Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

Red Dragon by Thomas Harris

31 reviews

volo's review against another edition

dark sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

I like this book because im obsessed with the Hannibal series. It very much feels like it was written back in 1988. Lots of racism and homophobia and very detailed childhood abuse. I dont like this Will Graham as much as I liked Edward Nortons Will Graham in the film adaptation or the NBC series but it was alright. Definitely a cult classic that probably wouldn't get the same following if published today.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Murder, Racial slurs, Sexual content, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Homophobia, Torture, Child abuse, Gore, Rape, Death of parent, Kidnapping, Racism, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Violence, Animal death, Blood, Ableism, Cursing, Sexual violence, Death, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Medical content, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Cannibalism, Abandonment, Antisemitism, and Misogyny

Many mentions of graphic childhood abuse. Graphic depictions of gore and torture. A fair amount of racism and homophobia.

thechocolatefinger's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I actually think about this books a lot and how good it was. I really recommend and it’s much better than the film
it focusses on actual Francis not Hannibal so don’t expect stuff about Hannibal even though they put his name all on the front cover he’s just a minor character.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Mental illness, Violence, Death, Murder, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Suicide, Ableism, Emotional abuse, Body shaming, Bullying, Dysphoria, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Sexual content, Fire/Fire injury, Kidnapping, and Torture

Minor: Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Body horror, Dementia, Gore, Homophobia, Stalking, Animal death, Blood, Grief, Medical content, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship

paperbackacademie's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Misogyny, Medical content, Sexual violence, Rape, Murder, Gun violence, Violence, Kidnapping, Animal cruelty, and Animal death

alomie's review against another edition

challenging dark tense

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

4.0

This was a surprising win for me, I'm not a huge horror reader but I found this to be fast paced and I found myself reaching for it constantly to find out the ending. 

There are bits in this that genuinely made me squirm, it was rough to read and the constant intense threat of Francis Dolarhyde attacking again really makes you want the book to end. 

The final twist in the book did feel a little rushed in my opinion, and I would have in a rare moment preferred this book to be a little longer to give the final standoff just a bit more space and time to develop. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Child abuse, Dysphoria, Gore, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual content

ferns_citruscorner_8's review against another edition

tense medium-paced

2.75

An enjoying read to say the least, but if one were to dive deeper into each character’s psyche, one would surely feel exhausted. The book is definitely not like the American tv show “Hannibal” lmao, but a certain aesthetic is still there. I could feel the darkness and the more hopelessness in the book as in the series, though some times I felt as if Will Graham was a bit over-dramatic. 
In the background (throughout the story) tones of racism and homophobia are present and always looming, so be cautious and critical when faced with arrogant moments. 

I will be continuing my reading into the series. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying and Child abuse

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Racial slurs, Murder, Blood, Sexual content, Racism, and Mental illness

directorpurry's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Violence, Animal death, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Body horror, Blood, Gore, Sexual harassment, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Mental illness, and Child abuse

Moderate: Cannibalism, Animal cruelty, Vomit, Body shaming, and Bullying

rendezvous's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Physical abuse, Murder, Mental illness, Medical content, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Gore, Grief, Gaslighting, Fire/Fire injury, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Death, Child abuse, Child death, Body horror, Blood, Animal cruelty, Abandonment, and Torture

Moderate: Animal death, Body shaming, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Misogyny, Sexism, Alcoholism, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Stalking, Sexual content, Racism, Cursing, Bullying, and Xenophobia

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Kidnapping, Excrement, Cannibalism, and Panic attacks/disorders

hungryheidi2013's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Mental illness, Murder, Violence, Body horror, Gore, and Death

Moderate: Alcoholism

Minor: Homophobia, Racial slurs, and Racism

booksgirl456's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

This book is an amazing story, not only does it have diverse characters and plot, it has an ending that will haunt you for a long time. Will Graham’s internal battles with his trauma and pure empathy are well thought out and written, as well as

Francis Dolahyde’s own struggles with his battles with the “dragon” and he is a tragic character who always seems to want to stop but just can’t manage it

the introduction to Hannibal Lecter is both thought provoking and spine chilling. All in all an amazing read and a must read if you are a fan of phycological horror and mystery novels.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Cannibalism, Confinement, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Grief, Mental illness, Murder, Sexual violence, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Torture, and Violence

Amazing

mclachlan301003's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Bullying, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Death of parent, Dementia, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Murder, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Stalking, Torture, and Violence