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3.57 AVERAGE
3.57 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Dysphoria
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Well, I had different expectations for this book. Spoiler's ahead, if you care about that kind of thing.
I thought I was in for a tense ghostly horror ride, based on cultural knowledge of the films, but, instead this book was a mystery science-paranormal book (sci-fantasy?). Not that weren't eerie moments -- the initial viewing of the cursed tape, the recollection Arima had of Sadako, the story of Shizuko fishing the statue of En no Ozunu out of the ocean -- but there were only scant eerie moments, no scares. This book in no way haunted in me. In fact, I would argue this book shot itself in the foot multiple times over explaining itself and trying to logic out why everything was happening the way it was. I'm down for explanation, but having some open, unanswered ends allows for the dread to build.
For all the mystery and tight deadlines in this book, I also felt a distinct lack of tension. I felt no grief or dread for Asakawa and his doomed buddy Ryuji: they were both pretty insufferable. I know likeable characters are not key in having a compelling story, but it would sure help if they didn't constantly remind me why I was rooting for Sadako to get both of their asses. The misogyny in this book is stifling and pervasive. Asakawa talks a big game about wanting to save his wife and daughter but sure seems like he doesn't like them that much -- never helps around the house, never participates in child rearing, can't sit down and flat tell his wife what the fuck is going on and hey I know this sounds fucking crazy but please don't watch this video tape I'm positive it's cursed and will kill you if you watch if you don't believe me well here's what I found out about your dead niece --
It also doesn't help that Asakawa keeps bumbling about, incapable of having a single coherent or inspired thought after curse-brain sets in, leaving us to the mercy of Ryuji Takayama -- the man, the myth, the greater piece of shit.
Ryuji's somehow worse, with the whole may-have-or-may-not-have-raped-a-few-girls thing. Either he was a nihilistic person who signed his own death warrant, or he was a good-intentioned weirdo who thought lying to Asakawa about a sex crime he supposedly committed would guarantee his friendship. Which. It did, I guess? Neither of these options is good. Trying to pull a fast one at the end after he died felt like the ultimate cop out.
It turns out the rotten Ryuji was a true hero who died a noble death, while that weak-minded bitch of a reporter Asakawa will doom the world. Ugh-
I mentioned the misogyny, but I should also mention the intersex-phobia that also haunts (heh) this narrative. Sadako is intersex, having some variation of AIS (though the book doesn't call it that) and is othered because of this trait. She is abnormally beautiful, its implied her strong psychic powers are tied to this, she is raped and murdered because she is not "fully a woman". I don't think the author was going for an insidious depiction, but her character is not unblemished.
The last thing I want to comment on are the themes -- I don't think this book quite came together. The idea of viruses propagating and connecting that to the tape -- good. Implying the curse is a virus -- bad. Humans seeks to end things that cause their suffering while plaques seeks to continue forever -- interesting dichotomy. Everything existed as one before the creation of binaries in an unevolved primordial state, kinda like viruses and hermaphrodites -- ???????
Somehow, this is all a ring, baby.
TLDR: I think I will like this book's film adaption much more than the book itself. I'm glad I waited until I finished reading it and looked further into the subsequent installments before I bought the rest of the books in the series.
I thought I was in for a tense ghostly horror ride, based on cultural knowledge of the films, but, instead this book was a mystery science-paranormal book (sci-fantasy?). Not that weren't eerie moments -- the initial viewing of the cursed tape, the recollection Arima had of Sadako, the story of Shizuko fishing the statue of En no Ozunu out of the ocean -- but there were only scant eerie moments, no scares. This book in no way haunted in me. In fact, I would argue this book shot itself in the foot multiple times over explaining itself and trying to logic out why everything was happening the way it was. I'm down for explanation, but having some open, unanswered ends allows for the dread to build.
For all the mystery and tight deadlines in this book, I also felt a distinct lack of tension. I felt no grief or dread for Asakawa and his doomed buddy Ryuji: they were both pretty insufferable. I know likeable characters are not key in having a compelling story, but it would sure help if they didn't constantly remind me why I was rooting for Sadako to get both of their asses. The misogyny in this book is stifling and pervasive. Asakawa talks a big game about wanting to save his wife and daughter but sure seems like he doesn't like them that much -- never helps around the house, never participates in child rearing, can't sit down and flat tell his wife what the fuck is going on and hey I know this sounds fucking crazy but please don't watch this video tape I'm positive it's cursed and will kill you if you watch if you don't believe me well here's what I found out about your dead niece --
It also doesn't help that Asakawa keeps bumbling about, incapable of having a single coherent or inspired thought after curse-brain sets in, leaving us to the mercy of Ryuji Takayama -- the man, the myth, the greater piece of shit.
Ryuji's somehow worse, with the whole may-have-or-may-not-have-raped-a-few-girls thing. Either he was a nihilistic person who signed his own death warrant, or he was a good-intentioned weirdo who thought lying to Asakawa about a sex crime he supposedly committed would guarantee his friendship. Which. It did, I guess? Neither of these options is good. Trying to pull a fast one at the end after he died felt like the ultimate cop out.
It turns out the rotten Ryuji was a true hero who died a noble death, while that weak-minded bitch of a reporter Asakawa will doom the world. Ugh-
I mentioned the misogyny, but I should also mention the intersex-phobia that also haunts (heh) this narrative. Sadako is intersex, having some variation of AIS (though the book doesn't call it that) and is othered because of this trait. She is abnormally beautiful, its implied her strong psychic powers are tied to this, she is raped and murdered because she is not "fully a woman". I don't think the author was going for an insidious depiction, but her character is not unblemished.
The last thing I want to comment on are the themes -- I don't think this book quite came together. The idea of viruses propagating and connecting that to the tape -- good. Implying the curse is a virus -- bad. Humans seeks to end things that cause their suffering while plaques seeks to continue forever -- interesting dichotomy. Everything existed as one before the creation of binaries in an unevolved primordial state, kinda like viruses and hermaphrodites -- ???????
Somehow, this is all a ring, baby.
TLDR: I think I will like this book's film adaption much more than the book itself. I'm glad I waited until I finished reading it and looked further into the subsequent installments before I bought the rest of the books in the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Misogyny, Transphobia
Never seen any of the movies, so maybe that might affect my rating lol would give it 5 if ryuji wasnt here
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
challenging
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This book was bizarre and now I have to watch the movie. I don’t feel like I can recommend it, too much of it just didn't age well.
mysterious
slow-paced
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
4/5. Wasn't sure if I'd enjoy it but the last two acts were amazing.