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Ginger's Reviews > The Silence of the Lambs
The Silence of the Lambs (Hannibal Lecter, #2)
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5 STARS!! Full review up.
This was fantastic!!
I went into The Silence of the Lambs hesitant that this book would not be as great as the movie, OR I wouldn't be able to get the movie characters out of my head.
You see, I’ve seen The Silence of the Lambs 3 to 4 times in my life and I know the plot too well. I've loved the movie since the first time I watched it!
The movie came out in 1991 but I didn't watch it until I was 17, in 1995. I'm glad I waited because the nightmares would have sucked at age 13!!
Ha, who am I kidding. I still had nightmares after seeing this movie for the 1st time!
Getting back to the book, I was shocked with how much I enjoyed it! The writing by Thomas Harris is well done along with more detail about the serial killer, Buffalo Bill and the women he killed. The case was more detailed, the characters were more fleshed out (heh, funny I would use that term! haha) and the ending was dynamite.
The character of Clarice Starling was great in this book! She’s more fierce and cunning then what Jodie Foster does with the character in the movie. Jodie Foster still does a damn fine job with this character but it’s hard to be exactly like a character in a book. You can’t see what she thinks or how she interprets the Buffalo Bill case and the prisoner, Hannibal Lecter.
Speaking of Dr. Hannibal Lecter, he’s a monster, sadistic, way too intelligent, and will scare the pants off you. Anthony Hopkins does such a great job with this character. Let’s just take a moment to appreciate how he took Thomas Harris’ creation and made Lecter unforgettable!
Besides the great characterization, the police procedural and research of serial killers that Harris does in this series is fantastic! You’ve got to realize that this is wrote in the 80’s and he likely has influenced the crime detective book genre more than anyone out there! Kudos Thomas Harris!!
If you have been living under a rock for the last 30 something years and have not seen this movie, go read the book first!! You won't be disappointed.
And if you love this movie and you're worried about not getting anything from the book, take it from me. I felt the same and I just gave this 5 stars!
This was fantastic!!
I went into The Silence of the Lambs hesitant that this book would not be as great as the movie, OR I wouldn't be able to get the movie characters out of my head.
You see, I’ve seen The Silence of the Lambs 3 to 4 times in my life and I know the plot too well. I've loved the movie since the first time I watched it!
The movie came out in 1991 but I didn't watch it until I was 17, in 1995. I'm glad I waited because the nightmares would have sucked at age 13!!
Ha, who am I kidding. I still had nightmares after seeing this movie for the 1st time!
Getting back to the book, I was shocked with how much I enjoyed it! The writing by Thomas Harris is well done along with more detail about the serial killer, Buffalo Bill and the women he killed. The case was more detailed, the characters were more fleshed out (heh, funny I would use that term! haha) and the ending was dynamite.
The character of Clarice Starling was great in this book! She’s more fierce and cunning then what Jodie Foster does with the character in the movie. Jodie Foster still does a damn fine job with this character but it’s hard to be exactly like a character in a book. You can’t see what she thinks or how she interprets the Buffalo Bill case and the prisoner, Hannibal Lecter.
Speaking of Dr. Hannibal Lecter, he’s a monster, sadistic, way too intelligent, and will scare the pants off you. Anthony Hopkins does such a great job with this character. Let’s just take a moment to appreciate how he took Thomas Harris’ creation and made Lecter unforgettable!
Besides the great characterization, the police procedural and research of serial killers that Harris does in this series is fantastic! You’ve got to realize that this is wrote in the 80’s and he likely has influenced the crime detective book genre more than anyone out there! Kudos Thomas Harris!!
If you have been living under a rock for the last 30 something years and have not seen this movie, go read the book first!! You won't be disappointed.
And if you love this movie and you're worried about not getting anything from the book, take it from me. I felt the same and I just gave this 5 stars!
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Reading Progress
June 30, 2016
– Shelved
June 30, 2016
– Shelved as:
to-read
May 6, 2019
–
Started Reading
May 6, 2019
– Shelved as:
y-2019
May 6, 2019
– Shelved as:
group-read
May 6, 2019
–
11.0%
May 7, 2019
–
27.0%
May 10, 2019
–
40.0%
"We get so much more information and character development in this book then the movie! I'm really enjoying it."
May 13, 2019
–
55.0%
May 14, 2019
–
Finished Reading
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Matthew
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rated it 5 stars
May 15, 2019 07:52AM
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Matthew wrote: ""Ha!! He actually doesn't say chianti in the book. I was shocked. :D
By the way, Terry and I are starting Gideon's Sword soon. Don't give up on us! ;)
Ginger wrote: "Matthew wrote: ""Ha!! He actually doesn't say chianti in the book. I was shocked. :D
By the way, Terry and I are starting Gideon's Sword soon. Don't give up on us! ;)"
Matthew wrote: "By the way, Terry and I are starting Gideon's Sword soon. Don't give up on us! ..."Hahaha!!
Ginger wrote: "Matthew wrote: "By the way, Terry and I are starting Gideon's Sword soon. Don't give up on us! ..."Hahaha!!"
People online all worried about Endgame and Game of Thrones spoilers, and I am all worried about Gideon spoilers! ;)
Matthew wrote: "People online all worried about Endgame and Game of Thrones spoilers, and I am all worried about Gideon spoilers! ;) "I have no words but I chuckled. hahaha
Ginger wrote: "Matthew wrote: "People online all worried about Endgame and Game of Thrones spoilers, and I am all worried about Gideon spoilers! ;) "I have no words but I chuckled. hahaha
"
Hey, I have had three different people try and talk to me about the most recent book in the Gideon series #thestruggleisreal
Good work, Special Agent Ginger 👏
Matthew wrote: "Hey, I have had three different people try and talk to me about the most recent book in the Gideon series #thestruggleisreal"Wow, I had no idea! LOL
Well, you'll know soon in a few months. Terry and I are going to do one right after the other and try and get caught up. What's the last book of the series that you read?
Marie Helene wrote: "Good work, Special Agent Ginger 👏"Thanks Marie Helene!!
Fantastic review, Ginger. I'm glad you enjoyed it. I agree with what in said about Clarice's character - I prefered her character in the book much more. I also liked this book more than the film :) And the film is one of my all time favourites!
Ginger wrote: "Wow, I had no idea! LOLWell, you'll know soon in a few months. Terry and I are going to do one right after the other and try and get caught up. What's the last book of the series that you read"
I think it was Gideon's Vape Pen . . .
No wait . . .
Gideon's Google Password . . . no . . . that isn't right . . .
Ah ha! Just looked it up, it was The Lost Island - wait, that doesn't have Gideon in the title! ;)
Jade wrote: "Fantastic review, Ginger. I'm glad you enjoyed it. I agree with what in said about Clarice's character - I prefered her character in the book much more. I also liked this book more than the film :)..."I felt the same Jade! I'm glad you loved the book more as well and thank you!
Matthew wrote: "Ginger wrote: "Wow, I had no idea! LOLWell, you'll know soon in a few months. Terry and I are going to do one right after the other and try and get caught up. What's the last book of the series th..."
Ha! So you still need to read Beyond the Ice Limit & The Pharaoh Key? We should get done with the 1st three in the series pretty quick! *fingers crossed*
Ginger wrote: "Matthew wrote: "Ginger wrote: "Wow, I had no idea! LOLWell, you'll know soon in a few months. Terry and I are going to do one right after the other and try and get caught up. What's the last book ..."
Yup - and, Beyond the Ice Limit supposedly takes off right where the extended version of The Ice Limit leaves off - so, reacquainting with that one a bit might be in order (especially if the version you read was missing the epilogue!)
Preston & Child don't make it easy! :)
Matthew wrote: "Preston & Child don't make it easy! :) "That's the truth!! It's like a maze trying to get all the books in order with each series. :)
Now I REEALLY want to read a Hannibal Lector book.
Anthony wrote: "Now I REEALLY want to read a Hannibal Lector book."Fantastic Anthony!!
Very well said, Ginger! I still have a few days reading to fit in (if I can shake this stupid cold), but I already feel the same as what you’ve said here. Really glad we’ve been reading this series!
Terry wrote: "Very well said, Ginger! I still have a few days reading to fit in (if I can shake this stupid cold), but I already feel the same as what you’ve said here. Really glad we’ve been reading this series!"Thanks Terry!! I'm so glad we decided to read it as well.
I hope that cold/sinus infection goes away soon!! Feel better my friend.
Great review. It's been so long since I've seen the film that I don't remember much about it. This might be like reading something I've never heard of before LOL ; )
Kelly (and the Book Boar) wrote: "Great review. It's been so long since I've seen the film that I don't remember much about it. This might be like reading something I've never heard of before LOL ; )"Thanks Kelly!! Well, then you're great for reading this book if you can't remember much about the movie! :D
I'm thrilled that you were able to enjoy this novel on its merits, Ginger. I enjoy books much more without seeing actors or scenes from the film in my head. Jonathan Demme admitted not too long before his death that he wanted to cast Michelle Pfeiffer, Meg Ryan or Laura Dern as Clarice Starling and that Jodie Foster was his fourth choice. I tried to imagine Pfeiffer in her Frankie and Johnny days in the part and couldn't get Foster's interpretation out of my head. I loved the book though! I agree that there was just enough extra detail and layers for it to feel new.
Joe wrote: "I'm thrilled that you were able to enjoy this novel on its merits, Ginger. I enjoy books much more without seeing actors or scenes from the film in my head. Jonathan Demme admitted not too long bef..."I feel the same Joe! I always try to get to the book before it becomes a movie/TV series. The characters that I usually envision is different.
I had no idea about Pfeiffer or the others trying to be cast for Clarice’s role. I just can’t see it now after reading the book and of course with Jodie Foster’s wonderful job!
I can kinda picture Pfeiffer or Dern, but man I just can’t imagine Meg Ryan in that role!
I've read the book years ago, along with the Red Dragon. One thing that sticks in my mind (well actually there is a small forest of sticks, dry, withered, slimed with dark blood floating in a sea of mists... - but I digress...) was the ending of the movie and how effective it was to up the tension by 'switching off the lights," leaving CS in the dark while BB had light-intensifier goggles...The takeaway is that story suspense is stepped up every time the hero loses a sense, or an option, or is further constrained by contraction of space, time (countdown...) or resources (out of ammo).
I often reflect upon this topic.
Terry wrote: "I can kinda picture Pfeiffer or Dern, but man I just can’t imagine Meg Ryan in that role!"You're right Terry! Pfeiffer or Dern would be a better pick then Ryan. hahaha!
Graeme wrote: "I've read the book years ago, along with the Red Dragon. One thing that sticks in my mind (well actually there is a small forest of sticks, dry, withered, slimed with dark blood floating in a sea o..."It's great that you bring up this from the book Graeme. It was one of the best parts of it!
The movie producers/director really knew how to bring scary and tension when Jodie was in the dark.
Scared the bejesus out of me! A very memorable moment in cinematography!
Good books really remain their strength even so many years after their publication, so many books about serial killers but this is the one most remember and I always advise people to read.
Mark wrote: "Good books really remain their strength even so many years after their publication, so many books about serial killers but this is the one most remember and I always advise people to read."You're right on this Mark! Both Red Dragon and The Silence of the Lambs will both stay with me for time. I think it's due to not only the great writing, but the sadistic killers that's created in these books. Glad you liked this one as well!
I do enjoy the, if that can be said on the subject matter, and am really sorry that Hannibal while inventive lacked that what made the first two books great. In book three Hannibal became too much of a celebrity.
Great review.not read this book.but love the film. 😍
Mark wrote: "I do enjoy the, if that can be said on the subject matter, and am really sorry that Hannibal while inventive lacked that what made the first two books great. In book three Hannibal became too much ..."That’s too bad Mark! I’m still planning on reading Hannibal but I heard that from others as well. Still on the fence about Hannibal Rising. I think I’ll still read it because of finishing up a series, but I heard that one gets even worse. ☹️
Andrea wrote: "Great review.not read this book.but love the film. 😍"Thanks Andrea!! I didn’t think I would enjoy this book as much because of the film, but I was wrong. Hope you read it one day!
Deanna wrote: "Terrific review, Ginger!!"Thanks Deanna!
caroline wrote: "I think it might be the writing style."Yeah, if the writing style isn’t working for you on this, I would maybe put it down and try something else?
Sorry this one isn’t working for you Caroline.
I heard on an Amazon review, that it's actually way better then the movie.
This is my favorite thriller of all time! I have read it twice and I am contemplating reading it for a third time. The first time I read it, I finished the physical book in one day!
