Hannibal

Rating:
Summary: Daft fairy tale
Review: Harris's earlier books depicted real killers, drawn from real cases. They took you inside the real world of a particular brand of police work, and the men and women that do it. THAT was what made them good. HANNIBAL has nothing to do with reality at any level. It's a daft, gothic fairy story that flies off into a dreary and lurid realm of fantasy, padded out with a lot of rather unfortunate and han-fisted attempts to portray high culture and sophisticated taste. It just doesn't come off. Maybe Harris is laughing at his readers, but I doubt it. I think he just fell victim to literary pretentions. Well,in so doing, I'm afraid he's only proved that a great novelist he is not, after all. Pity.

Rating:
Summary: CLARICE WHERE ARE YOU?
Review: I loved the rich characters in Silence...., but here, Harris basically abandons Clarice and instead creates an atmospheric, gruesome and gothic story around Hannibal himself. What is missing is the resolve and further development of precisely what made these two characters so intriguing in Silence -- their fierce respect for one another, and their implicit "oppositeness". We never get what we want in this book, which comes from a completely different angle. For those of you who enjoyed the ending, I could not disagree more -- it has one the most disappointing finales in recent fiction, certainly that involve characters we know. I simply have decided to separate this story from the clarity and near-perfection of Silence..., which is a breed apart.

Rating:
Summary: I liked most of it
Review: I was totally into this book at first. My dad gave it to me after he had read it and said, "You'll love it, it's great." After finishing it and replaying it's events in my mind, I found many actions and situations presented to be unbelievable. Furthermore the characters you know become less like the characters you know as you draw toward the end. Still, as I stated, I liked most of it. I would put this in book in the "fun to read" catagory. I wouldn't take it as seriously as The Silence of the Lambs.

Rating:
Summary: Don't waste your time
Review: Apparrently Mr Harris wanted to end Hannibal's reign of terror and put Clarice in her *place* b/c this novel is a huge disappointment. Wait for the movie. It may just be the only time Hollywood's efforts eclipse the author's.

Rating:
Summary: PURE BRILLIANCE
Review: This is a modern-day masterpiece which can only deserve a treasured place on the shelf amongst the great authors, Dante and Shakespeare. After reading both Red Dragon and the Silence of the Lambs (Harris' previous novels that focussed around Dr Hannibal Lecter) I waited with great anticipation for this seqeul and was not at all dissapointed. The novel rotates around the infamous doctor and I think is an improvevment on the other two previous novels as more attention is paid to Lecter. I could not put this book down once I had begun to read it and I'm sure you will be the same. Dispite the controvesy caused by the ending, it was a marvellous suprise and Hannibal will hold a place in my life forever. A true psychological work of genius that you will never forget. Greatly recommended!

Rating:
Summary: Doesn't match up to Silence of The Lambs
Review: Just a few years ago I read Silence of the Lambs and enjoyed it very much. I think of it as a masterpiece. So of course when I heard about the sequel I was very excited, and bought it as soon as I could. Overall I enjoyed the book the very much. All up to the last few chapters that is. I think anyone will agree with me that the ending is a disappointment and weird. You have to read it for yourself.

Rating:
Summary: About: The Charming Mr. Lecter
Review: I found this book to be worthy of equal acclaim as its predecessor, The Silence of the Lambs. I was riveted by the book from cover to cover. The manner in which Harris formulates the characters before introducing them into the plot was not only equally entertaining as the actions of the characters, but allowed me to have a deeper view of the characters and the motivations for their actions. Many people told me that the book was rather trite, but the suspense had me wondering what would happen next from minute to minute. Though Hannibal Lecter is to be feared, I think that it is an odd, but fascinating twist to have the serial killer appear to be somewhat of a hero. Whether it was Harris' intention or not I was definitely rooting for Hannibal midway through the book.

Rating:
Summary: No controversy here, ha ha
Review: An seething story of good vs. evil, guilt and innocence, and trust and betrayal. Hannibal has the numbing tension and stunning power of a war novel like The Triumph and the Glory or The Thin Red Line, psychological twists worthy of Edgar Allen Poe, and the stark horror that only a novelist of Harris' talent can deliver. Not for everyone, obviously, but it is onwe of those books that I just had to read to see for myself what all the fuss was about.

Rating:
Summary: Bravo
Review: The more i thought about it the more i agree. This was the only possible ending. To watch Starlings character dissolve , to be eclipsed , was inspired. Who but Harris would have dared. This was the 'monsters' finest hour and darkest deed. Read it twice.

Rating:
Summary: GOOD - It keeps you guessing
Review: I decided to read this book because I loved Silence of the Lambs. Each section of the book kept my interest and I found myself reading late into the night. There were some great scenes admirable for Dr. Hannibal Lector's character... which made me squirm now and then.

However, the ending sucks. I wanted more but I found myself disappointed with the conclusion. That is why I only give this book four stars.