Hannibal

Rating:
Summary: Very Different from 'Silence' but Excellent in its Own Way
Review: Those expecting a cookie-cutter sequel to Silence of the Lambs will be disappointed, but this book has other things to offer. The language is beautiful, especially during the time spent in Florence. And we finally get a small glimpse into Dr. Lecter's own background. Call me an oddball, but I like Hannibal Lecter! He isn't your garden variety serial killer who preys on innocent people on a whim. He mostly chooses to kill rude, horrible people with whom he is well acquainted or kills for self-preservation. (I'm not defending his actions but can't lump him in with maniacs who randomly choose their victims.) The ending is not what you would expect but I thoroughly enjoyed it! Can't imagine how they would make it into a movie, but if they do they had better cast Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins--no other 2 actors would do.

Rating:
Summary: It's not a movie ending!
Review: Oh..what drugs can do! Clarice is altered to the point that she is no longer the Clarice we knew in Silence of the Lambs. In fact she no longer needs drugs to "adjust" to the life she seems destined to live. If ever a movie is made, I bet the ending is changed!

Rating:
Summary: A book done in by it's ending.
Review: As most fans of Thomas Harris, I looked foward to his latest book, Hannibal. The story of the strange bond between Hannibal Lecter and Clarise Starling is certainly worth telling, and for three quarters of the book, Mr. Harris is successful in giving his readers a fine, if not compelling story. As he continues the tale of the two characters and manages to introduce other characters who become integral to the plot. The problem is that they sometimes become as, or more important than the two protaganists. This leads to one of the problems with this book. The dependence on these characters and their stories push Lecter and Starling to the back burner. Ultimately the readers are not given what they were expecting...the intertwining of the lives of the the two main characters. Lecter and Starling, for most of the book, travel in parallel universes and we keep waiting for them to come together. Ultimately, of couse, they do, but then Mr. Harris switches gears on his readers and gives us such a bizzare and artificial ending that we feel cheated.

Rating:
Summary: Sequels are never better!!!
Review: I am an avid Hannible fan. As I was tearing through the pages waiting for the story to get better.....it didn't. Although Harris has a wonderful imagination and he sure didn't put it to use in the books ending. It was TERRIBLE. I recomend everyone to read this book, but is sure isn't another SILENCE. Wait for the softback.

Rating:
Summary: Lame, Lame, Lame
Review: Silence of the Lambs was my all time favorite book. I thought Hannibal was a big yawn. I was so sorry to have wasted the money on a hardcover book. Chapters 86-94 were somewhat reminiscent of the suspense of Silence. In my opinion, the rest of the book was very boring, and the ending was simply silly. It felt like most of the book was a way for Harris to show off his knowledge of expensive things and arcane trivia. BORING!!!!!

Rating:
Summary: It took 10 years to come up with THIS?
Review: After finishing the book, I thought about throwing it against the wall I was so mad. The ending seems thrown together at the last minute, which, considering the fact Harris took 10 years between books, is ridiculous. The action was not as violent as I had expected it to be, but is still pretty graphic. The details of Italian history were both entertaining and educational. Overall, not a horrible read but likely a disappointment to Harris fans.

Rating:
Summary: Minimally interesting but flawed
Review: Without a doubt, the action scenes in Florence were the best parts of the book. The BIGGEST FLAW in the plot was that the author never gave a reason why Clarice and the FBI KNEW that Hannibal Lecter was coming to the U.S. after he had to leave Florence! After all, he could have gone to Brazil, Asia, Europe other, etc. There was never a reason given for him to come to the U.S.

Rating:
Summary: What was he thinking?
Review: I read this book to the very end looking for a good plot, a hero I could relate to, or a victim I could pull for. How dissapointing! Did Mr. Harris think it was the gore and evil characters that made Silence of the Lambs a great story? I was totally insulted by the ending. I've never thrown away a book but I can't even give this one a place on my book shelves.

Rating:
Summary: The book began with a thrill and ended with a "plop"
Review: I found the novel gripping until the last 150 pages. I have never been so let down or disappointed by an ending before-it was really strange and did not fit with the theme of the book. I didn't even realize the book had finished until I read the next page "acknowlegments". Wow, what a let down Thomas Harris-you're not worth all the hype!!

Rating:
Summary: Give this one a pass
Review: It's a shame that a man as obviously talented as Thomas Harris would waste his time writing a piece of filth like this. This is a corner of the soul that no one needs to view. His characters and dialogue are well drawn, but his subject matter is depraved, to say the least. There is nothing redeeming about this book. And there is certainly nothing entertaining. Don't waste your money. I threw my copy in the trash after about 60 pages. I doubt that any intelligent person would want to pollute their mind with this book.