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mikjrank's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
stephen_arvidson's review against another edition
3.0
The Girl from the Well draws heavily on Japanese folklore; namely, the Banchō Sarayashiki legend in which a beautiful servant girl is betrayed by a spurned admirer and subjected to a dismal fate. Recent decades have seen this famed ghost story invoked in such popular Japanese horror flicks as Ringu (a.k.a. The Ring) and Ju-On (a.k.a. The Grudge). While author Rin Chupeco is clearly channeling these movies in her debut novel, she takes it a step further, reinventing the semi-established image of the vengeful onryō—the black-haired, pallid-faced ghoul hanging inexorably from the rafters, contorting her slithery physique in impossibly frightening ways. Chupeco skillfully weaves Japanese mythology into a contemporary story of a dead girl preying on human monsters.
Okiku, the titular girl from the well, is a killer of killers; she’s a centuries-old apparition bent on exacting horrific justice against child murderers—and she’s very superstitious of the number nine. In the course of the story, Okiku develops a strange fascination with a boy named Tarquin, a brooding pre-teen on the cusp of manhood. The son of an American man and a Japanese woman, Tark bears inexplicable tattoos inscribed by his clinically insane mother, binding his soul to a malevolent demon spirit. The second half of the book takes the protagonists out of American suburbia to the remote valleys of Japan, immersing both characters and readers in a culture steeped in ancient tradition, where spiritual exorcisms are a matter of grim routine.
Although Chupeco makes practical use of J-horror movie tropes, the scares are prosaic by today’s standards and yet suitable for the book’s target audience. Constant Readers of Stephen King will be largely unfazed by this soft chiller. To the author’s credit, the premise is both innovative and effective as a horror construct. Readers familiar with The Grudge and its ilk will find appeal in the fresh perspective offered by this dark tale that’s narrated chiefly from Okiku’s waiflike viewpoint. Unexpectedly, Chupeco humanizes this wrathful specter, imbuing her with a marked benevolence. Okiku vacillates between ruthless, death-dealing phantasm and empathic guardian angel, leaving readers on the fence about how to perceive this atypical anti-heroine.
The Girl from the Well is by no means a perfect book. The sudden POV shifts and broken lines are a tad disorienting and impede the story’s natural flow. And then there’s the peculiar writing style, which, understandably, is intended to reflect Okiku’s cold detachment—yes, we get that she’s a ghost lacking any real connection to the corporeal world, and so her attention flits from place to place—however, this kind of experimental writing, albeit clever, requires a bit of acclimation and may even prove disengaging to some readers.
Okiku, the titular girl from the well, is a killer of killers; she’s a centuries-old apparition bent on exacting horrific justice against child murderers—and she’s very superstitious of the number nine. In the course of the story, Okiku develops a strange fascination with a boy named Tarquin, a brooding pre-teen on the cusp of manhood. The son of an American man and a Japanese woman, Tark bears inexplicable tattoos inscribed by his clinically insane mother, binding his soul to a malevolent demon spirit. The second half of the book takes the protagonists out of American suburbia to the remote valleys of Japan, immersing both characters and readers in a culture steeped in ancient tradition, where spiritual exorcisms are a matter of grim routine.
Although Chupeco makes practical use of J-horror movie tropes, the scares are prosaic by today’s standards and yet suitable for the book’s target audience. Constant Readers of Stephen King will be largely unfazed by this soft chiller. To the author’s credit, the premise is both innovative and effective as a horror construct. Readers familiar with The Grudge and its ilk will find appeal in the fresh perspective offered by this dark tale that’s narrated chiefly from Okiku’s waiflike viewpoint. Unexpectedly, Chupeco humanizes this wrathful specter, imbuing her with a marked benevolence. Okiku vacillates between ruthless, death-dealing phantasm and empathic guardian angel, leaving readers on the fence about how to perceive this atypical anti-heroine.
The Girl from the Well is by no means a perfect book. The sudden POV shifts and broken lines are a tad disorienting and impede the story’s natural flow. And then there’s the peculiar writing style, which, understandably, is intended to reflect Okiku’s cold detachment—yes, we get that she’s a ghost lacking any real connection to the corporeal world, and so her attention flits from place to place—however, this kind of experimental writing, albeit clever, requires a bit of acclimation and may even prove disengaging to some readers.
dembury's review against another edition
3.0
3.50
For me, "The Girl from the Well" read like a more fleshed-out creepypasta.com story: full of ghosts and spirits, strange tattoos on a boys skin, a mother in a mental hospital, a really oblivious father, and a big ol heap of murder. This book had some very interesting aspects to it, like the Japanese ghostlore and mythology. Those bits were some of the best in the book!
The writing, while descriptive and even a little lyrical at times, is fairly basic. It strays more into "let me tell you everything that's happening" more often than I think it should have, but in a strange way it sort of worked here. Sometimes the tale strays off course, however, Chupeco pulls everything together at the end in a solid way.
I definitely think a teen around 16ish who loves horror would enjoy this book! It reminds me of a teenagers-in-the-woods-style slasher flick: fun, horrific, and just a little predictable.
>>>Content warning: this book is Graphic with a capital "G". There are several grisly murders described in detail and with lots of cussing. There is also talk of pedophilia and child abuse, which may be harmful to some readers.
For me, "The Girl from the Well" read like a more fleshed-out creepypasta.com story: full of ghosts and spirits, strange tattoos on a boys skin, a mother in a mental hospital, a really oblivious father, and a big ol heap of murder. This book had some very interesting aspects to it, like the Japanese ghostlore and mythology. Those bits were some of the best in the book!
The writing, while descriptive and even a little lyrical at times, is fairly basic. It strays more into "let me tell you everything that's happening" more often than I think it should have, but in a strange way it sort of worked here. Sometimes the tale strays off course, however, Chupeco pulls everything together at the end in a solid way.
I definitely think a teen around 16ish who loves horror would enjoy this book! It reminds me of a teenagers-in-the-woods-style slasher flick: fun, horrific, and just a little predictable.
>>>Content warning: this book is Graphic with a capital "G". There are several grisly murders described in detail and with lots of cussing. There is also talk of pedophilia and child abuse, which may be harmful to some readers.
juan_adhd_reading's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
booksinthesky's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
mllejoyeuxnoel's review against another edition
5.0
Wow. So listen - I strongly prefer my horror to be on screen. I’m not a Stephen Kind die-hard, or anything like that. I occasionally foray into the literary world of horror...
And HOLY SHIT, I’m so glad I did with this one! I spent so much of this book genuinely chilled to the bone. Per the author’s own admission, this book tells the story of the girl who inspired The Ring, etc, and yet it is fresh and chilling and dire and so very much WTFFFFFFFFFF???!?????!?!!?!??!! Completely brilliant. Wonderful storytelling and pacing - for those who aren’t horror fans. Good stuff. Can’t wait to read more of Chupeco’s work!
And HOLY SHIT, I’m so glad I did with this one! I spent so much of this book genuinely chilled to the bone. Per the author’s own admission, this book tells the story of the girl who inspired The Ring, etc, and yet it is fresh and chilling and dire and so very much WTFFFFFFFFFF???!?????!?!!?!??!! Completely brilliant. Wonderful storytelling and pacing - for those who aren’t horror fans. Good stuff. Can’t wait to read more of Chupeco’s work!
kaeliwolf's review against another edition
4.0
I have loved Rin Chupeco since a few years ago when I discovered her series "The Bone Witch". I love her writing style and I love the ideas brought forth in this book. I like that Rin is not afraid to write about topics included in this book, and the flawless way everything is pulled together every time. Rin Chupeco is an auto-buy for me, no need to read a description.
chuskeyreads's review against another edition
5.0
What the crap did I just read?!
I’ve long been fascinated by the folklore of other cultures, and this one was by far the best I’ve read in a while.
Ghost possessions, demons, supernatural phenomena, ancient rituals, this book has it all.
I’ve long been fascinated by the folklore of other cultures, and this one was by far the best I’ve read in a while.
Ghost possessions, demons, supernatural phenomena, ancient rituals, this book has it all.
renmochizuki's review
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
abaugher's review against another edition
5.0
excellent japanese ghost story. scary but beautiful. very well done, except the occasional misuse of a word's tense, but that didn't deter me. looking forward to other works by this author.