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The Girl Who Takes An Eye For An Eye

This is the fifth book in the Millennium Series which I found to be rather mundane and tedious in the way the author focuses at length on plotlines outside the main character of the story Lisbeth Salander, which to me is disappointing.  The book begins with the famous Lisbeth Salander being in prison for her part in the August Balder case, even though all she did was save his life, so to me it is unclear why she went to prison. Throughout the series she maintains the same principles and her character never changes which is a positive thing, she rights wrongs, is against any man who harms women. We see this played out in this book when she takes it upon herself to save and protect in a way a character in the book, Faria Kazi a victim of abuse by her repressive family, mainly her brothers, she ends up in the same prison as Salander for pushing one of her brothers through a window. This is the only plot line where Salander is really involved, other than avenging the death of her former tr
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Girl In The Spiders Web

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  The Girl In the Spider’s Web: My Thoughts  Book # 4 in the Millennium Series originally written by Swedish writer Steig Larssson and continued by author David Lagercrantz.  The main heroine of the book is Lisbeth Salander who is a strong fighter against men who abuse women and get away with it. The story centers around Frans Balder a swedish computer programmer who decides one day to take custody of his young autistic son August from his mother Hanna a former actress who is unable to cope with the care for the boy and is living with a washed up actor Lasse Westman who was spending the money Frans was sending them on drugs and alcohol.  Balder receives a phone call from law enforcement that he is in danger and is told that he needs to be transferred to a safe location, but he disregards the warnings as he puts his faith into the sophisticated alarm system installed in his house. As he spends more time with August he notices that the boy exhibits savant syndrome, he produces drawings o
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The Prince of Tides

The epic story of the Wingo family living in the Town of Colleton ,South Carolina as portrayed by author Pat Conroy. Narrated by Tom Wingo, a former football coach and English teacher loses his job  following a nervous breakdown after his older brother Luke, senseless and tragic death. He gets a phone call from his mother Lila telling him that his younger twin sister Savannah, a talented poet, attempted suicide a second time and he needs to leave to the New York hospital where she is staying. Tom agrees to go. He meets Susan Lowenstein who is assigned as Savannah's doctor. He stays in his sister's apartment where he makes shocking discoveries that paint a much clearer picture to the reason of her second suicide attempt. During the sessions with Dr. Lowenstein Tom describes the abuse violence and the one shocking , unforgettable event that occurred when during his high school senior year, which contributed to his sister’s suicide attempt. Also, the senseless death of his youn
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Bonfire of the Vanities

The story of Sherman McCoy, a yuppie living above his million dollars a year earnings, with his interior designer wife Judy, in luxury Park Avenue. One night, after picking up his mistress Maria Ruskin from the airport, he loses his sense of direction and ends up in the South Bronx. A barrage of garbage on the road, abruptly forces Sherman's Mercedes Roadster to a halt. A skirmish arises, then in a fit of panic, Sherman gets in the passenger seat, Maria grabs the wheel and they spin off, sideswiping one of the youths. They decide not to report the incident, as it would severely impact both their lives. Unfortunately for Sherman, the incident develops into a media frenzy as the boy who was hit, was a young honor student Henry Lamb, ends up in a coma. The cause to fight for justice for Henry is taken up by the community black leader Reverend Bacon who makes it his mission for the rich McCoy to pay the ultimate price. As the plot thickens,  more people are involved in various way
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The Roman Affair

The Rome Affair The story centers around former lawyer (Cesca) Francesca Hackett from London, England who starts a new life in Rome , Italy to escape from a bad decision resulting in tragedy; then by a strange coincidence loses her tour guide job and immediately is offered a position to write a biography of famous socialite Elena Valentine. Cesca has many meetings with Elena that opens a world of intrigue, deception and power. It also reveals  that money can only bring a person so much in life. The chapters alternate between past and present as Elena's life unfurls. We learn about the challenges she faced growing up, the world she was raised in and the many events that shaped her. The myriad of events surrounding Elena's life from the failed and multiple marriages, the wild parties, the many obstacles she endured are well depicted through Cesca herself as she is drawn into the mystery surrounding Elena. As well, Cesca's surprise romantic involvement with a man she least
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The Singles Game

The main themes throughout the book, were do what it takes to succeed in a competitive sport, change who you are to do it. The Singles Game” is equally in part serious and frivolous, specifically in reference to Charlie ( main character) and Marco (love interest), a rather high school approach to describing their so-called tabloid material relationship. The parties, interview requests and events described in the book, are a close replica to Hollywood branded a-list celebrity parties where money is no object. In this case, players are revered as celebrities so long as they win and their image in the public eye remains clean. The seriousness of the book, is Charlies determination and will to succceed in what she believes is the very thing she wants to become: a champion tennis player.  After, a hard blow at a Wimbledon competition where she tears her Achilles and breaks a wrist, then spending months at rehab,  upon her recovery Charlie hires notoriously ruthless  coach Todd Felter to
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