- Some critics says that The Girl Who Played With Fire and the other novels in the trilogy reinforce stereotypes of Sweden as a sexually promiscuous place. Do you think this is true? If so, do similarly themed US novels, reinforce stereotypes about the US?
- Does knowing what Salander did to her father change your mind about her? Why or why not? If so, in what way?
- How does this novel compare with The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo?
- Do you think it's possible to have sympathy or empathy for the novel's villains? Are they one-dimensional, or do they have depth as characters?
- What do you think of the novel's ending? How long did you wait before picking up the next book in the series?
- Which minor character in The Girl Who Played with Fire do you hope to have developed more in The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest? Who are you most curious about?
- Mia Johansson states "In this sense there is sort of a gender perspective to my thesis. It's not often that a researcher can establish roles along gender lines so clearly. Girls – victims; boys – perpetrators" (5.36). Do you agree with her assessment? Do you think Larsson does?
- Is Ronald Niedermann pure villain, or is he also a victim of Zala? If so, does this excuse any of his actions?
- OK, there's no denying that there is some outrageous plotting going on in this novel. Which elements of the plot do you find most outrageous? Is there anything that's so outrageous that it lessens your enjoyment of the novel? If so, like what?
- If you were the casting director in charge of making the North American films, who would you cast as Salander? How about Blomkvist?