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A review by jessica_
Ring by Kōji Suzuki
4.0
I almost hate that I'm giving this 4 stars.
This is somehow leagues better than the movie, but also so much worst.
I was seconds away from giving this 1 star
The writing is immersive, the story engaging (even knowing all the major plot beats). I honestly liked the structure and mystery of the novel more then the movie (even if it's missing some iconic scenes I loved from the movie)
but WHY did the author make the two main characters have to be so unlikable?!?!?!?! if I cared for them even a little this would have been a new favorite.
I can get past the casual sexism one of the characters showed towards everyone, this is a book from the 90's I hardly expect the author to treat any of the female characters like a person with agency- they only exist because the protagonist needs a family.
BUT WHY WOULD HE INCLUDE MULTIPLE RAPIST AS IMPORTANT CHARACTERS AND THINK I'D GIVE A SHIT IF THEY LIVED OR DIED?! I WAS HOPING THE SPIRIT WOULD KILL THEM.
Of the two main character the one who was not a rapist just looks at his friend and wonders why they are friends when he knows he's raped 3 women- he has no reason- it's not reason enough to not be friends with him/turn him into the police I guess. Even when he brings him home and he makes a comment about his wife and infant child!
it may or may not have been a joke on the first persons part, he was saying he raped multiple people but didn't actually do it.... that's not much better. I was still happy to see him die
and to make the worst of it... the rapist was the most interesting character. He was smart, calm, and interesting. Could have been one of my new favorite fictional characters... but I wanted him to die because --obviously!!!!
Still, it's a really well written and entertaining book, if it wasn't for that one element. I hate that I enjoyed other aspects enough (especially the ending) that I can't bring myself to lower the star rating.
This is somehow leagues better than the movie, but also so much worst.
I was seconds away from giving this 1 star
The writing is immersive, the story engaging (even knowing all the major plot beats). I honestly liked the structure and mystery of the novel more then the movie (even if it's missing some iconic scenes I loved from the movie)
but WHY did the author make the two main characters have to be so unlikable?!?!?!?! if I cared for them even a little this would have been a new favorite.
I can get past the casual sexism one of the characters showed towards everyone, this is a book from the 90's I hardly expect the author to treat any of the female characters like a person with agency- they only exist because the protagonist needs a family.
BUT WHY WOULD HE INCLUDE MULTIPLE RAPIST AS IMPORTANT CHARACTERS AND THINK I'D GIVE A SHIT IF THEY LIVED OR DIED?! I WAS HOPING THE SPIRIT WOULD KILL THEM.
Of the two main character the one who was not a rapist just looks at his friend and wonders why they are friends when he knows he's raped 3 women- he has no reason- it's not reason enough to not be friends with him/turn him into the police I guess. Even when he brings him home and he makes a comment about his wife and infant child!
and to make the worst of it... the rapist was the most interesting character. He was smart, calm, and interesting. Could have been one of my new favorite fictional characters... but I wanted him to die because --obviously!!!!
Still, it's a really well written and entertaining book, if it wasn't for that one element. I hate that I enjoyed other aspects enough (especially the ending) that I can't bring myself to lower the star rating.