Reviews with content warning for Dysphoria - The Silence of the Lambs

This series is my favorite for a reason. The world is creates is bleak but decorated with all of these macabre details and people.

Now, about Red Dragon I said I would not necessarily recommend it despite it being a part of my favorite series. The same is true for Silence.
So much of this book does not hold up in modern times. On the least offensive note, a lot of the references have been lost to time. But THEN, hoo boy. As a trans and gay person, I have a lot to say about the Buffalo Bill storyline and how it is presented (mostly negative, but surprisingly not all). Fatphobia is also a major plot point throughout and is presented without a shred of respect for fat people, either. Now. I can extend a certain level of grace for something published 35 years ago, but that doesn't make it palatable either.

I see these books through a 20 year old filter of nostalgia that a new reader would not have.
So, read with caution, I guess.

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oobi's review

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dark sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

I read this after having read Red Dragon, and can say I enjoyed it far more. Clarice is relatable and fun, but its sad that she's the only female leading character of the Hannibal series. Being a trans person, I think the depiction of Buffalo Bill is strange and misinformed, yet nuanced, and a good example of Thomas Herris's talent in writing from the perspective of a truly demented and backwards person. The writing kept me engaged despite my tendency to get off track while reading, I hadn't felt so absorbed in a book for a long time.

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