Lisbeth Salander, the main character is back with her stoicism and resourcefulness. She's brilliant, a young computer-hacking punk, badly abused by the system because The Section, a highly secretive (illegal) outfit from the corridors of the state's secret service deemed her a threat to their operations. Anyway, with the help of the crime crusader Blomkvist, all ends well for the heroes and heroines of the novel while the bad guys bite the dust. Liz used her computer skills to hack into her adversaries hard disks. Kinda scary this scenario... that your life can be bared if you keep it in your computer and someone hacks in.
This book made me wonder about the Swedish society. What I know is it is a model welfare state. Sweden also has an interesting law about prostitution. It is legal to sell sex but not to buy it, therefore making the men responsible. LOL! Some reports I read states that women trafficking for sex in Sweden has been reduced greatly. But by putting the responsibility on the buyer (men), this law actually states clearly that prostitution is actually a crime of violence on women.... which it actually is! Cool!!! No other country has this law yet.
Another thing that caught my eye is the consequences of its welfare state system. Having been spared both world wars Sweden progressed unhindered and at one time was one of the 3 richest nations in the world. It's a country where her citizens have that sort of cradle to grave sort of care. Interesting to note too that the grandchildren of the welfare system have now clamoured that older people (those in their 60s) vacate their jobs for the younger unemployed and that many old people are 'abandoned' by their children who hardly visit them. There are many old lonely people in Sweden.
The very young are also sent to the state for public care. Parents spend very little time with their children. Who can blame them. If there is someone else to do the hard work for us, most of us would gladly surrender that over. Just look around at our own children who are brought up by child minders and maids. Majority are spoilt. Parents today live rather selfish lives... chasing their dreams of career advancement and wealth, going for their own holidays, attending social events. Sacrifice comes in the form of paying for care, not hands on.
This book spurned other readings which I found very educational, with insights to our own society. The abuse of our NEP... it too creates a generation who will demand from the state like spoilt children but what is worse is the generation of a degenerated morality among our people.
I will be trying to get the other remaining book in this trilogy to read. Interest already fired. LOL! Book 42.
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