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bookedrightmeow's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
What a strange and interesting read! Translated from Korean by Sora Kim-Russell, The Hole by Hye-Young Pyun is a creepy novel that’s been described as a Korean version of Stephen King’s Misery. While I think that’s a fair comparison, the storytelling here has a level of subtlety that’s unique and stands on its own.
Some scattered thoughts:
- First, an unreliable narrator: geography professor Oghi wakes from a coma after surviving a car crash that killed his wife.
- Oghi is now disfigured and paralyzed from the crash, with no one to care for him except his mother-in-law, who's understandably destroyed by the death of her only child.
- I don't think Oghi is intended to be likeable at all, but I also found myself rooting for him at times? It’s complicated, especially when we flash back to moments from the marriage.
- Since the narrative is from Oghi’s point of view, we have a limited, biased sense of who his wife truly was, which is frustrating.
- The novel is on the short side but it’s concise and packs a punch. It's an interesting study of grief, revenge, consequence, and acceptance.
Some scattered thoughts:
- First, an unreliable narrator: geography professor Oghi wakes from a coma after surviving a car crash that killed his wife.
- Oghi is now disfigured and paralyzed from the crash, with no one to care for him except his mother-in-law, who's understandably destroyed by the death of her only child.
- I don't think Oghi is intended to be likeable at all, but I also found myself rooting for him at times? It’s complicated, especially when we flash back to moments from the marriage.
- Since the narrative is from Oghi’s point of view, we have a limited, biased sense of who his wife truly was, which is frustrating.
- The novel is on the short side but it’s concise and packs a punch. It's an interesting study of grief, revenge, consequence, and acceptance.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Grief, and Car accident
bookishcori's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Confinement, and Fatphobia
Moderate: Infertility and Toxic relationship
Minor: Infidelity
swinsword's review
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
The main character is unlikable and has no character development. He got what he deserved.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Confinement, Death, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Car accident
charleyroxy's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism and Confinement
Moderate: Bullying, Fatphobia, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Suicide, Torture, Excrement, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Car accident, and Death of parent
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