26. Silence of the Lambs

26. Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris  (7/24/2011 - 8/1/2011)

I was surprised by this book.  I've seen the movie, but it's been a really long time but I do remember how emotionally charged and creepy it was.  The book was good, but I'm just not sure if the book was better than the movie.

The plot of the book and the movie are nearly identical.  A young FBI agent, Clarice Starling, is brought in to help solve the murders of a series of young women by a serial killer that's been nicknamed "Buffalo Bill."  The FBI agents in charge of the case want Starling to talk to the imprisoned serial killer Dr. Hannibal Lecter -- nicknamed "Hannibal the Cannibal," which tells you all you need to know about his crimes -- to try to understand the mind of Buffalo Bill.  The majority of the plot of the book unfolds as a game between Lecter and Starling; Starling has suffered through some major trauma in her life, and Lecter delights in making her recall her tragedy in exchange for information about Buffalo Bill.  As the case unfolds, it becomes clear to the reader that Lecter actually knows exactly who Buffalo Bill is and he's just toying with Starling.  The climax of the book is amazing (and also long -- which makes the final few moments that much more awesome) so I won't give away any details.

The book is full of super-interesting details about what it's like to be an FBI agent and hunt down a serial killer, and the suspense at the end is stunning.  The insight into the mind of Lecter is scary -- both in his thoughts and the potential that Lecter's created inner dialogue is totally accurate of serial killers' minds. Yikes.

But the book itself, while fascinating, is almost clinical about its main character.  I did not get to know Clarice Starling the way I was expecting to; in fact, I'm not sure that I know any more details from the book than I did from the movie.  Hannibal Lecter is certainly creepy in the book, but I have to say that I think Anthony Hopkins brought the character to life more effectively that Thomas Harris.