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opheliasviolence 's review for:
Ring (Ring, #1)
by Kōji Suzuki
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
Loveable characters:
No
(3.5 rounded up)
I'd skip reading this review if you want to go in blind. I'll be discussing some plot points below.
This book has me very conflicted. On one hand, I loved the parts of the book that dealt with the curse and how it worked. It was also great to read the source material for the American remake.
On the other hand, the two main characters were very unlikable. I can see why both the Japanese & American movies changed the main character to a woman. I'd take Rachel any day.
I wanted Asakawa and Ryuji to succeed only to save Asakawa's wife and child. Especially in Ryuji's case, he admits something disgusting to Asakawa that just made me hate him. I didn't really care if either of them died.
Most of the story doesn't really read like horror. It's more a mystery. There are some creepy parts (the very beginning and end) but I wouldn't consider them scary. There were definitely things that I found disturbing though.
Sadako's origin story is more fully explained than either the original Japanese movie and the American remake. There were parts of it i liked and others that i dont think really had to be included. The SA could have been entirely left out and her origin story still would have worked.
Overall, I would say I liked the book. It left me wanting to know more about the curse and Sadako. Maybe I'll read the other two books in the series.
I'd recommend this to those that liked the Japanese movie or Japanese horror in general. This book moves at a slower pace, so keep that in mind.
Also, be sure to look up any triggers for this book.
I'd skip reading this review if you want to go in blind. I'll be discussing some plot points below.
This book has me very conflicted. On one hand, I loved the parts of the book that dealt with the curse and how it worked. It was also great to read the source material for the American remake.
On the other hand, the two main characters were very unlikable. I can see why both the Japanese & American movies changed the main character to a woman. I'd take Rachel any day.
I wanted Asakawa and Ryuji to succeed only to save Asakawa's wife and child. Especially in Ryuji's case, he admits something disgusting to Asakawa that just made me hate him. I didn't really care if either of them died.
Most of the story doesn't really read like horror. It's more a mystery. There are some creepy parts (the very beginning and end) but I wouldn't consider them scary. There were definitely things that I found disturbing though.
Sadako's origin story is more fully explained than either the original Japanese movie and the American remake. There were parts of it i liked and others that i dont think really had to be included. The SA could have been entirely left out and her origin story still would have worked.
Overall, I would say I liked the book. It left me wanting to know more about the curse and Sadako. Maybe I'll read the other two books in the series.
I'd recommend this to those that liked the Japanese movie or Japanese horror in general. This book moves at a slower pace, so keep that in mind.
Also, be sure to look up any triggers for this book.