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adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is a hard one to assign a star rating to. On one hand it’s a genuinely phenomenal thriller. On the other hand, it was so clearly written in the 80’s and some aspects have NOT aged well.
The latent transphobia was difficult to read. But that being said — I was actually surprised with how the novel made a point to emphasise that Buffalo Bill was not a “real” trans person and that trans people are not dangerous. So… points for that, I guess? With some big minus points for paving the way for the “man in a dress killing women” trope.
Likewise, there were some real “men writing women” moments in this book. And some fatphobia. Just some classic moments of, yeah wow this book really was written 35 years ago. But I’ve honestly seen far worse in far more recent media, and I’m hesitant to use “it could be worse” as a reason to tip my hat but… well. For 1989, it really could be worse.
The dynamic between Hannibal and Clarice is great. Both characters are phenomenal in isolation and electric in tandem. Hannibal’s escape scene is perhaps one of the most exciting chapters ever written in any crime novel.
This is a 4/5 granted with acknowledgment of the flaws this book has, and awareness of its context.
[Edit: adjusted to 3.5/5]
The latent transphobia was difficult to read. But that being said — I was actually surprised with how the novel made a point to emphasise that Buffalo Bill was not a “real” trans person and that trans people are not dangerous. So… points for that, I guess? With some big minus points for paving the way for the “man in a dress killing women” trope.
Likewise, there were some real “men writing women” moments in this book. And some fatphobia. Just some classic moments of, yeah wow this book really was written 35 years ago. But I’ve honestly seen far worse in far more recent media, and I’m hesitant to use “it could be worse” as a reason to tip my hat but… well. For 1989, it really could be worse.
The dynamic between Hannibal and Clarice is great. Both characters are phenomenal in isolation and electric in tandem. Hannibal’s escape scene is perhaps one of the most exciting chapters ever written in any crime novel.
This is a 4/5 granted with acknowledgment of the flaws this book has, and awareness of its context.
[Edit: adjusted to 3.5/5]
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Fatphobia, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cancer, Cannibalism
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cancer, Chronic illness, Fatphobia, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Medical trauma, Gaslighting, Dysphoria
Minor: Body shaming, Drug use, Sexual assault, Stalking, Death of parent, Alcohol
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Gun violence, Torture, Kidnapping, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic friendship
Minor: Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Cancer, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Sexism, Terminal illness, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Cannibalism, Stalking, Death of parent, Alcohol
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I think I liked it for the nostalgia of the movie.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Cancer, Confinement, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Terminal illness, Medical content, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Wow wow wow. I'd already watched the film a little while before reading it but that absolutely did not take away from my experience. The fact that I already knew the plot, the characters and what was happening and yet still managed to love the reading experience this much really says something.
Of course Hannibal Lecture is an iconic character, perfectly crafted and endlessly intriguing. But Clarice Starling: wow. Clarice was just such a wonderful perspective to follow: a complex real character with amazing strength and intelligence while remaining humble and flawed. I loved her gentleness but also her passion and anger. Through her character it explores the frustrations of being a young woman in a heavily male dominated field as well as the unique insight it brings her. Clarice is absolutely a new favourite character of mine, and a character you could easily believe was written by a woman.
The dynamic between Starling and Lecter was brilliantly fascinating. So many 'psychology thrillers' butcher the psychology aspect with surface level pop psychology or just misinformation, but in this book the psychological aspects were just brilliant done and admirably researched.
I was, early on, concerned that the characterisation of Buffalo Bill would come across as transphobic, but this concept was actually really well addressed and explicitly discussed as Bill not belonging to the legitimate trans community. I was pleasantly surprised considering this was written in the late 1980s. That said, I am cis so I can't really speak on the representation and would be interested on hearing the opinion of trans individuals.
Overall just really impressed, I love the characters, the plot, the mood and can't wait to eventually reread it.
Of course Hannibal Lecture is an iconic character, perfectly crafted and endlessly intriguing. But Clarice Starling: wow. Clarice was just such a wonderful perspective to follow: a complex real character with amazing strength and intelligence while remaining humble and flawed. I loved her gentleness but also her passion and anger. Through her character it explores the frustrations of being a young woman in a heavily male dominated field as well as the unique insight it brings her. Clarice is absolutely a new favourite character of mine, and a character you could easily believe was written by a woman.
The dynamic between Starling and Lecter was brilliantly fascinating. So many 'psychology thrillers' butcher the psychology aspect with surface level pop psychology or just misinformation, but in this book the psychological aspects were just brilliant done and admirably researched.
I was, early on, concerned that the characterisation of Buffalo Bill would come across as transphobic, but this concept was actually really well addressed and explicitly discussed as Bill not belonging to the legitimate trans community. I was pleasantly surprised considering this was written in the late 1980s. That said, I am cis so I can't really speak on the representation and would be interested on hearing the opinion of trans individuals.
Overall just really impressed, I love the characters, the plot, the mood and can't wait to eventually reread it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, Cannibalism
Moderate: Cancer, Gore, Violence, Kidnapping, Murder
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
4/5 (8/10)
Very light spoilers ahead. Couldn’t find a CW for foul language (other than cursing) but there’s a bit of that.
Like the previous installment, I was hooked from page one. This book actually includes cannibalism, as opposed to the first one, and makes Hannibal Lecter a central figure rather than a peripheral one.
While many of the book’s elements have aged well, the attempted discussion of “transsexualism” has not. Harris seems to be aware that trans people, and queer people in general, are not dangerous or “bad”, but the general tone seems to be one of sympathy rather than understanding.
I’m inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt and say that he was nothing but well-intentioned and misinformed, but Harris’ understanding of what it is to be trans seems to begin and end with what amounts to transmedicalism (the idea that trans people have a medical problem that can only be alleviated with surgery and HRT).
To a modern eye, his perspective seems underdeveloped compared to the extensive research he must have done for even minor details in his work.
Despite this, I thoroughly enjoyed the book, especially the protagonist Clarisse Starling and her interactions with Hannibal Lecter and Jack Crawford.
Starling is a fully realized character, as most of Harris’ are, and her foray into the boys’ club that is law enforcement was uncomfortable and yet engaging to read about. Harris has that ability to imagine the world through another’s eyes, and uses it well. There was a passage at the end of the novel where Starling is analyzing the bedroom of a female murder victim that reminded me a lot of that Margaret Atwood quite about voyeurism.
I’d also love to see Thomas Harris write a serial killer whose trauma doesn’t stem from mommy issues, but considering the real-life precedent for it I can’t say I was surprised to see it included.
Very light spoilers ahead. Couldn’t find a CW for foul language (other than cursing) but there’s a bit of that.
Like the previous installment, I was hooked from page one. This book actually includes cannibalism, as opposed to the first one, and makes Hannibal Lecter a central figure rather than a peripheral one.
While many of the book’s elements have aged well, the attempted discussion of “transsexualism” has not. Harris seems to be aware that trans people, and queer people in general, are not dangerous or “bad”, but the general tone seems to be one of sympathy rather than understanding.
I’m inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt and say that he was nothing but well-intentioned and misinformed, but Harris’ understanding of what it is to be trans seems to begin and end with what amounts to transmedicalism (the idea that trans people have a medical problem that can only be alleviated with surgery and HRT).
To a modern eye, his perspective seems underdeveloped compared to the extensive research he must have done for even minor details in his work.
Despite this, I thoroughly enjoyed the book, especially the protagonist Clarisse Starling and her interactions with Hannibal Lecter and Jack Crawford.
Starling is a fully realized character, as most of Harris’ are, and her foray into the boys’ club that is law enforcement was uncomfortable and yet engaging to read about. Harris has that ability to imagine the world through another’s eyes, and uses it well. There was a passage at the end of the novel where Starling is analyzing the bedroom of a female murder victim that reminded me a lot of that Margaret Atwood quite about voyeurism.
I’d also love to see Thomas Harris write a serial killer whose trauma doesn’t stem from mommy issues, but considering the real-life precedent for it I can’t say I was surprised to see it included.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Cannibalism
Moderate: Death, Transphobia
Minor: Cancer, Fatphobia, Misogyny
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Cancer, Confinement, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Suicide, Torture, Blood, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Murder, Toxic friendship