Rating: Summary: A Riveting, Disturbing, Absolutely Marvelous Read Review: I just finished Hannibal last evening. A very good read. If you think about the ending, and then think about Clarice and Hannibal, I'm not sure if it could have ended any other way than the way in which it did. The subplot to SOTL is the budding "relationship" between the two, why not take it one step farther, which Harris does. Harris shows true guts here, to go against the "typical" ending which would have Clarice and the FBI capturing, or most likely killing, Hannibal. Here was something much better to read, and much better to contemplate "Can evil be worthy of love?" I look forward to seeing the movie, stupid scene on the plane, and all. A very, very, good read.
Rating: Summary: Startling! Brilliant! What we have all been waiting for!!! Review: This is what we have all been waiting for! It's what we secretly wanted all along. We all knew it was there. In Silence of the Lambs, it was obvious that there was a certain tension between Clarice and the good doctor. Secretly, we all wanted to delve more closely into that subject. "Hannibal" also gets deep into the recesses of Dr. Lecter's mind. We get a chance to see how he thinks; how he reasons; how he feels, if it can be called that. We get to see Dr. Lecter not in a prison setting but as a distinguished, tasteful man of the world, in his own personal niche. We get to see how Dr. Lecter, unconstrained, unbound, truly LIVES.
Rating: Summary: The worst of Stephen King and not scary. Review: This came from the same guy who wrote "Red Dragon?" It seems like Mr. Harris took writing lessons from the Stephen King School of character development, because they were ridiculous. All of the antagonists (Krendlar, Verger) were just soooo nasty, and we had to be reminded of it constantly with an awkward example that seemed to be jammed into the chapter. I mean it isn't enough that Verger is disturbed and deformed, but he finds it important to let us know that he likes to torment children. E gads! Now that's nasty! And Krendlar uses the "C" word. Now that's really nasty!The other problem is that all of Lecter's victims are "bad guys." So Lecter is now a hero. Either a hunter who's bagging underweight game out of season (how politically un PC) or kidnappers on his trail. What a selective serial killer. Especially when he leaves hospital employees only knocked out. Give me a break. I didn't mind the end, though. I think I'll read Red Dragon again and remember how scary a book can be.
Rating: Summary: Forget about it!!!! Review: I, like every other reader who have read Mr. Harris' previous books, was waiting anxiously for the release of Hannibal. What a disappointment!!! I actually had to force myself to finish it. And the ending, what were you thinking Thomas!!! Did you really think that this ending was the only way to finish the book?
Rating: Summary: A major disappointment. Review: I had several problems with Hannibal. First, you absolutely had to have read SOTL to appreciate the characters. I dislike books that basically require you to have read an earlier novel (not an issue w/SOTL and Red Dragon). When this happens, I think the author gets lazy in character development: i.e Mason. His character was oversimplified: he didn't scare me that much, and we didn't learn enough about him. Lastly, I was blown away and very frustrated with the ending: was it drugs that changed Starling behavior, why would she possibly do it. I guess I don't understand enough about psychology.
Rating: Summary: Paralyzed with awe... Review: You need to let this one simmer in your mind after you've finished. Save your analysis for later, after it has digested a little. The book was everything and nothing that I expected it to be. I had to force myself to only consume 35 pages a sitting, so as to lengthen my reading pleasure. This one makes you stop and think for days afterward. My initial reaction to the ending was similar to those shared prior to these comments, but after taking a few days to churn it around in my mind, I realize what Harris was trying to accomplish at the conclusion. A true novel of horror to the very end. I know that this won't be the last time we are invited to dinner.
Rating: Summary: You have to become any book to believe. Review: Not what I anticipated yet exactly what I needed. The disappointment for many is the insight into Dr. Lechter allows him to become more human and less monster. What the naysayers forget is the nurse who felt the same way at Baltimore State Hospital in SOTL -- and she lost her tongue.... The snake hasn't lost its bite or its venom, but is soothed by the momentary music. My only hope is it doesn't take eleven years to publish again. Continuing with this charachter or not, Mr. Harris is arguably the best in the business at thrillers.
Rating: Summary: An excellent book by a great author. Review: At first I was looking for the sequel to the screenplay of SOTL and was disappointed. Then as I got into this super novel I realized what a terrific, totally new work Harris has given us. If you want a great read this is it, if you want another SOTL you may be disappointed.
Rating: Summary: Deliciously Wicked Review: Kudos to Thomas Harris for not confining himself to writing a screenplay sequel. The complaints about this novel are largely unwarranted. The only one I have is about the very long interlude in Italy. It could have been shorter. I felt it was taking time away from the characters I was reading the book for in the first place; Hannibal & Clarice. The ending was so out of left field that I found myself totally accepting every word of it. Afterall, if the reader is willing to accept the cannibalistic superman that is Hannibal Lecter, why not this? My only question is, where did Will Graham go? Ultimately though, an exceptional, quirky ending to a remarkable trilogy.
Rating: Summary: Too bad the last several chapters weren't rewritten Review: I can't say much more about the book that the others have not already said. The only thing I'd like to add is that I really enjoyed the first 3/4 of the story. During that portion I had intentions of going immediately to the bookstore to get "Red Dragon" after finishing this one. After learning the ending, I immediately went to the bookstore and bought a totally different book. I give three stars for the part I enjoyed. The last several chapters get ZERO stars.
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