Stieg Larsson summer reading challenge - Book III

First of all, thank you for joining the Stieg Larsson summer reading challenge!

If you are not familiar with it, you can find all info here. You can sign up until September, 10th 2011!

To qualify for the prize draw, please answer at least 3 out of the following 10 questions, courtesy of Random House Inc.

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets’ Nest

1) Have you read the two previous novels in the trilogy, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and The Girl Who Played with Fire? Which of the three did you find the most compelling, and why?

2) What is the “hornet’s nest” of the title?

3) Each part of Hornet’s Nest begins with a brief history lesson about women warriors. What was Larsson trying to say? Is Salander a modern-day equivalent of these women? Is Berger?

4) After everything that happened in the first two novels, why does Salander still distrust Blomkvist? How would you describe their relationship?

5) Can you imagine a group like the Section operating in this country? Why, or why not?

6) On Berger’s first day at her new job, the departing editor in chief offers his theory about why she was hired. Do you agree with his assessment?

7) Larsson writes about Salander, “She wondered what she thought of herself, and came to the realization that she felt mostly indifference towards her entire life.” What has made her feel this way? Do her feelings change by the end of the novel?

8) Again and again, men underestimate Salander because of her size. Why do they make these assumptions? How does she turn this into an advantage?

9) What is the significance of the subplot about Berger’s stalker?

10) If she’s not in love with Miriam, why does Salander go to Paris?

Please send your answers via this link. Thank you!

Stieg Larsson summer reading challenge - Book II

First of all, thank you for joining the Stieg Larsson summer reading challenge!

If you are not familiar with it, you can find all info here. You can sign up until September, 10th 2011!

To qualify for the prize draw, please answer at least 3 out of the following 10 questions, courtesy of Random House Inc.

The Girl Who Played with Fire

1) Discuss the prologue. What did you think was going on? At what point did you fully understand it?

2) Think of the treatment of Salander, Erika Berger, Miriam Wu, Sonja Modig, and the trafficking of Eastern European women. What do you think Larsson was trying to say about the role of women in society?

3) Think of the arrangement agreed to by Berger, Blomkvist, and Gregor Beckman. How does this benefit each of them? Does it hurt them?

4) When Dag Svensson and Mia Johansson were murdered, what was your first response? Who did you think was the killer? Who did you think was Bjurman's killer?

5) Why does Blomkvist give Salander the benefit of the doubt, when so many others don't?

6) When newspaper articles begin to appear featuring interviews with long-ago acquaintances of Salander, did it change your perception of her character? Discuss the nature of truth in these instances: is it possible both sides were remembering accurately?

7) Blomkvist calls Salander “the woman who hated men who hate women.” Is this an accurate assessment? How did she end up this way? How does it affect her behaviour?

8) In what ways is Salander like her father and half brother? In what ways is she different?

9) Toward the end of the novel, does Blomkvist do the right thing by having Berger deliver only part of the story to Jan Bublanski and Modig? What do you think he should have done?

10) If Stieg Larsson were still alive, what one question would you most like to ask him?

Please send your answers via this link. Thank you!

Stieg Larsson summer reading challenge - Book I

First of all, thank you for joining the Stieg Larsson summer reading challenge!

If you are not familiar with it, you can find all info here. You can sign up until September, 10th 2011!

To qualify for the prize draw, please answer at least 3 out of the following 10 questions, courtesy of Random House Inc.,
About.com and Barnes & Noble.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

1) Who do you consider the novel's protagonist, Lisbeth or Mikael? Why?

2) What function do the sex-crime statistics on each section's title page serve?

3) Henrik tells Mikael, "If there's one thing I've learned, it's never engage in a fight you're sure to lose. On the other hand, never let anyone who has insulted you get away with it. Bide your time and strike back when you're in a position of strength—even if you no longer need to strike back." Over the course of the novel, who puts this advice to the best use? How, and why?

4) Lisbeth says her new tattoo is "a reminder." Of what?

5) Several times in the novel, Mikael's journalistic ethics are challenged. Do you consider him to be ethical?

6) Blackmail is used several times in the novel, for different ends. Who uses it most effectively, and why?

7) Why do you think Blomkvist decided not to publish the truth about Martin Vanger? Do you think he did the right thing?

8) What did you make of the final scene of the book, where Salander saw Blomkvist with Erica Berger? Had you hoped that Salander and Blomkvist would stay together?

9) In Swedish, the title was Men who Hate Women, but it was changed to The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo when it was translated to English. Which do you think is a more fitting title?

10) The narrative contained a number of plot twists. Who did you imagine sent the framed flowers to Vanger each year?

Please send your answers via this link. Thank you!

Summer reading challenge: Stieg Larsson

Do you avoid reading challenges because you find a year-long commitment quite daunting? Are you always looking for good summer reads? Look no further!

Welcome to Book After Books’ summer reading challenge!

1) The challenge will run from June, 21st 2011 to September, 21st 2011.

2) Participants are requested to read Stieg Larsson’s Millennium Trilogy, which comprises The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played with Fire and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets' Nest

3) For each of the three books, participants are requested to answer at least three out of ten questions. I believe that, rather than having participants post reviews of the same books, discussing the same topics will make for interesting and stimulating dialogue!

4) One lucky participant who will have answered at least five questions for each of the three books will win a copy of Stieg Larsson, My Friend by Kurdo Baksi, courtesy of MacLehose Press.

How it works

1) Click here to register. Registration is open until September, 10th 2011.

2) On June 21st, 2011 I will post the list of questions for each of the three books and links for your answers.

Easy!

So, who’s in?!

01. Starlight from Slovenia
02. Doria from the USA
03. SigmaRue from the USA
04. Misha from India
05. Nola from the USA
06. Emma from the UK