4.19.2010

Fox cubs

So we have a fox birthing den in our backyard. I caught the cubs playing this morning just outside of the den. Enjoy

4.12.2010

The Girl Who Played with Fire

Author: Stieg Larsson

Where the first book seemed to take about a week and a half to wrap up, the last page of this one snuck right up and slapped me in the face. Shockingly abrupt. So abrupt that when I had about two pages left I actually thought I must be physically missing some pages. I was cursing the airport in Amsterdam for selling me a bunk copy.

Wrong. Cliffhanger.

And also opposite of its predecessor, this story took off from the first page without all the getting to know you pleasantries. It's a great story with lots of new details about the main character and very well executed on the plot front. It's still hard for me to keep track of all the Swedish names and decide up front who's important to remember and who's not and I definitely don't care about the routes through Sweden which each character takes. But those are minor complaints for a pretty good payoff.

The last book in the series comes out in May so I suspect it will make my summer reading list. I'm quite sad Mr. Larsson is dead - it would have been great to see more stories about Lisbeth Salander and I think it would have been nice for him to know how popular his books have become - he never had a chance to enjoy his international success.