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Graphic: Homophobia, Mental illness, Transphobia, Violence, Kidnapping, Murder, Gaslighting, Dysphoria
Moderate: Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Grief, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death, Child abuse, Confinement, Misogyny, Sexism, Torture, Medical content, Trafficking, Cannibalism, Stalking
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body shaming, Cursing, Gun violence, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Terminal illness
Minor: Animal cruelty, Body horror, Hate crime, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Gaslighting
Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Cannibalism, Murder
Moderate: Fatphobia, Incest, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Sexism, Sexual assault, Transphobia, Excrement
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Terminal illness, Violence, Medical content, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Stalking, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Torture
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]
Graphic: Body shaming, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Fatphobia, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cancer, Cannibalism
There's a review on Goodreads that says this is the crime novel against which all others are judged.
Not enjoyable in any way, completely unpleasant, but also compelling and tense, so that I read pretty much all of it in three days.
Half a point lost because of the fat phobia. Doesn't age well.
One thing to say: NEVER get into a stranger's vehicle!
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Fatphobia, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Stalking, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Homophobia
Graphic: Death, Murder, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Fatphobia, Sexism
Graphic: Violence, Murder
Moderate: Death, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Grief
Minor: Homophobia, Stalking
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
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Violence, Kidnapping, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder
Moderate: Fatphobia, Gore, Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Grief
Minor: Animal cruelty, Body horror, Cannibalism