A review by mixigod
Ring by Kōji Suzuki

dark mysterious slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No

2.5


CW / Sexual Assault

A promising supernatural thriller mystery that starts with a bang - we meet Asakawa who is a neglectful husband and father to his wife and children due to being a complete workaholic as a reporter. He decides to investigate the mysterious death of his niece and uncovers the infamous tape. The horror imagery and vibe at this section of the novel is incredible, it's gripping and vivid. It is clear Suzuki has a very solid grasp on the horror of sensation, the wrongness of something and how much that can rattle someone. 

But it is from here on out that the book begins to falter. The horror elements are abandoned completely in favour of unraveling the mystery of the tape within the deadline. The connections were interesting and easy to follow but the story began to be overshadowed by a very recurring and uncomfortable theme of sexual assault and misogyny that did not feel like an attempt to observe the horror in those as being linked to the central horror of the novel. 

In fact, one of the leading characters is revealed to be a serial rapist early into the novel and the reaction of our protagonist to this character is largely... blasé? As well as the authors use of sexual assault as a common theme, it seems nearly every female character mentioned in the novel, which there aren't many by the way, are either assaulted or viewed in a majorly misogynistic light.
This lead to an uncomfortable read with no resolution to this element of the novel other than it being a tragic fact apparently. The story also alludes that the desire to commit assault is not that of volition but because of an evil influence? 

Safe to say, one should divert to the film adaptations of this if you're looking for a resolute horror as the ending of this novel falls short - likely setting up for the sequel, but does not ultimately deliver on the trials experienced.


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