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3.38 AVERAGE
3.38 AVERAGE
This was great. I didn't know what the book was about at all, I simply looked up some Korean horror novels written by female authors and this came up. I'm not sure why but I was expecting this to be paranormal horror so at first I thought "damn, this isn't spooky at all and I'm only feeling sad" but as I kept reading I found myself completely captivated by the story, experiencing a sense of claustrophobia and loneliness that made me feel very scared.
I think what I liked the most about this book was that it isn't only a psychological thriller that made me feel very spooked, but I also found myself relating to the characters, invested in their lives, interested on what the author had to say about academic work, marriage, power dynamics in relationships, gender issues in Korea, even about politics and history (as another review mentions, I don't think it's a coincidence that the mother in law is half Japanese).
Plus, the whole time I imagined this as a Korean horror film. Make it happen, Park Chan-wook.
I think what I liked the most about this book was that it isn't only a psychological thriller that made me feel very spooked, but I also found myself relating to the characters, invested in their lives, interested on what the author had to say about academic work, marriage, power dynamics in relationships, gender issues in Korea, even about politics and history (as another review mentions, I don't think it's a coincidence that the mother in law is half Japanese).
Plus, the whole time I imagined this as a Korean horror film. Make it happen, Park Chan-wook.
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
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
The Hole by Hye-young Pyun is one of those psychological thriller books that seeps into your mind & refuses to leave. It tells the story of Oghi, a man who wakes up from a coma after a car accident that killed his wife & left him paralyzed & disfigured. He's left in the care of his mother-in-law, & what unfolds is a chilling, claustrophobic descent into helplessness & control. You don't need literal ghosts or jump scares for horror when the fear comes from the human condition, being completely vulnerable & treated like you're nothing more than a burden.
It's disturbing, yes, but also heartbreaking honestly. The way Oghi is physically trapped & disabled, also emotionally dismissed by everyone around him, made me so uncomfortable I literally had to take breaks from reading. The writing brilliantly mirrors Oghi's pain & confusion. He's not exactly saint, his past flaws & emotional detachment are hinted at, but still, no one deserves the kind of punishment he endures. It's a reminder that cruelty often hides behind politeness & obligation, & that being at someone's mercy can be the most terrifying thing.
The ending left me spiraling though. There's no clear conclusion, & I'm still asking myself if everything was imagined, if Oghi's already dead, or if it all really happened. But maybe that's the point. This book doesn't tie things up neatly, yet it lingers with its message: appreciate the people & moments in your life, because everything can be taken from you in an instant. It's a stressful read, emotionally draining even, but in the best way possible. Definitely 5 stars for the impact alone.
slow-paced
Loveable characters:
No
I haven't read Misery and in the interests of going into this with no spoilers, I made no attempt to learn any more about it. I feel like maybe I should have done - but perhaps I should have also figured that something compared to a book with that title wouldn't be a very fun read. That's on me; I wanted to read it because I loved the cover.
I thought this was going to be a horror, and I guess in a sense it was quite horrifying, but I just did not enjoy reading it. There was nothing nice or good or interesting. It was just stress stress stress oh it's over.
I thought this was going to be a horror, and I guess in a sense it was quite horrifying, but I just did not enjoy reading it. There was nothing nice or good or interesting. It was just stress stress stress oh it's over.
Interesting concept and the slow burn reality based horror and tension, as well as the commentary on disability was compelling, but ultimately this felt a bit rushed. Would have loved for the tension to have had more room to develop.
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
I really enjoyed this one. Great story with grief, loneliness, and anger woven through the characters.
Horror using real world situations to instill fear is peak.
Horror using real world situations to instill fear is peak.
dark
emotional
medium-paced
A strange little novel that felt a bit flat for me.
The writing is beautiful for sure but the story itself needed to be a bit more fleshed out. Especially the last fifty pages.
I get why people compare it to Misery, but, really, it's not like Misery
The writing is beautiful for sure but the story itself needed to be a bit more fleshed out. Especially the last fifty pages.
I get why people compare it to Misery, but, really, it's not like Misery
some interesting disability commentary overall just underwhelming.
This book started off really compelling with the promise of a horror that I kept anticipating it would deliver. Meanwhile, the horror is revealed in ways less obvious. After finishing the book and sitting with it, I am appreciating what the author did. I like the length of this book, I liked the fact that it was originally written in Korean, and how the cultural context being different than mine played in to the sense of isolation and confusion I felt as a reader. I liked the metaphors used and the detailed descriptions of Oghi’s experience. I know there is much that I missed so if I were to read it again I would take more time with it; instead of racing ahead to catch some anticipated plot twist, I would sit in the moments with more curiosity.
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes