Reviews with content warning for Sexual violence - Ring

Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

Ring by Kōji Suzuki

25 reviews

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

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layspotatochips's review against another edition

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3.0

Aside from everything about this book that pissed me off, it was fine.

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ammmiiiii's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.75

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evening_person's review against another edition

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challenging dark medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

One of the most achingly ‘90s pieces of media I have ever consumed. I wouldn’t recommend this book to anyone who is familiar with the existence of the film, whether or not they have seen it. I would recommend this book to someone who likes unsolvable mysteries and watching bad things happen to bad people.

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jdansereau's review against another edition

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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

3.0

An interesting story partly ruined by the authors weird choices. Although its pretty common to have casual/random violence against women in books written by Japanese male authors so it tracks I guess.

Also rest in piss Ryuji.

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cheyenne_halud's review against another edition

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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

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zakcebulski's review against another edition

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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.

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lostfoxtrail's review against another edition

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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.

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juliawren's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

There are definite tones of misogyny and seriously fucked up characters (please for the love of God check the content warnings), but that's what made this such an addicting read. I could hardly put it down.

Forget morally gray - this is on the same level as Lolita. Whether or not some of the themes and ideas being presented are the author's or just a downright alarming depiction of misogyny present in Japanese culture when this was written, you'll need to approach this story with some serious media literacy to understand that it is 100% a social and philosophical commentary, and you should not agree with all of the characters or their actions because that is the point. There will definitely be times where you won't agree with the author, too (at least I seriously hope not), but I lean towards the belief that his personal ideology (while still sexist and displaying substantial

victim-blaming

qualities that shouldn't be ignored) does not entirely align with these characters, especially given the ending (which, contrary to what many readers claim, does make perfect sense and has nothing to do with

Sadako wanting to have a literal child

- do y'all understand what a metaphor is??).

If you think the ending falls apart with the paranormal stuff, I'd recommend reading up on the Japanese concept of

curses,

as it differs considerably from American mythology/culture about ghosts. Weirdly, I'd also recommend Jujutsu Kaisen if you like anime or manga, since it gets into this concept and you can really understand how these kinds of

curses

are made.

That aside, the story was nearly as good as the American version (I didn't love the original as much but might give it another try after reading this). The mystery presented fit together perfectly by the end. Even having watched both movie versions and knowing the general plot / final twist, I felt the tension all the way through. This was a wonderfully chilling and terrifyingly disturbing read, and anyone who enjoyed the films and likes a good scare and can stomach horror, both real and paranormal, will enjoy it.

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saldre's review against another edition

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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

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