Hannibal

Rating:
Summary: Disappointing
Review: I read "Red Dragon" and really liked it. By comparison, this book was very disappointing. The plot is choppy, the characters are one-dimensional, the pseudo-psychology is uncompelling, and the storyline not only departs from reality, but violates its own internal consistency as well. The denoument for characters Starling and Lecter is entirely devoid of believability. (And I won't even get *started* regarding moral compass.)The only sense I can make out of this book is as a deliberate effort by the author to destroy his own franchise. Or maybe he's just spent too much time trying to place himself in the mind of a deranged murderer?Sum: If you're purely interested in scenes of grotesque violence, cannibalistic murder, dismemberment, etc., then this novel is for you. Otherwise, it is at best a waste of time. At worst, it is a deeply reprehensible, anti-moralist story which derogates social norms and instead recommends a vision of ultraviolence as a legitimate response to institutionalized sociopathy, and moreover as a valid therapy technique for personal growth.Mr. Harris, you should be ashamed of yourself.

Rating:
Summary: The worst audio book I've ever heard
Review: It should have been great... The unabridged Hannibal and a long drive. Instead, we heard a mediocre story ruined by Daniel Gerroll, who was impossible to understand. Choosing to perform rather than read, we missed half of Mason Verger's tortured dialogue, got lost in all the Italian dialect and resented the accent he gave Clarice. Maybe the book is better, but I'll never know because I won't waste the time or money to read it. I promised the tapes to a friend for a transatlantic flight, but I'll do her a favor and loan her Certain Prey instead. What a disappointment.

Rating:
Summary: Digestable
Review: I read "Silence of the Lambs" so when "Hannibul" came out I had to read it and it is worth the read. The whole book is great and very gripping, but the ending is really a kicker. I loved the ending between Clarice and Lector, it was wonderful. Just how I hoped it would end from the time I first read "Silence of the Lambs". It was really better than I dreamed. DO NOT MISS THIS ONE!!!!

Rating:
Summary: I'll take Dollarhyde
Review: Simply put, I was disappointed with Hannibal. Harris fans waited too long, and got too little. By book's end, I thought I was reading another one of Anne Rice's gothic, semi-erotic tales. It just wasn't the Thomas Harris I admired in Red Dragon and Silence of the Lambs. Give me Mr. Dollarhyde and Will Graham.

Morose in Mississippi ([e-mail])

Rating:
Summary: Boring,vulgar
Review: Very Disappointed,Harris did not live up to his standards. I expected a scary, on edge of seat, page turner. Had to plod along just hoping it would improve. Never did, ending was very unreal, seems left it open so he could jot off another. I liked Hannibal Lector when he was not the main character, he should have stayed as a bit player, would be reluctant to purchase a Hannibal IV.

Rating:
Summary: Sorry Thomas
Review: This one didn't do it. I was expecting a believable crime thriller, but was given a far-fetched fantasy. Further, Harris quoted from Silence of the Lambs way too much. I have to admit, though, the dinner scene towards the end of the book was memorable.

Rating:
Summary: I think I'm confused. Is that redundant?
Review: Have read the other books, loved them, and started out thinkingI liked this one, too. Purchased it and held it, unread, for a monthso I could take it on vacation with me.

Was very disappointed in the immediately obvious change in Starling's character

But also decided it was quite funny, and Harris can sure write some image-evoking scenes, and just some really lovely descriptions when he chooses.

Then I read the very brief blurb from the reader in Denver telling us all what dopes we are not to realize the intentional parody. I guess I'm slow, and would love to know what he (she?) is referring to.

Anyway, guess we'll wait for the movie, and another 8 years or so for the next installment. (sigh).

Rating:
Summary: Hannibal is no Red Dragon
Review: This book was a big disappointment. When I heard this book was due out I couldn't wait. Now having read it i'm trying to forget it completely. Not only were most of the situations contrived and unrealistic, but to make a mockery of Clarice Starling is a sin in itself. Shock ending, not nearly as shocking as the boredom that leads up to it. It's almost predictable. Harris wrote this book for Hollywood and it shows. The ruination of such great characters is unforgiving, but someone out there likes it ... I've already returned my copy due to pure disappointment.

Rating:
Summary: Major disappointment
Review: Yuck! After 150 pages, I was still terribly bored. If Iwanted a history lesson on FLorence I'd have been happier. But I waslooking for a thriller! The ending was profoundly hideous but told in such a way that it barely dented my psyche. I am usually horrified (I want to be horrified, that's not a bad comment) by the brutality and sickness of the evil characters in Mr Harris' books. I WILL NOT SEE THE MOVIE EITHER! I am so disappointed in this book - not what I expected from the author of Red Dragon and Silence, etc.

Rating:
Summary: "Hannibal" Cannibalized By Psychobabble
Review: "Hannibal" had all the ingrediants to be a worthysuccesor of "Silence Of The Lambs". The writng at timesmade you feel like you were there, including tension at key junctures that made it hard to put the book down. There did seem to be a bit too much of pyscobabble during the beginning and meat of the story, but the strength of the book overwhelmed that shortcoming. The ending was completely underwhelming. How could such a great author come up with such a ridiculous ending? I hope the movie version will change the ending. It would be a shame for such a great sequal to be-well cannibalized by psychobabble!