Hannibal

Rating:
Summary: A Downward Spiral?
Review: I was so disappointed with this book, I almost regret reading it.

Now, let me step back for a moment. I am a huge Thomas Harris fan. I devoured "The Red Dragon," ran willy-nilly through "Silence of the Lambs," and waited with baited breath for "Hannibal."

Unfortunately, "Hannibal" was a bitter disappointment. The ending was wholly unbelievable and implausible, not to mention borderline gory and grotesque.

It seems to me that Harris rushed through "Hannibal" in order to satisfy the demands of readers and fans only to produce an inferior novel which left the devoted among us sour.

I would hate to think that Harris's talent has been tapped. Hopefully, this is not the beginning of a downward spiral and that Harris has other "good things" in store for us.

Rating:
Summary: What Is the Difference Between the Hunter and the Hunted?
Review: Pretty much every view regarding this book has been presented; what more is there to say? I have a take on the book I haven't seen in the reviews I have had the opportunity to read. While reading Hannibal, a quote by Nietzshe came to mind (I've seen this quote used several times in books about criminal profiling, the career Clarice once aspired to): "Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And when you look into an abyss, the abyss also looks into you." To me, the driving force in the book was to show Clarice's slow transformation as everything around her, all she has worked for, was crushed. She spent hours in "Hannibal's house" trying to get inside the mind of the Doctor. If while hunting Hannibal she could think like a killer, what really separates her from the killer himself? I enjoyed this book very much, it was an exciting thrill ride that also prompted me to do some thinking. Plus the infamous ending stayed in my mind for weeks; after I finished the novel my mind raced around, and I could not get to sleep. What more could an author ask for than to have that effect? If you haven't already read Hannibal, give it a try... you just might like it. I can't wait for the movie!

-Linsey, [e-mail]

Rating:
Summary: Engaging
Review: I'll be honest. I read this book because I knew they were making a movie out of it. After reading it though, I am glad my favorite actress Jodie Foster decided to pass on this movie.

Having said that, I actually enjoyed many parts of the book. I try not to compare it with other books, but I have to say that this one is better than most other mystery novels I've read. Many of them tend to be rather cliched, dry, and written with little taste. At least this one kept me guessing.

The most delicious character is Hannibal Lecter, and as the focus of this book, we explored his childhood history and tried to understand why he might have turned out the way he did. He is a sort of archetypal icon, a personification of id. He's superhuman in his character, but holds human feelings for his Mischa and Starling. Harris intended for us to root for the villain, much as we might root for the Phantom of the Opera. Too much of a cliche? Perhaps.

Starling's character was a disappointment to me. I certainly pitied her and loved her, but in my opinion, the story didn't do her justice. She was a constant victim of her surroundings, a puppet with a hundred puppeteers. Each time she does something in her free-will, she promptly loses control. Not the Starling I remembered.

And the ending...well, let readers judge that for themselves.

Rating:
Summary: Hannibal
Review: Hannibal is an amazing book. Thomas Harris the author used amazing details and creativity to write this thrilling book. It kept me on the edge of my seat. The amount of care that Harris used to make this grafic novel is scarey. The book is about Dr. Hannibal Lector, an excaped killer. He is a well known doctor, genius and lunitic. He has killed many people and he is known to eat his victims. He has been atlarge for seven years. In this book Millionaire Mason Verger, the only person who has ever survived Hannibal. He will stop at nothing to get revenge on Hannibal. He uses his large funds and many connections to hunt Lector down. Everyone in this novel wants somthing and the greedier they get the more likely they are to recieve the rath of Lector. Harris puts you on a roller coaster ride in this book. That gets summed up in a twist ending.

Rating:
Summary: Hannibal
Review: Hannibal is a thrilling book and very well writen by Thomas Harris. He uses emmence creativity and detail. My imagination was kept active the whole time i was reading and I was on the edge of my seat. The book is written about Dr. Hannibal Lector well known Doctor, killer, genius and murder. He excaped from the FBI in silence of the lamb and has been at large for seven years. Millionaire Mason Verger the only survivor of Lector wants him dead and will stop at nothing to get it. He derives an amazingly elaborate scheme for the demise of Dr. Lector. He uses his all of his funds and all his connections both over seas and with the FBI to try to catch lector. In this book every one wants somthing, most want money, some want revenge, some want fame, but all the people who get too greedy will become victims. Harris gave book roller coaster twists and turns with a finish that will take your breath away. It is an amazing book.

Rating:
Summary: I loved it!
Review: Knocked my socks off! Reading some of the negative reviews of this book (especially re the ending) I can only assume some of the detractors have never found themselves "losing their religion", as we watch Starling do throughout the book. She had devoted her heart and soul to the FBI, and got it trampled due to inner politics. Her disillusionment, while not really dwelt upon intimately, is real and plausible; considering the fact that Lecter uses hypnosis on her, who knows how much of the new Starling came from him? Perhaps she is a savage deep down; but again, what are her choices? Slaving thanklessly for a pittance & risking death for ridicule & public censure - or traveling the world with a rich, intelligent, fascinating man? Their connection of both being orphans with nothing left to lose gives them both everything to gain; one hopes they enjoy together the pleasures of the world and one another and forego the horrors of each of their pasts.

Rating:
Summary: Ultimately disappointing
Review: This book lacks the suspense and forward thrust of "Silence of the Lambs." By now we know all about Hannibal Lecter, so his cannibalistic ways have lost their capacity to fascinate and repulse. Moreover, we have a rather tiresome subplot involving Clarice Starling's embattled FBI career. Clarice herself seems a bit bland and uninteresting in this book, too, for all that Harris appears to be a bit in love with her. And the ending is disappointing as well. It's meant to be shocking and surreal, but it comes off as a cheat, full of dreamlike nonsense scenes.

Still, the book has good qualities as well. Harris writes with confident, literary ease, which makes the language a pleasure to read. The middle portion, set in Florence, Italy, is extremely well done, and the character of Rinaldo Pazza is probably the best in the book -- subtle, sympathetic, yet a corrupt failure. And certainly the "other" monster in the book, Mason Verger, is suitably grotesque and disgusting.

All in all an enjoyable book, but it certainly lacks the wallop delivered by "Silence of the Lambs."

Rating:
Summary: This was a spoof on silence of the lambs, right?
Review: I wouldn't give away this book. Literally. I wouldn't want the receiver of my gift to think I would condone such a horrible display of literary talent. Gang members? Inplausible media reactions? Man hungry farm animals? Is this guy kidding? The same plot, different parchment. It was obvious that Harris rushed to get "Hannibal" published. I think maybe he should have stopped on "Silence of the Lambs" instead of trying to write a trilogy. Some moments of the book were dull and exhaustive. I skimmed atleast 2 entire chapters in the book and did not miss a single arm movement in the plot. Harris made it all to obvious that he was trying to "shock" the reader. Without sounding completely cruel and mean, I will end on this note. I want my money back!

Rating:
Summary: enter the world of the truly creepy and ghoulish
Review: The setting is seven years after Hannibal Lecter's famous escape, where he is living a very "tasteful" life in Florence, Italy. He has changed his looks and at first it seems some of his habits. Dr. Lecter has been abstaining from his cannibalistic tendencies of late. (But the reader knows it won't last.) He will be driven by evil forces to once again resume his bad habits.

Clarice Starling is not doing well. She just has too much integrity for the good ole' boys club in Washington. They of course see her only as a sex object.

This is a book where the forces of good and evil are somewhat confused and neither is the ultimate victor. This seems to leave many readers with a certain dissatisfaction and Thomas Harris with the ability to write a sequel.

Do not read this book if you are alone on a dark and rainy night. It is not a good sedative. If you are into the warped and ghoulish this is a book for you. I enjoy Harris' style and for the most part enjoyed the book (not enough to avoid a certain sarcasm.)

Rating:
Summary: A frightening masterpiece of horror
Review: HANNIBAL is not a typical prequal, it is a surprising masterpiece. Thomas Harris weaves an elegant story with words, meticulous research, and shocking horror. We see exactly what happens after Dr. Lecter's escape from the mental hospital. He is being pursued relentlessly by two people. One is Clarice Starling, the other is Mason Verger. This is a fine novel, those who read it shall not be disappointed.

Mason Verger was a former child molester, and patient of Dr. Lecter's. In one gruesome act, Dr. Lecter ate parts of him. Now,Mason is on life support and runs a meat packing empire. His goal before he dies: to see Hannibal Lecter suffer and die. He has a large network of people tracking Dr. Lecter for him. Mason's audacity and cruelty (which Harris puts special emphasis on) will make you loathe him and almost root for Dr. Lecter.

Clarice Starling is an FBI agent, who's in trouble. There was a drug bust that went horribly wrong. Now she is under fire, and under the watch of Dr. Lecter. He boldly contacts her, and she must seek him out to bring him to justice. Her hunt for him will be a key factor in the book.

If you enjoy horror that is elegant, sickening, and even shocking, then HANNIBAL is a book you should read. I guarantee you'll be scared, and not disappointed. Buy HANNIBAL and feel the silence once again.