The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest

• Stieg Larsson
• Amazon Link

The Millenium series has skyrocketed in popularity and once I read the second one (The girl who liked playing with fire) there was no escape but to read this third one and complete the series. Also, the second book stops abruptly so much so that they include a chapter of the third book just so that you are not left completely hanging.

This book has less action and is more centered around building the case for and against Lisbeth Salander and the Swedish authorities' role in her life. There is a big courtroom drama in the end as well. Overall the book is a quick read, but the trend is definitely downhill. I loved the first book. The second was tolerable and the third was something that I was eager to get done with. If you can only read one book this year, then certainly read the Girl with a Dragon Tattoo. If you plenty of time on your hands, then read 2 & 3 together.

Let the Great World Spin

• Author: Colum McCann
• Amazon Link

I don't exactly recall how I selected this book; it was from Amazon and could very well have been a filler to make sure that my order was more than $25 and qualified for free shipping. While researching it, I noticed that the book has received a lot of critical acclaim and is likely to be very popular book club pick. It is also the National Book Award winner and that puts it right in my cross-hairs.

The author has an interesting syle where he presents short stories that seemingly have nothing to do with each other, until a connection emerges somewhere later and things start falling in place. Each story is not only different but is also told with a completely different style. I enjoyed the varaiations in the book and some of the profound observations especially from the prostitutes in New York. I don't want to write too much about the book as I will be giving away some of the storyline that is best left undiscovered until you read the book. I highly recommend this book.