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107 of 110 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Millennium treat!, June 24, 2010
This review is from: The Man Who Left Too Soon: The Biography of Stieg Larsson (Hardcover)
I strongly suggest you read this book AFTER you have completed the Millennium Trilogy! Forshaw devotes over half the book discussing in detail each of the three books of the Trilogy!
Forshaw provides all of the biographical basics regarding Larsson's life and his career and examines the current turmoil that exists regarding his late estate. He gives a very thorough account of the relationship between Eva Gabrielsson (Larsson's life long companion) and Larsson's father and brother. There are some great pictures included as well that put faces to the names in the headlines.
The best part of the book is when Foreshaw writes about the books themselves. He has a chapter devoted to each of the titles which provides a complete synopsis of what happens in the book as well as his own insights. Foreshaw is quick to point out any parts of the book that have a strong bearing on Larsson's personal life and his career. (There are many many references as such.) These chapters would act as a complete spoiler for anyone not familiar with the actual storyline.
Foreshaw provides some very interesting insights into the literary references provided in the books. He states the obvious ones that are actually referenced in the books themselves but also delves into the style and structure of Larsson's novels as they compare to writers such as Raymond Chandler, Agatha Christie and Ian Fleming among others. Larsson was a devout reader of mysteries and knew them well!
Two of the chapters are key to understanding Larsson's thoughts on his creation: "Publishing Larsson" and "What I Want To Say"
Here are Larsson's own notes and communications between his editor and himself discussing the approach to the characters and the story line. For any Trilogy fan this is must reading! It is amazing how much of Larsson's real life has worked it's way into the trilogy; both on a personal level and regarding his strong convictions and career.
Forshaw holds no punches and even though he is a big fan he does point out the 'flaws' or 'weaknesses' that he sees in the books. To the casual reader this would be the extreme amount of background details that are provided for some of the 'extra' characters. But, Foreshaw is also quick to point out that this could just as easily be a plus for the true fan... who wants to know as much as possible about everything that is happening.
Besides his own views Foreshaw also provides a chapter of comments by some of the better authors of the day and what their views are regarding Stieg Larsson and his trilogy- this chapter provides some interesting perspectives. As somewhat of a bonus he also includes a chapter of Stieg Larsson 'rivals' which examines some of the best Scandinavian writer's of today and gives a summary of what their writing is about!
Besides the past the book also takes a snapshot of today and also a little of what the future may hold for the Larsson legacy. First; we have the Millennium tours that are now being offered by travel agencies to allow readers to take their own tour of the places in the book. Second; Foreshaw talks about the movies that either have been released or will be made going forward. Last; he discusses a little about the possibility of a Part Four?(Eva Gabrielsson has 250+ pages that Stieg Larsson had written before his death)
I would say that "The Man Who Left Us Too Soon" is a perfect 'after dinner mint' or even 'dessert' for anyone who is a fan of the Millennium triology! It is both a quick and highly enjoyable read.
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30 of 33 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Shallow to the Max, September 19, 2010
This review is from: The Man Who Left Too Soon: The Biography of Stieg Larsson (Hardcover)
My original enthusiasm for "The Man Who Left Too Soon" has faded --and I'm only on pg. 35. This British writer, Barry Forshaw, has jumped on the Larsson bandwagon and will make mega bucks on this very superficial book. Made my journalistic blood boil re the holes in the narrative big enough to drive a semi through. For example, he talks about Steig's brother, Joakim, without giving a clue as to what he does. And, in relation to the father, he's an "artist" but what kind? And mother is mentioned and then disappears. Did she die? Divorce? What?
Best to wait for Eva Gabrielsson's book. zb
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25 of 30 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
We get a glimpse of Stieg Larsson, but--overall--a bit disappointing, July 7, 2010
This review is from: The Man Who Left Too Soon: The Biography of Stieg Larsson (Hardcover)
First, this is a welcome volume. The Millennium Trilogy phenomenon and the untimely death of author Stieg Larsson is compelling material. There is enough here to make this a worthwhile purchase. Still, it is, in the end, a bit disappointing.
Why? For one thing, the summary/.synopsis of the books is not representative of what I read. Maybe the author read the book in the original language and the translation didn't capture things clearly. Examples: On page 178, Forshaw notes that Salander--after coming back from her grave--is back in Zalachenko's house holding on to Niedermann's P-83 Wanad gun. The giant had a Sig Sauer--the Wanad was from someone else. Page 130. Forshaw notes that Salander fantasizes setting her abductor (presumably Teleborian afire); unless I misread the thing, she is remembering her attack on Daddy Dearest, not Teleborian. Pages 116-117. He doesn't mention that Salander had identified additional possible victims beyond the original five that Blomkvist was aware of. Page 202: The doctor in the emergency room who did surgery is identified as a psychiatrist. While that had been an interest, he was a surgeon. This takes away from this book.
There is a useful portrayal of Larsson and his family and his partner, Eva Gabrielsson. But it seems to be rather cursory. There is not a lot of detail. I come to see Larsson as not taking care of himself very well, perhaps contributing to his early death. We see him as driven by political concerns. And so on. But I don't get a clear sense of Larsson the person.
Toward the end of the book, there is a fine discussion of other Scandinavian crime fiction and I did truly enjoy other writers' comments--both critical and laudatory--of Larsson's trilogy. There are a handful of pages on the Swedish movies that have come out of the books. A bit brief, but I did find this helpful.
So, there are some good aspects of this work, but it gets some details wrong in the synopsis of the three books and I don't really get an insight into Larsson the person and those close to him.
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