#20: The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest

Larsson, Stieg: The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest. New York: Knopf, 2010. Print. 563 pages.

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SETTING: April 2005 to December 2005; various cities in Sweden, but mostly Stockholm.

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SUMMARY: A rogue unit of the Swedish security police is making every attempt to ensure that Lisbeth Salander is condemned to a psychiatric institution for life with final diagnoses of psychosis, being incapable of caring for herself, and a danger to herself and others.  Mikael Blomkvist, along with a group of Salander's closest "friends", are now fighting to not only save Salander from this fate, but to also uncover and make public all the injustices Salander has had to face since her childhood.

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FAVORITE QUOTES: "As the situation developed, the futility of attempting suicide in the middle of a hospital became apparent." - Chapter 7, page 129.

"Faste knew better than to argue with a doctor, since they were the closest things to God's representatives here on earth." - Chapter 15, page 276.

[I couldn't decide which one I liked better, so I included both.]

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Hands down, this book was the best out of the three!  Unlike the other two, this one was quick and seat-clenching from the first page.  As I mentioned in the post about the second book (The Girl Who Played with Fire), this third book is a continuation of the second's story.  And I apologize if this post seems a bit out of ends.  I actually finished reading the book a few weeks ago, but haven't had time to write this post until recently.

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Things I liked about this book:

1. Super fast paced.  I finished this book very quickly, but only because I didn't want to put it down!  I was also helped (if that's the right word to use) by the recent storm that passed through the east coast.  For fear of losing electricity, I spent every electricity-filled moment either studying or reading.  Being stuck inside for two days also provided a great incentive to take advantage of this guilt-free reading time, considering it's impossible, for me at least, to study 24/7. 
2. The ending is very satisfactory.  Everything is tied together well, and most of my questions were answered (please see point 1 under "Things I didn't like about this book".).
3. Going off of this last one, how neatly all the subplots tie together.
4. Salander's personality keeps developing, even through this third book.
5. Blomkvist's lawyer sister, Annika Giannini.  I just really liked her character.
6. The title of the book is very appropriate.  Salander really did kick a hornet's nest.
7. Dr. Jonasson, the physician who cared for Salander.  His personality is so awesome that he is able to quickly gain Salander's trust, something that's nearly impossible for most of the characters in this story.

Things I didn't like about this book:

1. I'd like an epilogue, please!  I want to know what happens in Salander's and Blomkvist's futures, mostly in regards to their personal relationships.  Unfortunately, we're cut off forever, considering Stieg Larsson has passed.  There is no hope for an epilogue...

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LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the entire series!  There's not much else to say, really.  Give it a go, and I'm sure you'll enjoy it too.  

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Recommend? YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!