Hannibal

Thomas Harris

Average Rating 5/10 (3 Reviews)

Invite Hannibal Lecter into the palace of your mind and be invited into his mind palace in turn. Note the similarities in yours and his, the high vaulted chambers of your dreams, the shadowed halls, the locked storerooms where you dare not go, the scrap of half-forgotten music, the muffled cries from behind a wall.

In one of the most eagerly anticipated literary events of the decade, Thomas Harris takes us once again into the mind of a killer, crafting a chilling portrait of insidiously evolving evil - a tour de force of psychological suspense.

Seven years have passed since Dr. Hannibal Lector escaped from custody, seven years since FBI Agent Clarice Starling interviewed him in a maximum security hospital for the criminally insane. The doctor is still at large, pursuing his own ineffable interests, savouring the scents, the essences of an unguarded world. But Starling has never forgotten her encounters with Dr. Lecter, and the metallic rasp of his seldom-used voice still sounds in her dreams.

Mason Verger remembers Dr. Lecter, too, and is obsessed with revenge. He was Dr. Lecter's sixth victim, and he has survived to rule his own butcher's empire. From his respirator, Verger monitors every twitch in his worldwide web. Soon he sees that to draw the doctor, he must have the most exquisite and innocent-appearing bait; he must have what Dr. Lecter likes best.

Powerful, hypnotic, utterly original, Hannibal is a dazzling feast for the imagination. Prepare to travel to hell and beyond as a master storyteller permanently alters the world you thought you knew.

Review by Chrissi (030200) Rating (6/10)
Review by Nigel (010500)Rating (5/10)
Review by Vex (010500)Rating (4/10)

Review by Chrissi
Rating 6/10
I have to admit that that I was originally really looking forward to reading this, until we received it and his lordship got his paws on it first. He and Vex both read it and said that it was really good but that the ending let it down. This was not the most encouraging recommendation that I have ever had for read a book, so it remained on the shelf until last Friday.

The first nine tenths were great, Clarice is not as well fleshed out in this as Hannibal, which I suppose is only fair given that the book belongs to him, but he is not done in as much detail as I would have thought appropriate. The scenes are well constructed and well paced, the bad guy (Ha!) Mason is pretty gross and Clarice's bosses at the FBI are thoroughly horrid. I cannot, however, say that I particularly empathised with any of them. Clarice seems to be depressed about her life, Hannibal seems to be suffering from a series of psychotic episodes and every one else seems to be corrupt.

That said, it fair bombs along - until to my mind, it all became a rather odious piece of literature. I do not mind reading about entrails, blood and gore, but I do not like the idea of brain washing. I felt that this cheapened the finale. I do not mind happily ever after endings but this was tainted. Sorry, I will reread the first two but not this one.
Chrissi(1st April 2000)

Review by Nigel
Rating 5/10
Like most of the world (since the film was so popular:) I waited with baited breath for this book. Eleven years in the making and a sequel to two good novels, Red Dragon and Silence of the Lambs, its pedigree was impeccable.

Now if this doesn't set me up to have a biased opinion I don't know what would so I was very surprised at how disappointed I felt upon finishing the book. The first three-quarters (even 90%) were classic Thomas Harris, Hannibal Lecter, et al and you really felt for the characters. It was so good I could hardly put it down.

Then the ending... .it just didn't fit with the last 800+ pages. It seemed as though the author spent the first 10 years and 11 months creating a worthy sequel, had a phone call from the publisher, and wrote a crap ending:

"Thomas, the time is never better to release your new Hannibal book, you'll make a killing. The Times has even hinted it will be THE novel of the millennium"
"But it isn't finished yet!"
"Sod that mate, you're not young forever. John Harrison made that mistake, perfection is not an option!"
"OK, I'll bang something out after tea and post it in the morning"

OK, may be a little bit harsh, but without telling you the ending I can't put it any better. Very, very let down I tell you. Hope they do something with the film.

Don't get me wrong.
Read this book.
Then mail me your comments...

PS - Pop quiz hot shot... .Jodie Foster, down on her luck movie wise, needs a big film to ease the bank balance, turns down Hannibal. Why? ...crap ending :)
Nigel(1st May 2000)

Review by Vex
Rating 4/10
Pants...
Vex(1st May 2000)