Helpful Score: 7
I am a huge fan of the Hannibal Lecter novels, as I have an interest in the criminal psyche and forensic science. Beyond that, "Red Dragon" and "Silence of the Lambs" are very entertaining, well-written thrillers (and I even have a soft spot for the film series) I was not impressed with the beginning of Hannibal Rising, it just felt like an unpleasant slog where our only company is kept with disgusting war criminals and sadly abused children. I thought the book picked up considerably, however, when Hannibal moves in with Lady Murasaki. The relationship with his "new" family and the description of how he found calm in the Japanese culture was quite beautiful. But since this IS Hannibal Lecter's story we're reading about, we quickly get back into the horror. There are gruesome death scenes, though they take up very little room and those killed are about as awful people as you can find. (No spoilers) but what drives Hannibal to these crimes at a young age is at an understandable core, and that mixed with his young age gives the reader a confusing place of understanding and even sympathizing with a serial killer. You won't find the depth here that are in the other Lecter novels, but if you have an interest in the character it's a fast read with many memorable scenes. Now I'm ready to rent the movie and compare. :)
Helpful Score: 6
I just got this book today from another member, started it and I can't put it down. For me, it's very intriguing learning of the beginning of the monster who was Hannibal. It gives much more insight in my opinion.
Helpful Score: 4
The story of how Hannibal Lecter, became the manical killer he was. Great storyline kept me interested from the start. The movie followed book for the most part, enough differences though, to make reading the book worth while.
I'm a diehard Hannibal Lecter fan. I truly enjoyed 'Hannibal' and Harris's previous books that include the character, but I could not finish this book! I wanted so badly to like it, and be filled in on Lecter's background, but I couldn't do it. I was bored beyond belief before I'd trudged through 1/4 of the book (and the movie's no better). A true disappointment. :(
Helpful Score: 2
I was not pleased with this book. I read all the previous incarnations of Hannibal, but did not enjoy this one. The prose is overly flowery, and the plot line drags a great deal. It just wasn't what I would have expected, being as it was to introduce us to young Hannibal.
Jefferson N. (Jefferson) reviewed Hannibal Rising (Hannibal Lecter, Bk 4) on + 170 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This book was a joke. Supposedly, Thomas Harris wrote this, but it didn't seem that way to me. I wasn't a big fan of his last book in the series, Hannibal, but at least it was written well, so I could enjoy that. It just didn't go the way I thought it would. It was still a decent book.
This piece of crap is horribly written: The writer changes tenses left and right...the story is weak. It tries to show Hannibal Lecter as some James Bond type character travelling all over Europe to avenge the death of his sister.
For those of you who don't know...this is the origin story of Hannibal Lecter from Harris' other books. Never mind that the story was told much better in the book Hannibal. If you want to know about the character, read that book. This is drek.
In my opinion, our beloved Hollywood wanted a new Hannibal product to push a movie, so they had some inept high schooler write a bad screenplay and a bad novelisation and slapped Thomas Harris' name on it to rip off suckers. Well, they got me. Stay as far from this one as possible!
This piece of crap is horribly written: The writer changes tenses left and right...the story is weak. It tries to show Hannibal Lecter as some James Bond type character travelling all over Europe to avenge the death of his sister.
For those of you who don't know...this is the origin story of Hannibal Lecter from Harris' other books. Never mind that the story was told much better in the book Hannibal. If you want to know about the character, read that book. This is drek.
In my opinion, our beloved Hollywood wanted a new Hannibal product to push a movie, so they had some inept high schooler write a bad screenplay and a bad novelisation and slapped Thomas Harris' name on it to rip off suckers. Well, they got me. Stay as far from this one as possible!
Helpful Score: 1
Another great Hannibal Lecter book, Thomas Harris is a master!
Helpful Score: 1
My son read this one and finished in just a few days. He was very happy with the book.
Helpful Score: 1
Good read for fans of Thomas Harris.
Helpful Score: 1
Definitly not the best in the Hannibal books, though it was a lot better than the movie.
Helpful Score: 1
I did not like this book nearly as much as Silence of the Lambs or Red Dragon. It almost seemed like it was someone writing trying to copy the style of Thomas Harris. However, I also did not like Hannibal as much as the other two. If you are fan of the story of Hannibal Lector, then most likely you will enjoy this prequel.
Helpful Score: 1
I didn't think it would be possible that Hannibal -the cannibal- Lector, could be a sympathetc character, but that is indeed the case in this book, at least it was for this reader. This book will take you back to Hannibal's childhood when he lost his family to a group of starving Nazi savages. Hannibal got a taste of what happened to his little sister, Mischa, whom he adored dearly. He got his revenge. Needleass to say, it changed him, turned him into a monster. I liked this book, but it was filled with foreign phrases that I felt should have been translated. Also, I found Hannibal's relationship with his stepmother, Lady Murasaki, quite unbelievable. Nonetheless, I would recommend this book to any Hannibal fan. Will I like the movie?
Helpful Score: 1
Good book to read, it gives a reason for Lecter's actions.
Helpful Score: 1
Good book. History on Hannibal Lecter as a child growing up during WWII. Provides insight into the psyche of the character and possibly why he became the "moster" he was.
Helpful Score: 1
This book was a very quick read. I found it fascinating and very creepy.
Jennifer L. (loyallioness) reviewed Hannibal Rising (Hannibal Lecter, Bk 4) on + 33 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
chilling
Helpful Score: 1
I was disappointed. Maybe Harris should have stopped while he was ahead with "silence of the lambs."
Helpful Score: 1
Not quite up to the level of "Silence" but does provide "background" on one of the more twisted fiction characters
Tom Harris' Hannibal, explained.
Not to spoil a fascinating psychological plumbing-of-the-depths of one of the most, if not THE most fascinating psychopath ever to...grace?...the pages of any novel, a roving band of war-time pillagers made soup of Hannibal's little sister. And they saved starving Hannibal's life by feeding him some of the broth.
The story breaks the heart, horrifies, fascinates, and repels, but the world of psychopathy is the stuff of interesting novels. Met Dexter yet?
For Harris (and Hannibal) fans, this is what we wanted to know. The movie is good. The book is great.
Pans to the mkers of the movie "HANNIBAL" - YOU FAILED TO FOLLOW THE STORY LINE OF THE BOOK AND GAVE THE AUDIENCE A WEAK MOVIE. I CAN IMAGINE YOUR REASONS BUT THEIR POSSIBILITIES PALE BESIDE THE IMPORTANCE OF WHAT YOU LEFT OUT. DISAPPOINTING, WHILE THE BOOK WAS AS TERRIFIC AS HARRIS' NOVELS USUALLY ARE. 10 DEMERITS.
Pats to the makers of "HANNIBAL RISING" - Hannibal 'fans' deserved the explanation served up in the book, and got it. 10 GOLD STARS.
Not to spoil a fascinating psychological plumbing-of-the-depths of one of the most, if not THE most fascinating psychopath ever to...grace?...the pages of any novel, a roving band of war-time pillagers made soup of Hannibal's little sister. And they saved starving Hannibal's life by feeding him some of the broth.
The story breaks the heart, horrifies, fascinates, and repels, but the world of psychopathy is the stuff of interesting novels. Met Dexter yet?
For Harris (and Hannibal) fans, this is what we wanted to know. The movie is good. The book is great.
Pans to the mkers of the movie "HANNIBAL" - YOU FAILED TO FOLLOW THE STORY LINE OF THE BOOK AND GAVE THE AUDIENCE A WEAK MOVIE. I CAN IMAGINE YOUR REASONS BUT THEIR POSSIBILITIES PALE BESIDE THE IMPORTANCE OF WHAT YOU LEFT OUT. DISAPPOINTING, WHILE THE BOOK WAS AS TERRIFIC AS HARRIS' NOVELS USUALLY ARE. 10 DEMERITS.
Pats to the makers of "HANNIBAL RISING" - Hannibal 'fans' deserved the explanation served up in the book, and got it. 10 GOLD STARS.
A must read for Hannibal lovers. It explains some of the reasons behind his future behavior. The story is of is childhood and young adult years.
Thomas Harris has never disappointed me with any of his books.
The book is dark and haunting,you want to reach out and help the characters,especially baby Mischa. Good read!
The book is dark and haunting,you want to reach out and help the characters,especially baby Mischa. Good read!
If you're a fan of Thomas Harris, you have to read this book. While I wouldn't consider it his best, it still provides some interesting reasons for why Hannibal was created. It's a quick and entertaining read if you like this type of genre.
The book was excellent as is all of Harris' work.
I loved this book. Probally the best out of all the hannibal books.
After all the Hannibal Lector stories, I enjoyed learning of his background and childhood and how he became the monster character we know and love. I wish this would've gone into the psychological training he most surely had at some point in addition to his medical schooling. I felt like there was too quick a jump into psychopath mode, but definitely enjoyed the journey.
I thought that this book was really good. It help explain some of the things Hannibal went through growing up.
I was very disappointed in this book. I absolutely love the hannibal lecture series, but this one did not have the punch usually associated with hannibal. It talked and talked and then just ended????
Cheryl (boomerbooklover) -
Fast paced story of the early life of Hannibal Lecter which explains why and how he became the monstrous character he is in the other books of the series.
I enjoyed the story. It was nice having the author read it and since it was unabridged you got the whole story. It does explain 'Silence of the Lambs' and where Hannibal Lecter came from and how he got to be what he was. The book in my opinion is less tense than the movies since you don't have to sit thru the directors time lapses that are intended to make things scarier. I like the story, can do without the silly dark hallways etc.
not as good as the other three
Hannibal Rising tells of the life of very young Hannical Lecter. His life story is as bad as anything you could have imagined. This book is so intense, so gripping, I had to force myself to take a break. Harris has outdone himself with this book.
An excellent preview as to how Hannibal became who he is. And not at all gross (like the others).
Creepy!!!
Hated It
Great book fast read!
Very interesting to learn the details behind Hannibal's obessions. Easy and fast read.
I like Hannibal's character and it was interesting to see him progress. However, it was one of Harris' weaker novels.
I was absorbed in this book till the very end. For the subject matter it is hard to say "enjoyed" but Thomas tells a great story once again. I was a little disappointed the book didn't go farther into Lector's life (he's 18 when the book ends) but I can always hope there will be a sequel to this one.
The story of young Hannibal Lecter, what made him become a murderer and cannibal. Good, though a bit gruesome in spots.
Great book,,,like the other person said a must read for Hannibal readers.
Not one of Thomas Harris's best, but it does attempt to explain why Hannibal Lecter became the monster that he was. It was a fast read.
Not nearly as good as T.H. other books, but still a good read.
Provides some insight into the making of the monster - Hannibal Lecter, but not as in depth as I had hoped. I was blown away by Thomas Harris' previous Hannibal novels but this one wasn't quite as satisfying. Perhaps leaves you wanting more due to the upcoming movie.
Fabuolous account of Hannibal's beginnings in life that offer the reader a perspective of how he became such a disturbed adult.
Bridget J. (bridgetjohn-89) reviewed Hannibal Rising (Hannibal Lecter, Bk 4) on + 28 more book reviews
Harris does a wonderful job at getting inside the head of the character of Hannibal Lector. Good Book!
hannibal needs to go very poor story
Patricia C. (le-loup-garou) reviewed Hannibal Rising (Hannibal Lecter, Bk 4) on + 55 more book reviews
Excellent!!!
Laurie E. (dogzkidznotime) - , reviewed Hannibal Rising (Hannibal Lecter, Bk 4) on + 5 more book reviews
Didn't like it nearly as much as his other books...
Angela B. (OffWithHerHeadBoleyn) reviewed Hannibal Rising (Hannibal Lecter, Bk 4) on + 12 more book reviews
I couldn't put this one down. I read it in two days, stopping only to eat and sleep!
Very intersting read. Crafts another level to the character of Hannibal Lector. But it is in the vain of Dexter, in as much as it lends a positive gloss to serial killer.
Great writing worth the time.
Great writing worth the time.
Good read.....helps one understand why Hannibal Lecter became the monster he did.
Anonymous reviewed Hannibal Rising (Hannibal Lecter, Bk 4) on
I didn't think it would be possible that Hannibal -the cannibal- Lector, could be a sympathetc character, but that is indeed the case in this book, at least it was for this reader. This book will take you back to Hannibal's childhood when he lost his family to a group of starving Nazi savages. Hannibal got a taste of what happened to his little sister, Mischa, whom he adored dearly. He got his revenge. Needleass to say, it changed him, turned him into a monster. I liked this book, but it was filled with foreign phrases that I felt should have been translated. Also, I found Hannibal's relationship with his stepmother, Lady Murasaki, quite unbelievable. Nonetheless, I would recommend this book to any Hannibal fan.
Interesting to see how the madness starts.
PRETTY GOOD,NOT AS GOOD AS THE OTHERS,AT LEAST NOT TO ME.
Good reading.
This is the hardback version.
This hardcover does not have a dust jacket.
