Rating: 
Summary: The ending was terrible.
Review: I enjoyed the book for the first 400 pages or so. Once the ending started, it got very strange and disappointing. It just didn't work or mesh with the rest of the book. I couldn't buy it at all. Although, in hind-sight, the book is pretty absurd in a lot of points.
Rating: 
Summary: Awful. He forgot the basic tenents of storytelling.
Review: Lousy read. Stupid ending. I loved Silence--it had a point, a heroine and a crime to solve, with science used to solve it. Almost everyone in this book was evil, willing to kill people without a thought. When there's that much evil, it grows boring because we, the readers, have no one to root for. There's no suspense unless the character we relate to is in danger. I wanted the pigs to eat Lecter. At least that may have made for interesting reading. I don't buy the "explanation" for Lecter's cannibalism being rooted in losing his little sister to cannibals. Men like Lecter are sociopaths, and if he felt any empathy for a sister, he wouldn't be Lecter! Clarice, the only real "hero," was passive and boring and hardly there. And the ending--what a joke! What, is this supposed to be "romantic"? Right... No wonder neither actor has signed for the movie. I sure don't want to see this. Beyond these glaring problems, I was shocked by the confusing voice and bad grammar, the leaps between present and past tense--in the same paragraph! And the second-person "authorial voice" which intruded with silly lines like, "Now we must leave them at their dinner...." and sounded like an attempt at screenplay direction: "Picture a quiet street in Florence..." I hope Harris didn't spend 3000 days writing this, and I don't believe it (not with the "impeachment proceedings against the President" he refers to.) What a pretentious piece of trash.
Rating:
Summary: ending on a bad note
Review: I have read Harris's RD and SOTL. I expected a good solid story. While Mason is something of a chilling character, and the story is somewhat interesting with the detour to Italy, it collapses from a poor, extremely muddled ending. First and foremost, it simply does not follow from what we know about the characters. Obsessive people do not change so easily, and the cheap psychology in the novel hardly justifies the character change at the end. The ending is not bad because it doesn't end "happily" or with clearcut morals, but because it simply does not follow from what we know. We learn reasons for some characters' horrific behaviors. But when one takes on similar behaviors for no compelling reason, we have writing that smacks of rush and cheap shock value. Somewhat contradictory to the above criticism, new characters are introduced, with their future easily and correctly guessed, much as we know the fate of a red shirt landing party member on Star Trek. :)
Rating:
Summary: Major disappointment
Review: I am glad I did not buy the book. I so looked forward to reading this book since I had read Harris' other novels and loved the movie. What a disappointment! I wish Mr. Harris spent more time on the psychological background of Hannibal and less time in describing Florence. I was rather surprised that I found Hannibal to be a sympathetic character and was rooting for him (no pun intended) in the end. Clarice was not the Clarice I remembered. I doubt the real Clarice would do what she did in the end. I did not mind the gruesomeness at all since it was to be expected.
Rating: 
Summary: I'm Sold!
Review: My first reaction to this book was, "it's just not grabbing me." In fact, I considered the possibility of not even finishing it...what a mistake that would have been! By the time I finished reading Hannibal, I was sold... including the ending. I can see that there are many disappointed (mad!) readers out there, but I think that's because of the inevitable comparison to the film version of SOTL. If you're looking for a film sequel, you'll probably fall into the "hated it" camp. If you're looking for facsinating character portrayals and a plot that has the guts to go against the popular grain, then read this book. I plan to go back for "second helpings"!
Rating:
Summary: Boring, disappointing.
Review: Worth a read for fans, but wait for the paperback or get it at the library. Clarice is a wimp, and for that matter, so is Dr Lecter - he's not really evil, just had a bad experience with his sister (Typical '90s - there's an excuse for everything). Not in the same league as Red Dragon or Silence of the Lambs, hard to believe Thomas Harris wrote this.
Rating:
Summary: HANNIBAL bitterly disappoints in its absurb conclusion.
Review: The last several chapters of HANNIBAL makes one wonder if Mr.Harris was under pressure by his publishers to complete the novel by a deadline. I felt ripped off by this book's unrealistic, heavyhanded, ABSURD conclusion. The shame is that up until that point the book was extremely well-written, suspenseful, even terrifying. I found at times that I could not read too much in one sitting because of the disturbing psychological depths Harris explores with Lechter. The scenes in Florence were superb, particularly the Santa della Croce encounter between the young woman and Lechter. My other complaint is that Harris woefully and shamefully neglects the Jack Crawford character, though at the beginning you are led to believe he will play a heavier role in this book. Barney has a bigger role which is silly, very unbelievable and frankly unnecessary. More Crawford, less Barney would have been better. As for Clarice Starling, this is NOT the same Clarice from SILENCE. Mr. Harris, how on earth could you lose such insight on her? In conclusion, I urge all readers NOT to purchase this overhyped sequel, unless you enjoy the sensation of having been mugged when you finish it. Note to Hollywood: rewrite the ending, unless you want a bomb on your hands.
Rating:
Summary: wow - what a stunner
Review: I've got to say that this book isnt for everyone, because of the shocking ending. Half the fans will love it, half despise it. But I think you have to really admire that amount of risk-taking in an author. And holy cow, what a stunner he's come up with! I felt punched in the stomach after finishing. I also have to add that he's really done it again with the secondary villain, Mason Verger. This guy really gives you the chills -- I guess Harris thinks up as loathesome a character as possible so you feel less bad about rooting for Hannibal. there's also a priceless scene with Hannibal on an airplane, riding economy class with the tourists. It's wonderful. I doubt they'll ever make the movie of this (its just too extreme) - but if they do, I hope they don't change a thing. . .
Rating:
Summary: The ending ruined it for me...
Review: This is not a book that did much for me. I loved Silence of the Lambs. It kept me on the edge of my seat. This book, however, just left me wondering what the author was thinking once I reached the end! I had high expectations, but they were quickly deflated. Although there were some aspects of the book that I liked, its conclusion really just cancelled those out for me.
Rating:
Summary: Beauty and the Beast
Review: I loved this book! I peeked at the ending when first getting starting and rolled my eyes, but now I'm glad he ended it the way he did. Beautifully written and disgusting all at the same time.
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