Book Review: The Millennium Series - Through the Eyes of a Loner
After finishing the three books of the Millennium series, I was upset with only one thing - the author Steig Larsson has passed away even before the trilogy was released. It did not seem justified to write one of the best thriller series of all time and cease to exist before the drafts materialized as books.
It was refreshing to have a crime series set in Sweden away from the streets of New York or San Francisco. The names of cities and towns were peculiar which added more flavor to the thrillers. The 3 books dealt with multiple facets beyond the world of crime. The author had stacked up layers of pages from which vines sprouted, climbing through things far beyond the book.
The stories remain memorable due to the consistency of the lead characters which spread across the stories. Lisbeth Salander aka The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is an enigma even when the final page is turned. The character loves being lonely and is grossly misunderstood by most people who cross her life. There are few pages where it is suggested that she might have Asperger's syndrome but never fully explored. The lightweight looking women is bestowed with photographic memory and punches way above her potential. She is portrayed with tremendous skill for analytics and is great with computers.
The other lead is ethical-handsome-firebrand journalist Mikael Blomkvist. The man fights for what is right and struggles to bring about conditions on how things are ought to be. There is a shade of play-boyishness and he rarely settles with one single relationship. The workaholic is seen trying to bring justice to the needy and the vulnerable.
The three books deal with different stories though there are multiple linkages and character developments throughout the tale. The thrillers mesmerize because certain underlying themes prevail through the series and is viewed from the perspective of both Salander and Blomkvist - the Lonely Wasp and the socially responsible Honey Bee Journalist.
Sexual harassment, domestic violence, women trafficking do not seem to be fleeting mentions but the consequences are inter wined with the characters in the book. But the thriller doesn't stop there. It tries to understand and question the 'system'. System is one faceless entity which governments and corporations all over the world try to maintain and improvise. The system is projected as an entity whose healthy functioning is necessary for order.
The book throws ethical questions on how far can the system hold power? Does it provide free pass for people who are part of the system compared to the ones outside it? If the Media is part of the system how do you use it to overcome the system itself? There is an extended legal battle in the final book which spreads across accountability, role of police and security services and ethical journalism.
The fact that they are explored with a socially awkward character who refuses to submit to the system's power is the icing on the cake. If Larsson was alive, I certainly believe that he would have found answers in the series on Lisbeth Salander. Nevertheless, sometimes raising questions is more important.
It was refreshing to have a crime series set in Sweden away from the streets of New York or San Francisco. The names of cities and towns were peculiar which added more flavor to the thrillers. The 3 books dealt with multiple facets beyond the world of crime. The author had stacked up layers of pages from which vines sprouted, climbing through things far beyond the book.
The stories remain memorable due to the consistency of the lead characters which spread across the stories. Lisbeth Salander aka The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is an enigma even when the final page is turned. The character loves being lonely and is grossly misunderstood by most people who cross her life. There are few pages where it is suggested that she might have Asperger's syndrome but never fully explored. The lightweight looking women is bestowed with photographic memory and punches way above her potential. She is portrayed with tremendous skill for analytics and is great with computers.
The other lead is ethical-handsome-firebrand journalist Mikael Blomkvist. The man fights for what is right and struggles to bring about conditions on how things are ought to be. There is a shade of play-boyishness and he rarely settles with one single relationship. The workaholic is seen trying to bring justice to the needy and the vulnerable.
The three books deal with different stories though there are multiple linkages and character developments throughout the tale. The thrillers mesmerize because certain underlying themes prevail through the series and is viewed from the perspective of both Salander and Blomkvist - the Lonely Wasp and the socially responsible Honey Bee Journalist.
Sexual harassment, domestic violence, women trafficking do not seem to be fleeting mentions but the consequences are inter wined with the characters in the book. But the thriller doesn't stop there. It tries to understand and question the 'system'. System is one faceless entity which governments and corporations all over the world try to maintain and improvise. The system is projected as an entity whose healthy functioning is necessary for order.
The book throws ethical questions on how far can the system hold power? Does it provide free pass for people who are part of the system compared to the ones outside it? If the Media is part of the system how do you use it to overcome the system itself? There is an extended legal battle in the final book which spreads across accountability, role of police and security services and ethical journalism.
The fact that they are explored with a socially awkward character who refuses to submit to the system's power is the icing on the cake. If Larsson was alive, I certainly believe that he would have found answers in the series on Lisbeth Salander. Nevertheless, sometimes raising questions is more important.
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