The "Millenium" Trilogy

[TheGoodSon]

Living in Sweden, and seeing the incredible worldwide success of Stieg Larssons "Millenium"-trilogy (The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played With Fire, The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet´s Nest), I just had to ask the members of this fine forum - have you read these books, and if so, what are your thoughts?
I finally read them, mainly because I wanted to see what all the fuzz was about - and I still don´t get it. I think they are, in fact, utter rubbish. The characters are flat and one-dimensional (yes, that definitely includes Lisbeth Salander - tattooed, computer hacking, misanthropic Goth Chick just feels a lot like 1995), the dialogue is totally artificial and stiff, and the story is thin and far fetched. The second book in particular was quite simply so BORING that I had to force myself to finish it.
I don´t mean to exaggerate; they are by no means the worst books I´ve ever read, but I am simply baffled by their success.
Your thoughts?

[Christiane17]

Hi there!!! I'm currently reading the second book, The Girl who played with fire, french translation as I live in french Canada. Sorry, but I don't share your views. These are the best polar novels I have ever read, and believe me I have read a lot of those along the years. I dont think I'm the only one who simply is addicted to this trilogy. Those books were best sellers out here in Canada, and the movie versions had a lot of success. I think Stieg Larsson was a genious, and to add more, I'm so sad that he died so young. I'm sure this guy would have had a lot of other library successes. I mean when you read these books ( and I'm talking for myself only here), you have a hard time to let go. It's so well written and I simply love Lisbeth and Mikael. It's really a shame that you didn't enjoy this masterpiece work, but you know something? We can't all have the same opinions and feelings about Millenium. For myself, it is just too good stuff to even think about saying it's rubbish. To each his own. But I see you didn't post much, so maybe you're no longer around. Maybe some other fans would like to discuss Millenium in this thread. At least it would have not been started for nothing.

[Spideyman]

I'll agree with Christiane17. I have read all three books and IMO they are excellent reads. Each book brought about the desire to read the next. It would have been interesting to see where the next book would have taken the characters.

[TheGoodSon]

One thing I really agree with is the fact that it was tragic that Stieg Larsson died so young. Not because of his fiction though, but because here in Sweden he was, as a journalist, a driving force in the fight against right wing extremism and neo-nazism. For that I hold him in the highest regard, and miss him greatly.
But I still dont get the success of the Millenium trilogy. Stieg was, as I said, a remarkable journalist, but unfortunately it feels as though he kept his journalist hat on when writing his fiction as well. Reading the books feels like reading one long newspaper article - high on facts and information, low on feeling and emotion. At least, that how I see it.
But as you said, we cant all agree on everything, what would be the fun in that?!