The saga of Lisbeth Salander continues in the second volume of the Millennium Trilogy, The Girl Who Played With Fire. Once again, I enlisted the services of Audible and listened to the 20+ hours of the unabridged audio book before watching the Swedish version of the cinematic sequel to The Girl With the Dragon Tatoo.

If you frequently listen to audio books, you no doubt appreciate how critical the narrator can be to your experience. Reference Jim Dale, the actor who so brilliantly narrated the Peter and the Starcatchers series for Ridley Pearson and Dave Barry.  This guy was amazing.  He had (for me) as much to do with my enjoyment of these books (all 4 of them) as did the authors.

The same could be said for Simon Vance, narrator of The Girl Who Played with Fire.  I strongly urge you to listen to these novels, even if you prefer a quiet sitting with the written word.  His ability to capture the essence of each character and seamlessly weave back and forth across gender, education, age, dialect, and even speech impediment is truly entertaining.

And then there’s the book itself.  I have NO idea why I’ve been sucked into this series like I have.  Aside from my comments regarding the first book, I honestly have no real investment in the subject matter, the author, or the works themselves.  At least, I didn’t when I began.  But now, I’m hooked.  I will be with this neurotic, misanthropic heroine until the bitter end of book three, which sadly is the end given the author’s untimely demise.

So what is it about this character, Lisbeth Salandar, that I find so intriguing? Good question.  To tell you the truth, I’m still not sure.  She’s tenacious. She has a photographic memory, and she’s a brilliant computer hacker.  I like all that.  I once took a strengths assessment that labelled me a “maximizer,” which basically means I look for and am attracted to the strengths in others.  Maybe that’s why I like this girl.

On the flip side, she’s rude, self-serving, dresses like a vampire, and is completely anti-social. She shuns those who love her, lives strictly within her own rules of social justice, and administers this justice without regard to law or any one else’s opinion.  This justice is also often very violent.

But if you believe that we are not accountable for our faults when they’re the result of some injustice committed against us, then she is as blameless as anyone.  She has been betrayed, abused, violated, abandoned, deceived, forgotten, dismissed, and insulted.  And this was all before the age of 13.  It gets worse from there.

So perhaps I’m rooting for the underdog.  Perhaps I’m waiting for this misfit of society to turn her circumstances around and live a “normal” life, whatever that means for her.  Or perhaps I’m hoping that she will prove for me that there is justice in an unjust world, even if that world is fictional.

Either way, you go, Lisbeth!  Just do whatever it is you’re gonna do, ’cause after a third 20+ hour novel, I should probably return to reality and actually do stuff.

I doubt anyone has ever done this, but I’m pretty sure you could draw a line from geek to nerd to freak as a continuum of increasing intelligence and decreasing social aptitude. Me? I’m good with people.

And so it is my interest in – not my understanding of – most things tech that keeps me in the geek column. This is why I listened when Leo Laporte of This Week in Tech recommended the Millennium Trilogy by Steig Larsson as a great read for geeks who like a good story. He also bragged on the incredible narration of Simon Vance in the audiobook release. Well, twist my arm.

So when my monthly Audible credit rolled around, I dove into the world of the Swedish underground with book one, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. At the same time, I discovered the Swedish film adaptation available on Netflix for instant viewing. Normally I would read the book first, then catch the movie. In this case, I’m glad I broke protocol.

The movie was excellent. The casting was spot on in my opinion having now completed the novel. The story was followed with fidelity on everything critical to the plot. There were a few variations, but that kept it interesting for me.

The plot and sub plots get a little complicated only because they take a long time to develop as one story. The movie condenses this of course. So having seen the movie helped me keep it all straight. (Remember, I’m good with people.)

Story aside, the book was interesting for a number of reasons. I’m one of those dumb Americans who thinks the whole world is just like me. So it was intriguing to watch the Swedish (perhaps simply European) way of life become a character. Dialogue (even post-translation) as well as attitudes about social structure, sex, and professional ethics, all had a distinctly different flavor than a book by Patterson, Turrow, or Clancey.

Also interesting to me was the picture of Stockholm with this seedy underbelly of corruption and crime. Not once did anyone yodel from a mountaintop. No one even yelled “ricola!”

But I can see why these novels are so popular. I’m interested to see what happens to the American film adaptation, rumored for a 2012 release. Early indications peg Natalie Portman for the lead, with the typical leading guys on the short list too (Pitt, Clooney, yada, yada).

Next up for me is The Girl Who Played With Fire. Can’t wait.

NB: These books center on characters with pretty liberal morals. Scenes are graphic and situations can be uncomfortable. Just saying, don’t buy it for your 12 year old daughter.

I was born in Tuscaloosa. That’s how far back my allegiance to Alabama football goes. Everything I owned was red and white and featured an Elephant somewhere. I remember as a kid having a Roll Tide metal trash can that doubled as a desk seat. Yeah, we had nice things.

Unfortunately, I never attended the University of Alabama. Nor did I ever truly understand football. I was in the band, which meant I simply had to learn when to cheer and when not to cheer (and even that was a process).

Eventually I attended the University of North Alabama, home of the three-peat Division II national champion UNA Lions. It was then that I learned more and grew more interested in the sport. The Crimson Tide had just been crowned national champions as well, so I had another good reason. Even still, my interest in football was marginal.

But now that I seemed to have somehow crossed the threshold from young adult to irrelevant bore, football is providing a new kind of solace for me. I can’t wait for September each year. I find comfort in tracking the latest NCAA FB news. And my interest in Bama has found a new level.

That’s the long explanation to why I downloaded Crimson Nation by famed Alabama announcer Eli Gold. I wanted to understand the history behind the heritage that is Alabama football.

The book was fascinating. To read of the great coaches like Wallace Wade and Frank Thomas and then trace their impact through players like Paul “Bear” Bryant gave me a great sense of the big picture.

To read about Bryant as a coach, the ups, downs, controversies, and historical moments really put modern-day football drama in perspective. Mike Leech lost his job last year at Texas A&M for allegedly mistreating a player. Paul Bryant nearly killed half of his team one summer in the town of Junction, TX as the coach for . . . Texas A&M. One of those boys, by the way, was Gene Stallings, coach of the ’92 national champion Tide.

Lane Kiffen was skewered after coming to Tennessee, stirring up controversy, then leaving suddenly to coach for his true love, USC. Want to guess the name of another coach who took a job, stirred things up, then left after only a year to coach his true love? That’s right, The Bear.

Also interesting was Gold’s extensive commentary on a socially color blind Bryant who recognized the need for a racially diverse team in order to win. According to the book, Bryant lobbied for the inclusion of black players long before he was allowed to integrate. As I read this chapter, I also read a headline in the that day’s news revealing that the FBI had actually investigated Bryant for civil rights offenses. You gotta love history.

The book isn’t particularly well written. But then again, neither is this blog post. Yet unlike this post, the book is full of great stories, and it is structured in a way that keeps you from getting lost in the minutia of dates and names. It’s a quick read and well worth it if you’re in the market for a quick primer on Alabama football history.

As I write this, the first Alabama game of the season is one week away. And once again they are defending National Champions. When I was a kid my grandmother used to bet me $1 that Alabama would lose. Once we went double or nothing and I had to ask for an advance on my allowance to cover my loses. She cured me of any tendencies to gamble. But she only strengthened my interest in and love for the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Rammer Jammer!

OK, guys.  Good stuff!  Thanks to Michele and Todd for stopping by. And thanks to the rest of you for your comments.  I’m anxious to dive into the actual first chapter (which I have read, by the way).  But I honestly can’t resist one brief post before we do.

I hope you’ve had a chance to read the comments from the last two posts.  In case you didn’t, I can some it up easily:

“I know I have talent, but only in moderate amounts in several different areas – nothing specific.”

Each of you at least implied this in your comments.  I should point out that I feel the same way.  Sure, I can hold my own at greased pig chasing, but I’m not exactly the world champ.  So does this mean that my swine stalking skills are any less valuable?  Certainly not in my home town of Arab, AL.  And the same holds true for any of our talents.

Kristen talks about never really excelling at anything but finding value in her traits of loyalty, passion, and commitment.

Cheryl is the same way, having often associated “talent” with those extra-curricular activies that always seem to go hand-in-hand with some goofy uniform or medal.

Kevin considers himself well-rounded with talent and really just wants one of those watches.  (Sorry – sold out!)

I agree with Michele.  Our gifts tend to surface in many areas of our lives.  Things like loyalty, passion, and commitment aren’t necessarily extra-curricular.  There’s no place in the year book for Most Likely to be Committed (well – there was in mine, but that’s not exactly what we meant).  I would have to say, however, that this trait seems to serve Kristen extremely well as she works to be a successful mom and wife.

I also agree with Todd in the first “Talent” post.  These talents are gifts from God.  To identify them, to develop them, to use them isn’t at all extra-curricular.  In fact, it’s ”pass-or-fail” kind of stuff.  It’s the difference between being in the year book or being relagated to one of those post-graduation Summer Supplements with a bad photocopied picture.  (What? I had a cousin.)

Anyway,  Todd suggests that how we use our talents is indicative of the kind of stewards we are.  (Thanks, Todd.  Now I have a low self esteem AND a guilt complex. )  So where does this leave us?  I can say this.  Each of you has talent.  Each of you has incredible talent.  I know it’s easy to focus on all the “5′s” and “6′s” in your life.  But I want to encourage you to identify those “7′s” and “8′s”.  

Kristen’s passion seems to manifest into a remarkable ability to identify with people, even in difficult circumstances or with sensitive issues.  She has a talent for connecting with others and being able to listen enough to help people find workable solutions to their problems, solutions that were inside of them all along.

Cheryl’s ability to organize and maximize has given her a great career as a project manager.  Her limitless creativity and complete and total dedication to her daughter has made her blog the envy of mothers around the globe (or at least Williamson Country).

And Kevin, well let’s face it.  You’ve got great hair!  And aside from that, your ability to break down numbers and complicated patterns of financial data so that guys like me can understand them . . . well sir, that takes some incredible talent.

Before we move ahead to Chapter One (which, by the way, is completely about BELIEF in your talent), I want you guys to check out another book.  You don’t have to read it, but there’s a code in the jacket of the book that will allow you to take an online assessment of your strengths.  The book is called Now, Discover Your Strengths.  The whole premise is based on finding those “7′s” and “8′s” and building on those instead of banging your head against the wall trying to shake a “6″ out of your semi-talented right ear.

Perhaps your strength is WOO (Winning Others Over) or maybe Vision.  There are several major categories this book examines.  As it turns out, my principle strength is called “Maximizer,” the ability to recognize and maximize the strengths of others (which kind of explains why I’m writing this series of posts instead of sleeping – I’m also a talented sleeper). 

Keep the comments coming.  If you had to pick ONE key strength, what would it be?  And I don’t really care if you can play “Devil Went Down to Georgia” on a sousaphone.  Give me something real.  Lastly, do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of Talent Is Never Enough.  The more I read, the more I’m convinced that each of us has a talent – a tool for accomplishing God’s purpose on Earth.  Why would we NOT want to discover our strength and be a Talent-Plus individual for Him?

I want to know your thoughts on this stuff. At the end of each post, I’ve asked a couple of questions. Take a second to respond by leaving a comment, and maybe we’ll all learn something.

OK. I’ll admit it. I could pave my driveway with the self-help books I started and never finished past the first chapter. It’s almost as if I bought them with the hope that pure ownership alone would somehow magically transform me into the person the back cover promised I could be.

It’s like buying a watch that is water proof up to 100 meters, can double as a heart monitor, and will tell time in 30 different cities. Let’s get real. I’m no scuba diver. The only time I can foresee 100 meters of water being over my head is if I’m drowning in the ocean, in which case I am almost certain the last thing on my mind will be what time it is in New Delhi. (At least I’ll know for sure when my heart stops.) But buying this watch seems to somehow imply that I can wrestle with sharks, travel the world, and exercise until my heart explodes. So I buy it, or should I say I buy into it. That’s why instead of buying this book, I just checked it out from the library. No pressure, right? You don’t really have to commit to a book if you just check it out.

And so I sit with Talent Is Never Enough, my checked-out (now overdue) library book. I’m immediately disappointed to find out that the title it not a joke. Apparently talent is truly never enough. Bummer. And here I thought that whole turning-my-eyelids-inside-out thing was really gonna take me places. According to Maxwell, talent (while still a very good thing) is rarely equated with success. He quotes some French guy (Edouard Pailleron for those who care) as saying, “Have success and there will always be fools to say that you have talent.”

Let me stop here and interject something. I believe that EVERYONE has talent. Some are gifted in different areas, some more, some less. But as my notes will point out at the end of this post, this book applies to us ALL. I’ll prove it. Remember eeking by some of those college courses and wondering if you’d ever really amount to anything? Check this out:

• More than 50% of all CEO’s of Fortune 500 companies had a C or C- average in college.
• 50% of millionaire entrepreneurs never even finished college.
• 65% of all US Senators came from the bottom half of their class.
• 75% of all US Presidents are in the same boat.

First let me say, this explains a lot about our government. But it also tells me that getting A’s (the key indicator of talent and success for so many of us growing up) doesn’t always equate to making money (or promises you can’t keep in the case of the last two statistics.)

Talent sets you apart. True. It gets you noticed, and even gives you a head start on others. But it can’t help you maintain that edge. Clearly, the business and political leaders of our day needed (and possessed) something more than talent.

At this point, I’m flipping to the last chapter. Tell me already!!!! What else do I need besides talent. I’ve got other blogs to read, man!

Then I found it. Three simple things – all from the introduction. (Maybe I won’t have to read the next chapter after all).

1. Understand that EVERYONE has talent.
Told you this would come up again. And it’s true, scientifically proven no less. You have something, some part about you, that you do better than the next 10,000 people. Believe it or not. (But don’t go gettin’ the big head).

2. Develop the talent you have, not the talent you want.
It’s true. We all do it. The second we attack the self-improvement aisle, we search for books to deal with our . . . weaknesses. Why? Did you know (and I’ve read this in other introductions) that a person can only ever truly increase their ability in any one area by 2 points on a scale of 1-10? Seriously.

Say you’re a 4 in any area. No matter how many books, how many seminars, how much effort you personally put into that area, your natural abilities will typically limit you to a gain no greater than that of a 6. That’s motivating, isn’t it?

But if you’re a 7 naturally, you could sharpen your skill to the level of a 9. That means that you’re better at this one thing that 90% of the rest of the known world! That should at least get you a spot on Letterman.

3. Anyone can make choices that will add value to their talent.
OK. So you got skills. Not sure what they are, but you’ll buy the fact that God don’t make no junk. Now what? In 2004, Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel asked Maxwell to speak to his team. In preparation, Maxwell was sent some background material on Ohio State football, among which was a document entitled, “Things That Do Not Require Talent.”

Inside, the author found the following items listed:

• Punctuality
• Effort
• Patience
• Unselfishness

Bottom line:

Talent is God-given. The choices we make each day are up to us. But if we combine God-given talent with good decision making on a daily basis, we can become what Maxwell calls a “talent-plus” person.

So what do you think? Anyone ever said you have talent? Do you agree with them? Ever had trouble deciding how to use that talent? Let me know.