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3.29 AVERAGE
3.29 AVERAGE
dark
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Before reading this book, I was trying to decide which book from the Hannibal Lecture series I should read first. Upon looking around and asking the advice of people who had read all four, it seemed to not matter all that much. So due to circumstances with the library I decided to read the fourth book, the prequel, first. This can definitely be read as a standalone book, however I would not recommend it as such. The book is an insight into the mind and actions of Hannibal Lecture, and why he became what he is. If you do not know much about this character as I did, you may find yourself not so interested in this story much as I did. That is not to say I did not enjoy the story overall, but there were parts where I was not particularly interested, as compared to other parts. There were no parts in the book that a reader would not understand if he/she had not read the other three. So my recommendation, as of now, is to read the other three books, [b:Red Dragon|28877|Red Dragon (Hannibal Lecter, #1)|Thomas Harris|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1390284698s/28877.jpg|925503], [b:The Silence of the Lambs|23807|The Silence of the Lambs (Hannibal Lecter, #2)|Thomas Harris|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1390426249s/23807.jpg|22533], and [b:Hannibal|32418|Hannibal (Hannibal Lecter, #3)|Thomas Harris|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327356556s/32418.jpg|2992500] and then read this book. Harris' writing varied. In a situation where someone is being killed off, he's has two methods, showing the brutality behind said killing, or not fully "showing" the death but heavily implying it. The contrasts of these make for an interesting read. I will update this review slightly after I finish the other three books in the series.
Where do I start with this?
Many years ago, I discovered Red Dragon and The Silence of the Lambs.
Hannibal Lecter was fascinating.
With Hannibal, that fascination left a little bit, but it was still a nice read.
That's why I decided to give "hannibal rising" a chance. And it was a mistake.
I could feel that Thomas Harris didn't even try. There were so many mistakes. So many things that didn't sound right about Hannibal, a character he had created himself. It was like he was destroying his own work, word after word, page after page. I didnt' feel invested in the world he was creating, couldn't even feel empathy for Hannibal. I feel like with the mystery he painted in the previous book, this prequel could've digged so much deeper in the mind of that character. Yet, I felt like I understood it more when he was a secondary character than when he was the main one.
I gave up on the book when I saw some mispelling of places in Paris. As a parisian, and knowing that he was in France and worked with the Brigade Criminelle, it was just too much. It just felt like he had himself given up.
I wouldn't recommend it to someone who loves Hannibal Lecter.
Just stick to Red Dragon and the Silence of the Lambs, it'll be better.
Many years ago, I discovered Red Dragon and The Silence of the Lambs.
Hannibal Lecter was fascinating.
With Hannibal, that fascination left a little bit, but it was still a nice read.
That's why I decided to give "hannibal rising" a chance. And it was a mistake.
I could feel that Thomas Harris didn't even try. There were so many mistakes. So many things that didn't sound right about Hannibal, a character he had created himself. It was like he was destroying his own work, word after word, page after page. I didnt' feel invested in the world he was creating, couldn't even feel empathy for Hannibal. I feel like with the mystery he painted in the previous book, this prequel could've digged so much deeper in the mind of that character. Yet, I felt like I understood it more when he was a secondary character than when he was the main one.
I gave up on the book when I saw some mispelling of places in Paris. As a parisian, and knowing that he was in France and worked with the Brigade Criminelle, it was just too much. It just felt like he had himself given up.
I wouldn't recommend it to someone who loves Hannibal Lecter.
Just stick to Red Dragon and the Silence of the Lambs, it'll be better.
Far-fetched, and at times, gruesome backstory on Lecter. Thank the gods it was shorter than Hannibal, but still not a great read. That the first two books were utterly brilliant and that the last two were so not is truly disappointing.
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
As the last book of the Hannibal series I was expecting a better ending to the series, not essentially the story and yet this wasn't delivered. Though I have to say that Thomas Harris' imagination is quite interesting, his writing on this book didn't live up to it. It was slow, simple and not as good as the previous ones. I believe that he was trying to please readers demanding for some kind of background on Hannibal Lecter and that this book was done more for pressure than for pleasure.
Nevertheless, I was able to enjoy and discover where all of Lecter's anger and need of revenge came from.
If you read the other three books, and haven't watched the movie, read it... Otherwise just go ahead and watch the movie again and grab another book... Save yourself from unnecessary characters and settings.
"Would you like to remember everything?" Mr. Jakov said.
"Yes."
"To remember is not always a blessing."
"I would like to remember everything."
"Then you'll need a mind place, to store things in. A palace in your mind."
"Does it have to be a palace?"
"It will grow to be enormous like a palace" Mr. Jakov said.
Nevertheless, I was able to enjoy and discover where all of Lecter's anger and need of revenge came from.
If you read the other three books, and haven't watched the movie, read it... Otherwise just go ahead and watch the movie again and grab another book... Save yourself from unnecessary characters and settings.
"Would you like to remember everything?" Mr. Jakov said.
"Yes."
"To remember is not always a blessing."
"I would like to remember everything."
"Then you'll need a mind place, to store things in. A palace in your mind."
"Does it have to be a palace?"
"It will grow to be enormous like a palace" Mr. Jakov said.
A bit fluffed up to meet a page count total (methinks), but the writing is fantastic, colorful and yet accessible. Might be closer to a five-star if not for being leagues behind the first two in the series and still yet not as good as the third. Nice, quick read.
This was a pretty good book. I think I could have liked this more had I not read the other three in the Lecter series. I kept comparing this book to those and it kept falling short. Now don’t get me wrong there is a lot to like about this book and Thomas Harris’s writing style is one I really enjoy.
Let me start with what I felt was missing. There wasn’t anything I didn’t like about this book, but it was lacking in a few areas. There were some slow times but the flow of the writing made it seem to not drag too much. For me what was missing was the second story. In Red Dragon we are following the FBI and their hunt for Francis Dolarhyde, and in Silence of the lambs, we are hunting Buffalo Bill. These extra serial killer stories made those so intense, and how Hannibal played into those investigations was one that held my attention. Even in Hannibal, we followed the troubles of Clarice Starling with one story line, and Hannibal’s life in Florence. We also got to meet one of Hannibal’s early victims and follow his own privet revenge. This type of plot was missing from the book and I think kept me from being blown away.
The other issue I had was the beginning, I had gotten lost because of the rapid change in time period. I had to go back a few times in places to figure out what happened. Other than that the story flowed very well.
Here is what I liked about the book. Aside from the occasional slow point the story is fascinating. I always enjoy when I writer can humanize a villain. We finally see how Hannibal grew up. The pain and suffering he had to go through makes the reader understand why he is the man he has become. We also get to see that Hannibal is stunningly brilliant even at the age of 6. Had his life been different, he might not have gone down the path of murder and cannibalism.
I did really enjoy this book, had I read it first I think it would have rated four stars, but since I compare it to the others I would have to say it is my least favorite but still a solid three star book.
Let me start with what I felt was missing. There wasn’t anything I didn’t like about this book, but it was lacking in a few areas. There were some slow times but the flow of the writing made it seem to not drag too much. For me what was missing was the second story. In Red Dragon we are following the FBI and their hunt for Francis Dolarhyde, and in Silence of the lambs, we are hunting Buffalo Bill. These extra serial killer stories made those so intense, and how Hannibal played into those investigations was one that held my attention. Even in Hannibal, we followed the troubles of Clarice Starling with one story line, and Hannibal’s life in Florence. We also got to meet one of Hannibal’s early victims and follow his own privet revenge. This type of plot was missing from the book and I think kept me from being blown away.
The other issue I had was the beginning, I had gotten lost because of the rapid change in time period. I had to go back a few times in places to figure out what happened. Other than that the story flowed very well.
Here is what I liked about the book. Aside from the occasional slow point the story is fascinating. I always enjoy when I writer can humanize a villain. We finally see how Hannibal grew up. The pain and suffering he had to go through makes the reader understand why he is the man he has become. We also get to see that Hannibal is stunningly brilliant even at the age of 6. Had his life been different, he might not have gone down the path of murder and cannibalism.
I did really enjoy this book, had I read it first I think it would have rated four stars, but since I compare it to the others I would have to say it is my least favorite but still a solid three star book.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes