Notes from 3/28/12 Book Club Meeting. . .
- How has Lisbeth’s character changed in the second book?
- She is okay with her role in the violence with the hotel guests.
- Theme of heroic behavior – she had reason to believe the husband was going to kill the wife
- Lisbeth has calculated behaviors to protect herself
- Why did Larsson choose to have Lisbeth alone for the introduction to this book? Perhaps for the reader to gain more insight into her character.
- In the first book she is “claustrophobic” by geography; in the second book she travels the world.
- As we move through the book we learn Blomkvist is sleeping w/Harriet. The idea that he “gets” any woman he comes into contact with.
- We see Lisbeth conforming to society. . .removing tattoos, etc.
- Was she traveling to reinvent herself or escape?
- Is this a metaphor for puberty with her getting breasts? Her development is out of sync.
- There is a hint of Aspergers in Lisbeth’s character i.e. inability to read social cues and meet developmental milestones.
- Blomkvist departs from his normal pattern by trying to contact Lisbeth ; he is preoccupied with contacting her.
- Hints that sex trafficking becomes will be a large theme in this book.
- Bjurman’s character in this book parallels with Martin’s character.
- Gender roles switched in this book. How much is cultural in this book? Blomkvist ‘s character is not that complex.
- It seemed okay that Lisbeth was having relationship with teenage boy (however, the gender reverse would have appeared more problematic). Brings up ideas of exploitation and sex tourism (she uses him and then leaves).
April Meeting - Tuesday, 4/17/12, from 12-1pm in UC 413
(finish the book - or as far as you can)
For the next meeting, please consider which movie would be best to screen for fall 2012. "The Girl w/Dragon Tattoo (American version)" or "The Girl Who Played with Fire (Swedish version)." Potential mid-September screening.
Sorry I cannot join the discussion today. The remainder of the book raised a couple of questions for me.
ReplyDelete-This book confronted me with the moral ambiguity of Lisbeth's use of violence even more than the last book, especially because I found myself believing that she was responsible for all of the murders and I was looking for reasons to justify her crimes. Did anyone else think that she was guilty throughout the book?
-I had mixed feelings about the theme of men saving women in this book (the boxer saved Mimi and Blomkvist saved Lisbeth). At the same time, these women were far from helpless. I am curious how you all responded to this and whether or not it contributes to your overall assessment of whether or not this is a feminist text.