The Hole (ARC Review)

When this story claims to be an unsettling mix of My Neighbor Totoro and Alice in Wonderland, it isn’t lying. 

A novella that begs to be pictured in animated, Studio Ghibli style, The Hole follows Asa after her husband transfers jobs and they move out of the city and into the house next to her mother-in-law. No longer employed, with very few options to become so, and even less need to, Asa has time to wander around her new town, where strange beings begin to appear and bizarre experiences beset Asa’s life.

Like a modern-day, adult fairytale, The Hole manages to build strong characters and a strange world in a very short amount of time and is filled to the brim with atmospheric writing, an overwhelming tone of uncertainty, and an unceasing tension and mystery aspect that will tease readers to consume the short story in one sitting.

For some, the obvious allegorical framework will be the most interesting part, while others will find the somewhat forceful moral-of-the-story feeling not worth experiencing. Likewise, the underlying insinuation may become too clear for some readers in the final paragraphs, especially those who often dissect literature, while others may find the overall ending less than satisfactory in its purposeful vagueness. With such a strong message, the themes of the novella will be a deciding factor for most, but enjoyment can still be found if readers want only to experience stepping into a surreal world, as long as they don’t expect a resolute ending or outward explanation of events.

Even though the story has a small scope and is overtly thematic, it’s so well done and creates such an engaging narrative that it’s enjoyable, nevertheless. But it also helps that the implications of the story are so universally relevant, especially in the current state of events.

Lovers of modern classics and literary fiction should absolutely consider picking up this short read, particularly those who also enjoy Ghibli movies. I rated The Hole 4 out of 5.

Thank you to Netgalley and New Directions Publishing for the early copy in exchange for an honest review.