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queenginger's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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
5.0
I can see why this novel won the 2017 Shirley Jackson Award. As a devout fan of Shirley Jackson and her skill of working twisted narratives into the psychological horror realm, this novel by Pyun portrays that art in a similar way.
Everything is subtle. That’s the unnerving aspect of the story. It’s not your typical paranormal, ghostly, slasher sort of horror. Everything that makes you uneasy is slow-building and tense. The claustrophobia seeps into every corner and devours you whole by the end.
The themes of guilt, anger, grief, and loneliness are hard hitting and fit into each piece of this story’s puzzle.
Subtly is what makes psychological horror work in such a beautiful way, and I would say Pyun nailed it all perfectly.
Everything is subtle. That’s the unnerving aspect of the story. It’s not your typical paranormal, ghostly, slasher sort of horror. Everything that makes you uneasy is slow-building and tense. The claustrophobia seeps into every corner and devours you whole by the end.
The themes of guilt, anger, grief, and loneliness are hard hitting and fit into each piece of this story’s puzzle.
Subtly is what makes psychological horror work in such a beautiful way, and I would say Pyun nailed it all perfectly.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Confinement, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Medical content, Car accident, Suicide attempt, and Sexual harassment
artmuseam's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
very unsettling and strangely sad. this story made me feel bad for the characters while also find them crazy. there were a lot of dark moments here that made me pretty scared, but overall i don’t think this book resonated very well with me. it was creepy and had a mysterious undertone with some elements of psychological horror, but i didn’t walk away pondering this book any further after reading. 3/5 stars
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
mercurue's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism
hiitssimone's review against another edition
dark
tense
slow-paced
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Domestic abuse, and Forced institutionalization
peach_haze's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Wow. This book was simply brilliant. Pyun was a master at bringing such a raw and powerful tragedy to life The story was mostly told in a kind of narrative of present and past of-and-by the main character, Oghi. We saw his world through his eyes; the life left behind and he struggles to continue forth. We see his struggles mentally and physically. We see his side of the story, and see the agony his wife was living during their life together. My heart went out to her, how neglectful Oghi had been of her mental state and how he would put her down, blaming her emotions and lack of career success on being a woman. Pyun had me near tears reading on as I could feel Oghi’s wife giving up on their marriage, and Oghi not thinking to care. and Oghi as well. Albeit short, The Hole was a fantastic, physiological experience that I long to read again (once I stop crying) and I regret that I’ll never be able to read this book again for the first time. Phenomenal.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Body shaming, Medical content, Medical trauma, Car accident, and Abandonment
Moderate: Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Classism
ominousspectre's review against another edition
3.0
Hmm I think this is extremely well written but mis-marketed (?).
On one hand, a very well written account of grief and reckoning with your life changing forever with circumstances out of your control. Reckoning with being completely dependent on another person in the purest sense. It succeeds well in this.
Where I think is flounders just a bit is the mystery aspect. I wasn't surprised to learn Oghi was a bad person, thecheating was predictable. The beginning with the white figure and later the hole gave ideas of something more sinister that never really came to be. I craved more in that aspect, but that would make it a very different book I suppose.
On one hand, a very well written account of grief and reckoning with your life changing forever with circumstances out of your control. Reckoning with being completely dependent on another person in the purest sense. It succeeds well in this.
Where I think is flounders just a bit is the mystery aspect. I wasn't surprised to learn Oghi was a bad person, the
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism and Fatphobia
nerdsbianhokie's review against another edition
dark
tense
slow-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Confinement, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Car accident
rorikae's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
‘The Hole’ by Hye-Young Pyun is a short novel that details the life of a man paralyzed after a horrific car accident that killed his wife. His mother-in-law begins to take care of him but things aren’t quite as they seem as she begins to dig a hole in the garden his wife created.
The Hole is a very quick book that I wish had been more suspenseful. We get a lot of meditations from the main character about being stuck in bed after the accident and the horrors of feeling out of control. I think this could have been ramped up even further. I was expecting more outright suspense and a threatening atmosphere but it was much slower and methodical of a book. The writing itself is good but I feel like this book could have benefited from creating more atmosphere. The last few chapters did exactly what I was expecting/hoping for and the end is sinister. I wish that this had been more present throughout the rest of the story since it is clear how well the author can create this sense of dread and suspense from the last few chapters.
This is much more literary fiction in the first half/two thirds of the book and I wish that the suspenseful/horrific aspects had been ramped up to more quickly.
The Hole is a very quick book that I wish had been more suspenseful. We get a lot of meditations from the main character about being stuck in bed after the accident and the horrors of feeling out of control. I think this could have been ramped up even further. I was expecting more outright suspense and a threatening atmosphere but it was much slower and methodical of a book. The writing itself is good but I feel like this book could have benefited from creating more atmosphere. The last few chapters did exactly what I was expecting/hoping for and the end is sinister. I wish that this had been more present throughout the rest of the story since it is clear how well the author can create this sense of dread and suspense from the last few chapters.
This is much more literary fiction in the first half/two thirds of the book and I wish that the suspenseful/horrific aspects had been ramped up to more quickly.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Grief, and Car accident
kou_'s review against another edition
dark
tense
slow-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? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Confinement, Death, and Emotional abuse
poisoned_icecream's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Infidelity, and Car accident