Hannibal

Rating:
Summary: Completely Un-nerving!
Review: This was a roller coaster ride through the mind of Hannibal Lector. I kept reminding myself that this was a book, and not a movie. I couldn't hide my eyes during the scarey parts! The graphic accounts of the revenge were almost too much for my mind to absorb. And the ending was, well...disturbing to say the least, but thought provoking. I doubt that the movie will do the book justice, except for Anthony Hopkins portrayal of Hannibal. That is who I see when I picture Hannibal. It's a "gotta read" if you're a Hannibal fan. Just read the other two books first if you have not already...Red Dragon, Silence of the Lambs, then Hannibal, or you'll be confused.

Rating:
Summary: It can't get any worse than this!
Review: Hannibal is, by far, the worst book I have ever wasted my time on. I couldn't wait for this book to come out so that I could continue to read the wonderful Trilogy that Thomas Harris started with the great "Red Dragon" and even better "Silence of the Lambs". To me, it read as if he wrote the book at the last minute over a long weekend and the editors didn't have time to do their job because they had a deadline. Several reviewers have complained about the ending, but in my opinion, the ending is a merely a continuation of the mindless drivel that started with the first page. One star is too good for this piece of pulp fiction garbage!

Rating:
Summary: Good for a while
Review: The first half is actually pretty good. The scene where he kills the Italian policeman is very well done, if you like that sort of thing, and the pages describing Lecter's plane ride back to the States are excellent. After that Harris seems to have lost interest and decided just to get the damn thing done. The much derided ending seems to be a gesture of contempt towards everybody who insisted he finish the book.

Rating:
Summary: Promising, but in the end....
Review: The first 200 pages are really great--I was on the edge of my seat. However, from that point on I just felt that the situations and reactions of the characters grew increasingly unbelievable until the ending which left me sitting with a 'yeah right' expression.

I've heard Jodie Foster passed on the film. after reading the last 100 pages, I know why.

Rating:
Summary: A 16 year old's review
Review: This is an extraordinarily exquisite book. I found myself engrossed in it within minutes. You would never predict the ending either, which is common for Thomas Harris. I have seen the movie remake of "The Silence of the Lambs" and found it intriguing. When I heard of a sequel, I bought the "Book-on-Tape" version, I really have no time. This book is riddled with suspense, action, and even drama. Along with what you would expect from a book named "Hannibal", an open window into Dr. Hannibal Lector's Mind Palace. Please e-mail me to discuss this book further.

Rating:
Summary: Read in one day, no trouble sleeping.
Review: I read the reviews and thought it must be fabulous. I love a good scare. Stephen King read it, gave it a good review. How could it be a loser. Please. Totally disappointing. Ending was unbelievable. Somehow didn't understand why Barney gave Margot the rape kit and don't care enough now that I've completed the book to go back and re-read that chapter. Terribly disappointing ending. Had it figured out pretty soon after the final scene at the farm. I spent the entire day reading it on Saturday, finished 3 am. I should have done housework and gone to bed early. OH, as for needing a nightlight to be able to overcome the terror. Gee... If this book is considered scarey, then Godzilla movies must be terrifying....

Rating:
Summary: Ick!
Review: This book completely loses the flavor(excuse the pun) of "Silence of the Lambs". Be prepared to suspend all disbelief about Starlings character and get ready for her to act completely contrary to the gutsy and self-contained woman we admired in the previous novel. I think Thomas Harris wrote this book so he could have a sequel for a movie deal. I would have given it a 0 star if that option had been available.

Rating:
Summary: Transitional work from Thomas Harris
Review: The previous novel's ending had left us wondering what frightful havoc would be wrought by a "free" Hannibal Lecter. We were all expecting him to roam the world like a deadly virus, surfacing at random locations to execute spectacular acts of horror, striking at will, and then ducking back under some cleverly planned anonimous cover. We imagined he would always remain one step ahead of the frustrated authorities, mocking them with his superior intelligence and skills.

Well, the novel Hannibal confounds all expectations. Author Thomas Harris shows us Lecter trying to lead a "protective cover" existence: a quiet, un-dynamic life, devoted to an unashamedly pedantic appreciation of literature, fine arts, and fine foods.

In this instalment, the drama and the horror are instigated by Mason Verger, a disfigured multi-millionaire who has a personal vendetta agenda against Lecter. In this novel, the FBI and its agents are relegated to being Verger's pawns; they're depicted as low-brows, petty and gray and infighting gumshoes.

The finale veers into improbable territory; the horror moments are few and underwhelming; much attention is given to scholarly cultural details.

Clearly, the Lecter series is undergoing some sort of transition. What will happen next?

The best case is that Hannibal is meant to set up the reader for a major plot & character shift in the next novel. Middle case, Mr. Harris The harsher view is that the author has come under the sway of Hollywood $ and is

Rating:
Summary: "Hannibal" not a cheap horror novel
Review: First of all, I think some people do not appreciate this book because the fact that it is almost a work of literature throws off the people who are just looking for a good gore-fest. The imagery and detail Harris included with this novel was absolutely astounding; you could tell he carefully planned and sculpted each paragraph carefully. Another fully effective tactic was the third person/second person alternate narrating, which literally brought you in to the twisted yet beautiful palace of Hannibal Lecter's mind. Most people apparently expected Hannibal to go on being a monster in our minds, but I thought it was devilishy clever of Harris to get us to sympathize with, and maybe even like Hannibal Lecter, serial killer. I do have to admit the conclusion was very out of colour. If Harris was going to completely turn around the book, he should have done it a little more gradually, with more foreshadowing, instead of making the personality of Clarice become alien to the one we have become familiar with. Over all, this book is masterfully written, with a few minor disappointments. It is almost flawless right up until the final chapters. But don't read this book if you want to read a "Scream"-like blood bath; this book is truly a work of literature. If anyone wants to discuss my review/this book, feel free to email me at: [e-mail]

Rating:
Summary: A good idea gone silly
Review: I understand that good reviews help sell books and that poor reviews don't. Well this review may never see the light of day, but I feel compeled to try and dissuade others from spending their money foolishly. The ending of Hannibal was, without question, the most ridiculous and silly climax I have ever read. For two thirds of this book I was hooked. A well thought out plot with a seemingly devastating conclusion had me wondering how it was going to work out. Past the two thirds point and through the ending this potential winner disappointed tremendously. I can understand why Jodie Foster passed on reprising her Clarice Starling role in the film version.

I'm sorry that my first customer review is a negative one. Mr. Harris is a fine writer, (Silence of the Lambs was one of the few books which actually frightened me while reading it) but he comes up way off base with this one. If I didn't know better I would feel that Mr. Harris was trying to bring the saga of Lecter and Starling to an end, not because it was time, but moreso because he suddenly grew tired of them both. Well, if that was his plan, it worked for me. I only hope that I can look past this silly, silly ending when his next book is published.