Jonathan Wolfman's May 30 blog got me thinking about Lisbeth Salander in Stieg Larsson's Millennium trilogy. I read the books, watched the Swedish movies, and saw the US remake last year. Recently Netflix has made available the trilogy in an extended version. I think it must have been presented on Swedish television as a miniseries. There's a lot of extra material not in the movies, and is worth checking out. I don't know any Lisbeth's in real life, but I admire her character's determination. She gets locked up, molested, beaten, raped, shot in the head and buried, and she comes back from her grave for justice.

Now you put my brain in a spin: "She gets locked up, molested, beaten, raped, shot in the head and buried, and she comes back from her grave for justice."

I immediately thought of Quentin Tarantino's heroine Beatrice Kiddo from Kill Bill Volumes 1&2. Went back to check the dates and sure enough Volume 1 came out in 2003, while Stieg Larsson died in 2004 and we weren't introduced to Lisbeth until 2005... coincidence? Check it out... still waiting for the American remake of GwDT to appear on cable.

Mercy! What a strange tale...amazing.
R

And a helluva role model! I fell for her when she swindled all that cash.

I haven't seen it or read it, but I love the second verse. And the picture.

I loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee this series.. Seen the movie and the trilogy... yes Jon told me to go get the Swedish version.
Lisbeth kicks butt and she is a force to be reckoned with.
Thanks for this!!HUGGGGGGGGG

Hi JMac, yes, Beatrix Kiddo! Another heroine, although strictly speaking she's an assassin for hire. (I guess Lisbeth could be seen in a way as one for her computer hacking.) I love, love, love Kill Bill - I have Vols 1&2 on DVD!

Dear Poor Woman, mercy is not a word in Lisbeth's vocabulary if you hurt her mom, her friends, or her.

Nile, you could model worse role models: Dick Cheney and his neocon crew come to mind! ;-)

Phyllis, when you have time, you should definitely rent the Swedish version ( though it's subtitled), or better yet, read the books!

Dear Linda, I may not be computer savvy or able to kickbox like her, but I can emulate her " bring it!" attitude!

Wow.. clicked on your title for Lisbeth.

Just last week watched "The Girl..." Swedish version,
and was blown away!

Venom dispensed justly indeed. Her sadistic parole officer/caretaker/whatever got his, didn't he.

Good stuff... I like your words

I loved both the US and Swedish films and I adored reading the trilofy (available on e-readers).

Rated.

This is great! I LOVED all the books, loved the Swedish movies, liked the first American film. Lisbeth Salander is bad-ass.

Lisbeth will forever be my favorite female literary character, if only for the vengeful scene with her tormenter/rapist. She really knew how to take care of business!

Lezlie

Nice work, giving this character a well developed poetic interlude.

Tr ig - I'm glad you got to see it. She is one of a kind.

Jonathan, thanks so much!

Firechick, she IS badass, but only when called on to be so. Thanks for visiting and commenting!

Lezlie -if only all the tormentors would get their just desserts!

Sheila - thank you so much!

I love the Swedish trilogy and Noomi Rapace did an unmatched performance. Unfortunately, the American version was surprisingly mediocre at best, and Rooney Mara was the wrong choice. R

Thoth - I agree! I like the Swedish version much better. Noomi Rapace will always be Lisbeth to me. She has that fierceness down.

love that first stanza, cc. will remember it today, when i falter, and need some strength. with that, my visual, my mantra, and a new determination, i think i will get through this. thanks for all your encouragement, and thanks for this fine poem.

Dear Daisy, as always, so very happy to oblige. Take care, my dear!

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Dear Algis, thanks! :-)