Red Dragon Movie tie-In

Rating:
Summary: Dazzingly Well-written, Yet It's Not For Everyone
Review: This book is amazingly brilliant, yet highly disturbing. I first read it several years ago, after reading Silence of the Lambs, and after I first finished it, I hated it because of all the bizarre, graphic, disturbing images. And I just now finished reading Hannibal. Looking back now, I realize I have to give Red Dragon 5 stars (if it were possible, I would give it 6 1/2!). The book is extremely well-written, and the author creative beyond imagination, in a gruesome, morbid, brutal way. But I do have to say, this book is not for young readers, nor those faint of heart, nor those easily spooked or scared. But for the rest of you brave-hearted souls out there, pick it up and read away! This book was three times as scary as either Silence or Hannibal. (Both of these are great reads, by the way. I am thinking of reading both Hannibal and Red Dragon again, already having read Silence twice. After those, I plan to tackle Harris's first novel, Black Sunday.)

Rating:
Summary: Easy to read physically, but to tough to read emotionally
Review: I bought this in the airport yesterday. I just finished it now. So, clearly, this book is highly readable. The plot---which is the best thing going for it---is riveting and well planned. Although some of it may be predictable, most of it is surprising and fresh (despite the fact its the "oldest" in the Hannibal series). The most disturbing aspect of the book is the characterization of the killer---its far from a generic character study---this guy makes most bad guys look like baby bunnies, and Harris (who I would never let babysit my kids) does a disturbingly good job of inventing him. After I finished, I thought: "Gee, that was a good read, but what good did it do me?" It definitely didn't make me a better person. But, if anything, it made me more aware of the evil in the world, and convinved me to double check every lock on every door before I went to bed.

Rating:
Summary: Among the best works of popular fiction in decades.
Review: Despite the fact that Tim Appelo, above, felt the need to ruin an otherwise suspensful and incredibly clever plot point, this is an absolute must-read. [If you don't know what I'm talking about--good. Avoid that review and just read the book.] Only those obsessed with the Hollywood-created celebrity of Hannibal Lecter (and those who wish to use Amazon.com as their own political soapbox) are disappointed by Red Dragon. Those who appreciate a well-spun yarn and a deep look inside the minds of the brilliant--both good and evil--aren't able to put this one down.

Rating:
Summary: Unforgettable pictures from a killer's mind.
Review: This is a masterfully done piece of writing. Utterly believable, horribly wrenching. I read both this book and "The Silence of the Lambs" many years ago. Funny, I can't remember what "Silence" was about. But poor Frances Dolarhyde's tortured childhood, and the twisted fantasy that possessed his brain will never leave my memory. Nor, unfortunately, will the memory of the stark horror that the story invoked.

Rating:
Summary: Good, but . . . .
Review: I agree as well with the earlier reviewer who thought "The Triumph and the Glory" or "Schindler's List" were more powerful examples of psychological terror unleashed an a massive scale, and dealt in an eloquent manner with the consequences that ensue from such horrors. But "The Red Dragon" aspires to no lofty heights, Harris is intent upon a focused tale of smaller dimensions and succeeds admirably.

Rating:
Summary: Incredible!
Review: I bought the Thomas Harris 'Lecter trilogy,' and started by reading 'The Red Dragon' this weekend. The book is simply brilliant, with captivating characters and amazing forensic detail. A masterpiece. Read this book.

Rating:
Summary: Very Disturbing*
Review: Truly, Red Dragon is one of the most disturbing, yet fascinatiing, books I have ever read. Though not as good as Silence of the Lambs, it is still very entertaining. Francis Dolarhyde is the perfect antagonist, while Will Graham should have been given more personality. Overall, Red Dragon was very enjoyable.

Rating:
Summary: GOOD READ! HARD TO PUT DOWN!
Review: Just finished reading the book and thought it was great! Although it was very gruesome, the characters were well developed esp. Graham and Dolarhyde, two very interesting characters. The Red Dragon is so close to the Buffalo Bill character in "Silence of the Lambs". I was impressed. I chose to read this to get background to the whole trilogy and to be prepared for "Hannibal". Hopefully I won't be disappointed!

Rating:
Summary: Getting personal with a serial killer(s)
Review: Red Dragon is a very scary and compelling read. In this story, Hannibal Lecter emerges into our culture as the psychiatrist who became an incredibly dangerous psychotic murderer who has been imprisoned in a hospital for the criminally insane. The FBI needs Lecter's help in tracking down yet another serial killer, the Red Dragon. The Dragon is an unbelievably frightening character who nearly seems omnipotent. He is intelligent, strong, ruthless, and totally twisted by a very abusive upbringing. He has already killed two entire families when the FBI steps in. What happens after that is a great story filled with details of detective sleuthing and delving into the ravaged psyche of a serial killer. This book is a page turner that will give you nightmares!

Rating:
Summary: Brilliant Novel Transcends Its Genre
Review: Thomas Harris' first 'Lecter' novel is far and away the best. HANNIBAL was a well-intentioned yet ridiculous exercise, while SILENCE OF THE LAMBS was by far the worst, telling an uninvolving, unconvincing tale with a pallid, uninteresting character like Clarice Starling leading the way. With RED DRAGON, a bizzarely complex, textured, nuanced piece of psychological tension, Thomas Harris created a masterpiece that few novels (David Wiltse's A PRAYER FOR THE DYING being one of the few exceptions) can even come close to matching its brilliance. And Will Graham and Francis Dolarhyde are simply wonderful creations, each possessing infinite layers of complex behaviorlism that make them fascinating narrators.(It was a shame that we lost Graham to the likes of Clarice Starling, who has no rough edges for the reader to key off of; she simply comes off as a depressed young woman who can't get over her rough childhood. Deep.)