update

Stieg knew that it’s always the instigator that gets a pass, and that the victim is always blamed. Lisbeth might sum up everything that I believe about being alive.

As a matter of fact, Sweden has a horribly seedy underbelly beneath all this exceptionally deliberated intrigue, and Men Who Hate Women (the book’s original title) is setting out to be sure we experience every hideous, reprehensible thing that there is about it…and about all men, particularly those with a Right-winged mindset. Very excited to dive in.

We’re very wrong. Sweden is much more dense than Mikael’s movie introduction lets on, and the beginning of the story no longer feels as neo-satirical by comparison. I can take it seriously now because Stieg refused to gloss over anything ever.

I don’t know if AIA was real or if half the facts for this intro are fictitious, but goddamn are they convincing, and either way clearly based on immense research. Bc of this I’m hooked by a very real backbone of economic world-building now, instead of believing - like most Americans do - that Sweden is relatively tame in the intrigue world, and because of that, finding the opening of the film almost laughable.

STEVEN
You reading a book?

ME
Trying to.

STEVEN
What’s that like?

ME
I’m not sure - it’s been so long I can’t remember.