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Summary: How to become infatuated with a cannibalistic killer..
Review: Sequels have always seemed in poor taste to me. Until HANNIBAL. Harris has given readers what they wanted. They wanted to know more about Hannibal and he tells them. Maybe he shows them a little too much, maybe he throws a bit too much caution to the wind, but all in all, if one reads it for Hannibal, the writer comes through. Even though, I don't agree that the childhood trama would likely explain the mind of a monster like Dr. Lecter, (there should be a genetic factor), it serves to show a little of what he and Starling have in common: both are orphans. Dr. Lecter is fascinating as a brilliant psychiatrist. It is his genius in psychiatry, his crystal clear insight that thrills me and especially the way he used drugs (professionally) in order to control and actually teach Starling to deal with her father's death. And, in his connection with her, Hannibal heals himself. So, how does one become infatuated with a cannibalistic killer? Acquaint one's self with Hannibal. First, read RED DRAGON, then SILENCE OF THE LAMBS. Top it off with HANNIBAL. If one reads it for Hannibal allowing Starling to take a backseat, HANNIBAL will come off like the finishing touch dessert at a four-star restaurant. No? Then, try slopping some hogs.
Rating: 
Summary: Not as well crafted, but worth reading.
Review: Thomas Harris usually gives us a fast paced, rollercoaster ride through the dark side of the human mind. This story is rough in spots and doesn't flow as well as The Red Dragon or Silence of the Lambs. However, if you are familiar with the characters from the movie or the book you will not be disappointed. It's alarming, creepy and keeps you turning the pages well into the night.
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Summary: Hannibal: An Exercise In Evil
Review: As I read through the many customer reviews of the novel, "Hannibal", I am struck by the overall disapointment in the author himself, Thomas Harris. It would not be easy to top "Silence Of The Lambs" (the novel, NOT the film!) and Harris falls short of that little masterpiece with his latest entry. Don't get me wrong, I loved the book. I also tend toward disapointment toward not dwelling more on Dr. Hannibal Lecter himself and not the repulsive Mason Verger. Maybe, Mr. Harris, you could write a prequel involving Dr. Lecter's many "adventures" before being locked in the dungeon asylum in Baltimore. I still recommend this book to anyone interested in evil and it's many domains.
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Summary: Prepare to have your high hopes shot down
Review: The last 40-50 pages ruined this book. While 'Hannibal' did not have the magic of the previous two books, it was entertaining...until the ending. Harris destroyed two wonderful characters by having them become something they are not. I was so furious after reading the ending that I threw the book across the room.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent....until the ultimate letdown in the end
Review: When I started reading 'Hannibal', I couldnt put it down. When I had read to the middle, I began proclaiming that it was the best book I had read so far. Then the ending came and left me thoroughly dissapointed. The build up of the intertwining lives of Hannibal Lecter, Clarice Starling, Mason Verger, his sister and all the other characters, though well developed, did'nt deserve to be so abruptly cut short as they had been in the totally unexpected and ridiculous ending that they recieved. It was very apparent that Mr. Harris did alot of research and took great pains to make this book as realistic and believable as possible. Then it seems he simply got tired of it and wanted to get it over with. Bottom line: You will absolutley love this book if you read it and stop at the last chapter and leave the rest to your imagination.
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Summary: Thumb-licking page-turner with a milque-toast finale.
Review: At long last....this? While I must admit to near incoherence the next day at work (possibly due to staying up waaaay past my self-appointed bed time again and again in the course of one evening), I must also admit to confess the bitter disappointment that accompanied the hurried and somewhat lackluster ending. You can do MUCH better, Mr. Harris!
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Summary: A let down after Red Dragon and Silence of the Lambs!!
Review: A VERY big let down after Red Dragon and Silence. The "Hannibal" books seem to lose something with each title. The best of the three by far is Red Dragon. The ending of Hannibal is HORRIBLE!! Save your money!
Rating: 
Summary: A Huge Disappointment
Review: I was so looking forward to this book. I enjoyed "Silence of the LAmbs". Harris took so long to come out with the sequel, ow could it not be terrifc.What a disappointment. The main bad guy, Verger, is more annoying than scary. Lector's personality is not developed at all the way it was in "Lambs". He has matured into a benign person. The ending with Starling and Lecter was so poor I wanted to throw the book away. I am so sorry I bought the hard cover.. . a complete waste of time and money.
Rating:
Summary: a massive disappointment
Review: Thomas Harris may perhaps be forgiven for falling in love with Hannibal Lecter, the character who made him a multi-millionaire. But the rest of us have no such excuse. Feeding someone his own brains is merely disgusting; it does not constitute true horror fiction. Harris falls into the trap of allowing his readers too much access to the mind of Hannibal Lecter, a narratological strategy that inevitably brings understanding and elicits a certain amount of sympathy for the "good" doctor. But such understanding and sympathy are totally misplaced here. Red Dragon remains harris' masterpiece.
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Summary: Great meal, skip the dessert
Review: This was an excellent book. I was drawn in and I definitely was creeped out by it. It is by no means a classic book. The Exorcist still ranks number one on my scariest all-time books list. I am 38 and have read a lot of horror books. Hannibal easily makes the top 10! It has it flaws, as other reviewers have angrily pointed out. Why get angry? Mason Verger was a frightening and disturbing character. The reader was forced to decide who was more evil, Hannibal or Verger. That was decided early on. I wondered until the end who would survive. Would Hannibal actually get devoured by the pigs? What would become of Clarice? I liked the unpredictability of the plot. By the way, Will Graham should have had a more prominent part. I enjoy Harris's writing style and his incredible vocabulary. He is a brilliant writer. Words like peignoir, frescoes, wimple, griffon and frottage are not words you see everyday. I have an expanded vernacular now! Some of the criticism of Hannibal is silly. The ending does make sense because it seems that the people Hannibal didn't literally eat, he devoured them mentally. This was the case with Clarice. I thought the ending was shocking, and the more I thought about it...yes it was believable....remember this is fiction!!! The only problem I have with the ending is simply that it didn't make sense for Clarice to have cannibal instincts too. I wasn't angry though, maybe slightly disappointed. Overall, it was a terrific read, the flaws in editing and tense are minor in comparison to the chilling storyline and fascinating characters. I compare it to the perfect meal with a dessert that was a bit too rich. I got the book from the library, and would not have felt at all like I wasted my money had I purchased it. I will watch the movie, but the book, as always, won't be topped by Hollywood.
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