Rating:  Summary: exciting to the end Review: Hannibal is mezmorizing, as usual. I feel Starling's character could have been developed better, the ending was disappointing.
Rating:  Summary: Awful Just awful. Review: I'm embarrassed for Mr. Harris that he has concocted such a bunch of drivel and called it a novel. While he's laughing all the way to the bank I'm going to toss my half-read copy of HANNIBAL into the lake and invest my time in reading some of the GREAT new novels out this summer, like THE TRIUMPH AND THE GLORY, and STONES FROM THE RIVER, and MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA, and BAG OF BONES.
Rating:  Summary: The genius of Mr. Harris was obviously his past editors Review: They might have stopped him from releasing such a completely dumb book. Where 'Red Dragon' and 'Silence' were so beautifully crafted, this time out Mr. Harris seemed to be just racing a deadline. But he does have our money now, doesn't he? And he's set up for another lame sequel. And the ending? Are you kidding? Just think of 'Melrose Place' if it were on cable.Yuk.
Rating:  Summary: Astounding. Review: I happen to consider myself a seasoned and voracious reader of fiction. My annual outlay for paperback and hardcover novels of all sorts occupies without doubt a sizeable portion of my annual income. This is due in large part to the fact that I have an undying obsession for those books that I simply cannot put down. All this to explain that my chief complaint about Thomas Harris' novels is that they have both a front cover and a back, whereas I would prefer them to be endless. I first ran across "Red Dragon" about a week ago. Due to circumstances beyond my control, it took upwards of four days to complete, after which I devoured "The Silence of The Lambs" as quickly as I could (4 hours, 38 minutes, including a break for cocktails). No joke. When I discovered "Hannibal" on the shelves of some third-rate airport bookstore, I felt positively thrilled. I snatched the book up breathlessly, and ran for my flight, realizing even then that I was in a somewhat awkward position. I had been completely seduced by a fictional character. For those Gentle Readers in the same boat, "Hannibal" is a wonderful treat to feed the darker side of your psyche. I'm going to assume that you aren't the sort to be put off by rich, vivid descriptions of international destinations or peculiar epicurian habits, or the lengths to which certain decadent monsters will go to exact revenge. I'll also leave you to decide who's whom. Characters from "The Silence of The Lambs" may appear somewhat pale or cartoonish in this novel, but Lecter I believe, still is Himself. Which is what I so enjoy about him. He neither apologizes nor makes excuses for himself. He simply is what he is and with his unerring survival instinct, will continue to be, without regard to what anyone else may think or feel about the situation(I have to admire that). The novel's ending, in terms of the relationship between Starling and Lecter (and perhaps the reader who has become sympathetic with them both over the course of two books and a movie) is one of the most unsettling and compelling scenes in fiction I've run across in several years. Three days later, and it's still on my mind. I dreamed about Hannibal Lecter last night. It wasn't scary at all. And a side note....I just finished watching the film adaptation of "The Silence of The Lambs". Oddly enough, I didn't find it nearly so revealing nor accessible as the novel. And I furthermore would never limit my consideration of "Hannibal" by mentally reducing it to a 90-minute screenplay. It should be given consideration on it's own terms.(Hint-hint)
Rating:  Summary: Save your time and save your money. Review: Save your time and save your money.This book is a total waste. It has no real purpose and no real ending. There is the obligate sceens of sadism and canabilism. They serve no real purpose. Shame on the author. At the end of the day, I really felt cheated.
Rating:  Summary: Disturbing ... Review: I can't understand the people who look down on this singular piece of work. It is exquisitely macabre, disturbingly nightmarish, challenging one's mind to the limits of realistic violence. A certain level of open-mindedness is needed to appreciate the grotesque, but all-too-human decisions of the characters. Like the audience in the gallery of Torture instruments, we crave, yet in public tend to shy away from the wicked and perverse. Here Harris presents it to us in the face, conjuring such repressed, corrupt feelings it becomes unbearable. I can see no other way to end the saga which had made a lot of people clamor for graphic subconsciously-ingrained violence, than be slapped with this one.
Rating:  Summary: grotesque thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat Review: a very real and accurate recreation of Hannibal's character exists in this novel. You think Silence of the Lambs had uniqueness in terror? You have to experience this to believe it.
Rating:  Summary: An excellent read! Review: Another great story from Tom Harris. This is one of the few books I had real difficulty putting down. Harris is a master at keeping the reader turning pages.
Rating:  Summary: I DID NOT WANT THE BOOK TO END!!!! Review: It was worth the 10 year wait to read HANNIBAL-Thomas Harris did not just write a sequal to Silence of the Lambs, and Red Dragon-he enlarged the characters-I loved the ending, it made perfect sense to me-I waited till I was all alone and not distracted to finish the book-I wanted to find out how it ended, but I knew that -then-I may have to wait 10 more years-to hear from Mr. Harris again. The Barney/Margot relationship was important to the plotline-, I did not find it "superfluous"-Barney was involed with Dr. Lecter for years as his caretaker in the asylum. Yes, the book is gruesome, not for the squeamish, Verger is one SICK person-as is Carlos, and his group--Paul Krendler,well, the way he treats Clarice, I will not give anything away, but I was most satisfied with Lecter's solution for him-he is a "character" that treats women like "things". I can't wait for the movie-I hope that Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins, and Demme will agree to go for it. A must read!!
Rating:  Summary: It was... well... OK Review: Does anyone else have the feeling that --in spite of the 10+ year wait-- Harris just whipped off this book in the last few months (even setting aside the allusions to Clinton's impeachment & trial)? In short, "OK" is how I guess I can best sum up _Hannibal_. "OK", that is, if we forget the 10-year wait since the last book; if we forget the silly dud of an ending; if we forget the slow, drawn-out, meandering waits between incidents in the plot; if we forget the repetitive, tiresome lectures on wine, italian art, gourmet foods, etc. All right; I'm as avid a Harris fan as anyone. I read the book, and I'm glad I did. But still... this was a lot of wait for very little pay off.
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