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Title: The Silence of the Lambs (Hannibal Lecter Book 2)
Author: Thomas Harris
Published: New York: St. Martin's Press, 1990 (1988)
Rating: 4 of 5
Page Count: 367
Total Page Count: 147,913
Text Number: 435
Read Because: fan of the television adaptation, from my personal library
Review: When FBI trainee is called in to interview famous convicted murder Hannibal Lecter, he gives her information which may help her catch an active serial killer, Buffalo Bill. The Silence of the Lambs has an intense readability, which isn't something I often value in books because it can denote a lack of complexity or substance—but because of its psychological focus, Silence has both. It's a psychological thriller and procedural drama with lots of momentum (and the superb chapter length helps, staccato-short without stooping as low as cliffhangers) but intentional depth; the characters are good—Hannibal of course is compelling, but the core cast and Clarice in particular (once Harris moves beyond a self-congratulatory study on how unpleasant it is for women to experience sexism) are viewed with a gratifying psychological eye which justifies and even excuses the headhopping. That the film adaptation of this book is so faithful does credit to both versions—Silence is a solid piece of work, and unfailingly enjoyable to read. I'd like to pick up the others in this series, but this book stands alone.
Author: Thomas Harris
Published: New York: St. Martin's Press, 1990 (1988)
Rating: 4 of 5
Page Count: 367
Total Page Count: 147,913
Text Number: 435
Read Because: fan of the television adaptation, from my personal library
Review: When FBI trainee is called in to interview famous convicted murder Hannibal Lecter, he gives her information which may help her catch an active serial killer, Buffalo Bill. The Silence of the Lambs has an intense readability, which isn't something I often value in books because it can denote a lack of complexity or substance—but because of its psychological focus, Silence has both. It's a psychological thriller and procedural drama with lots of momentum (and the superb chapter length helps, staccato-short without stooping as low as cliffhangers) but intentional depth; the characters are good—Hannibal of course is compelling, but the core cast and Clarice in particular (once Harris moves beyond a self-congratulatory study on how unpleasant it is for women to experience sexism) are viewed with a gratifying psychological eye which justifies and even excuses the headhopping. That the film adaptation of this book is so faithful does credit to both versions—Silence is a solid piece of work, and unfailingly enjoyable to read. I'd like to pick up the others in this series, but this book stands alone.
