Red Dragon vs. The Love Hypothesis

A Bridge of Ideas

Your profound appreciation for Thomas Harris's 'Red Dragon,' particularly how you were drawn into understanding the killer's tortured psyche, reveals a surprising bridge to your frustration with 'The Love Hypothesis.' While vastly different genres, both books, in your experience, grapple with characters whose internal states, shaped by external forces and inherent limitations, dictate their perceived 'madness' or inability to embrace happiness, even when presented with it. You note 'Red Dragon's' exploration of a character 'made mad because OF OTHERS,' echoing your sentiment in 'The Love Hypothesis' about characters being 'so timid!!!' that it caused you 'intense frustration,' suggesting a shared fascination with the invisible, often frustrating, barriers that prevent characters from achieving their potential for happiness or genuine connection, whether through trauma or self-imposed timidity.