An Unlikely Heroine: Dragon Tattoo Series

I'm on the third book of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Series by Steig Larsson.

Honestly, I can't figure out why I'm so hooked on the series. The writing isn't really that great, the plotline isn't really at all believable, and the message or theme of the book is really pretty obvious. But somehow, I'm on the third novel in the series, and still truckin'.

I had the first book for years - it was given to me as a Christmas gift from Matt's mom, who is a librarian, and interestingly enough, speaks Swedish fluently. It sat, collecting dust, for quite a long time until my book club (yes, I am also in an actual, in the flesh book club) decided to read it. The first 60 or so pages felt like dragging my feet through mud in boots 3 sizes too big - in other words, difficult. After, that I was in deep.

Mostly, the hooking was done by the Femme Fatale of the series, Lisbeth Salander, who is a strange dichotomy of victim and badass. She is a piercing filled, tattooed, combat boot wearing, 5 foot tall tasmanian devil. I find myself both appalled at her bizarre behavior, but also somewhat obsessed with her and wishing I could emulate her. While she is my complete opposite in so many ways, there is also something - drawing about her.

Why is Lisbeth Salander so alluring as to drive me to read THREE books that focus on her crazy escapades (none of which are anything short of a real commitment in terms of reading time)? I think that what makes me love her so much is that she does everything precisely the opposite way that I would do them, and yet, really, what she is doing is what I might do if I had more guts, or more balls, or fewer nagging emotions getting in the way. A man breaks your heart without knowing it? Cut him out of your life completely, without a word. A man brutally sexually assaults you? Don't just tell the authorities and, in effect, ruin his life - ACTUALLY ruin his life with your own two hands. Part of me feels like my life would be smoother, simpler, if everything were so black and white.

Salander's type of justice is so poetic that I'm not sure there is really a place in this world for it - if everyone went around quite so vigilante and emotionless, our world might be cleaner, safer, clearer. In Lisbeth's world, there is no gray area. There is no good-ish bad, or bad-ish good. There is only bad, or good. And sometimes, I think that might be nice.