--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There was scarcely a month during 1988…" description: "\"There was scarcely a month during 1988 when Thomas Harris' novel, 'The Silence Of The Lambs,' was not on or around the top of the 'New York Times' list..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09c/rod-lurie-4956_america_there-was-scarcely-a-month-during-1988-w_18186.jpg" --- # There was scarcely a month during 1988 when Thomas Harris'… ![“There was scarcely a month during 1988 when Thomas Harris' novel, 'The Silence Of The Lambs,' was not on or around the top of the 'New York Times' list of America's bestselling books.” quote by Rod Lurie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09c/rod-lurie-4956_america_there-was-scarcely-a-month-during-1988-w_18186.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09c/rod-lurie-4956_america_there-was-scarcely-a-month-during-1988-w_18186.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09c/rod-lurie-4956_america_there-was-scarcely-a-month-during-1988-w_18186.jpg) > “There was scarcely a month during 1988 when Thomas Harris' novel, 'The Silence Of The Lambs,' was not on or around the top of the 'New York Times' list of America's bestselling books.” [Rod Lurie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-lurie/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The statement highlights the extraordinary commercial success and cultural impact of Thomas Harris' novel in 1988, indicating its dominance on bestseller lists throughout the year. **In simple terms:** The novel topped bestseller lists almost every month in 1988. Key Takeaway A single work can dominate public attention for an extended period. Themes cultural phenomenon commercial success literary impact pop culture media saturation Mood excitement nostalgia anticipation Type observational statistical When to use this quote - bookstore inventory planning - library acquisition decisions - media coverage prioritization - academic curriculum design - publishing market analysis Key Concepts bestseller dynamics authorial influence reading trends Practical Applications - marketing strategy for new releases - forecasting bestseller trajectories Questions to Reflect On - What factors contribute to a book sustaining bestseller status? - How does media exposure amplify a novel's popularity? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [New york](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-york/) [Silence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silence/) [Silence Of The Lambs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silence-of-the-lambs/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [It has taken Thomas Harris 11 years to publish the sequel to 'The Silence of the Lambs,' which suggests that while everyone was desperate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-giles/it-has-taken-thomas-harris-11-years-to-publish-the-sequel-to-the/) [Jeff Giles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-giles/) > [“Enjoy Colleen Hoover’s first two New York Times bestselling books, Slammed and Point of Retreat, and become”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/enjoy-colleen-hoover-s-first-two-new-york-times-bestselling-books/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [I want to write a novel about Silence," he said; “the things people don’t say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/i-want-to-write-a-novel-about-silence-he-said-the-things-people-don-t/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [What was always interesting about Thomas Harris' books is they were a wonderful hybridization of a crime thriller and a horror movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-fuller/what-was-always-interesting-about-thomas-harris-books-is-they-were-a/) [Bryan Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-fuller/) > [And Silence of the Lambs is a really smart book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-franzen/and-silence-of-the-lambs-is-a-really-smart-book/) [Jonathan Franzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-franzen/) > [After my wife and I were married, we obtained a rescue dog from a family that didn't want her anymore. She was a beautiful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-peterson/after-my-wife-and-i-were-married-we-obtained-a-rescue-dog-from-a/) [Bob Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-peterson/) > [I'll tell you - what I can tell you is that I know when I saw 'Zodiac' and then again when I saw 'No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-demme/i-ll-tell-you-what-i-can-tell-you-is-that-i-know-when-i-saw-zodiac/) [Jonathan Demme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-demme/) > [But the face on the pillow, rosy in the firelight, is certainly that of Clarice Starling, and she sleeps deeply, sweetly, in the silence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-harris/but-the-face-on-the-pillow-rosy-in-the-firelight-is-certainly-that-of/) [Thomas Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-harris/) > [After The Silence of the Lambs and Hannibal, the audience would like to know where, when, and who arrests Hannibal Lecter for the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dino-de-laurentiis/after-the-silence-of-the-lambs-and-hannibal-the-audience-would-like/) [Dino De Laurentiis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dino-de-laurentiis/) > [It's kind of like Silence of the lambs meets Boogey Nights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittany-daniel/it-s-kind-of-like-silence-of-the-lambs-meets-boogey-nights/) [Brittany Daniel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittany-daniel/) > [“Oh, God, is this like Silence of the Lambs?" Tears flowed down her face. "I don't want to go down the hole! I won't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alanea-alder/oh-god-is-this-like-silence-of-the-lambs-tears-flowed-down-her-face-i/) [Alanea Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alanea-alder/) > [Most American adults know what a drag queen is, but as they're portrayed in films like 'Dressed to Kill' and 'Silence of the Lambs.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-needles/most-american-adults-know-what-a-drag-queen-is-but-as-they-re/) [Sharon Needles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-needles/) > [When Silence of the Lambs did well commercially it was more than anything. My partner Ed Saxon and I were just so relieved that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-demme/when-silence-of-the-lambs-did-well-commercially-it-was-more-than/) [Jonathan Demme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-demme/) > ["Silence Of The Lambs" is definitely very frightening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-jackson/silence-of-the-lambs-is-definitely-very-frightening/) [Jonathan Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-jackson/) > [You might be a redneck if you think Silence of the Lambs is what happens when Larry walks out to the barn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-foxworthy/you-might-be-a-redneck-if-you-think-silence-of-the-lambs-is-what/) [Jeff Foxworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-foxworthy/) ## More by Rod Lurie > [Now, I don't know about my peers, but I get nervous - okay, I genuinely freak out - when an actor starts trying on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-lurie/now-i-don-t-know-about-my-peers-but-i-get-nervous-okay-i-genuinely/) [Rod Lurie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-lurie/) > [I admire how Tarantino finds music that's semifamiliar and not famous: undiscovered gems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-lurie/i-admire-how-tarantino-finds-music-that-s-semifamiliar-and-not-famous/) [Rod Lurie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-lurie/) > [Simply stated, sometimes journalists can only get their information from informants who must remain anonymous in order to protect their careers and sometimes even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-lurie/simply-stated-sometimes-journalists-can-only-get-their-information/) [Rod Lurie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-lurie/) > [We make movies to endorse our own personal feelings. I am not, in fact, a documentary filmmaker. I've got my personal beliefs, and I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-lurie/we-make-movies-to-endorse-our-own-personal-feelings-i-am-not-in-fact/) [Rod Lurie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-lurie/) > [It's very exciting to continue to work at DreamWorks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-lurie/it-s-very-exciting-to-continue-to-work-at-dreamworks/) [Rod Lurie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-lurie/) > [I think that most of the young officers I know are leftists and liberals and Democrats. And the reason is this: All of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-lurie/i-think-that-most-of-the-young-officers-i-know-are-leftists-and/) [Rod Lurie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-lurie/) > [Marc Frydman and I are overwhelmed by the confidence Touchstone Television has shown in us, and we're thrilled to continue trying to knock 'em…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-lurie/marc-frydman-and-i-are-overwhelmed-by-the-confidence-touchstone/) [Rod Lurie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-lurie/) > [Hollywood is enamored of the 20- to 30-year-old actress, but by the very nature of the life experience of the character, the roles cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-lurie/hollywood-is-enamored-of-the-20-to-30-year-old-actress-but-by-the/) [Rod Lurie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-lurie/) > [Sometimes, anonymous sources, when merely stating opinions or running a smear campaign, are certainly cowards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-lurie/sometimes-anonymous-sources-when-merely-stating-opinions-or-running-a/) [Rod Lurie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-lurie/) > [I can be accused of being acerbic as a critic and writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-lurie/i-can-be-accused-of-being-acerbic-as-a-critic-and-writer/) [Rod Lurie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-lurie/) > [I can't stand to see myself on TV.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-lurie/i-can-t-stand-to-see-myself-on-tv/) [Rod Lurie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-lurie/) > [I fell in love with 'Ben Hur' when I was 8 years old, and I just knew I had to be involved in movies,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-lurie/i-fell-in-love-with-ben-hur-when-i-was-8-years-old-and-i-just-knew-i/) [Rod Lurie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-lurie/) > [I want to have a movie where people's eyes are glued to the screen, not when they're running from the screen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-lurie/i-want-to-have-a-movie-where-people-s-eyes-are-glued-to-the-screen/) [Rod Lurie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-lurie/) > [I remember watching movies like 'Fatal Attraction' and watching the audience go bananas at the end of the film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-lurie/i-remember-watching-movies-like-fatal-attraction-and-watching-the/) [Rod Lurie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-lurie/) > [A reckoning is coming on the state of the internet journalism, because right now, the way it's set up, there is so much room…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-lurie/a-reckoning-is-coming-on-the-state-of-the-internet-journalism-because/) [Rod Lurie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-lurie/) [Explore all 104 Rod Lurie quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-lurie/) ## More America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. 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