Hannibal [Large Print] [Hardcover]

Nonetheless, this book is a masterpiece. There is no other word to describe it.

Harris is a master. This is a wonderful gesture from Harris, giving the finger to all who fans who expected something rather like a carbon copy of SoTL, or even something vaguely similar. Harris here tells us that his novels will be dictated by what he wants to write, not what the public wants him to write.

Harris comes up with a wonderfully gothic plot, and the way he writes is beautiful. The prose sings with intelligence and poetical value.

Harris has created some great characters here. He builds on Barney, who we met in the last book, he delves deeper into Clarice's psyche, and explores Hannibal in a way that is vivid and realistic. Not to mention Mason Verger, who does superly as the disfigured and vengeful villain. And beside him you have Margot Verger, who is the best subsidiary character Harris has ever created. At first she is meek, then strong, and at the end finally comes into her gruesome own. Then we have Rinaldo Pazzi, another great character, out to trap Hannibal, but ultimate, inevitably, falls victim to him in a particularly horrible way. Wonnderfully done.

Another stunning piece of villainly is Paul Krendler, who we just cheer at when meets his fate.

Hannibal Lecter is back, and he is bigger and better than ever.

The ending to this book is possibly the best to any fictional piece of writing i have ever come across. The last pages shimmer with brilliance and nostalgia. The last chapter is great, the last paragraphs inspirational, the last line, simply stunning. A great, great ending.

Trumps expectations.

(SORRY - SOME SPOILERS FOLLOW)

The case for 5 stars

Hannibal is written beautifully, with the stunning metaphors and descriptive language I came to love in the past two books in the trilogy. Thomas Harris writes with a unique style that is a pleasure to read. The story is full of twists and turns and the ending is the most unusual, shocking one ever written - but whether this is a good thing remains to be seen.

Hannibal Lecter's character is developed and deepened, which I liked, and we are given insights into what has made him into such a monster. Not much is added to the character of Clarice, but most of her background was discussed in Silence of The Lambs. Instead for most of the book we empathise with her as she has been held back from promotion because of jealousy and sexism.

The case for 1 star

By the end of the novel I felt completely depressed. Hannibal Lecter was the only character to come out on top. Although he was original and interesting I didn't want him to continue roaming free without any justice. Clarice Starling was stripped of all intelligence and power and became nothing but a brainwashed doll in an ending that was shocking and horrific. I could not understand how the author could bare to have Clarice sit down with Lecter and Krendler at the dinner table and take part in what followed. The reasons given; 'hypnosis' and 'drugs' were not explained satisfactorily.

Other characters had also deteriorated. Jack Crawford had nothing left to live for and none of his dynamic, strong personality remained. Barney was unrecognisable from the 'nice' guy who was kind to Clarice and Hannibal in Silence of The Lambs, he had turned into a complete sleaze ball. The lovely Ardelia Mapp was left in despair.

The characters that were added since the last book were corrupt and weird. Pazzi, the Italian police officer, seemed all right at first and then deteriorated into an unlikeable idiot before being despatched in a terrible way. Mason and Margot Verger were unbelievable. Mason was a paralysed paedophile missing most of his face / body, who got his jollies tormenting children and reminding his sister how she performed sex acts on him as a little girl. Margot was a lesbian weight lifter who had a burning desire for a child using Mason's sperm in order to receive her inheritance. (It's only when you write it down and read it over that you realise just how ridiculous it sounds).

Yes, I know the ending has been mentioned in all the reviews before mine but I can't finish without mentioning it again. I found it frightening and horrible and not well explained.

Overall, I'll give this novel 3 stars and try to forget it as quickly as I can. I always reread books I like but I don't think I ever want to see a copy of Hannibal again for as long I live, let alone read it.

JoAnne

The book gives flesh and soul to Hannibal, making him the centre of the action, and completing his journey from what seemed to be the out of control darkly intelligent monster of the first two books, to a fully realised character with all too human virtues and flaws.

Here Hannibal is the hero and anti-hero. His actions have purpose. He is in pursuit of, and aspiring to, the pure, the unsullied, virtuous, the highest of human creations. He kills those who 'deserve' it, the hypocritical, the ruthlessly cruel rich who abuse the power that wealth has conferred on them, those who would deny him his freedom for their own selfish and base greed. He does not kill at random, nor those that pose him no threat. He is as a superior being culling the diseased from the human flock. As such he is almost the kind of strong intellectual of the type that has been admired through the ages, a type that has it's roots in the world of the ancients of Greece and Rome.

Indeed Hannibal is a character that the ancients would surely appreciate, their heros were rounded characters. People who had as many if not more faults than virtues. People who might kill unjustly but still be regarded as worthy. It is no surprise then that much of the plot of Hannibal is a reworking of one of the myths of the ancient world (Hannibal has found HIS Galatea!)

So Hannibal is something of an aspirational character, strong in body and mind. But he is still flawed. He has unjustly assumed the power to kill and dispose of those he dislikes and despises, and that makes him less than human. Being both above and below us, Hannibal is truly special. Devour this book now. It is one of the best you are likely to read.