The Girl Who Played With Fire

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of physical abuse and gender discrimination.

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. What were your impressions of the overarching concepts of “men who hate women” in the novel? What broader messages is Larsson trying to convey?

2. Which of the plot lines were your favorite? Did you prefer following Lisbeth, Millennium and Blomkvist, Bublanski and the police, or Niedermann and Zala?

3. Compare The Girl Who Played With Fire to The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. What differences stand out to you? Which novel did you like better?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Reflect on the reveal in Part 4 that exposes Lisbeth’s past. How did this information change your perception of Lisbeth and her actions?

2. How do Larsson’s themes relate to your own life? Have you encountered or heard about systemic injustices or flaws in the social systems of your own country? Could Lisbeth’s story happen in your town/city?

3. Lisbeth is a divisive character; some feel that her violence is not always justified, while others relish how she avenges her mother and other people who have experienced abuse.