Lisbeth Salander: Heroine
I had this whole idea in my head about the differences between American and British murder mysteries and the Swedish deckare genre...but then I realized that was more of a PhD thesis than a post. So I'll get right to the point: Stieg Larsson.
He died in 2004 and left behind three manuscripts, which he originally intended to be part of a series: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (in Swedish, Men Who Hate Women), The Girl Who Played with Fire, and The Girl who Kicked the Hornet's Nest (which isn't out yet). I've had reason to think a lot lately about misogyny, domestic abuse, gynophobia, sexism, homophobia, and morons. And Larsson's books deal with those issues, without being pedantic or preachy. They often show how being an ignorant motherfucker is bad for the world, without making it the point of the story. The problems inform the plot, but personality drives it. Each mystery revolves around women who cannot or will not conform to society's expectations of 'womanhood'. The heroine is Lisbeth Salander.
Salander doesn't look 'like a woman', she doesn't act 'like a woman', and she doesn't think 'like a woman'. She cannot meet expectations. And--what's worse--she will not apologize for it. Salander kicks ass. The Guardian calls her "a Lara Croft for grown ups--a female Terminator." Which is the dumbest ass thing they could have written. Lara Croft is Lara Croft for grown ups. And just because Salander doesn't emote or feel like she's 'supposed to' hardly makes her a machine. FAIL. *gives The Guardian the finger*
Salander is an extremely powerful character. She is criminally underestimated by those around her. She's been screwed over by the system. She's been abused, mistreated, neglected, and smacked around. And she's still the most capable potent person in the story. They're playing checkers; Salander is playing chess. And she's going to beat you. People who cross her don't fare well. Salander will make you, the reader, laugh the evil laugh of glee.
The first two books are at your library now. Be warned: the back covers are spoilery.
PS: FAIL GUARDIAN FAIL.
He died in 2004 and left behind three manuscripts, which he originally intended to be part of a series: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (in Swedish, Men Who Hate Women), The Girl Who Played with Fire, and The Girl who Kicked the Hornet's Nest (which isn't out yet). I've had reason to think a lot lately about misogyny, domestic abuse, gynophobia, sexism, homophobia, and morons. And Larsson's books deal with those issues, without being pedantic or preachy. They often show how being an ignorant motherfucker is bad for the world, without making it the point of the story. The problems inform the plot, but personality drives it. Each mystery revolves around women who cannot or will not conform to society's expectations of 'womanhood'. The heroine is Lisbeth Salander.
Salander doesn't look 'like a woman', she doesn't act 'like a woman', and she doesn't think 'like a woman'. She cannot meet expectations. And--what's worse--she will not apologize for it. Salander kicks ass. The Guardian calls her "a Lara Croft for grown ups--a female Terminator." Which is the dumbest ass thing they could have written. Lara Croft is Lara Croft for grown ups. And just because Salander doesn't emote or feel like she's 'supposed to' hardly makes her a machine. FAIL. *gives The Guardian the finger*
Salander is an extremely powerful character. She is criminally underestimated by those around her. She's been screwed over by the system. She's been abused, mistreated, neglected, and smacked around. And she's still the most capable potent person in the story. They're playing checkers; Salander is playing chess. And she's going to beat you. People who cross her don't fare well. Salander will make you, the reader, laugh the evil laugh of glee.
The first two books are at your library now. Be warned: the back covers are spoilery.
PS: FAIL GUARDIAN FAIL.