The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest

**Book 1 * Book 2**

I got horribly wrapped up in the end of this book. So much so that I finished reading the book at 2 am. Yeah. That doesn't happen to me very often.

Anyway, this book is the conclusion of the Millennium series. Lisbeth is in huge amounts of trouble and Mikael is trying desperately to save her. But there is a huge conspiracy that is fighting against the two of them. Certain people within the government are out to protect Lisbeth's father, a Russian spy who defected in the 70s. The problem with this is that these people are committing huge crimes in order to protect the secret of Zalachenko.

I haven't had a book really affect me the way that this one did. I was shaking because I was so excited and had so much anticipation built up in me. I just had to know what would happen.

All in all, a very satisfying conclusion to a relatively good series.

The Girl Who Played with Fire

**Book 1**

This was an interesting book. I really learned the reason I try not to read mystery books. I found myself up really late one night because I was sucked into the mystery of this story.

This book has the same prominent characters that the first one did. Lisbeth Salander and Mikael Blomkvist. But, unlike the last book where they, for the most part, worked together on one major mystery, this time they worked very separately, and for two very different causes.

You really learn about Lisbeth's past. The reason she ended up in a psychiatric clinic, the reason that she doesn't trust people of authority, all of it. And it is a great story. She is not quite a confusing character with the revelation of a single pivotal event from her past.

However, she's suspected of murder. Three murders to be exact. Mikael is initially working on a story about sex trafficking, but spends most of the book trying to discover who shot two of his friends - a man who was employed by Millennium magazine and his girlfriend. The two were very pivotal regarding exposing a bunch of people who had exploited through this sex trafficking.

I just found this book enthralling. On to the next!

Dead Poets Society

I'm kind of meh about this book. It's based off the movie (which I love), but you can tell that it's essentially just that. There isn't much more to it than what is portrayed in the film. I like books that are made into movies, less so the other way around.

The Dead Poets Society is a group that to be a full fledged member, you have to be, well, dead. It's all about being a free thinker and doing things you want today. Because, who knows, tomorrow you might be dead.

The problem is, this story takes place in a boys' school in the 50s. Not exactly the time or place for free thinking. These boys are in this school because their parents have these big plans for their sons' futures. It doesn't matter what those boys want to do with their lives.

So, it's not a stellar book. I'll probably be satisfied with just watching the movie, not reading the book again.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

When I started this book, I was slightly dubious. It did not appeal to me at all in the first few chapters. I mean, really, what's so interesting about a finance reporter who is convicted of libel?

Then, the mystery began. I got totally sucked into the story. This reporter, the one who usually reports on companies and financial what-not, is being paid to solve a 40 year old mystery of a missing girl?

I so badly wanted to know what had happened to Harriet Vanger. I was devoted through all of the evidence. But there are a few twists that you don't see coming, and those twists are what kept me going through this book. At one point, I swore I knew what had happened and that I had solved the case. But, alas, I was terribly wrong.

Through all of this, there is the story of a broken girl who is able to access information on just about anyone given the chance. I thoroughly enjoyed Lisbeth Salander.

I'm excited to read the next book.

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

Ah, one of those "controversial" books you're always hearing about. I had to hunt in order to find a version of this book that hadn't been censored to be "politically correct."

Huck Finn is an interesting boy. This was definitely a tough read, mostly because the way it's written is, essentially, Huck telling the story of his journey traveling down the Mississippi River with Jim, the slave. Huck is uneducated, for the most part, so there are a lot of, well, grammatical errors throughout the book. The English major in me cringed. But, that being said, I had to find a non-PC version of this book.

Why? Because there are a few words that, in the time this book was written, were very appropriate and used, but are now considered vulgar and offensive. But, here's the thing, I don't want to read a book that is censored to make it appropriate in today's world. I want to read a book that is unchanged. So, I found it.

Huck goes on many adventures, most of which get him into a lot of trouble. But somehow he always finds a way out. Jim is a runaway slave, which causes any number of problems as they raft down the river. But, these two unlikely companions become real friends and you can tell that they care about each other.

I enjoyed this book, even with how difficult it was to read.

A Memory of Light

**Links: Prequel * Book 1 * Book 2 * Book 3 * Book 4 * Book 5 * Book 6 * Book 7 * Book 8 * Book 9 * Book 10 * Book 11 * Book 12 * Book 13**

Book 14. The last book. The end of the epic fantasy that I found myself sucked into several years ago. I could easily argue that this is the best, but since it is up to each person to judge that for themselves, I'll stick with it being my favorite book.

This book literally covers the Last Battle. It begins on four separate battlefronts, with each of the four great generals of the time leading a fight. Rand is doing his best to defeat the Dark One, his battle the biggest while also just being a man fighting for the lives of everyone he knows.

Lives are lost. Certain characters that you grow to know and love are never seen again. Some characters finally meet their destinies. But, let's face it: this book will have you wondering until the last page. Even during those last pages, there are some worries and fears. But the end of the book is amazing!

Now I just need to figure out what I'm going to read next.