A review by zakcebulski
Ring by Kōji Suzuki

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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