Why do you think the Stieg Larsson book trilogy is so popular?

All answers will be posted on Friday, December 16th.

Lynn Tamms
An incredibly gripping plot. A mystery that seems impossible to solve. Several characters who are among the most interesting I've ever encountered. Really, really BAD guys!

Gabriella
I have NO idea. I couldn't even get through the first book; I don't understand why you like them so much.

Krismar Ramker
I love the strong, female character in The Girl. The books also have so much intrigue ... I was sad when they ended.

Renee Cybul
Because the author is deceased it seems to make the books more enticing to read. I read the first book and saw the Swedish version of the movie. Kinky yet interesting. The main character is definitely not your run-of-the-mill gal. I am looking forward to the American version of "tattoo".

Lois Cairl
Excellent story and good writing.

MJH
The intrigue and characterization make the trilogy a must-read.

Jane Haase
They are great thrillers but I didn't get "hooked" and want to finish the trilogy until I saw the Swedish version of the first book. Seeing the female lead sort of got me focused on the series I thought the second book was best. Most likely Word of Mouth started the craze and then when the author died so young I think that also added a little mystery to the mystery.

Dave Rudy
I got started because of the hype in the press. I read all the books, and found them interesting, BUT there were some major sections of all three that were boring, and had no impact on the main story (i.e. the time spent in the Caribbean in one book).

Sandra Rosenbloom
I don't know why. I have tried to read the first book four different times and just could not get into it.

Debbie Miller
I haven't read them and really don't understand why they're so popular. The parts I tried to read didn't interest me, and I had at least one person say the writing was poor and the story was too graphic. And she kept on reading...

Laurie H
I think it's because the author died so young.

Roy Klaskin
The main characters are so interesting but almost polar opposites. You cannot help but root for both, and you also wonder how they will survive their evil opponents. I also enjoyed seeing the landscape of Sweden, both urban and rural. It seems to take very hardy people to enjoy life there.

Patricia Ferguson
I don't know! I read the first two and then could not read the third. They were all so dark, heavy and depressing. Like you said, everyone is reading them, but I don't know why.

Michelle/The True Book Addict
As I was reading The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, I found myself thinking that this was not the type of book I normally like. I'm talking about the part where he describes in detail the ins and outs of the newspaper/magazine publishing industry, etc. Normally, this would be quite boring to me, but Larsson was such a gifted writer, he made it all interesting. And, of course, it was a brilliant idea for a story overall.

BJ Simon
The character of Lisbeth Salander.

Wayne Weatherwax
His books open another world not normally viewed by the average person. The Cold War corruption and brutality not normally seen by many readers. I have seen the European movie subtitled version and can't wait to see the Dec 2011 release here of the U.S. version. After reading the 1st book I immediately ordered the other two and read them cover to cover. I later obtained his partners book about Stieg and their relationship. The abuse of women within his society was shocking and alarming. I donated my copies to my local library so others could read them as well. The realistic grittiness of his writing and depth of his characters hold the reader to keep turning the pages.

Marjorie
The books had all the ingredients for great reading, romance, mystery, politics, history, humor, etc. I wonder if there would have been more in the series if Larsson had lived. I like to think so. Blessings.

Kathy McCormick
"The Girl ..." trilogy by Stieg Larsson is fascinating to me because Lisbeth is an unlikely heroine. I loved the twists and turns and sub-stories.

Nancy
The story was different from the usual American mystery. The main characters are great and have both flaws and good characteristics. Lisbeth has had horrible things done to her and she seeks retribution for this. The villain did horrible things to her mother and as a reader we want to see him caught. Mikhail Blomkvist is also a likable character who is trying to rebuild his career. I enjoyed the book because the location was new, the story was complex and yet once you read enough you can't put the book down.

Lisa
After a somewhat slow first 50-100 pages, the book just riveted me. I loved the Nordic "feel" and tone of the story. The characters, especially Lisbeth were all interesting and secretive, and the story unfolded so dramatically! It packed an emotional wallop, to say the least. I was working at an indie bookstore and read the ARC several months before its release and after reading it in 2-3 days, I raved about it to everyone and anyone who I could corner. :)

Rosanne Sharkey
I think book #1 was new and interesting and there was a lot of buzz about it. Readers read it to see what it was about. Of course, you had to get to book 2 to realize what happens next and of course, book #3 was out after the author's death. I have to admit that I loved #1, read #2 and still have to read #3. For me, the series lost some steam.

Dorothy Gordon
Excellent writing and an increasingly visceral storyline. Some of it is so incredibly tense I couldn't read it late at night. I had trouble putting it down and getting to sleep. Nonetheless, I would read it again. Tragic that he didn't live to finish his original plan to write more Millennium books. I would have read every one.

Peggy
That is a hard question. I think he captured the essence of a mystery woman with deep, dark secrets and a man who can't help digging for the answers. You see some of what she is throughout the book but there is so much more to the characters and that is why we keep reading.

Rosalie Goldstein
Memorable characters, tight story, and for us, a different setting.

Robert E. Runyon
Escapism. All, or a lot of us, I believe are looking for something to read and solve the mystery of why the things are happening to us and others.

Debbie Moore
The story captures your attention from the beginning and the characters are so well-developed that you have to find out what happens to them.

Harriet Insler
My brother got me interested in reading this trilogy. I thought it was so tragic that Stieg Larsson died so young before knowing how popular his books would become. I think that is why I decided to read the first one, but then I was hooked. Lisbeth Salander was a tragic character, she had a very hard life; I admired her strength and her ability to adapt to and overcome difficult situations. Mr. Larsson did a great job introducing and describing the characters in the books.

Anna Robinson
Theses books are so popular because of the unlikely heroine. She is so backward in social situations, but is brilliant when it comes to the computer and finding information. She is fearless and downright scary! However, you cannot help but be cheering for her. These books were impossible to put down. I have seen the Swedish movie and plan to see the American version of "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo." I hope they haven't messed it up. The Swedish version was excellent.

Helen W
All of these books were the best thing I have read in 20 years. Everyone I talked to felt the same way. You couldn't put them down. Reading all three in a row was one wonderful read. I read them in 4 days. Just couldn't stop. Great plot, and a woman character who was to die for. Best female character I have read. The third book which I would have titled Retribution was the best. Altogether an unforgettable series.

Joy Martineau
It shows how society mistreated a child to obtain something for the adults in her life. Many people feel they have been mistreated by others and sees how she overcomes all obstacles.

Elizabeth V
I'm sure I am correct about this. Larsson's trilogy was good but not excellent. I've read many books that were better but didn't receive nearly as much praise and adulation. Yet these Larsson books got it because someone did an excellent promotional job that most publishers don't do nowadays. It caught the attention of people who don't read a lot. These people had little else to compare these books to, so weren't as discriminatory. That's the US explanation. As for the European explanation, I can only say that European tastes often differ with US tastes, possibly because something is lost in the translation. Yet, again, these books were promoted so much that they caught the attention of even non-readers.

Ellen
Intriguing titles, previously unknown author in the U.S., sad back story that he died (young) without knowing his novels would be published, AND the current popularity of Scandinavian authors and their violent, gritty, thrillers!

Sharon
Because each of the characters are so complex and their reactions to various emotions of other characters is unexpected.

Beth Cummings
It's well-written, plot-driven, and has compelling characters - all things we want in good literature. It's also just a bit different, possibly because of it's Swedish origin, so it held a fascination that some suspense/thrillers by familiar authors don't always have. I thoroughly enjoyed the books and I'm not usually one who reads a lot of that genre.

R. Honey
Terrific storylines, characters and page-turning writing. Everybody likes an underdog who overcomes bad circumstances and Lisbeth has all that in spades!

Karen Terry
It is such a great story. The books are very intense and keep you on the edge of your seat. It is very sad that the author is no longer with us.

Michele Counihan
Stieg Larsson's trilogy is popular because of the excellent writing, and Lisbeth Salander's character is edgy plus the whole Nordic dark thriller genre is different from other mysteries and police procedural novels. I confess I haven't been able to finish The Girl who Kicked the Hornet's Nest yet. I'm stalled at the descriptions of Swedish politics.

Marjorie Clark
When I first started to read them the first book was a little slow, but I finally got into it and couldn't wait to get my hands on the second and third. I think the popularity is because of the different type of plot and the unexpected twists and turns.

marion miller
I think some of the popularity can be attributed to "word of mouth" publicity. Also, the character of Lizbeth is intriguing and mysterious. We are always interested in finding out her background and her fantastic computer hacking abilities. The fact that she and Mikael are an unusual pair is attractive to the reader in many ways. They work together, but they live separate lives and actually seem to worry about each other is an anomaly. Also, the fact that the author was unknown and died suddenly makes us inquisitive.

Dottie Mallerich
I don't know. The violence is just too much for me. I started reading "The Girl with ..." and only read about 50 pages. I saw the Swedish film on TV and although I like the characters there was just too much violence for me.

S. Weber
The thriller genre with a female protagonist drew me to the Dragon Tattoo. Once I met Lisbeth, I was hooked ... I devoured the next two books and grieved the death of Mr. Larsson as a human being and as a supplier of these stories. It took me a while to catch up with the series I have to admit, but once I started ... look out!

Vivian Taylor
People enjoy rooting for the underdog and in many respects Lisbeth Salander is the ultimate underdog. She's quirky and antisocial but still a character we can relate to on some level. It may not be great fiction but it definitely keeps the reader's attention from beginning to end.

Susan lowe
Intricate storyline that wasn't explained until final book. Good characters flawed in various ways, but good triumphed over evil. Wonder what he would have done next if he had lived?!

Judith Vianna
I think the characters are each interesting in their own right, and there's a plot that has many twists and turns. You not only have the initial search, but the search of Lisbeth Salander to get her life back. Interesting concept and very interesting books.

Debbie
Fast pace. Different from some of the other popular mysteries that been published recently. Even people who do not read much have enjoyed the trilogy.

Lesley Marshall
I think this trilogy was popular based on the interesting cast of characters, the plot (a well-developed and intriguing mystery) and the fast pace of the novels. I was happy that each movie stayed true to the book version.

Julie Forth
I, like many in my book club, have no idea. We didn't think it was well-written (WAY too much exposition!). Most of the graphic violence seemed very gratuitous and unnecessary. The male protagonist was a philanderer and a loser as a father; he was nothing that a sensible woman would find attractive. The book seemed like one big male ego trip. Shock-and-awe writing does not equate to quality literature.

Sandra Jiordan
To be honest I wondered this myself, but did enjoy them.

Nancy Billington
A beautifully crafted thriller full of twists and turns that takes us to another country.

Sylvie Nickel
No idea -- I plodded through Volume 1 and quit.

Barbara Shaw
His writing is quick and intoxicating. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is the quickest read. But I feel a lot of the interest in the novels comes because they are posthumous.

J.G.
The media hype was pitch perfect.

MJB
I think the publishers promote books with a lot of hype and buzz and then people think they have to read the "latest" book out there. So many times I have been disappointed with well-known authors' books. I pick up a debut book and am amazed at what a gem it is. People jump on the runaway train just to be swept away and feel a part of the buzz. I read what I want to read, not what others dictate I should read. That being said, to me these books did not live up to the hype.

Tessa B
I have no idea, really. I think most probably because he died before they were published and everyone is curious. I read the first one and was just "meh" about it. It was okay, but several threads went nowhere. Others told me, "Oh, but you have to read book 2 and 3, then all those things will come together!" Well, I think that's bad editing. Mystery/thrillers need to wrap up. Heck, maybe they should have published 4 or 5 books by dividing the story lines rather than stringing them through.

Joyce Jacobs
Both the story and the characters are wonderfully written. I read all three and had a hard time putting each one down before finishing it.

Pam S.
I believe the trilogy was well-marketed, over and above any similar niche books. It's foreign and the USA received a translation (always exotic). Good plot(s).

Tamara Randi
The exotic local makes this book interesting. I had a Swedish friend all through school and I got to see what her country was like through the author's words. The story is a little dark and scary but the idea of Sweden's roll and the Nazi/Aryan race from WW2 was interesting. The main characters were complex and charming. I think at this day and age in America many of us are interested in the lives of people around the world and how they differ from ours or are similar. If we can't travel to other countries we can read about them and see them in movies. A desire for knowledge outside ourselves. Speaking for myself I like looking at the details in the movie, the furniture, the scenery, lighting, buildings, food and clothes. The book was easier to read then watching some of the horrible scenes in the movie. Sweden though exotic, seems harsh weather wise.

Teresa Thompson
Two words - Lisbeth Salander.

sue flocco
I think because we all want to be strong and Lisbeth is strong. As a youngster she had to be strong to protect herself and her mother and remained strong along the path of her hard life. She's smart and rich, and who wouldn't want to be smart and rich? I think we envy her hacking skills and her kick-butt attitude. BUT for all her strength she has a sweetness and a vulnerability that makes her so likable. I'm sad that we won't see what happens next with Lisabeth and I would have loved to have found out about her sister.

D.Bent
Started a little slow but really picked up and very difficult to put down.