The Silence of the Lambs
 

Amazing book by Thomas Harris. I just started reading it, and I'm so hooked. It's already by far the best book I've read in years.

Is that based on the movie, starring Jodie Foster...? I wouldn't mind a read if it is.

Other way around - movie based on book. Personally, though, I prefered the prequel (book) Red Dragon. Its one of the few books I've read over and over again. Well written - tense -with some good atmosphere!

I cant stand the way the guy writes. I read about 50 pages of Red Dragon a few years back, then put it down and took it back to the Library. Didnt like it at all.

I just felt this total connection to the investigator - Will Graham - in Red Dragon. Which is why it killed me that they cast Ed Norton in the role for the awful remake. The original film version, Manhunter, may have lots of flaws - but William Peterson (the younger and slimmer actor!) was dead on casting.

I think Harris lost his way with Hannibal - which was bloated and poorly written. For my money, though, Red Dragon is about the perfect thriller.

I had the same issue. Something about his style, put me off. I loved the movies "Manhunter" and "Silence of the Lambs" and knew I was missing alot of good stuff by not reading the books. I just couldn't get past his writing style.

Not being obnoxious (or not trying to be) - but what about the writing style?

It has been too many years for me to remember exactly what it was about his style that I didn't enjoy.

Generally, when I say I don't like someone's style, I'm not talking about the author's command of the language or the quality of his story. Typically, I just can't relate to the author's voice.

It's a matter of taste and not a criticism.

The best way to describe what I mean by voice is to compare Crichton and King.

In a book by M. Crichton, he's almost invisible. Reading his books are like watching a movie. Whereas King's books are like sitting down with the town gossip. You get the story, the background and everything else. You can't forget that someone is telling you a story in a book by S King. I enjoy both but both have radically different voices.

Cynner

Nicely put - my sense of Harris - at least in Red Dragon - was more of the cinematic sense. But it might be either my identification with the protagonist - which always helps - or the fact that like Harris I grew up in the American south . . . so his voice may seem familiar and, thus, invisible to me.

Harris definately has the cinematic style.

Now, you guys have got me thinking about it again. As soon as I'm finished with my current stack, I'm going to pick up Red Dragon again. I've always loved the Hannibal series of movies and it has been years since I've tried reading it.


Cynner

He's currently working on another Lecter novel, but I don't know the details of it. Rumour suggests that it is a prequel, but it may just as well take place after Hannibal. I had really hoped in Hannibal to see Starling and Graham team up to pursue Lecter, but things didn't turn out that way. It was a strange, unsatisfying book. Silence of the Lambs and Red Dragon, though, were excellent.

I heard that - already locked into a Dino DeLaurentis film - ugghh - still, I think TH should just count his money and be happy he wrote one masterpiece (RD) and another cultural phenom book (SOL).

the new lecter book is called "behind the mask" it is about lecter's childhood, it comes out nov 29.

It puts the lotion in the basket. Or else it gets the hose again.

i think it will be a disaster - probably sell well - but will be wretched (as will the subsequent film)