sazmus's review against another edition
3.5
This is not a horror novel. It is a mystery novel with horror elements.
alyssastag's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-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
3.0
This was fun and thrilling to read. The characters were so questionable and some parts of the plot were a bit odd. I was confused by the sidekick character and concerned by how bad of a husband the main character was. Loved the parts that gave us information about Sadako’s origin story, wish there was more of that. She was definitely the most interesting character in the book.
hyperashley's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Death
Moderate: Rape
anniereadsnshares's review against another edition
3.0
"Ngay khi đọc xong Ring, có thể bạn chưa thấy sợ. Nhưng nếu cái bóng đèn 50 oát nhà bạn đột nhiên chập chờn thì đừng nghi ngờ gì nữa: Nó đang đến. Và bạn cũng đừng bao giờ mất cảnh giác mà xem một cuộn băng không nhãn, có thể, một thế giới của Ring thật sự đang chờ…"
– Dịch giả Lương Việt Dzũng
“Vẫn còn ở Ring những bất ngờ khiếp đảm cho những ai đã xem phim.” – The Globe mail
“Tóc bạn sẽ dựng ngược lên, nhưng bạn không thể bỏ sách xuống.” – AsianWeek
Ring – vòng tròn ác liệt là truyện kinh dị Nhật Bản đầu tiên mình đọc và do chính anh bạn thân giới thiệu mình đọc. Điểm thú vị của truyện kinh dị Nhật Bản là việc khắc họa sự ám ảnh trong trí tưởng tượng của người đọc bằng ngôn từ hết sức bình dị, chứ không có những khung cảnh rùng rợn. Bên cạnh đó, tác giả Suzuki Koji cũng thành công khi xây dựng tâm lý nhân vật chính Asakawa khi đối diện với cái chết một cách chân thực, thậm chí đến người đọc (là mình) cũng cảm giác đươc cảm giác hối hận lẫn nỗi sợ hãi đến tột cùng. Câu chuyện tưởng chừng đã hết nhưng hóa ra lại mở đầu cho một vòng tròn quái ác mà dù biết cách cho nó dừng cũng không thể làm được….Mình khá ấn tượng với nhân vật Ryuji, mặc dù vẫn không hiểu lắm về con người anh ấy, nhưng cách hành xử và sự thông minh thì thật tuyệt vời.
Mình nghĩ rằng đây sẽ là một sựa lựa chọn không tồi, với cách dẫn chuyện lôi cuốn đến những dòng cuối cùng, hứa hẹn thỏa mãn những bạn đọc đam mê truyện kinh dị, trinh thám! Không thể tin được là gấp sách lại được 10 phút mà bây giờ, cảm giác rùng rợn vẫn còn ngập tràn. Mình cảm tưởng bao nhiêu da gà của mình đang dựng đứng lên hết!
– Dịch giả Lương Việt Dzũng
“Vẫn còn ở Ring những bất ngờ khiếp đảm cho những ai đã xem phim.” – The Globe mail
“Tóc bạn sẽ dựng ngược lên, nhưng bạn không thể bỏ sách xuống.” – AsianWeek
Ring – vòng tròn ác liệt là truyện kinh dị Nhật Bản đầu tiên mình đọc và do chính anh bạn thân giới thiệu mình đọc. Điểm thú vị của truyện kinh dị Nhật Bản là việc khắc họa sự ám ảnh trong trí tưởng tượng của người đọc bằng ngôn từ hết sức bình dị, chứ không có những khung cảnh rùng rợn. Bên cạnh đó, tác giả Suzuki Koji cũng thành công khi xây dựng tâm lý nhân vật chính Asakawa khi đối diện với cái chết một cách chân thực, thậm chí đến người đọc (là mình) cũng cảm giác đươc cảm giác hối hận lẫn nỗi sợ hãi đến tột cùng. Câu chuyện tưởng chừng đã hết nhưng hóa ra lại mở đầu cho một vòng tròn quái ác mà dù biết cách cho nó dừng cũng không thể làm được….Mình khá ấn tượng với nhân vật Ryuji, mặc dù vẫn không hiểu lắm về con người anh ấy, nhưng cách hành xử và sự thông minh thì thật tuyệt vời.
Mình nghĩ rằng đây sẽ là một sựa lựa chọn không tồi, với cách dẫn chuyện lôi cuốn đến những dòng cuối cùng, hứa hẹn thỏa mãn những bạn đọc đam mê truyện kinh dị, trinh thám! Không thể tin được là gấp sách lại được 10 phút mà bây giờ, cảm giác rùng rợn vẫn còn ngập tràn. Mình cảm tưởng bao nhiêu da gà của mình đang dựng đứng lên hết!
lawinbehold's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
thetallestbird's review against another edition
I LOVE horror, but horror that relies on shock value immediately turns me off. It's especially bad when sexual assault is used in that way.
I started the book knowing that this would be a plot point, but I didn't realize there would be a POV description of assault and a regular supporting character who is introduced as a proud serial rapist. No thank you.
I started the book knowing that this would be a plot point, but I didn't realize there would be a POV description of assault and a regular supporting character who is introduced as a proud serial rapist. No thank you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Vomit, Rape, Child death, Murder, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Alcohol
goingconfetti's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I some how missed the Ring trilogy growing up, but I can say, It Follows, could not exist without this. Simply twisted.
emmiebee's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
To hit on some of the questions asked. It's lack of diversity being a Japanese book is more or less to be expected it's more that every single person who played a real role in helping move the plot forward was a guy. The women were few and far between and were either character development, obstacles, or motivation.
Very early on in the story we're introduced to MC#2 or main support and he's introduced to us as the guy who broke into a girl's house and raped her. Wtf!? Our MC doesn't like this about him but chooses to remain his friend for decades later. Ok. (It's so the author can justify him seeing the tape) how dark he is is brought up multiple times and supposedly the key to realizing what actually happened to our dead girl. (The use of the word supposedly is explained in the spoiler section). The MC isn't a great person either the only time he expressed any positive emotions for his family was when their lives were at risk. I read this having not read the reviews because a "friend" said it was so good, hah. Seriously don't read the spoiler if you plan on reading the book. There's nothing interesting about this once the why of it all is revealed. It doesn't even do the suspense thing well. I would've been *slightly* more invested if they had added a little something to it like the closer they came to the day the more they were feeling watched, or seeing shadows out of the corner of their eyes, or really anything other than the MC reminding us how many days are between him and a week.
Very early on in the story we're introduced to MC#2 or main support and he's introduced to us as the guy who broke into a girl's house and raped her. Wtf!? Our MC doesn't like this about him but chooses to remain his friend for decades later. Ok. (It's so the author can justify him seeing the tape) how dark he is is brought up multiple times and supposedly the key to realizing what actually happened to our dead girl. (The use of the word supposedly is explained in the spoiler section). The MC isn't a great person either the only time he expressed any positive emotions for his family was when their lives were at risk. I read this having not read the reviews because a "friend" said it was so good, hah. Seriously don't read the spoiler if you plan on reading the book. There's nothing interesting about this once the why of it all is revealed. It doesn't even do the suspense thing well. I would've been *slightly* more invested if they had added a little something to it like the closer they came to the day the more they were feeling watched, or seeing shadows out of the corner of their eyes, or really anything other than the MC reminding us how many days are between him and a week.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual violence, Murder, and Rape
Minor: Rape, Sexism, Toxic relationship, and Transphobia
Spoiler
at the end of everything the author tries to walk back everything he set up about the friends dark personality. Again it was a plot device to give his MC a reason to show the tape to him, because his MC is a "good guy" and would never willingly risk someone's life. It mostly follows along with the movie version (US, I don't remember the Japanese version) with the exception of the male MC being married with a kid, and they get wrapped up in the plot halfway through so he sends them to the country while he figures it out, and there's a lot more focus on parapsychology and how the video was made. The most important, infuriating part of this book that made me rant about what a waste of time it was was that instead of going with an ok villain arc of this viral video as an answer to the countrywide cruelty her mother faced and she feared as people with telekinetic powers, the cruelty that led to her mother's ultimate suicide, all powered by the rage of being killed by the man who just raped her. The author decided, no she's intersex and so can't have kids and was a virgin (because of the shame of her testicles) and the video is making her a mother to millions. Fuck you, kuji, jfc.Spoiler
matekenn's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
swathi_narasimhan's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars.
This book was an OK-OK read. The kind where you dont feel bad to have picked it up, yet dont feel satisfied after reading it.
I wanted to read this book because i loved the ‘RING’ movie ( i watched during my college days, and trust me it was SCARY). What i thought was, if the movie version was so interesting, then the book ought to be better. But it was a letdown there.
Few of the plot twists were unnecessary. It felt like the author wanted to surprise the readers desperately. That didn’t work out ( for example, where we learn Ryuiji wasn’t a rapist after all!).
The concept of RAPE was handled. Also the final climax( is it a happy ending or a tragedy?),Asakawa places his in-laws on the line. I just didn’t like it, though from his POV it was nothing but desperation to save his love.
For the pros, i loved the unraveling of the mystery - deaths being tracked back to Sadako and the charm to save from being killed. The writing was definitely good, and kept the tension taut.
In all, a book whose adaptation was better.
This book was an OK-OK read. The kind where you dont feel bad to have picked it up, yet dont feel satisfied after reading it.
I wanted to read this book because i loved the ‘RING’ movie ( i watched during my college days, and trust me it was SCARY). What i thought was, if the movie version was so interesting, then the book ought to be better. But it was a letdown there.
Few of the plot twists were unnecessary. It felt like the author wanted to surprise the readers desperately. That didn’t work out ( for example, where we learn Ryuiji wasn’t a rapist after all!).
The concept of RAPE was handled. Also the final climax( is it a happy ending or a tragedy?),Asakawa places his in-laws on the line. I just didn’t like it, though from his POV it was nothing but desperation to save his love.
For the pros, i loved the unraveling of the mystery - deaths being tracked back to Sadako and the charm to save from being killed. The writing was definitely good, and kept the tension taut.
In all, a book whose adaptation was better.