The Silence of the Lambs

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Summary: Unparalleled Horror Writing
Review: There was a gap of years between my reading "Red Dragon" and "Silence of the Lambs" and, for some reason, I did not immediately connect them. It eventually clicked, partway through "Silence of the Lambs", and I then reread "Red Dragon" after I finished "Silence of the Lambs". I'm not sure horror writing gets any better than either of these. The characters are extremely well-developed (I know these people, which is creepy in Lecter's case), there are no slow spots, the writing itself is of high quality, the plot is intricate but coherent, and the tension created is incredible. Don't read either one in an empty house on a stormy night but, if you like the genre, make sure you read both, preferably consecutively. When it comes to "Hannibal", you can tell it's the same author and many of the ingredients are there, but the flow is too slow (I have reviewed it also if you're interested).

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Summary: The Lambs Will NEVER Be Silent!
Review: I LOVED this book. A great psychological novel of the utmost importance. Dr. Lector is just great and the novel is left open for a sequel. (Which I'm glad was written!) All of the key factors and characters bring it all together for a well written and highly involved book! Great job!!

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Summary: Excellent book!
Review: I loved this book...what a thriller! Harris is a great writer - he is adept at painting a picture with words.

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Summary: Greg's review
Review: I have recently read the book The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris for an English assignment. Overall I thought the book was excellent, and I cannot wait to read Hannibal. The book had so much detail on the characters I could see Doctor Hannibal Lecter. Also the detail on the murders was really sickening on what the killer did to his victims. I loved where Dr. Lecter kept FBI agent Clarice Starling guessing on who a serial killer was. I thouroghly enjoyed the book even when it was hard to follow or when there was not a lot of detail on the location. I can definately say this is one of the best books I have ever read!

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Summary: Exceeding Expectations
Review: With really only John Grisham and Steven King in mind, I must admit that I had somewhat low expectations for a book that I had seen made into a popular movie. However, The Silence of the Lambs went out of its way to make sure that I punished myself for ever making those assumptions. The book is fantastic. Although it was a thriller/horror novel, it made me smile as I read it because it did what I always hope every novel will do: allow a riveting plot to reveal the thematic elements of a novel in a way that draws the reader ever deeper into the novel. The story of the novel is fairly well-known; an escaped mental patient named Hannibal Lecter toys with the mind of Clarice Starling, a young FBI trainee assigned to profile him. This is a plot that vaguely resembles the rough outline for any slasher film or grocery store thriller, but the fact that Thomas Harris is able to use his plot in such an inventive way that creates stimulating themes and subplots is where the novel becomes extraordinary. A lot of this is accomplished through Harris' superb characterization. Every character in the novel, no matter how central, is carefully depicted so that even in two or three sentences, the reader may no whether he or she is a sexist, racist, elitist, or raging psychopath. Another thing that Harris does to please the reader is he makes every item placed in the novel relevant. Every detail he gives us at a murder scene early in the novel comes back to mean something later. This is something that may not seem to be important, but it shows that Harris is taking care of his novel as well as the reader, which could be considered a primary function of a piece of literature. I mentioned the strong thematic element in the novel, which Harris achieves both through expositional narrative as well as characterization. In this novel, Harris allows his themes to simultaneously make his fundamental statement about the world. We see opinion on gender issues, as well as societal issues. Again, I look for this element as a vital part of any novel, and The Silence of the Lambs seems to be very complete in terms of necessary literary ingredients. My favorite thing about this novel is the fact that it reads as a very educated and sophisticated psycho-analytical work, while at the same time acting as a brilliant work of pure fiction. The parts of the novel which explain both Lecter's condition as well as the effect this condition has on his actions seem very realistic, at least to someone with no psychological experience. Harris just seems to have done his homework on the subject, which, again, shows that he is making an effort to take care of his reader while at the same time doing his book justice. I just think that this is a wonderful novel, from a literary as well as an entertainment standpoint. It satisfies all my wants of a novel and gives me hope for other novels that become movies.

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Summary: "Hello Clarice.."
Review: After seeing the movie of The Silence of The Lambs, I was a bit skeptical about reading the novel. A frightening movie only yields a more frightening novel. And I was completely correct. This book exceeded all of the expectations that I had for a perfect suspense/thriller novel. Though I am not a big suspense/thriller fan, I did appreciate this novels ability to retain my attention from the first page all the way to the very last sentence. Thomas Harris not only achieved pure suspense/thriller greatness, he also added many thematic aspects to this novel that many writers would not have the ability and/or talent to do this well. I commend this novel for being a literary masterpiece, in my humble opinion. In The Silence of The Lambs, Harris has created a spellbinding plot and has done an amazing job on the characterization. In this novel, Federal Clarice Starling is a FBI agent working her way to the top of the agency, struggling to make a place for herself in such a male dominated field. Her supervisor, Jack Crawford, has assigned her the difficult case of speaking to the infamous Dr. Hannibal (The Cannibal) Lecter. Lecter is a psychiatrist who is an inmate at a mental hospital for the criminally insane. Lecter has been placed in the hospital for killing/eating several people and has been locked away in a cell ever since. He is very intelligent and, because Crawford and his team will be out on the "Buffalo Bill" case, Clarice is to have Dr. Lecter fill out a questionnaire. As she is sent on her way to do the evaluation of Lecter, Clarice encounters a very sexist/egotistical Dr. Chilton, who serves as a diabolical head of administration at the mental hostpital. With Lecter's help, Clarice is able to make a break through on the Buffalo Bill Case, in which a man is kidnapping women killing them and skinning them to create himself a "woman suit" with. Through the twisted turn of events and multiple frightening visits with Dr. Lecter, Clarice is able to persuade the FBI to allow her to follow the leads she has received from many various sources (Lecter included). The mastermind, Dr. Lecter, has figured out the plans that Buffalo Bill has in store for the woman he has kidnapped, a powerful Senator's daughter, and in return for this information Lecter is able to kill his way out of the hospital. Though the plot is dramatic and very intense, a reader must also be aware of the multiple under tones this novel has on society. One is the idea of women "climbing their way to the top" and the various obstacles that they must over come to do so. Another major theme in this novel is the ideas of one overcoming their past. It becomes more evident through a closer reading of this novel but when you think about even the title alone "The Silence of The Lambs" is all about the struggles to overcome your past. Harris has provided us with very memoriable and intriguing characters, even the pyscho-cannibalistic-murderer-mastermind is likable. I know I was impressed by Dr. Lecter and by the character, Clarice. She showed women that anything is possible to overcome in this world with just a little hard work and dedication. I would highly recommend this novel to anyone who would like to enjoy a VERY scary book and yet come away with a few of life's little lessons under your belt. Fantastic NOVEL!

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Summary: Silence and Empowerment
Review: Silence of the Lambs is a remarkable novel for many different reasons. On the surface it is a nonstop suspense novel that performs at the peak of its genre. However, at the novel's core is an emotional struggle that the main character, Clarice, must deal with both her past and stereotypes of her gender in order to achieve her highest goals. Thomas Harris flawlessly blends the suspense and themes and leaves the reader fully satisfied with their experience. As an aspiring FBI agent Clarice Starling is given a chance to prove herself when she is given an assignment by Jack Crawford head of the Behavioral Science division. Her assignment is to interview Dr. Hannibal "The Cannibal" Lecter. The assignment is far from routine since Hannibal Lecter is one of the most notorious serial killers in recent history. As a result of her first frightening meeting with Dr. Lecter, Clarice is sent on a roller coaster ride as she searches for clues to capture the FBI's latest serial killer "Buffalo Bill". As Clarice begins to evolve in the real FBI lifestyle we learn more details of her past and discover the source of what drives her determination. Dr. Lecter is the ominous interviewer/interviewee that brings out Clarice's past. Surprisingly Lecter also serves as a man that seems just as invested in Clarice's achievement as the reader. The pace of the novel is quite fast. Harris does this by giving us characters that we can relate to and that have issues of their own outside of Clarice's. Characters like Jack Crawford become more real to the reader as he deals with his wife's terminal illness at home. Also, as Clarice gets more involved in the case we find out more about Dr. Lecter and "Buffalo Bill" the pace picks up because of the reader's fascination with that which is unknown to them. At the novel's heart, Clarice goes through a dramatic metamorphosis as she learns to deal with men who believe she is best left in a typing pool. Like Dr. Chilton, a man that often seems just as emotionally dead as the serial killers Clarice profiles. Clarice struggles with trying to capture a man who brutally murders women and as she struggles she becomes more successful by using skills that she alone has. Being female give her advantages in detective work that men don't have. If you want a novel that keeps you on the edge of your seat to the very end and has a character that triumphs despite adversity then Silence of the Lambs is it. From Lecter's cell that he calls home to remote areas of West Virginia, prepare for a journey into the minds of madmen and into the discovery one determined woman's soul. Thomas Harris' novel should not be overlooked as one capable of sustaining itself in the modern literary canon. Throughout the novel he maintains his poise as he keeps his characters true to themselves and at the same time not losing sight of our fascination with crime.

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Summary: Enjoy the Silence
Review: "Hannibal" the movie has come and gone, and, well it has left a lot of people feeling deprived of a thrilling tale of the infamous Dr. Lector. So why not read Silence of the Lambs? I believe it is more bone shaking, heart racing, and thought provoking than the movie itself. And it expresses gender roles in an uncomfortable way! Is there a better way to spend an evening than reading a tale of flesh eating violence while critiquing the social portrayal of feminine culture in this novel? I think not.

If you are saying to yourself "I have already seen the movie, why read it." STOP thinking that. This book, though very similar to the movie, has more of a literary movement in it and some scenes that are quite different than on screen. Plus, you get the added bonus of letting your imagination scare the you know what out of you not the Hannibal, Anthony Hopkins.

If you have not seen the movie, definitely read the book first. You will get so much more out of it thematically and you'll get to read scenes not in the movie. Plus, you'll be that 'smart' person for having read the book before actually seeing the movie. What better way to impress friends!?

But down to the important stuff, Thomas Harris has beautifully illustrated feminine struggles in a masculine world in this novel. He captures the awkwardness of women when men doubt their abilities and he displays frustrations deeply rooted in this gender battle to make it to the top. Fall in love with his characters, hate his characters, but you will be befriended by the Hannibal himself. It is truly a love-hate relationship with Dr. Lector. As for the main character Clarice Starling, readers will follow her through strenuous F.B.I training all the way to Buffalo Bill. See her strengths, feel her weakness, hear the lambs, but side with her anyway.

Silence of the Lambs by Tomas Harris is beautifully written with chilling scenes and likeable characters as weird as that might sound. The author portrays the struggles of women, stereotypes that apply, and double standards. He explores the objectivity of women through scenes with Clarice and men opposite her. Read this book and find out what exactly the title means and see what it takes to silence the lambs.

Methodical prose will leave you clinging to blankets, covering your eyes with every strange sound, and yet, you'll still turn those pages. Is there a better way to spend an evening than reading a tale of flesh eating violence while critiquing the social portrayal of feminine culture in this novel? I think not.

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Summary: The Hidden Strength in The Silence of the Lambs
Review: Thomas Harris' The Silence of the Lambs is much more than just an airport thriller. It is a bona-fied literary achievement. Yes it is a psychological thriller, but the novel also works on a deeper thematic level. I could tell that there was equal thought put into the composition of both the suspenseful drama, as well as the poignant themes. Harris is also aware of the issues that exist between men and women in today's society, and he exposes the problems that arise from these gender relationships. Suspense is the driving force behind this book and Harris is a master at using it to consume the reader. From the start the reader is anxiously anticipating the direction the plot will take. Following the path of the serial killer Buffalo Bill, F.B.I. trainee Clarice Starling is thrown into a world where women are objectified and have to struggle to obtain any form of power. She encounters opposition and encouragement from both sides of the gender line, which further fuels the conflicts at hand. The tension constantly rises throughout the sixty-one chapters, reaching a boiling point where forces collide, causing one side to be rewarded, the other, punished. While the suspense contributes solely to the plot, the careful use of characterization pushes the thematic level as well as the intense drama. Harris employs a wide array of characters in his analysis of gender relations. There's Clarice Starling, her boss Jack Crawford, the dangerously intelligent psychopath Hannibal Lector, the serial killer Buffalo Bill and the devious Frederick Chilton to name a few. The interactions between all of these characters scrutinize the psychological implications of gender relations in America. The fact that two of these people are extremely dangerous dramatically intensifies the conflicts within the novel. The aspect of gender is at the heart of this book. Every character's gender must be taken into account in order to understand their place in the world as Thomas Harris sees it. The language Harris uses is fairly simple, but it is incredibly real. If he were to use prose in an unconventional manner, much of the dramatic effect would be lost. Instead he presents the scenes in a very clear, yet chilling manner, enabling the reader to concentrate less on complex syntax, and more on the literal happenings of the book. This allows for a fuller experience with the story. From a cinematic standpoint, it is great to finally see an accurate interpretation of literature on film. The movie accurately depicts the gender driven thematics as well as the suspense riddled plot. I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to experience a great mix of dramatic and thematic devices. Harris places equal importance on both aspects of literature, therefore creating a masterpiece for the literary community. If you have not read The Silence of the Lambs, don't approach it as a mere psychological thriller. Keep in mind that other levels exist, and that this book should be viewed from a literary perspective. If you have read it before, try it out again and see what else you can find. I bet you'll be surprised.

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Summary: Suspenseful Viscera
Review: At first glance, Silence of the Lambs is a suspense thriller about the tracking of a skin flaying serial killer known as Buffalo Bill. The main character is Clarice Starling, the beleaguered, yet dogged young FBI agent who is trying to catch Buffalo Bill, with some help from an incarcerated, supra-genius, psychiatrist turned serial killer, Dr. Hannibal "The Cannibal" Lecter. It is a mouthful, but it seems simple enough.

But Silence of the Lambs goes far beyond the tenets of the genre, and it is certainly more than it's pretense of being a suspense novel would suggest. It includes very well woven themes of the concept of a glass ceiling, and Clarice being essentially alone in a man's world. And, further, it is able to communicate all of this while maintaining its tone of suspense and avoiding pretension when facing these issues of a woman in a male dominated field. The novel is a delicate and very well executed balance of dramatization and thematic development.

And the character of Hannibal Lecter not only fuels the suspense exponentially, but also is the primary vehicle for the theme of equality. The interactions between Clarice and Dr. Lecter are based on a give and take, "quid pro quo" as Dr Lecter calls it. And this is definitely a good way to build suspense, as Dr. Lecter knows the answers Clarice is seeking, but will only reveal them through cryptic hints in exchange for information about Clarice herself. I found myself unable to stop reading this book because I the lures that Thomas Harris places are so irresistible. The suspense is embodied in the question of how Clarice can use the next mind game with Lecter to get more information about Buffalo Bill. The thematic development of the concept of gender equality comes through the ways in which Lecter interacts with Clarice. Their relationship is a two-way street, give and take, equal. And, even more impressive, Harris is able to keep this pace throughout the book. He delivers on his themes, while still paving the way for a dynamite ending.

Also, I found Hannibal Lecter to be one of the coolest characters in any book I have ever read. He is by no means a hero, but his relationship with Clarice presents a relatively sympathetic picture of a man who would often be considered an absolute monster. And I think it is Lecter that makes this book a suspense thriller. The unusual case of Buffalo Bill notwithstanding, I do not think that the book would have the same quality of suspense without Dr. Hannibal Lecter. He made this book for me.

For a book about ghastly murders, Silence of the Lambs is also quite moral. And much of the book's picture of morality is twisted around. It is not so much Dr. Lecter, who fed one of his patients to his friends at a dinner party, that is the moral villain, but rather a member of the FBI, the good guys. Paul Krendler is constantly up in Starling's grill, abusing her in all of the ways implemented commonly by men with power over women. From Starling's perspective, Krendler is the monster; Dr. Lecter is simply "misguided" (for lack of a better term).

So Silence of the Lambs will most certainly impress those readers looking for a good scare and some psychological, mind bending suspense. But it may will appeal to those of us who are not so fond of the suspense\thriller genre as well. I thought that Silence of the Lambs was well written and kept well to its themes while maintaining its suspenseful viscera. It has a little something for everyone, and, oh yeah, it is way better than the movie.