Review: Red Dragon by Thomas Harris
-
HannahGibson
- Posts: 22
- Joined: 27 Aug 2014, 10:39
- Bookshelf Size: 0
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-hannahgibson.html
Review: Red Dragon by Thomas Harris
Red Dragon is the first novel in the Hannibal Lecter series, written by Thomas Harris, and published in 1981. It remains a classic in the horror novel genre, which is what inspired me to read it in the first place. After diving in, with having also seen the movie(s) based off of this novel, I was struck by how engrossing the character development was. Not only do readers get to feel and exist as Will Graham, the protagonist, we also get to feel his anguish over past events in his FBI career, his distaste with his current job position and what he must do to remain successful, and his despair as he sees how the Hannibal Lecter case affects his marriage. It is a masterful emotional work, and does not surprise me in the least that is became a well-renowned classis after its publication.
While this story does not fixate on Clarice Starling and the Silence of the Lambs characters that are considered the ‘icons’ of the Hannibal Lecter story (made infamous by the movie rendition of the novel), it instead begins from the very roots, starting with the origination of Hannibal Lecter’s background story and subsequent downfall-- including the slow downfall of the main character himself in a deeply engrossing cycle that I had not noticed happened until the conclusion of the novel. The lengths that Will Graham had to extend himself mentally, emotionally, and physically, in order to submerse himself in the mind of a serial killer to better enhance his understanding of his target, takes the reader along for the same kind of ride—mentally jarring, slightly nauseous, brilliantly executed logic that bears witness to the intelligence of the character, as well as the author himself. Dr. Lecter’s highly satisfying, innapropriately morbid involvement in the plotline development only spurs on the curiosity of the reader, until finishing the book in a reading frenzy-- just to see what happens next-- no longer remains as an option.
Readers range from first entertaining a sick fascination with Lecter’s character to becoming furious with him, and his treatment of Will Graham, finally becoming sick of him and his obvious delight in each character’s suffering, towards the finale of the book--in the end allowing the reader to slowly come to despise him—which is only appropriate, considering his life story and sick intentions. While this novel is the only book in the Hannibal Lecter series that features this specific protagonist (aside from light mentions in the subsequent novels telling the remainder of Hannibal Lecter’s story) Will Graham -- and the deadly physical and mental dance he was forced to perform while attempting to capture the Red Dragon serial killer—is the plotline that first captured the public’s morbid curiosity, and first piqued their interest in Dr. Hannibal Lecter. It is a very well-thought out and intricately woven story, and deserves every bit of the ‘classic’ reputation that has results in the decades to follow since its release.
While this story does not fixate on Clarice Starling and the Silence of the Lambs characters that are considered the ‘icons’ of the Hannibal Lecter story (made infamous by the movie rendition of the novel), it instead begins from the very roots, starting with the origination of Hannibal Lecter’s background story and subsequent downfall-- including the slow downfall of the main character himself in a deeply engrossing cycle that I had not noticed happened until the conclusion of the novel. The lengths that Will Graham had to extend himself mentally, emotionally, and physically, in order to submerse himself in the mind of a serial killer to better enhance his understanding of his target, takes the reader along for the same kind of ride—mentally jarring, slightly nauseous, brilliantly executed logic that bears witness to the intelligence of the character, as well as the author himself. Dr. Lecter’s highly satisfying, innapropriately morbid involvement in the plotline development only spurs on the curiosity of the reader, until finishing the book in a reading frenzy-- just to see what happens next-- no longer remains as an option.
Readers range from first entertaining a sick fascination with Lecter’s character to becoming furious with him, and his treatment of Will Graham, finally becoming sick of him and his obvious delight in each character’s suffering, towards the finale of the book--in the end allowing the reader to slowly come to despise him—which is only appropriate, considering his life story and sick intentions. While this novel is the only book in the Hannibal Lecter series that features this specific protagonist (aside from light mentions in the subsequent novels telling the remainder of Hannibal Lecter’s story) Will Graham -- and the deadly physical and mental dance he was forced to perform while attempting to capture the Red Dragon serial killer—is the plotline that first captured the public’s morbid curiosity, and first piqued their interest in Dr. Hannibal Lecter. It is a very well-thought out and intricately woven story, and deserves every bit of the ‘classic’ reputation that has results in the decades to follow since its release.
