Rating: 
Summary: Don't Read It. It Spoils the Earlier Works.
Review: I wanted to like this book. In fact, after I was done, I tried to convince myself I liked this book. And even after that, I tried to convince myself I must have missed something. Well, consider this review penance for even thinking those thoughts. The problem was that because I really enjoyed both Red Dragon and Silence of the Lambs, I thought I had to love the latest Hannibal Lecture opus. One of the criticisms of this book is that it is violent. Duh! This is a book about a serial killer. Not only a serial killer, but also 'the' serial killer of popular culture (don't read that as if he's going out and killing popular books and movies). I think if you are really worried about that then you know already this book isn't for you. The real problem with the book is that the story stinks! It is awful! The first part fools you into believing that time has passed and things have changed. While a bit depressing, this part of the book does have strength. Then, the introduction of the antagonist, Verger, really starts the ball spiraling in unhealthy direction. This disabled and sickly character just is disgusting and lacks enough depth or flatness to make him effective. But the true tragedy doesn't come to the end, when Lecter and Agent Starling end up in a bizarre, bizarre tandem. I'm trying not to give it away because it is different from the movie, but it is wrong. In the end, I think Harris wrote this book so people would stop asking when the next Hannibal Lecter book was coming out. I give him that rather than believing that a man who has written such good books before would actually sell out this big and obviously. This book is not worth the money. If you must read it, email me, or find a friend like me who has a copy. I'm pretty sure they'll want to get rid of it too. Don't buy this book; otherwise you'll spoil how good the first two were.
Rating:
Summary: If I could rate it in the negatives I would!
Review: I have read a lot of books in my time and I can say without hesitation that Hannibal likely ranks as one of the worst ever. Non-existant editing and totally ridiculous from start to finish. This is the only book in memory that I actually wanted to either throw out or burn! If you have not read anything by Thomas Harris forget this one and read Red Dragon or SOL. If you have read these but not Hannibal, trust me, avoid this book at all costs.
Rating: 
Summary: amazing
Review: Amazing book. It started off as a real page turner. In Hannibal, Dr. Lecter has escaped from prison and has been on the loose for several years. Mason Verger, one of his previous victims is trying to catch him to see him die. Hannibal contacts Starling in letters occasionally. Watch out for the end. It is an absolute surprise.
Rating: 
Summary: Hannibal, not as in Missouri no mo'
Review: OK, in previous works we learned that The Cannibal was familiar with such bucolic pastimes as fishing for doodlebugs with a straw and slaughtering those eponymous spring lambs. And the good Dr. showed an uncommon affection toward Little Clare Starling, a bumpkin with a nice handbag. Implication being the big L was from down home somewheres, perhaps a native of Mississippi like the author. But now...oh, lordy. We learn Lecter's some kind of Eastern European aristo, who's got kind of a complex over how those nasty deserters dun et his lil' sister. (Maybe it was just the presentation.) No wonder Ms. Foster bailed on the sequel. Nonetheless, must confess, read every word, so I guess the author's concessions to Hollywood don't totally alienate the fava beans and big chianti crowd. Wonder what this book would have been if Gene Hackman had taken the part in *Silence*.
Rating:
Summary: Please recycle
Review: Throwing a book away, literally putting it in the trash along with the cat food cans and rotten tomatoes, is taboo. If a small but imperious voice in my head had not kept repeating "you don't throw books away", that is where my copy of Hannibal would be. Buried in some gigantic rubbish heap, or at the most, shredded for pulp. It may still get there - selling it back to my favourite used book store would be contributing to the spread of garbage in the world. Most thrillers have some redeeming value in their versions of the modern-day fight between Good and Evil. Not this one. Rich faceless sadistic paralysed child-abusing animal-abusing ex-torturer pursues Hannibal the cannibal, aided and abetted by various sickos armed with experienced man-eating pigs. People end up gutted and brains get eaten. This is the kind of read that makes you feel dirty. I'm not proud of having finished it.
Rating: 
Summary: Keep The Lights On!!!
Review: Don't read this book at night or you may want to leave a light on! Thomas Harris has written a third book about Dr. Hannibal Lecter and this one is the most intriguing. I found it hard to believe that there was someone creepier than Hannibal Lecter but Mason Verger is worse. Clarice Starling has more depth in this book and the plot twists around her and several new characters.
Rating: 
Summary: YUCK!
Review: I don't exactly know what a definition of pornography would be, but I think one element of it is to dwell at length and lovingly on things don't deserve it. In that sense, "Hannibal" verges on violent pornography. Some people simply get shot--it takes one sentence. Others get their brains eaten or are gutted or have their arteries sliced open for them to bleed out. Those deaths take two to three pages. There is a lot of hate and contempt in this novel. Anyone who can't afford $200 knives or $300 bottles of wine, who flies coach or goes to gun shows, they are some of the targets. I can't consider this a sequel. Hannibal and Clarice seem like different people than they were in "Silence of the Lambs," especially at the end. As for the ending, I can't figure out if Harris is serious or joking. He appears to have lost some of his touch. The ending could almost be considered satire or parody. Nearly everyone in this book is despicable. Those who aren't are still very strange. The whole thing has a nightmarish quality to it. I read it once, but I'll never read it again.
Rating:
Summary: Eh
Review: A good read, but it's no Silence of the Lambs. I did like it better than Red Dragon, though. Much gorier than either of those two. Ending was a little unbelievable. And Hannibal seems to have developed near superhuman powers, where in Silence of the Lambs, he was just really really smart.
Rating:
Summary: Not as good as Silence of the Lambs
Review: This book isn't really that bad. It's nicely written, but when you get down to it, the plot isn't very original (a nemises bent on revenge). I liked Hannibal Lecter better in TSOTL, because this book wasn't as "creepy" when Lecter is free. We do get a look at his private life, and learn that he is a fine art lover and is an accomplished piano player. This book is more of an action book then a "suspenseful" one. The ending, however, was quite surprising. If you liked Silence of the Lambs, it's a good bet you'll like this one.
Rating:
Summary: A Thrilling Ride From Start to Finish
Review: As a particular reader, I tend to choose books that catch me from the beginning. This book does just that. It's brilliantly written, captivating, and spellbinding. You are on the edge of your seat through every twist and turn. It's definitely two thumbs up!
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