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mackenzienoelle's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
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
First and foremost HEAVY HEAVY SA TRIGGER WARNING. It was NOT handled well and was reoccurring throughout. Super uncomfortable in the worst way.
I almost DNF’d this one but I wanted to know what happened. Was it worth it? I don’t know, I don’t think so.
When this novel isn’t brutalizing and dehumanizing literally every woman in the story (the open contempt for women is so palpable throughout) it reads like GPS instructions. It felt like 80% of this book was just two deeply unlikable characters having annoying conversations in the car or on a boat. So so much detailed, dry description of transportation.
I didn’t enjoy the writing style, I felt the author took too many mid-scene tangents and constantly deflated the suspense.
The best, spookiest part was the last like 3 pages which is soooooo annoying
I almost DNF’d this one but I wanted to know what happened. Was it worth it? I don’t know, I don’t think so.
When this novel isn’t brutalizing and dehumanizing literally every woman in the story (the open contempt for women is so palpable throughout) it reads like GPS instructions. It felt like 80% of this book was just two deeply unlikable characters having annoying conversations in the car or on a boat. So so much detailed, dry description of transportation.
I didn’t enjoy the writing style, I felt the author took too many mid-scene tangents and constantly deflated the suspense.
The best, spookiest part was the last like 3 pages which is soooooo annoying
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Rape, Sexual violence, Transphobia, and Murder
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Death, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Fatphobia, Homophobia, and Suicide
bhreaghmichelle's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Murder
Moderate: Death of parent and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child death, Transphobia, and Pandemic/Epidemic
stargirlsky's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.75
while I’m giving this book a 3.75, that’s not to say it wasn’t an enjoyable read. I really liked the pace, I liked that it was simple enough to understand, and yet just mysterious enough for me to be thrilled by. I also thought a lot of the “discovering” and plot twists were well done. however, as many other people have stated, it is like rampant with really weird views and details on women?? I mean it was written in 1991 but like for example, there’s a certain part in the book that was about Sadako that genuinely made me sigh. I love the story itself it’s very interesting and for the time it was certainly a new plot concept, I just wish stuff like that had been left out
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Death, Rape, and Murder
Moderate: Misogyny
cheyenne_halud's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, and Murder
zakcebulski's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
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
2.5
Yeah, this book was something.
I thought it was pretty sloggy admittedly. I thought that the premise was interesting, but, past that I just don't really give a damn.
I thought that the inclusion of Ryuji being a rapist and having it be revealed that WOW he was not a rapist was super fucking uncomfortable. To me, this might be a controversial take, but, having the more competent of your two protagonists be a proud serial rapist is terrible. And having the big reveal be that gasp he was a virgin and possibly didn't rape anybody doesn't make things better. Why would Asakawa want to befriend a rapist???
Asakawa was unlikable and extremely frustrating. LIke... just do something fucking goddamn christ. He is the main protagonist of a horror/ procedural novel, and is inept to a crazy degree. He would have died had it not been for again an admitted rapist. What in the fuck?
The reveal of Sadako's curse as being conveyed by not only the videotape, but the charm as bein creating copies of the tape was well done. I think that that was the highlight of the book. I also thought that the reveal of Asakawa's wife and daughter watching the videotape was a great "oh fuck" moment. The stakes are immediately established.
Overall, this book was not for me. There are some good parts. The backstory of Sadako is interesting and quite tragic, but unfortunately about everything outside of that is terrible.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, and Murder
lostfoxtrail's review against another edition
dark
tense
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? It's complicated
2.5
There’s a good premise here but the explanation was a huge let down for me personally. Some problematic elements too, which decreased my reading enjoyment substantially. Probably wouldn’t recommend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Transphobia, Violence, Murder, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
evey_ack's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, Murder, and Sexual harassment
saldre's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Transphobia, Violence, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Pandemic/Epidemic
devynrj's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Sexual violence, Suicide, Murder, and Sexual harassment
johannabanana's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
I loved this book. I had seen the American version of the movie, so some plot points were spoiled going in, but it’s different enough that I found myself curious and gripped by what was happening. It’s got such a creepy atmosphere (I tried not to read at night out of fear, ha ha) and it’s easy to get swept into the mystery right from the beginning. I will explain why I took off 0.25 stars in the spoiler section.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault and Murder
I took off 0.25 stars because of the book’s treatment of intersex people; I understand that it was a different time, but it didn’t feel necessary to the plot and seemed to make the antagonist more otherworldly/horrifying.