The Silence of the Lambs

I have always had some trouble getting into crime novels, but this one does everything right. There is no stereotypical, tired police investigation, no plotlines that the reader does not care about; it is one of those rare books that grab you with every chapter. Anything trivial is omitted, every line you read is vital to the story or in service of getting to know our protagonist, Clarice Starling. And what a protagonist she is! Thomas Harris shows a deep understanding of the experiences many women have to live every day. Clarice is faced with adversity and lack of respect from men at many points in the story but rises above not through adopting typically masculine traits but through her own strong sense of femininity and belief in herself. Of course there is also the character of Hanibal Lecter that has captivated the imagination of millions of readers and viewers with his cunning and charming darkness...All in all a very intense read!