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3.57 AVERAGE
3.57 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
not that scary, if you expect it to be. no one crawls out of a TV
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, Murder
Moderate: Infertility, Medical content
I have not read much Japanese literature, but I found myself thoroughly enjoying the job done by the translators of this particular novel. I have studied Russian in translation & read other international lit in translation. The book read as a thriller, more than a horror story, with the plot picking up after you meet the reporter. I found myself enthralled by realistic descriptions that illuminate how we each have choices, some we don't expect to make or premeditate & yet this author gets you to that deep place of mind, in how we may come to make them.
I felt like I was on a time-restrained journey with the reporter - ready to find out if he would solve it in time.
I also really like the set up of the paranormal in Japan and the events that precede the main plot. It creates an overall feel for the story, like a glimpse of what you may be getting into.
I'm inclined to read it again, just to catch details I might missed in the first reading.
I have seen the first American film, but it's been so long, I wasn't thinking of it much, or trying to compare the reading to the film, since I don't remember it very clearly.
I felt like I was on a time-restrained journey with the reporter - ready to find out if he would solve it in time.
I also really like the set up of the paranormal in Japan and the events that precede the main plot. It creates an overall feel for the story, like a glimpse of what you may be getting into.
I'm inclined to read it again, just to catch details I might missed in the first reading.
I have seen the first American film, but it's been so long, I wasn't thinking of it much, or trying to compare the reading to the film, since I don't remember it very clearly.
Pacing was a bit slow (had that airport-bookstore-novel vibe).
I don't remember the film well enough to comment on how it compared to the source novel, but the novel itself was OK.
Textbook "oh man, spooky chain letter" resolution, but what are you going to do?
I don't remember the film well enough to comment on how it compared to the source novel, but the novel itself was OK.
Textbook "oh man, spooky chain letter" resolution, but what are you going to do?
pretty badass - this birthed i don’t even know how many horror franchises (aside from its own obviously lol) and tropes. really interesting thinking about this story through the lens of modern media.
Loveable characters:
No
would be a 4.5/5 but the weird random sexism and transphobia was weird!!!!!!
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
premise is obviously fine but execution is insanely bad. what specific type of brainrot do some of the biggest ever japanese men writers (dazai, mishima, murakami, this guy, etc.) have that makes them obsessed with using sexism and transphobia and rape to tell stories?
thank god the movies greatly improve upon the failings of the book. koji suzuki you fucking suck dude.
thank god the movies greatly improve upon the failings of the book. koji suzuki you fucking suck dude.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Curiosity killed the cat
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Both characters are giant piles of shit, one more so than the other. Completely ruined the book for me. Also wasn’t scary like I thought it would be. Still love the movies though.