When The Silence of the Lambs was published, this series burst with popularity and now we all know the name Hannibal Lecter. But is the popularity warranted? Is this series worth your time?
Today, it's time to critically dissect and analyze the Hannibal Lecter series with NO spoilers. I analyze the writing, development of characters, and overall vibe from each book and the series as a whole to help you determine whether or not you should read them.
Is the the Hannibal Lecter series worth your time? Let's find out.
| Red Dragon
Red Dragon is the first installment in the Hannibal Lecter series. It ranks a 6/10. You will be satisfied with Red Dragon and it may even elicit a gasp or two. I myself was disgusted by the writing and that is a major compliment; there are grotesque moments within this novel that truly make you want to gag they are written so well. In fact, the grotesqueness of certain scenes have been seared into my mind forever and is the main reason why this is worth your time. It's a grotesque novel that will keep you hooked.
Now, certain moments of this novel lack proper descriptive characteristics which can leave you lost. A few extra sentences here and there would have helped with cohesiveness and increased the rating of this novel. A bit more fluidity would have helped connect the dots better within Red Dragon but regardless the plot is remarkable and you will become emotionally connected with the characters, especially William Graham.
Graham is depicted as a highly intellectual individual with a unique way of thinking and it is this uniqueness that grants him insight when profiling murderers that other FBI analysts lack. His ability is what calls him out of retirement to assist on a case with a killer similar to Hannibal Lecter. Another pro of Red Dragon that makes this novel a decent read is that Graham is an unusual protagonist. His thoughts and motives will leave you craving to understand him and explore more of his life. Graham is a character you will enjoy.
Whilst Graham is the ideal protagonist, Red Dragon's antagonist is golden. You may become more invested in Francis Dolarhyde than William Graham. Dolarhyde is the epitome of psychotic and without the complexity of this character, the novel would be lackluster.
Other characters from this first installment creep up later in the series and can you guess one of them... that's right, it's Hannibal Lecter. No show without punch one may say. Red Dragon begins the story of Lecter and with solid writing and plot progression, this is a novel worth your time. It is also a standalone novel that would be enjoyable to read separately.
Is Red Dragon worth your time? Yes.
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| The Silence of the Lambs
The most infamous of the series, The Silence of the Lambs is a must-read. Be warned, the protagonists shift drastically and if you are looking for further exploration of Graham, look elsewhere. The true protagonist of the rest of the series is Hannibal Lecter. In The Silence of the Lambs, he shares the spotlight with Clarice Starling as what drives her plot line forward is his involvement with her. That is why Hannibal is the "mastermind."
I rate The Silence of the Lambs, 8.5/10 due to stronger writing than Red Dragon and the mind-blowing invasive role Hannibal plays. It is here, where he truly starts to shine.
Clarice Starling is similar to Will as a protagonist as they both are cut from a different cloth than a typical FBI agent. Both are strong-willed, determined, and see things differently from others. They mirror each other in determination to succeed but what they share most in common is their strange relationship with Dr. Hannibal Lecter.
The Silence of the Lambs reads differently to Red Dragon and as a female it was easier for me to empathize with the characters. There is potential for greater connection with certain characters and separation from others. Overall, The Silence of the Lambs is worth a read.
This novel contains sufficient character development critical for future novels and keeps you hooked from start to finish. Between the first two novels, The Silence of the Lambs is a more satisfying read. If you wanted to read only one novel out of the series, pick this one. It is the best of the bunch.
Is The Silence of the Lambs worth your time? Yes.
| Hannibal
Well, that was disappointing. After the high of The Silence of the Lambs, Hannibal will let you down. It lacks flow and took me weeks to finish. I chalk this disappointment up to three things:
- Introduction of too many characters
- The Silence of the Lambs movie
- The ending
The combination of these things upset me as a reader so much I couldn't bring myself to read the last installment. Why? Because as a reader, I had invested time and energy into other characters and having Hannibal turn from an enigma into a primary characters was a letdown.
In the first two novels you are captivated by Graham and Starling and the consequences of their interaction with Lecter, not necessarily Lecter himself. He left a bad taste in my mouth and could for you too. The start of Hannibal follows an Italian inspector, Rinaldo Pazzi and his discovering of Hannibal. Interesting concept, if it were not for the fact it dragged on for too many pages. The building of Pazzi's character, the superfluous descriptions of Italy, and the introduction of a second/third antagonist combined with their relationship to Lecter and Starling's relationship with the FBI and on and on and on. It feels like a fever dream when reading this and everything was either too fast or too slow in the novel.
Hannibal lacked focus. I was disappointed to see a decline in the quality of characters that I rooted for as a reader and no, I would not recommend this novel. I have mixed feelings about this novel and if you are a Lecter fan, then this could be worth your time. If you are a fan of Graham or Starling, skip Hannibal.
Is Hannibal worth your time? No. If you adore Hannibal Lecter, then maybe.
| Hannibal Rising
Is Hannibal Rising worth reading? You tell me. Based on my disappointment with Hannibal, I could not bring myself to read Hannibal Rising. I still am yet to read it and think I will keep it that way.
Is Hannibal Rising worth your time? No.
I rate the Hannibal Lecter series 5/10. It contains two good books, one okayish, and one I couldn't bring myself to read. Red Dragon and The Silence of the Lambs are worth your time. Start with them and if Hannibal entices you, read Hannibal and Hannibal Rising. If not, you at least have read two intriguing novels, two that are undoubtedly worth your time.
Have you already read this novels? And if so, what did you think of them? And if you have not read them, will you?
