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persypie's review against another edition
5.0
This is a GREAT story; I really wish I could read Japanese to experience it as the author wrote it.
Unfortunately, due to the language and translation barrier to English, some aspects of the author's writing style that would have lent to creating a creepier atmosphere were lost. For that, I am truly sad.
I came into this with the unfair advantage of having seen both the Japanese and English film adaptations. Still, both were very different from the actual novel, so I was able to get immersed in the story better than I imagined. I will definitely be continuing to the second novel, and I recommend this to any horror fan.
*POSSIBLE SPOILER BELOW*
My only real complaint about the book is the protagonist's partner Ryuji. He was portrayed as this awful scoundrel (you'll see what I mean). The fact that I hated Ryuji made it nearly impossible for me to connect with the leading man Asakawa. The fact that he qualified this scummy human as a friend made me dislike him as well so, for the entire novel, I never really grasped onto a sense of affiliation with our hero. I quietly hoped he and his whole family would die to be honest!
The author tried to add a sense of redemption to Ryuji's character in the form of his student saying he was a man that wore many skins, and he changed based on who he was with at any given time. There was this supposed DUN DUN. Is he actually not a craptastic excuse for a human?! But by that point, I already didn't care enough.
From reading the insert for the second novel, I gleaned that there may be further development into the facade that Ryuji put up, so perhaps the author wrote it with purpose in continuing the series.
Unfortunately, due to the language and translation barrier to English, some aspects of the author's writing style that would have lent to creating a creepier atmosphere were lost. For that, I am truly sad.
I came into this with the unfair advantage of having seen both the Japanese and English film adaptations. Still, both were very different from the actual novel, so I was able to get immersed in the story better than I imagined. I will definitely be continuing to the second novel, and I recommend this to any horror fan.
*POSSIBLE SPOILER BELOW*
My only real complaint about the book is the protagonist's partner Ryuji. He was portrayed as this awful scoundrel (you'll see what I mean). The fact that I hated Ryuji made it nearly impossible for me to connect with the leading man Asakawa. The fact that he qualified this scummy human as a friend made me dislike him as well so, for the entire novel, I never really grasped onto a sense of affiliation with our hero. I quietly hoped he and his whole family would die to be honest!
The author tried to add a sense of redemption to Ryuji's character in the form of his student saying he was a man that wore many skins, and he changed based on who he was with at any given time. There was this supposed DUN DUN. Is he actually not a craptastic excuse for a human?! But by that point, I already didn't care enough.
From reading the insert for the second novel, I gleaned that there may be further development into the facade that Ryuji put up, so perhaps the author wrote it with purpose in continuing the series.
carlsies's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
3.5
nkkdntn's review against another edition
2.0
for a book about possessed VHS tapes, i sure feel like i heard a lot more about how to get around south eastern japan in the early 90s. spoiler, the train takes longer!
also, there was a LOT of unnecessary plot lines and character "traits" that really bothered me and felt super gross to even have in the book at all. (transphobia and r*pe type shit)
also, there was a LOT of unnecessary plot lines and character "traits" that really bothered me and felt super gross to even have in the book at all. (transphobia and r*pe type shit)
karrief's review against another edition
3.0
I have a hard time rating this anything above 3 stars. If it wasn’t for the blatant misogyny and transphobia it would’ve been a wonderful book. Probably 4 stars. But oh well.
Still debating reading the sequel.
Still debating reading the sequel.
valsplace's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
christ420's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Sexist due to culture but still a great story.
parkerjordanlee's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-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? It's complicated
3.75
justkirstie's review against another edition
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
4.25
loved this as a teen and it still holds up in terms of atmosphere and tension
some aspects are extremely of-the-era and perhaps have not aged well (which, thankfully, were not included in either the Japanese Ring or the American remake)
i'm obviously a big enjoyer and, if i were to rank the Ring media, it would be
- Japanese film
- Japanese book
- American film
need to re-read Spiral next but i vaguely recall not enjoying it as much
some aspects are extremely of-the-era and perhaps have not aged well (which, thankfully, were not included in either the Japanese Ring or the American remake)
i'm obviously a big enjoyer and, if i were to rank the Ring media, it would be
- Japanese film
- Japanese book
- American film
need to re-read Spiral next but i vaguely recall not enjoying it as much
nsotomayor's review against another edition
5.0
Such a perfect read for the time of year during spooky season!
jessplate's review against another edition
1.0
The main characters were terrible people, and I felt nothing towards them other than contempt. This was the first book I’ve ever considered not finishing.