First Book Club Book - Red Dragonredesigned and relocated.
If you want to participate in Book Club, but you don't have a copy of the book. You can read it online
Here (Thank you to eating the rude for finding this for us.)
So I've moved Book Club to the main page and made it into a sticky because I'm hoping that more people will get involved, find it and participate from here. Plus it's kind of a big thing we're doing and I wanted to make it really easy for people.
Week 1 - Chapter 1 to 5
(I will be posting topic questions for each chapter of the books to hopefully spur on the conversations. Feel free to answer the questions or ask your own. I don't want anyone to feel obligated to use only my questions - these are just things that struck me as I was reading.)Week 2 - Chapter 6 to 16
Because the chapters are pretty short and really easy to get through, I'd like to try a larger chunk of them this week. Happy reading everyone!
Week 3 - Chapter 17 to 27
We're starting to get into the thick of things with these ten chapter. Happy Reading Everyone
Week 4 - Chapter 28 to 38
In this set of chapters we're really going to see the break in the case. Hope you're all as excited as I am!
Week 5 - Chapter 39 to 49
We're drawing to a close, all the action is about to start!
Week 6 - Chapter 50 to 54
We're going to finish the book this week. Hope everyone enjoyed it. Can't wait to hear from you!
Discussion QuestionsChapter 1We learn that Will is now living in Florida with Molly and Willy. The boy is eleven. It is a nice little family scene - something the TV show has portrayed as elusive to Will. How do you think this will come into play once the TV show reaches this scene?
Many of the dialogue lines have also already been used in the show, do you think that it will come back to the same general dialogue - another attempt at talking Will back into the field by Jack Crawford?
Do you think Floria - though in a way still on the same coast line - was an attempt to get as far away from Hannibal and his influence as possible? (Keep in mind these questions have to do with chapters as we go, not what is in the book further along. Some things will prove to resolve themselves, but for some people they haven't read the books yet.)
In Chapter one we learn about what Doctor Lector does to Will. How do you feel about the description of the injury? Are you surprised Will survived?
In what kind of a light does chapter one paint the three primary characters we were introduced to - Will, Jack and Molly?
Chapter 2The very first glimpse of Will in episode one of season one is described in this chapter - how do you feel about that imagery?
The devil is in the details - what was it about the way Thomas Harris described how Will Graham worked? What little details stood out to you in the gruesomeness of the case? How has it started to paint a picture of a killer for you?
Chapter 3We're all about the debriefing in this chapter, and we get to meet Price for the first time. How do you feel about the description of Price in the book to the way we see him in the TV show?
Why do you think the teeth are so important? (keep in mind some people haven't read the book yet so try and steer clear of spoilers!)
The idea of rivalries between investigating institutions seems counter productive, but it happens. Do you think it is something we are going to see more or less of in this book, or in the TV show, and why do you think it's important to point out this awkwardness between the FBI agents/ federal investigation and the detectives in Atlanta?
In this chapter we meet both Alan Bloom (in conversation) and Freddie Lounds - both of which are male characters in the book. How do you feel about the characters as males? How are they different from their female counterparts in the show? With what little we know so far about them, how do you like them better - as men or as women? Why?
Chapter 4This chapter is a great plot development chapter. Some people would call it filler, but it's filler that moves the story forward. Would you be suspicious if you were the meter reader or the neighbourhood busy body?
Chapter 5Again we see Will doing what Will does to develop his profile. Why is it so important that he looks past the crime to the way the Leedses lived?
I love the idea of Molly and Will together. What do you think will have to happen in the TV show for us to have a relationship like that portrayed in the book between Molly and Will? Do you want to see that happen, or are you more interested in Alana Bloom as a love interest for Will?
Chapter 6In my opinion, I feel like Chapter 6 is a pivotal chapter for us. It gives us a look into Will's mind, but at the same time it shows us where much of the deviation happens for the show. I chapter 6 we hear in Will's own words how he caught Lector. In the show, the description is how we are lead into Miriam Lass's death, which means they will have to deal with Will and Hannibal in a different way in the show or risk becoming repetitive. In your mind, how do you feel about putting Will in Miriam's place?
We also find out about the killer in this chapter. He sticks around. He kills - or wounds - the pets and then he kills the families. It's premeditated and one of the key elements of Sociopaths and Psychopaths, and we also hear a different description of Hannibal stating that he doesn't feel remorse, where as in the show Will has said outright that the Chesapeake Ripper doesn't fit into either category because he does feel remorse. How do you think this changes the idea of Hannibal?
Do you think Wound Man is going to be the image that links Will to Miriam and Miriam to Hannibal? (in the tv show)
How do you feel about the idea that Will came to the conclusion he needed to talk to Lector about the case?
Chapter 7In this chapter we find out that Will only had the one meeting with Hannibal - the same meeting that Miriam had in the show. How does this change your opinion of the shows interpretation?
I can't wait for the first meeting of Will and Hannibal, when Hannibal is the one in prison. How do you feel about the way the first meeting in the book is like the first meeting in the show - only in different settings?
How do you feel about prison Hannibal?
Chapter 8I would like a general impression of Hannibal in this singular chapter. How do you feel about the way he acted? What does it say about his character, his mental state, his sense of humour? Do you like this Hannibal as much as you've come to like Mads's Hannibal?
Chapter 9What is your first impression of Francis Dolarhyde?
Chapter 10Will is getting inside the head of the killer. A lot is done in this chapter, but most is development. Do you feel, because the crime scene was older, and already cleaned up, that Will was distracted in the Leeds case, and therefore, because there was nothing in the crime scene to find, he was driven to look elsewhere? Had he spent more time looking for anything at the Leeds house, would he have found the same things he found at the Jacobis?
Chapter 11In this chapter we get Will's back story, and history of insanity. There is a line that tells us about his deep depression, and one that says he spent 4 weeks in a high security state mental hospital. We also get all of his back ground as a cop and instructor with the FBI. Do you think it is fitting that we should get this description from Freddie Lounds? How accurate do you think it is?
Dolarhyde is obsessed with Hannibal because he believes that Hannibal is the only one that understand his transformation. How do you think Hannibal will play with this knowledge?
Chapter 12Why do you think it is so important for Will to get to know the Jacobis? Is it because he didn't get to see their bodies, or their blood in the house and reenact the murders in his mind?
Chapter 13We get a look at the specialist in this chapter - Beverly Katz and Lloyd Bowman (we've already met Jimmy Price). How do you feel about the specialists? How do they stack up to their television counter parts?
Chapter 14We meet Brian Zeller in this chapter. He's the Scientific Analysis Section Chief - contrary to his character in the show. How do you like him now?
I love the idea of them struggling with the Tattler. It's like dealing with the devil. If you were in that situation what would you do? Let the message from Lector Run, Run the fake response, or pull the letter all together?
Chapter 15Do you think it was a good idea or a bad idea to bring Molly and Willy to the Chesapeake area? On one hand they are closer to Will and the protection of the FBI, and on the other hand they are not closer to the Tooth Fairy, as well as Hannibal, but the Tooth Fairy also has the address in florida, who what is safer?
What do you think of the novel description of the Hobbs killing? As you read it could you picture if differently or what it exactly what you saw in the tv show?
The morning at the shooting range with Molly really did something to Will. Why do you think he was so sad about having her there?
Chapter 16How do you feel about the novel version of Freddie Lounds and all the things he's willing to do? Do you like him more or less than the interpretation of Freddie in the TV show?
Chapter 17Chapter 17, in my opinion is the whole set up for the pilot episode of the television series - switch out the Tooth Fairy for the Chesapeake Ripper, and you pretty much have the whole episode. That being said, how do you think they are going to deal with the Tooth Fairy case now that they have used up all this material, swapped around lines, and put this scenario out there?
Chapter 18I want to see this chapter happen in the show - especially the last part. I feel we get a better look into just how well Molly knows and understands Will. It's like she was trained to see things the way he does, but decided to push that aside to be normal and grateful. What do you think of Molly now that you know her better?
Chapter 19"With these he insults me" - what does Dolarhyde want, and from whom, to put in the bag of his journal? (theories and speculations, please, no spoilers!)
Chapter 20 and 21How do you feel about what happened to Freddie in these chapters?
Chapter 22Freddie wanted his story, but don't you think the FBI should have though of the repercussions toward the writer? I almost feel bad for Freddie Lounds - I think I'll feel worse if this is how Freddie makes her exit from the show. I feel more invested and attached to the female Freddie - how do you feel?
Chapter 23Do you think the wheel chair will be the break in the case for Will?
Chapter 24The whole idea of a figure forming so that Will could see the killer's face comes up in this chapter. How do you feel about the description? Do you see the Nightmare Stag in this chapter?
Chapter 25Do you find sympathy for Francis Dolarhyde in this chapter?
Chapter 26 and 27We can have the discussion of nature verses nurture regarding this chapter. Would Francis Dolarhyde have ended up the way he had if he had stayed at the orphanage, or can we place blame on the way his Grandmother treated him? Or maybe it was the step brother and sister who pushed him over the edge? Whatever it was, can it all come down to the idea that he was born that way and so, because of his disfigured face, he would always be treated poorly? Nature verses Nurture. Discuss.
Chapter 28There is a moment right at the beginning of the chapter where we see that Will is trying to sleep but is having issues, and then he's not mentioned again in the whole chapter. Do you think this is tying the chapter back to his comment about doing things at the same time as the killers he's profiling?
Up until this point, and with all the terrible things we've seen happen to Francis Dolarhyde, the general feeling toward the character can be that of sympathy. After reading this chapter, how do you feel about Francis?
Chapter 29What are your first impressions of Reba?
Chapter 30Wendy seems like the only one sympathetic to Will. What are your impressions of Wendy?
Chapter 31In your opinion why are Francis and Reba good for each other? Bad for each other? The same? Completely different?
Do you feel sympathy for Reba after the description of herself and how she doesn't like sympathy?
Chapter 32Desperation seems to be plaguing both Will and Dolarhyde. Do you think this is part of Will's process?
Chapter 33Will Reba be Dolarhyde's downfall? What kind of juxtaposition is the author trying to paint by putting Francis and Reba together?
Why does Dolarhyde want Reba to live?
Chapter 34Is Jack Crawford grasping at straws now?
Chapter 35The whole idea of becoming one, and now this division from the Dragon, because of Reba, has thrown off Dolarhyde's equilibrium. Is this the turning point - the incident that put will cause Francis to mess up and allow him to be caught?
Do you think Reba is safe knowing Dolarhyde? Does she think she's safe anymore?
Chapter 36This chapter gives a lot of context into the material that was taken from the book and used in the show. We get another glimpse of Hannibal. We see how Will works, and thinks about Hobbs, and we have him desperate for information. Why do you think it took him this long to see the connection of the videos?
Chapter 37What kind of crazy is Francis Dolarhyde? If he was diagnosed what would the doctors say? Is there a touch of schizophrenia there?
Chapter 38Where do you think Dolarhyde is going? What does he think he needs to do to silence the dragon?
Chapter 39Why is it so important that Dolarhyde see the original painting of the Red Dragon?
Chapter 40I really think this chapter paints a different picture - a more normal picture - of Will Graham. Do you think his sympathy and empathy only happen when he's working and happens in flashes? In this chapter he just seems like another guy investigating another crime and coming up as empty as everyone else, but we the readers, know that he's got this gift. What does it take to trigger it?
Chapter 41Why did he have to eat it?
Chapter 42Was the film really the missing link? Would Will have ever put the case together if he hadn't been able to see the Jacobis?
Chapter 43Is he really trying to stop?
Chapter 44 and 45He could have so easily been caught in this story. Why do you think Thomas Harris did this - wrote the scene where Francis goes back to work and find Will Graham there? Could it be to illustrate the connection that Will has with these serial killers?
The Dragon is all in Dolarhyde's head. Is it paranoid schizophrenia?
Does Will feel like he knows that his killer was just in the same place at the same time? Is that why he seems to be grasping at straws?
Chapter 46Is Reba going to survive all this? If she does, do you think she'll be okay?
Chapter 47Putting the last of the evidence together to bring a name to their killer, do you think Will sees his face now? Will he just know when he see Dolarhyde?
Chapter 48Why was this chapter important? Does he want Reba to be able to escape?
Why would he kill himself? Does he really?
Chapter 49It all just seems so staged. The house is so hard to find but Dolarhyde sets it on fire and summons them to him. It's like he's got it all planned. Has the Dragon changed his mind? Does he really want Reba, or does he want someone else?
Chapter 50Will Molly and Will ever be the same? Do you think this is the end of their marriage?
Chapter 51Is that really enough for a positive ID?
Chapter 52Should Will really be going back to Florida? Should he maybe think of settling somewhere else?
Chapter 53Molly will never be the same. Will this ordeal bring her closer to Will or will it pull them apart?
Chapter 54Why was it important for Crawford to take the letter from Molly?
Why was it important that Hannibal had to send Will that letter?
What did you think of the book overall?
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