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リング [Ring] #4
バースデイ
Basis of the Hit Movie Ring 0: Birthday !Birthday is Ring -master Koji Suzuki’s return to the Ring universe, a collection of short stories focusing on the female characters with a theme of birth. An exploration of extraordinary circumstances from the perspective of memorable women, this expansion of the Ring , Spiral , and Loop world was adapted into a hit movie less than a year after the book’s publication.Thirty years before the tragic events of Ring , Sadako Yamamura was an aspiring stage actress on the verge of her theatrical debut. The beautiful and ravishing Sadako was the object of every male’s desire involved with the company including n the director. There was one thespian she was interested in, but…Fast forward past the events of Ring , Ryuji Takayama’s distraught lover, Mai Takano is struggling in the wake of the professor’s mysterious demise. Mai visits Ryuji’s parents’ house to find the missing pages of his soon-to-be published article. There she is drawn to a curious videotape and a fate more terrifying than Ryuji or Kazuyuki Asakawa’s.Reiko Sugiura questioned the purpose of bringing a child into a world where there was only death. She already lost one son, and the father of her unborn child, Kaoru Futami, had disappeared in search of a cure to the deadly disease that threatened all life. Despite Kaoru’s to meet again in two months, he has not returned. Despondent but driven for answers Reiko is led to the Loop project, where she will discover the final truths of the Ring virus.
248 pages, Tankobon Hardcover
First published January 30, 1999
48 people are currently reading
4360 people want to read
About the author
Kōji Suzuki
126?books1,317?followersSuzuki Kōji (铃木光司) is a Japanese writer, who was born in Hamamatsu and currently lives in Tokyo. Suzuki is the author of the Ring novels, which has been adapted into a manga series. He has written several books on the subject of fatherhood. He is currently on the selection committee for the Japan Fantasy Novel Award.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 159 reviews
March 25, 2017
Well, as I loved all previous Ringu books, I loved this one too. Mostly I was shocked when in 180 page in first sentence was written date June 27, 1991 (one day before I got into this world). I WAS BORN ON JUNE 28, 1991. So I was very surprised by that date. Never found such thing with my birthday in a any book. And it is even more mysterious that this book is named "Birthday".
My favorite chapter of course was about Sadako's life in theater. I saw movie by this book...and I think right now I'm gonna find that DVD and watch it again.
Koji Suzuki was first Japanese author I noticed in Lithuania when I still was a teen. When I bought this book, I thought it will be very hard to read in English his book, but it wasn't at all. In fact very easy to read. Maybe other 3 books would be hard to read in English, but I read them in Lithuanian any way. I really wish to read more of his books. They are very interesting, have deep feelings, and they so calm me that I fall asleep reading his books.
So in any case- I LOVED THIS BOOK VERY MUCH.
My favorite chapter of course was about Sadako's life in theater. I saw movie by this book...and I think right now I'm gonna find that DVD and watch it again.
Koji Suzuki was first Japanese author I noticed in Lithuania when I still was a teen. When I bought this book, I thought it will be very hard to read in English his book, but it wasn't at all. In fact very easy to read. Maybe other 3 books would be hard to read in English, but I read them in Lithuanian any way. I really wish to read more of his books. They are very interesting, have deep feelings, and they so calm me that I fall asleep reading his books.
So in any case- I LOVED THIS BOOK VERY MUCH.
September 7, 2023
“Watch until the end. You will be eaten by the lost.”
I have LOVED my journey through this series in 2023 and I’m so sad that it’s over! I will miss Sadako’s scary, deranged ass. Koji Suzuki is such a smart writer with twisty ideas, and very good at making you worry that something bad is going to happen to a character. (Most of the time, it does.)
I love how the act of watching the cursed videotape is described in these books. Most of the actual images aren’t that creepy, (a few of them are), but the way the viewer is affected both mentally and physically while watching is disturbing enough. And the lore of everything goes so deep that I wouldn’t even be able to explain it to you in one review even if I wanted to. It’s so complicated!
In “Birthday,” these are stories involving characters you will already be familiar with if you’ve read the other books in the “Ring” series, and the major twists and revelations will not be new or hold quite the earth-shattering impact that they did the first time around. But you will get a deeper appreciation of a few of the main characters, a more rounded backstory for Sadako herself and a better grasp of how the major plot concluded.
And just like with all the other books, there’s enough explanation that you don’t HAVE to read the entire series. But I would still recommend doing so. It’s such a shame that there’s technically one more book in this series, but it was never translated into English so I 肠补苍’迟 read it. I know that eventually the charm would probably wear off, but I would honestly keep reading this series for the rest of my life if I could. However, this one did serve as a nice, moving ending.
TW: body horror involving birth, terminal illness, suicide, Depression
I have LOVED my journey through this series in 2023 and I’m so sad that it’s over! I will miss Sadako’s scary, deranged ass. Koji Suzuki is such a smart writer with twisty ideas, and very good at making you worry that something bad is going to happen to a character. (Most of the time, it does.)
I love how the act of watching the cursed videotape is described in these books. Most of the actual images aren’t that creepy, (a few of them are), but the way the viewer is affected both mentally and physically while watching is disturbing enough. And the lore of everything goes so deep that I wouldn’t even be able to explain it to you in one review even if I wanted to. It’s so complicated!
In “Birthday,” these are stories involving characters you will already be familiar with if you’ve read the other books in the “Ring” series, and the major twists and revelations will not be new or hold quite the earth-shattering impact that they did the first time around. But you will get a deeper appreciation of a few of the main characters, a more rounded backstory for Sadako herself and a better grasp of how the major plot concluded.
And just like with all the other books, there’s enough explanation that you don’t HAVE to read the entire series. But I would still recommend doing so. It’s such a shame that there’s technically one more book in this series, but it was never translated into English so I 肠补苍’迟 read it. I know that eventually the charm would probably wear off, but I would honestly keep reading this series for the rest of my life if I could. However, this one did serve as a nice, moving ending.
TW: body horror involving birth, terminal illness, suicide, Depression
August 17, 2021
titular sentence:
p140: Happy birthday.
spelling:
p3: There she is drawn to a curious videotape and a fate mor terrifying than Ryuji's.
ocr:
p40: If I could do it all over, who would I spend my hfe with?
p139: Somehow it seemed like the baby was reluctant, as if, having gotten a glimpse of the outside worlc^ it was trying to decide if it was a place worth going out into.
p140: The baby's coining!
Sadako's world is intriguing, but somehow I don't feel the same for Reiko's. It's just too outlandish. Not that Sadako's isn't. It's complicated.
p140: Happy birthday.
spelling:
p3: There she is drawn to a curious videotape and a fate mor terrifying than Ryuji's.
ocr:
p40: If I could do it all over, who would I spend my hfe with?
p139: Somehow it seemed like the baby was reluctant, as if, having gotten a glimpse of the outside worlc^ it was trying to decide if it was a place worth going out into.
p140: The baby's coining!
Sadako's world is intriguing, but somehow I don't feel the same for Reiko's. It's just too outlandish. Not that Sadako's isn't. It's complicated.
November 21, 2022
The three short stories presented in this novel are intriguing and thought provoking. Birthday gives the reader insight and fills in loose ends with new and reoccurring characters.
I 肠补苍’迟 seem to get enough of the Ring universe. I adored this book and if your a fan and you want more answers and more mystery then please read it. Suzuki is amazing at story telling, but I think you know that already.
I 肠补苍’迟 seem to get enough of the Ring universe. I adored this book and if your a fan and you want more answers and more mystery then please read it. Suzuki is amazing at story telling, but I think you know that already.
February 11, 2023
Satisfying conclusion to characters from the Ring trilogy
March 27, 2024
Despite loving the other Ring novels I had been passing on this one out of dislike for the film version, which I thought ruined the mystery of Sadako by giving us her "origin story." But recently I took another look at it and saw that it was in fact three stories, only one of which was connected to the film, and decided to finally read it.
They are really supplemental stories that won't make any sense unless you've read the previous books (nor would there be any point reading them.) In "Coffin in the Sky" we learn the details of what happened to Mai after the death of her mentor Ryuji, from her own perspective. "Lemon Heart" takes us back to 1966 when Sadako Yamamura was an aspiring actress in a live theatre troupe. This is from the point of view of her supposed lover. Sadako's uncanny ability to imprint her thoughts onto recording media is in evidence here, prior to the era of VHS. "Happy Birthday" concerns the Loop project from the third novel and the race to eradicate the virus that is devastating the world.
While I suppose I don't mind having completed the run, I am ambivalent about the stories themselves. They feel unnecessary to me. Mai's awful experience could have been left to our imaginations, Loop didn't really need an epilogue, and I still feel the same about doing away with Sadako's mysterious quality.
I'd suggest skipping it and going straight on to S. If you do read it, do so shortly after finishing Loop, so you don't forget who the characters are like I did!
They are really supplemental stories that won't make any sense unless you've read the previous books (nor would there be any point reading them.) In "Coffin in the Sky" we learn the details of what happened to Mai after the death of her mentor Ryuji, from her own perspective. "Lemon Heart" takes us back to 1966 when Sadako Yamamura was an aspiring actress in a live theatre troupe. This is from the point of view of her supposed lover. Sadako's uncanny ability to imprint her thoughts onto recording media is in evidence here, prior to the era of VHS. "Happy Birthday" concerns the Loop project from the third novel and the race to eradicate the virus that is devastating the world.
While I suppose I don't mind having completed the run, I am ambivalent about the stories themselves. They feel unnecessary to me. Mai's awful experience could have been left to our imaginations, Loop didn't really need an epilogue, and I still feel the same about doing away with Sadako's mysterious quality.
I'd suggest skipping it and going straight on to S. If you do read it, do so shortly after finishing Loop, so you don't forget who the characters are like I did!
April 11, 2023
Oh this book was fantastic!
If you haven't read , , and , then don't touch this book. You would need the background context that the first three books provide in order to understand the three short stories contained in the current book. The thing is, this set of short stories provide additional information regarding the Ring universe, showing additional perspectives on the characters of Mai Takano (Sadako's surrogate when she was reborn in 1990), Hiroshi Toyama (Sadako's love interest when she was part of a theatre troupe in 1966), and Reiko Sugiura (the real-world love interest of the person who discovered a cure to the Ring virus in the Loop world). All three stories add another angle to the complex stories surrounding Sadako, our primary antagonist in this universe. And boy this book kept me on the edge of my seat!
See, I don't typically touch horror as a genre. In fact, I do not like watching horror movies (not to mention that I rarely watch movies in general). But when it comes to books, every now and then, I find a very captivating horror story, and the Ring series is one such narrative. It's not gory at all. It's more psychological thriller and suspense, which makes the pages fly. And this set of three short stories are the same, as Suzuki craftily positions his narratives in a way that is absolutely engaging and hooking the reader. It's been awhile since I have read the first three books in the series, yet I immediately found my place and went right through it.
Overall, this is a great book, but I recommend it only to those who are really interested in the Ring universe. This isn't the book that you should pick up to begin getting to know the series. Get hooked with Ring first, and if you really like it, read Spiral and Loop. And if you want more, then pick up this book. I give it 4 out of 5 stars.
See my other book reviews .
If you haven't read , , and , then don't touch this book. You would need the background context that the first three books provide in order to understand the three short stories contained in the current book. The thing is, this set of short stories provide additional information regarding the Ring universe, showing additional perspectives on the characters of Mai Takano (Sadako's surrogate when she was reborn in 1990), Hiroshi Toyama (Sadako's love interest when she was part of a theatre troupe in 1966), and Reiko Sugiura (the real-world love interest of the person who discovered a cure to the Ring virus in the Loop world). All three stories add another angle to the complex stories surrounding Sadako, our primary antagonist in this universe. And boy this book kept me on the edge of my seat!
See, I don't typically touch horror as a genre. In fact, I do not like watching horror movies (not to mention that I rarely watch movies in general). But when it comes to books, every now and then, I find a very captivating horror story, and the Ring series is one such narrative. It's not gory at all. It's more psychological thriller and suspense, which makes the pages fly. And this set of three short stories are the same, as Suzuki craftily positions his narratives in a way that is absolutely engaging and hooking the reader. It's been awhile since I have read the first three books in the series, yet I immediately found my place and went right through it.
Overall, this is a great book, but I recommend it only to those who are really interested in the Ring universe. This isn't the book that you should pick up to begin getting to know the series. Get hooked with Ring first, and if you really like it, read Spiral and Loop. And if you want more, then pick up this book. I give it 4 out of 5 stars.
See my other book reviews .
May 13, 2021
Two out of the three stories take place during the events of Spiral while the last one takes place during the events of Loop (the book that takes place during the events of Spiral...man this is confusing). That being said, I actually like this one better than Loop, it wasn't as boring as the previous book and it provided a lot more insight to the characters that didn't get the characterization that they deserved in their proper books. Overall, an okay book, not fantastic by any means but definitely better than its prequel. I'm rather excited to see where the next book falls in the Ring timeline.
March 22, 2023
The first story doesn't contain anything particularly new, and makes Spiral look bad (which it's not)
The second is the kind of thing that could be expected as a sequel to the original Ring, though it's not particularly exciting either.
The last isn't particularly good either, though is maybe the least re-tready of them.
It's still not bad but it's basically what one, with low expectations, would expect of a set of three stories tied to the Ring series like they are.
The second is the kind of thing that could be expected as a sequel to the original Ring, though it's not particularly exciting either.
The last isn't particularly good either, though is maybe the least re-tready of them.
It's still not bad but it's basically what one, with low expectations, would expect of a set of three stories tied to the Ring series like they are.
June 2, 2020
3.5 stars.
Three lovely bizarre stories, they looked connected although idk how, I just picked it up to get a background on the series.
So far so good.
Three lovely bizarre stories, they looked connected although idk how, I just picked it up to get a background on the series.
So far so good.
February 20, 2023
Mai’s story really does not add anything new or that interesting, but I liked Sadako’s extra backstory
Reiko’s story is definitely the best & a great epilogue to Loop
Reiko’s story is definitely the best & a great epilogue to Loop
September 11, 2024
Maybe the best book in the whole Ring series? It’s unnecessary, giving more story to elements for which we don’t necessarily need it, but some of Suzuki’s strongest horror/emotional beats can be found in here. And they’re not even ruined when you remember that two of these stories take place inside of a computer.
-Coffin in the Sky, 4.5: The best pure horror that I’ve read by Suzuki thus far. Horrifying, scary, and heartbreaking. My only problem with it is that, having read Spiral, I knew the story’s tragic outcome beforehand.
-Lemon Heart, 3.5: I wish this was told from Sadako’s perspective like the movie. I feel like certain moments in these books hint at her being a more complicated character than we’re led to believe, and I was hoping for some insight here. Still, there’s some solid teen horror/romance to be found here. Oh yeah, and Sadako uses her lover’s semen as hand lotion. Do what you will with that information.
-Happy Birthday, 4: Loop is Galaxy-brained sci-fi nonsense that I reluctantly enjoy. It also happens to feature the most mature human relationship to be found in these books, so it was kind of nice to catch up with Reiko in the aftermath of Loop after her being absent for the last third of the book. And, like Loop, it’s the most hopeful of the bunch.
-Coffin in the Sky, 4.5: The best pure horror that I’ve read by Suzuki thus far. Horrifying, scary, and heartbreaking. My only problem with it is that, having read Spiral, I knew the story’s tragic outcome beforehand.
-Lemon Heart, 3.5: I wish this was told from Sadako’s perspective like the movie. I feel like certain moments in these books hint at her being a more complicated character than we’re led to believe, and I was hoping for some insight here. Still, there’s some solid teen horror/romance to be found here. Oh yeah, and Sadako uses her lover’s semen as hand lotion. Do what you will with that information.
-Happy Birthday, 4: Loop is Galaxy-brained sci-fi nonsense that I reluctantly enjoy. It also happens to feature the most mature human relationship to be found in these books, so it was kind of nice to catch up with Reiko in the aftermath of Loop after her being absent for the last third of the book. And, like Loop, it’s the most hopeful of the bunch.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 28, 2023
"Let's meet again two months from now. Until then,?you have to keep living, no matter what."
March 13, 2024
A collection of 3 short stories that focus on the women surrounding the birth of that cursed tape! It’s a really strong entry in the series! It kind of plays out like a J-horror greatest hits compilation
December 29, 2024
Koji Suzuki never ceases to amaze! Taking the outstanding plot of the ring trilogy a step further, Birthday gives the reader much needed closure from all three books. I finished it in 4 hours, despite the anthological structure this book felt fluid. If you loved the trilogy then give it a read!
November 12, 2024
Spoilers for Ring, Spiral, Loop, and Birthday
As if in direct response to my review of Loop, this collection of stories focuses almost entirely on the female cast of characters that I wanted to hear more from. It's interesting how each entry changes my opinion on the previous entries in subtle ways. Loop shifted gears from horror to sci-fi, and I was fine with that because I felt it made for a more ambitious and conventionally engaging story. However, revisiting the horror elements of Ring and Spiral made me realize how much I'd missed them, and it makes me reconsider if I actually did like Loop the best out of the Trilogy. Since these stories are linked to the previous novels, I will discuss them in the context of the broader whole.
- Coffin in the Sky
Perhaps the weakest story to me, we experience Mai Takano's final moments before her virgin birth of Sadako-reincarnate. I find Mai's role in the series to be an interesting one. We generally don't know much about her: she's beautiful, young, hardworking, and has a special bond with Ryuji. In Ring, I feel that her presence is mostly meant to complicate the audience's perception of Ryuji. If someone as lovely as Mai Takano sees something in Ryuji, maybe he's not the menace we were led to believe he is. Unfortunately, I think that Ryuji's past is by far the weakest and most baffling part of Ring. I really disliked the rapist redemption angle, even if it turned out to be a lie. It just didn't go anywhere, and it made me dislike Ryuji, which is unfortunate because he's definitely the most important character in the series. I was looking forward to getting to know more about her in Spiral, but that was cut rather short. I do like the idea of a missed connection between her and Ando, but for all we know it appears to have been a one-sided infatuation. This would have been interesting to explore more in-depth, but Mai's role played more as a plot device than a fully fleshed-out character.
As an individual, we know that Mai is a little insecure, precocious, and seems like she's on track to make a name for herself in whichever direction she'd like to head in. I like her, and I was rooting for her despite her lack of detail. Perhaps these brief impressions of her, the glimpses of potential, are meant to underscore the tragedy of her fate. Who could she have become had she not gotten wrapped up with the ring virus? Similar questions could be posed about Sadako, which I thought was a nice way to draw parallels between their circumstances beyond their deaths.
As for the story itself, the scenario was indeed quite chilling. I was dreading it as soon as it began. I did not want to envision someone as guiltless as her suffer, and knowing that she was lucid made it all the worse. The dread I felt ended up being somewhat unwarranted, however. Being, essentially, buried alive and forced to give birth is, of course, incredibly harrowing, but Mai's thoughts drift to unexpected places that soften the blow - but not necessarily for the better. She recalls snippets of her youth, past boyfriends and such. A sizeable amount of this short story is spent by Mai recalling an instance of sexual rejection that she attributed to her small breast size. This led to her shying away from future sexual advances to spare herself the possiblity of another rejection. And, like, who's to say what goes through someone's mind while they're entombed and forced to give birth to something supernatural? Definitely not me. However, I was just unsatisfied with this musing. It felt silly and dampened the shock of the birth itself, which was actually disturbing. I was hoping that, now being in the mind of one of the, oft-sexualized, female characters, we would get a more nuanced insight into their character, but sadly it was just the same sort of voyeurism we were exposed to through the male characters' lenses. Aside from that, I thought this story was alright. Spooky, sad, gross, a decent introduction to the mood and themes of the remaining stories.
Lemon Heart
This was the standout story to me that made me reconsider my slight preference for Loop over Ring and Spiral. Sadako is a fascinating character in her juxtapositions. She's innocent yet scheming. She's the object of desire, but also something to be feared. A bit of a wallflower, but desperate for recognition. Here, we can clearly see why and how people have such contradicting perceptions of her. Again, despite wanting more information from and about the female characters in the series, I think it was smart to make the perspective character for this story somebody else. I like that there are parts of her that are unknowable. It gives her an eerie aura - projected onto by others in a similar fashion to her own psychic projections. Ambiguous, vague, open to interpretation.
Lemon Heart feels gothic in the vein of Edgar Allen Poe. Coffin in the Sky also had this effect, but Lemon Heart has more time to breathe and allow the discomfort to seep into the reader. I like the theater setting as well. I always found this part of her to be a little odd and unexpected. Why would someone so resentful of society want to perform for them? After some thought, I realized it actually makes a lot of sense. She and her mother were performers of sort during their period of psychic fame. A pursuit like this also makes sense for someone as vague as Sadako. It allows her to slip into different identities and masks. I like that we get a little bit more information into her powers as well without fully knowing everything about them. She's been able to project her experiences into more complicated technology since before her death, but it's still unclear whether or not this was intentional, and, if so, to what end? I liked her relationship with Toyama. It was appropriately off-kilter and psychologically complicated. I get the sense that one of her peripheral powers involves planting a seed of obsession.
In short, this was an atmospheric story that answers as many questions as it raises in a satisfying way.
Happy Birthday
This was the sweetest story. Like Loop, it sticks out a bit for its tonal difference. I don't have too much to say about it beyond that. It's a nice conclusion to the story of Loop, and fans of it will likely like this as well. The reason why this collection made me reconsider my rankings of the books in the trilogy is that it makes the significant differences in atmosphere and priorities all the more apparent. Loop, despite its convoluted premise, is actually quite straightforward. There is a hero, there is a clear threat, there is a solution to that threat, and there is a love story happening concurrently. It's the most Hollywood (which I don't mean as an insult). Those disappointed by the world-within-a-world plot of Loop will not be less disappointed here, but as a story in itself, it is a pleasant goodbye. I wish I could appreciate the love story more, but because of my aforementioned distaste of Ryuji, I was a little less invested than I should have been. Kaoru does grow and evolve as a character, of course, but I still struggle to see him with the same kind eyes that Reiko and, presumably, the author does. Yes, Kaoru and Ryuji are different characters, but it just felt like I was being forced to like Ryuji by association. It's actually kind of wild how one minor plotpoint from book 1 impacted my perception of this incredibly important character so negatively. That said, I am happy to know that these characters were able to have as happy of an ending as possible after everything they went through.
As if in direct response to my review of Loop, this collection of stories focuses almost entirely on the female cast of characters that I wanted to hear more from. It's interesting how each entry changes my opinion on the previous entries in subtle ways. Loop shifted gears from horror to sci-fi, and I was fine with that because I felt it made for a more ambitious and conventionally engaging story. However, revisiting the horror elements of Ring and Spiral made me realize how much I'd missed them, and it makes me reconsider if I actually did like Loop the best out of the Trilogy. Since these stories are linked to the previous novels, I will discuss them in the context of the broader whole.
- Coffin in the Sky
Perhaps the weakest story to me, we experience Mai Takano's final moments before her virgin birth of Sadako-reincarnate. I find Mai's role in the series to be an interesting one. We generally don't know much about her: she's beautiful, young, hardworking, and has a special bond with Ryuji. In Ring, I feel that her presence is mostly meant to complicate the audience's perception of Ryuji. If someone as lovely as Mai Takano sees something in Ryuji, maybe he's not the menace we were led to believe he is. Unfortunately, I think that Ryuji's past is by far the weakest and most baffling part of Ring. I really disliked the rapist redemption angle, even if it turned out to be a lie. It just didn't go anywhere, and it made me dislike Ryuji, which is unfortunate because he's definitely the most important character in the series. I was looking forward to getting to know more about her in Spiral, but that was cut rather short. I do like the idea of a missed connection between her and Ando, but for all we know it appears to have been a one-sided infatuation. This would have been interesting to explore more in-depth, but Mai's role played more as a plot device than a fully fleshed-out character.
As an individual, we know that Mai is a little insecure, precocious, and seems like she's on track to make a name for herself in whichever direction she'd like to head in. I like her, and I was rooting for her despite her lack of detail. Perhaps these brief impressions of her, the glimpses of potential, are meant to underscore the tragedy of her fate. Who could she have become had she not gotten wrapped up with the ring virus? Similar questions could be posed about Sadako, which I thought was a nice way to draw parallels between their circumstances beyond their deaths.
As for the story itself, the scenario was indeed quite chilling. I was dreading it as soon as it began. I did not want to envision someone as guiltless as her suffer, and knowing that she was lucid made it all the worse. The dread I felt ended up being somewhat unwarranted, however. Being, essentially, buried alive and forced to give birth is, of course, incredibly harrowing, but Mai's thoughts drift to unexpected places that soften the blow - but not necessarily for the better. She recalls snippets of her youth, past boyfriends and such. A sizeable amount of this short story is spent by Mai recalling an instance of sexual rejection that she attributed to her small breast size. This led to her shying away from future sexual advances to spare herself the possiblity of another rejection. And, like, who's to say what goes through someone's mind while they're entombed and forced to give birth to something supernatural? Definitely not me. However, I was just unsatisfied with this musing. It felt silly and dampened the shock of the birth itself, which was actually disturbing. I was hoping that, now being in the mind of one of the, oft-sexualized, female characters, we would get a more nuanced insight into their character, but sadly it was just the same sort of voyeurism we were exposed to through the male characters' lenses. Aside from that, I thought this story was alright. Spooky, sad, gross, a decent introduction to the mood and themes of the remaining stories.
Lemon Heart
This was the standout story to me that made me reconsider my slight preference for Loop over Ring and Spiral. Sadako is a fascinating character in her juxtapositions. She's innocent yet scheming. She's the object of desire, but also something to be feared. A bit of a wallflower, but desperate for recognition. Here, we can clearly see why and how people have such contradicting perceptions of her. Again, despite wanting more information from and about the female characters in the series, I think it was smart to make the perspective character for this story somebody else. I like that there are parts of her that are unknowable. It gives her an eerie aura - projected onto by others in a similar fashion to her own psychic projections. Ambiguous, vague, open to interpretation.
Lemon Heart feels gothic in the vein of Edgar Allen Poe. Coffin in the Sky also had this effect, but Lemon Heart has more time to breathe and allow the discomfort to seep into the reader. I like the theater setting as well. I always found this part of her to be a little odd and unexpected. Why would someone so resentful of society want to perform for them? After some thought, I realized it actually makes a lot of sense. She and her mother were performers of sort during their period of psychic fame. A pursuit like this also makes sense for someone as vague as Sadako. It allows her to slip into different identities and masks. I like that we get a little bit more information into her powers as well without fully knowing everything about them. She's been able to project her experiences into more complicated technology since before her death, but it's still unclear whether or not this was intentional, and, if so, to what end? I liked her relationship with Toyama. It was appropriately off-kilter and psychologically complicated. I get the sense that one of her peripheral powers involves planting a seed of obsession.
In short, this was an atmospheric story that answers as many questions as it raises in a satisfying way.
Happy Birthday
This was the sweetest story. Like Loop, it sticks out a bit for its tonal difference. I don't have too much to say about it beyond that. It's a nice conclusion to the story of Loop, and fans of it will likely like this as well. The reason why this collection made me reconsider my rankings of the books in the trilogy is that it makes the significant differences in atmosphere and priorities all the more apparent. Loop, despite its convoluted premise, is actually quite straightforward. There is a hero, there is a clear threat, there is a solution to that threat, and there is a love story happening concurrently. It's the most Hollywood (which I don't mean as an insult). Those disappointed by the world-within-a-world plot of Loop will not be less disappointed here, but as a story in itself, it is a pleasant goodbye. I wish I could appreciate the love story more, but because of my aforementioned distaste of Ryuji, I was a little less invested than I should have been. Kaoru does grow and evolve as a character, of course, but I still struggle to see him with the same kind eyes that Reiko and, presumably, the author does. Yes, Kaoru and Ryuji are different characters, but it just felt like I was being forced to like Ryuji by association. It's actually kind of wild how one minor plotpoint from book 1 impacted my perception of this incredibly important character so negatively. That said, I am happy to know that these characters were able to have as happy of an ending as possible after everything they went through.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 13, 2009
A book to give you nightmares. The science fiction/horror-noir style of this tale reminds me of Murakami. But unlike Murakami, Suzuki leans more toward shock and the grotesque.
One of the many premises of the tale is that two "realities" exist simultaneously. There is the real world and "the loop." Technology allows for the inhabitants of the real world to view the inhabitants of the loop, through what seems like virtual reality sets. The dynamic between the two worlds is unclear, but there is interplay.
Sadako is probably the most prominent character. A beautiful woman, she is introduced as a the love interest of a young man who meets her when they are both actors in a theater troupe. Later, it is revealed that she is not a human being, but some kind of a mutant.
There are numerous Sadakos, and they all appear to be beautiful women with the same appearance. They are born and reach full adulthood within a week's time. They are irresistible to men. Sadako is at fault for all of the fatalities that take place. A group of men die (at different times over a ten year span) after hearing her voice recorded on a tape.
When he hears of his former acquaintance's fates, the man formerly in love with the theater troupe Sadako begins to fear for his life.
Toward the end of the tale, a new dimension emerges, in that a "cancer virus" is threatening to wipe out the human race. One man is determined to find a cure and charts out on an international odyssey with that intention, heading first to the United States desert (from Japan).
Complex, fast paced. An entertaining read. Although I did not know when I selected the book, it is a volume part of "The Ring" series. I have not read other books in the series and do not plan to do so in the immediate future:)
One of the many premises of the tale is that two "realities" exist simultaneously. There is the real world and "the loop." Technology allows for the inhabitants of the real world to view the inhabitants of the loop, through what seems like virtual reality sets. The dynamic between the two worlds is unclear, but there is interplay.
Sadako is probably the most prominent character. A beautiful woman, she is introduced as a the love interest of a young man who meets her when they are both actors in a theater troupe. Later, it is revealed that she is not a human being, but some kind of a mutant.
There are numerous Sadakos, and they all appear to be beautiful women with the same appearance. They are born and reach full adulthood within a week's time. They are irresistible to men. Sadako is at fault for all of the fatalities that take place. A group of men die (at different times over a ten year span) after hearing her voice recorded on a tape.
When he hears of his former acquaintance's fates, the man formerly in love with the theater troupe Sadako begins to fear for his life.
Toward the end of the tale, a new dimension emerges, in that a "cancer virus" is threatening to wipe out the human race. One man is determined to find a cure and charts out on an international odyssey with that intention, heading first to the United States desert (from Japan).
Complex, fast paced. An entertaining read. Although I did not know when I selected the book, it is a volume part of "The Ring" series. I have not read other books in the series and do not plan to do so in the immediate future:)
May 17, 2022
Slight spoilers, but not for what happens, rather I will spoil a bit the structure.
At first looks like additional extra lore dump, but during the second half it becomes something more than just a collection of disjointed stories. In fact all three short stories even if they do not seem like it are quite tightly intertwined and complement each other.
Coffin in the sky - Really short story about what really happened to Mai Takano during Spiral's most mysterious moment. 3/5
Lemon heart - Interesting love story of one of the Ring's Troupe members and Sadako Yamamura 3.5/5.
Happy Birthday - The final conclusion of the trilogy. We are shown what happened to the Reiko, Kaoro and the world after the events of the Loop book. 4/5
I would say the book is 3.5/5. It is nice but definitely not too important to the series.
After reading so much Suzuki in such a short period of time I have to say the worst thing about his books and writing style is how much he repeats himself. Not across the series but even in each book itself. It was the most noticeable in the final short story where he on a span of +/- 50 pages repeats the same explanation about 3 times. Like sure man... We got it the first time.
Sometimes he starts a chapter by explaining the same thing he explained at the end of previous one which seems like either he wanted this to be read on not one sitting or I do not even know.
I guess now I understand how mansplaining feels like.
The Ring series (first 4 books) is definitely one of the more interesting book series. It is flawed yet so originall that I just can not dislike it. Solid 4/5 series.
At first looks like additional extra lore dump, but during the second half it becomes something more than just a collection of disjointed stories. In fact all three short stories even if they do not seem like it are quite tightly intertwined and complement each other.
Coffin in the sky - Really short story about what really happened to Mai Takano during Spiral's most mysterious moment. 3/5
Lemon heart - Interesting love story of one of the Ring's Troupe members and Sadako Yamamura 3.5/5.
Happy Birthday - The final conclusion of the trilogy. We are shown what happened to the Reiko, Kaoro and the world after the events of the Loop book. 4/5
I would say the book is 3.5/5. It is nice but definitely not too important to the series.
After reading so much Suzuki in such a short period of time I have to say the worst thing about his books and writing style is how much he repeats himself. Not across the series but even in each book itself. It was the most noticeable in the final short story where he on a span of +/- 50 pages repeats the same explanation about 3 times. Like sure man... We got it the first time.
Sometimes he starts a chapter by explaining the same thing he explained at the end of previous one which seems like either he wanted this to be read on not one sitting or I do not even know.
I guess now I understand how mansplaining feels like.
The Ring series (first 4 books) is definitely one of the more interesting book series. It is flawed yet so originall that I just can not dislike it. Solid 4/5 series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 12, 2017
The last book in the Ring-series and this is a book that actually consists of three separate stories (though that are still connected to each other) To read this book you must definitely have read all of the previous installements because the information given there is vital.
It is fun to learn more about some of the minor characters from the previous books and to see how their experiences with the Ring virus ended (in most cases any encounter with the Ring ends in death but hey, never to late to look for exceptions, you might just find one in this book, who knows).
Even though this extra character background is a nice addition, I could not really enjoy this book. I really liked the first book in the series but after that everything got a bit too weird and complicated for me to really enjoy. I didn't enjoy the scientific sode of the story, and in the third book they completely lost me with the paralel computer dimension aspect of the story. Therefore this third book did not really leave me satisfied since it builds so heavily on especially the previous 2 books and less on the first.
The first book in this series is reduced to be merely an introduction to a far grander scheme while I still feel like the first book was the best because of the emphasis on horror and mystery, not on science. But again that might just be personal preference.
So yes, glad I finished it but also glad that it is over...
It is fun to learn more about some of the minor characters from the previous books and to see how their experiences with the Ring virus ended (in most cases any encounter with the Ring ends in death but hey, never to late to look for exceptions, you might just find one in this book, who knows).
Even though this extra character background is a nice addition, I could not really enjoy this book. I really liked the first book in the series but after that everything got a bit too weird and complicated for me to really enjoy. I didn't enjoy the scientific sode of the story, and in the third book they completely lost me with the paralel computer dimension aspect of the story. Therefore this third book did not really leave me satisfied since it builds so heavily on especially the previous 2 books and less on the first.
The first book in this series is reduced to be merely an introduction to a far grander scheme while I still feel like the first book was the best because of the emphasis on horror and mystery, not on science. But again that might just be personal preference.
So yes, glad I finished it but also glad that it is over...
July 19, 2018
I really enjoyed this book because it complements Koji Suzuki's previous novels about The Ring universe. Its tone is more like a sci-fi mystery than a horror novel, though. As a standalone book, it would probably be rather confusing because about 2/3 of the way through the book the novel drastically shifts focus from the past to the future. If you've read Suzuki's Ring trilogy (Ring, Spiral, and Loop) Birthday is a real treat because it ties up all the loose ends and questions left by the trilogy's conclusion.
June 5, 2017
Ring, Spiral, and Loop are the series that lead up to this book and it is.....a total and complete let down. Have you ever enjoyed something you read so much only to have it completely ruined for you? Because that's what this book does, if I could take back reading it, I would. It ruins the entire series and makes it meaningless. In my opinion if you loved any of the Ring series of books do yourself a favor and don't read this one. Pretend like it doesn't exist.
October 6, 2016
when 90% of your novel is reiterating the events of the last three novels (two of which were also highly regurgitant) it's time to stop writing.
December 14, 2020
3 stories from the original trilogy, all good, review later maybe
November 12, 2024
(1)
world behind the world
comes again in varied light—
fully storyborne
(1)
past events recede
cassette tapes, in part, rewound—
reviewed with purpose
(1)
the monster emerged,
discretion, here, regiven—
life unimpeded
(1)
joy, death, suffering:
they proliferate themselves,
for worse and better
(0)
computerized tears
in a dying microchip—
what 肠补苍’迟 be believed
(0)
bright nadir’s circle—
more retroactivity
for the distracted
(1)
what is genre, then,
but a brief, waterless stream
narrative transcends?
(1)
what are characters
but the manifestation
of a deeper truth?
(1)
a bad birth before,
a good birth that follows it—
circuitousness
(0)
image of beauty
played endlessly on a screen—
this is nothing new
(0)
image of a screen
playing beauty endlessly—
this is nothing new
(1)
manufactured man
deigns to leave and come again—
a ring :: spiral :: loop
(0)
girl diminutized—
what 肠补苍’迟 she do without him,
the hairier sex?
(0)
words on a white page:
a transpiring against what?
brevity, soul, time
(0)
behavior in black—
less than that which can commune
with weirdness itself
(0)
the real or unreal—
better we see trite truth than
that which 肠补苍’迟 commune
(1)
the new world inside
fights against the dying old—
perspective’s function
(0)
some river upstream
detects its own reflection—
like nature, like god
(1)
platonic solid—
bound by euclidean space
to repeat, repeat
(1)
the human 肠补苍’迟 stand
in the same electrons twice—
sans zener voltage
(1)
ashes rise and fall
like burned and buried bitcoin—
valuable in death
(1)
reiko and ryuji
grasping across dimensions—
a death and two births
(1)
别辫颈驳别苍别迟颈肠—
broken promise to the gods:
salvation on earth
(1)
诲别迟别谤尘颈苍颈蝉迟颈肠—
the chaoticist unbloomed:
atoms now dispersed
(1)
christ-figure exits,
then returns to undo sin—
god trusts in kaoru
(0)
that old world within,
dormant without initial spark—
koji believes in god
(1)
“viral” remnant lives
amidst the reconstruction—
reminiscent, this
(1)
谤别惫颈蝉颈迟补迟颈辞苍—
welcome nearly exceeded
but saved by the circle
(1)
circle as symbol—
meaning almost expended,
If not for ardor
(1)
an inventiveness,
seeming anachronism—
by what man am I?
world behind the world
comes again in varied light—
fully storyborne
(1)
past events recede
cassette tapes, in part, rewound—
reviewed with purpose
(1)
the monster emerged,
discretion, here, regiven—
life unimpeded
(1)
joy, death, suffering:
they proliferate themselves,
for worse and better
(0)
computerized tears
in a dying microchip—
what 肠补苍’迟 be believed
(0)
bright nadir’s circle—
more retroactivity
for the distracted
(1)
what is genre, then,
but a brief, waterless stream
narrative transcends?
(1)
what are characters
but the manifestation
of a deeper truth?
(1)
a bad birth before,
a good birth that follows it—
circuitousness
(0)
image of beauty
played endlessly on a screen—
this is nothing new
(0)
image of a screen
playing beauty endlessly—
this is nothing new
(1)
manufactured man
deigns to leave and come again—
a ring :: spiral :: loop
(0)
girl diminutized—
what 肠补苍’迟 she do without him,
the hairier sex?
(0)
words on a white page:
a transpiring against what?
brevity, soul, time
(0)
behavior in black—
less than that which can commune
with weirdness itself
(0)
the real or unreal—
better we see trite truth than
that which 肠补苍’迟 commune
(1)
the new world inside
fights against the dying old—
perspective’s function
(0)
some river upstream
detects its own reflection—
like nature, like god
(1)
platonic solid—
bound by euclidean space
to repeat, repeat
(1)
the human 肠补苍’迟 stand
in the same electrons twice—
sans zener voltage
(1)
ashes rise and fall
like burned and buried bitcoin—
valuable in death
(1)
reiko and ryuji
grasping across dimensions—
a death and two births
(1)
别辫颈驳别苍别迟颈肠—
broken promise to the gods:
salvation on earth
(1)
诲别迟别谤尘颈苍颈蝉迟颈肠—
the chaoticist unbloomed:
atoms now dispersed
(1)
christ-figure exits,
then returns to undo sin—
god trusts in kaoru
(0)
that old world within,
dormant without initial spark—
koji believes in god
(1)
“viral” remnant lives
amidst the reconstruction—
reminiscent, this
(1)
谤别惫颈蝉颈迟补迟颈辞苍—
welcome nearly exceeded
but saved by the circle
(1)
circle as symbol—
meaning almost expended,
If not for ardor
(1)
an inventiveness,
seeming anachronism—
by what man am I?
Read
January 14, 2024Originally, I was only going to read the three books that make up The Ring Trilogy but after having my mind completely blown away by the conclusive events in Loop, I knew I had to read further. Loop was a wonderful book and a fantastic conclusion to the trilogy but unfortunately it still left a couple of questions unanswered. Birthday doesn't answer all of those things but it does answer perhaps the most significant one; what happened after Sadako was reborn at the climax of Spiral?
Birthday is not a novel but instead it consists of a short story and two novellas. What I found exciting was that each of these three stories felt like companion pieces to each of the three Ring novels;
Ring with Lemon Heart, Spiral with Coffin in the Sky, and Loop with Happy Birthday, while at the same time being connected as one story. There were plenty of threads connecting these three stories together.
Sadly however, Birthday ends up reading more like literary DLC than it does a cohesive work and I found this to be its weakest point. This book could have worked easily as a novel and sequel to Loop if Suzuki had focused on expanding the Happy Birthday story and including all the subject matter from the other two within it. So although there are some good ideas within these stories, it reads more like notes and a blueprint for a novel instead.
Happy Birthday was the only story that felt necessary. The first two which explore the rebirth of Sadako and her backstory as an actress in a troupe, I felt deteriorated some of the mystery surrounding Sadako as a character. We didn't need the first two stories but since we now have them, I find myself truly wishing this was instead a full length novel and sequel to Loop.
All the elements are there; you would follow Reiko as the protagonist, as she uncovers the final truths about the Loop project and witnesses the origins and rebirth of Sadako while also seeing the conclusive corollary of the messianic mission of Kaoru Futami.
For the most part, you still get all of that, just disjointed and with less immersion. Overall, Birthday was a nice little addition in the Ring series and it does contain some essential events within its pages that should be read for clarity and exegesis.
Birthday is not a novel but instead it consists of a short story and two novellas. What I found exciting was that each of these three stories felt like companion pieces to each of the three Ring novels;
Ring with Lemon Heart, Spiral with Coffin in the Sky, and Loop with Happy Birthday, while at the same time being connected as one story. There were plenty of threads connecting these three stories together.
Sadly however, Birthday ends up reading more like literary DLC than it does a cohesive work and I found this to be its weakest point. This book could have worked easily as a novel and sequel to Loop if Suzuki had focused on expanding the Happy Birthday story and including all the subject matter from the other two within it. So although there are some good ideas within these stories, it reads more like notes and a blueprint for a novel instead.
Happy Birthday was the only story that felt necessary. The first two which explore the rebirth of Sadako and her backstory as an actress in a troupe, I felt deteriorated some of the mystery surrounding Sadako as a character. We didn't need the first two stories but since we now have them, I find myself truly wishing this was instead a full length novel and sequel to Loop.
All the elements are there; you would follow Reiko as the protagonist, as she uncovers the final truths about the Loop project and witnesses the origins and rebirth of Sadako while also seeing the conclusive corollary of the messianic mission of Kaoru Futami.
For the most part, you still get all of that, just disjointed and with less immersion. Overall, Birthday was a nice little addition in the Ring series and it does contain some essential events within its pages that should be read for clarity and exegesis.
December 24, 2023
"Three short stories focusing on female characters with a theme of birth" sounds awful, given the way Kohi Suzuki writes female characters, but screw it, I've read the rest of the series, so let's go.
"Coffin in the Sky," features the doomed Mai Takano. A+ name for a story, but doesn't tell us anything we didn't already know or characterize Mai interestingly. It does give us the unfortunately hilarious image of an evil baby climbing a rope out of a ventilation shaft. It also tells us, in two different places, how big Mai's breasts are, because Kōji Suzuki cannot help himself. He's apparently gone on to write books about fatherhood where he argues that men have to embrace feminism, so it's not like he's malicious, but real big "male fantasy writer failing to write convincing women" energy here.
"Lemon Heart," features Sadako herself. Not a good name, but a much better story. It feels like a sequel to the original Ring novel, before the series took a weird scifi turn. "Sadako as implacable supernatural menace" is best Sadako, even if the books were never that interested in giving us that vision of her character.
"Birthday" features Reiko from Loop, and is a functional epilogue to that book/series, I guess, although Loop didn't really need an epilogue, and neither did the overall series. I guess there are worse sins than redundancy. Thirteen years later, Koji Suzuki published S, a new book in the Ring series, which, if I recall correctly, totally ignores/contradicts the events of "Birthday," but I also recall S being quite bad, so maybe just call it quits with this conclusion to the original series.
"Coffin in the Sky," features the doomed Mai Takano. A+ name for a story, but doesn't tell us anything we didn't already know or characterize Mai interestingly. It does give us the unfortunately hilarious image of an evil baby climbing a rope out of a ventilation shaft. It also tells us, in two different places, how big Mai's breasts are, because Kōji Suzuki cannot help himself. He's apparently gone on to write books about fatherhood where he argues that men have to embrace feminism, so it's not like he's malicious, but real big "male fantasy writer failing to write convincing women" energy here.
"Lemon Heart," features Sadako herself. Not a good name, but a much better story. It feels like a sequel to the original Ring novel, before the series took a weird scifi turn. "Sadako as implacable supernatural menace" is best Sadako, even if the books were never that interested in giving us that vision of her character.
"Birthday" features Reiko from Loop, and is a functional epilogue to that book/series, I guess, although Loop didn't really need an epilogue, and neither did the overall series. I guess there are worse sins than redundancy. Thirteen years later, Koji Suzuki published S, a new book in the Ring series, which, if I recall correctly, totally ignores/contradicts the events of "Birthday," but I also recall S being quite bad, so maybe just call it quits with this conclusion to the original series.
Read
September 11, 2023Guyssss this book was pretty good. Its all about birth and stuff and i lovd the analogies they made... Every story really feels cohesive in a way that i wasnt expecting! It was really interesting!
Coffin in the Sky was probs my fav of the three... Its so grim and strange! I love stories that basically just explore a characters mental state and thats all this was! Lovely!
Lemon Heart is the second best to me... U know me im all for some Sadako time... Shes my fav! Unfortunately she wasnt the POV character here...!!!! It was actually her love interest. Not a terrible idea but i do wish wed get something that is directly from her. But maybe it works better if shes mysterious! IDK! Is Tide from her point of view? I cant know- Its not in English! KODANSHA HURRY!!!!
Happy Birthday was a sweet story. The least interesting of the 3 for sure but a lovely ending 2 the book in my opinion...
Yeah this book was fun. I have some criticisms with how this series as a whole handles its female characters but its nothing too serious. They just get pushed to the side sometimes and the writing is a little stereotypical occasionally. Keep that in mind b4 u start reading these books guys! But anyways yeah i had fun i thought it was a fun time. And its a few hundred pages shorter than the rest of the books!
Coffin in the Sky was probs my fav of the three... Its so grim and strange! I love stories that basically just explore a characters mental state and thats all this was! Lovely!
Lemon Heart is the second best to me... U know me im all for some Sadako time... Shes my fav! Unfortunately she wasnt the POV character here...!!!! It was actually her love interest. Not a terrible idea but i do wish wed get something that is directly from her. But maybe it works better if shes mysterious! IDK! Is Tide from her point of view? I cant know- Its not in English! KODANSHA HURRY!!!!
Happy Birthday was a sweet story. The least interesting of the 3 for sure but a lovely ending 2 the book in my opinion...
Yeah this book was fun. I have some criticisms with how this series as a whole handles its female characters but its nothing too serious. They just get pushed to the side sometimes and the writing is a little stereotypical occasionally. Keep that in mind b4 u start reading these books guys! But anyways yeah i had fun i thought it was a fun time. And its a few hundred pages shorter than the rest of the books!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 18, 2022
Koji Suzuki has proven to be one of my favorite horror writers with this series, but this particular instillation was a miss.
While I loved the concept of the collection, following the lives of the important women throughout the series, I think the execution left something to be desired — especially for fans of the series as two of the three stories have the undesirable effect of over explaining elements of the story that were, perhaps, better left to the imagination.
“Lemon Heart” (my favorite story in the collection) was a nice addition to the timeline, but did not, in fact, follow through on the promise of writing for its female characters. Though it adds into Sadako’s timeline, it was really more about the men in her life.
Reiki and Mai have similar issues within their own stories. Though they deal with some personal horrors along the way, much of the narrative focuses on the men that are impacting them, rather than who they are as characters.
I usually don’t complain when books fail the Bechdel test, but this one was marketed as being female-first, and fell sadly flat.
While I loved the concept of the collection, following the lives of the important women throughout the series, I think the execution left something to be desired — especially for fans of the series as two of the three stories have the undesirable effect of over explaining elements of the story that were, perhaps, better left to the imagination.
“Lemon Heart” (my favorite story in the collection) was a nice addition to the timeline, but did not, in fact, follow through on the promise of writing for its female characters. Though it adds into Sadako’s timeline, it was really more about the men in her life.
Reiki and Mai have similar issues within their own stories. Though they deal with some personal horrors along the way, much of the narrative focuses on the men that are impacting them, rather than who they are as characters.
I usually don’t complain when books fail the Bechdel test, but this one was marketed as being female-first, and fell sadly flat.
June 7, 2021
As far as the Ring series goes, I would say this is one of my favorites. I felt that this short-story collection did tie up some loose ends, as well as offered a perspective from some of the other characters throughout the series.
That said - I definitely had a favorite of the three stories that were told in this book. Lemon Heart was by far my favorite, followed by Coffin in the Sky and Happy Birthday.
Lemon Heart was my favorite because it gave more insight into Sadako's past, although, I would someday like to hear a story from her own perspective.
Happy Birthday was my least favorite of the three stories. It wasn't that it was "bad", and generally speaking it tied up most of the loose end of the previous story. However, I think I am just finding that I'm not a huge fan of "Alternate Universes". This story was the most connected to the "Loop", which is probably why I didn't find it as intriguing.
For me personally I would rate this 3 stars, with the Lemon Heart story getting 4 stars. If you have enjoyed the rest of the series, you will probably enjoy this one too!
That said - I definitely had a favorite of the three stories that were told in this book. Lemon Heart was by far my favorite, followed by Coffin in the Sky and Happy Birthday.
Lemon Heart was my favorite because it gave more insight into Sadako's past, although, I would someday like to hear a story from her own perspective.
Happy Birthday was my least favorite of the three stories. It wasn't that it was "bad", and generally speaking it tied up most of the loose end of the previous story. However, I think I am just finding that I'm not a huge fan of "Alternate Universes". This story was the most connected to the "Loop", which is probably why I didn't find it as intriguing.
For me personally I would rate this 3 stars, with the Lemon Heart story getting 4 stars. If you have enjoyed the rest of the series, you will probably enjoy this one too!
November 27, 2024
// Review //
Format: Softcover
The fourth book in the series and a deeper look into the events that took place up to Loop from the perspective of people attached to our main characters.
Birthday’s three stories spans all three books:
Coffin in the Sky taking place during Spiral.
Lemon Heart taking place before and during Ring.
Happy Birthday lastly taking place after Loop.
Each story reminding us that our actions have consequences and those consequences sometimes damn those closest to us…
// Personal Remarks //
Though this is the fourth book. I would actually recommend a different reading order. Though unconventional, I’d recommend:
I - Ring
II - Birthday’s 2nd Story - Lemon Heart
III - Spiral
IV - Birthday’s 1st Story - Coffin in the Sky
V - Loop
VI - Birthday’s 3rd Story - Happy Birthday
This order is so you get the most emotional depth and story relativity to the timeframe of each book. Reading in this order will also not spoil any events, but enrich the main books of Ring, Spiral and Loop.
Format: Softcover
The fourth book in the series and a deeper look into the events that took place up to Loop from the perspective of people attached to our main characters.
Birthday’s three stories spans all three books:
Coffin in the Sky taking place during Spiral.
Lemon Heart taking place before and during Ring.
Happy Birthday lastly taking place after Loop.
Each story reminding us that our actions have consequences and those consequences sometimes damn those closest to us…
// Personal Remarks //
Though this is the fourth book. I would actually recommend a different reading order. Though unconventional, I’d recommend:
I - Ring
II - Birthday’s 2nd Story - Lemon Heart
III - Spiral
IV - Birthday’s 1st Story - Coffin in the Sky
V - Loop
VI - Birthday’s 3rd Story - Happy Birthday
This order is so you get the most emotional depth and story relativity to the timeframe of each book. Reading in this order will also not spoil any events, but enrich the main books of Ring, Spiral and Loop.
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