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Graphic: Confinement, Death, Torture, Violence, Murder
Graphic: Gore, Mental illness, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Murder
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
I did things backwards, having seen the movie before reading the book, but at least I can say with confidence that Jodie Foster and Sir Anthony Hopkins were the perfect choices to portray FBI Agent-in-Training Clarice Starling and Dr. Hannibal Lector.
The writing, quite simply, is good. Nothing over the top, no real *gotcha* twists, just straight to the point. I think because of this, I was able to better understand the characters and connect with them. I loved that I was forced to question the reality of what I was reading - how much of what Dr. Lector was stating was the truth, and how much was a game?
This book stressed me the hell out. I want so badly to say that I couldn't put it down, but I'd read a few chapters, and have to set it aside to calm myself. Harris did a fantastic job at creating tension. I also found myself hoping I was smart enough to find clues about Buffalo Bill throughout, as per Dr. Lector, even though he had his own chapters, and we knew who he was. By the time I finished, I concluded that Dr. Lector and Buffalo Bill really aren't that different. They both wear the skins of someone else as a means of achieving their ambitions.
I hated Dr. Chilton. I wish I could pull him out of the pages just so I could punch him in the face. His ego is delicate, and his hubris is strong. I was constantly waiting with baited breath for him to meet his maker at the hands of Hannibal Lector.
For those who love a Strong Female Character, Clarice Starling is ideal. She's not perfect. She knows she's flawed, and she gets to hear about weaknesses regularly. What makes her strong is that she learns. We already know she's smart. So does everyone else. It's her continued push and her need to save Buffalo Bill's latest hostage, even if it means failing out of Quantico. This selflessness makes Clarice a force to be reckoned with.
A word of warning, the graphic content doesn't appear often, but when it does, Harris doesn't hold back. Avoid this book if you are squeamish.
I did read somewhere that this book didn't sit well with members of the LGBT community, as questions and issues surrounding gender and sexual identity is a recurring theme. I'd like to remind people that there are characters in the book who do regularly remind the FBI that Buffalo Bill's proclivities cast people who are trans in a poor light. I like to hope that the people who read this are smart enough to remember that very few people who are LGBT turn out like Buffalo Bill.
Overall, I loved this book, I'd absolutely read it again, and I really, REALLY want to rewatch the movie!
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis
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, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Torture, Blood, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gun violence, Grief
Minor: Transphobia, Death of parent
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
Readability ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Impact ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Graphic: Gore, Sexual assault, Kidnapping
Moderate: Fatphobia, Homophobia, Torture, Transphobia, Dysphoria
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