Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

Ring by Kōji Suzuki

17 reviews

juliawren's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

There are definite tones of misogyny and seriously fucked up characters (please for the love of God check the content warnings), but that's what made this such an addicting read. I could hardly put it down.

Forget morally gray - this is on the same level as Lolita. Whether or not some of the themes and ideas being presented are the author's or just a downright alarming depiction of misogyny present in Japanese culture when this was written, you'll need to approach this story with some serious media literacy to understand that it is 100% a social and philosophical commentary, and you should not agree with all of the characters or their actions because that is the point. There will definitely be times where you won't agree with the author, too (at least I seriously hope not), but I lean towards the belief that his personal ideology (while still sexist and displaying substantial

victim-blaming

qualities that shouldn't be ignored) does not entirely align with these characters, especially given the ending (which, contrary to what many readers claim, does make perfect sense and has nothing to do with

Sadako wanting to have a literal child

- do y'all understand what a metaphor is??).

If you think the ending falls apart with the paranormal stuff, I'd recommend reading up on the Japanese concept of

curses,

as it differs considerably from American mythology/culture about ghosts. Weirdly, I'd also recommend Jujutsu Kaisen if you like anime or manga, since it gets into this concept and you can really understand how Japanese people believe

curses

are made.

That aside, the story was nearly as good as the American version (I didn't love the original as much but might give it another try after reading this). The mystery presented fit together perfectly by the end. Even having watched both movie versions and knowing the general plot / final twist, I felt the tension all the way through. This was a wonderfully chilling and terrifyingly disturbing read, and anyone who enjoyed the films and likes a good scare and can stomach horror, both real and paranormal, will enjoy it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicide, and Transphobia

Minor: Alcoholism, Vomit, Blood, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, and Domestic abuse

saldre's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Pandemic/Epidemic, Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, Violence, Child death, Murder, Rape, Suicide, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Transphobia, and Death

xavz_'s review

1.0

boy howdy was this book gross and also bad. completely unnecessary intersexphobia and like WAY too much rape. the parts where i wasn't mad i was sooo bored. i should have dnf'd at the beginning of the book (even before ryuji was introduced and asakawa really said i can excuse SERIAL RAPE but i draw the line at making noises when you chew. absolutely bonkers.) but alas i continued and that was a mistake. no reason this book had to be doin all of that. nasty.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Rape, Sexism, Misogyny, and Sexual violence

devynrj's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicide, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Murder, and Rape

jaylee_books's review against another edition

dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Transphobia, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Death, Child death, and Rape

Moderate: Chronic illness and Death of parent

pimmles's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic friendship

Moderate: Sexual violence, Death, and Rape

Minor: Physical abuse, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Cursing, Murder, Medical content, Transphobia, Violence, and Drug use

Regarding the "minor" transphobia tag, not 100% accurate, more intersex-phobia details ahead:

During the story it is revealed that Sadako is intersex. I put it as minor because the author, to his credit, never seems to actually treat that as a negative thing in any regard. It is talked about as a medical curiosity but no more, though it is ofcourse on the infamous horror villain and does have some problematic elements to it.

kchin's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

It's all sorts of messed up. There must be significance to some parts of the book that I didn't grasp but it's likely cultural nuances. As a long time horror fan I'm happy to have finally read this cult classic.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Suicide, Pregnancy, Child death, Death, Murder, Death of parent, Rape, Sexual assault, and Physical abuse

suzyrez's review against another edition

1.0

Strongly not recommended; offensive misogyny & transphobia

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Misogyny, Rape, Transphobia, and Sexual violence

choco_bunbun's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Death, and Violence

Moderate: Blood and Misogyny

Minor: Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Grief, and Transphobia

emmiebee's review against another edition

dark slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

To hit on some of the questions asked. It's lack of diversity being a Japanese book is more or less to be expected it's more that every single person who played a real role in helping move the plot forward was a guy. The women were few and far between and were either character development, obstacles, or motivation. 
Very early on in the story we're introduced to MC#2 or main support and he's introduced to us as the guy who broke into a girl's house and raped her. Wtf!? Our MC doesn't like this about him but chooses to remain his friend for decades later. Ok. (It's so the author can justify him seeing the tape) how dark he is is brought up multiple times and supposedly the key to realizing what actually happened to our dead girl. (The use of the word supposedly is explained in the spoiler section). The MC isn't a great person either the only time he expressed any positive emotions for his family was when their lives were at risk. I read this having not read the reviews because a "friend" said it was so good, hah. Seriously don't read the spoiler if you plan on reading the book. There's nothing interesting about this once the why of it all is revealed. It doesn't even do the suspense thing well. I would've been *slightly* more invested if they had added a little something to it like the closer they came to the day the more they were feeling watched, or seeing shadows out of the corner of their eyes, or really anything other than the MC reminding us how many days are between him and a week.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual violence, Murder, and Rape

Minor: Rape, Sexism, Toxic relationship, and Transphobia

at the end of everything the author tries to walk back everything he set up about the friends dark personality. Again it was a plot device to give his MC a reason to show the tape to him, because his MC is a "good guy" and would never willingly risk someone's life. It mostly follows along with the movie version (US, I don't remember the Japanese version) with the exception of the male MC being married with a kid, and they get wrapped up in the plot halfway through so he sends them to the country while he figures it out, and there's a lot more focus on parapsychology and how the video was made. The most important, infuriating part of this book that made me rant about what a waste of time it was was that instead of going with an ok villain arc of this viral video as an answer to the countrywide cruelty her mother faced and she feared as people with telekinetic powers, the cruelty that led to her mother's ultimate suicide, all powered by the rage of being killed by the man who just raped her. The author decided, no she's intersex and so can't have kids and was a virgin (because of the shame of her testicles) and the video is making her a mother to millions. Fuck you, kuji, jfc.