This was a very dark, yet interesting book. Like a combination of Death Note: Another Note, Suicide Circle, and just a sprinkle of Paranoia Agent--gory, mysterious, disturbing, and filled with twists. It provided a nice look into the darker side of the human psyche, and also offered some humor every now and again. Altogether, it was quite enjoyable, albeit, confusing {at least for me} at the end. ( )

Disturbingly dark and blood-curdling.

This is the first time I’ve read a Japanese book, and this was recommended to me by one of my friends. I am always fascinated by stories that talk about the darker side of humanity. I hadn’t found a book like this before because most of it was just lame horror-trying-to-be-creepy story and that’s the reason why I stopped reading some horrors for a while.

Goth is told from the point-of-view of one of the main characters – his name wasn’t revealed from the start, but I’m happy to know it (finally!) on the last chapter – and sometimes a POV from the killer or someone involved in the story was also included on that particular chapter. The story is about two high school students who became friends because of having the same weird interest in something scary and gruesome murders that mostly happen in their place or near their place. Each chapter features a collection of stories about Morino and her friend’s adventure on investigating (or most likely observing) how the killers/murderers do their ghastly and frightening works.

I love the writing of the author. Otsuichi could write some chilling and twisted tale. He was able to unveil the darkness that surrounds some people and how they viewed the world they live on. I could feel how the two students feel, how the killer feels no pity for their victim, and also the contentment or satisfaction that the killers get after doing it.

My favorite stories are the “dog” and “memory/twins.” I like how the dog story was executed and how it was very touching too. To be honest, this is the story where the killer really has a reasonable explanation for his/her actions – which I liked. While on the memory/twins, it really shocked me to find out the secrets that Morino has been hiding from everyone since that accident or is it really an accident?

Overall, I really love this novel! I was able to explore the darker side of the world. Some of it might be unrealistic, but still, I was able to get a peek on the killer/murderer’s mind. If you also like a dark, twisted, and disturbing story, then you should try this one. ( )

Goth is a collection of stories revolving around a pair of teen-aged sociopaths. Morino and her classmate have no discernible emotions and a fascination with death and violent crime, and investigate it whenever such an incident comes their way. But they have no interest in stopping the criminals, nor assisting law enforcement. They do so only to sate their own curiosity.

I probably don't need to mention at this point that the protagonists (if you could call them that) are not a likeable duo, but they are compelling. I don't know what kind of psychological education the author has had, if any, but he gets inside their heads, as well as those of the killers they encounter, in a deeply convincing way.

One interesting feature of these stories is that they are told entirely in first person. That's not unusual, but what is is that the point of view changes regularly without warning or any clue that it has done, and it will take a bit of work on the part of the reader to puzzle out whose perspective he or she is experiencing. Sometimes the author deliberately misleads the reader, and there is one story, perhaps two, where you will have gotten it entirely wrong until you get to the very end. It makes you want to read it again to see how it all works.

This is a grim book that goes to very dark places. There is some gore, but it was the deviant psychological aspect I found most disquieting. Recommended for those who feel up to it. ( )

I found the blurb on the back to be misleading. I thought Morino would be the main character and she manages to not be, still I loved this book (admittedly I skipped over “dog” because I can’t handle animal violence). The stories are all stand alone that involve the main character/narrator and his friend Morino. Morino seems to attract serial killers for some reason, but it doesn’t seem that fantastic a stretch. There’s some gore but not an overwhelming amount, it’s very creepy and sinister. My only main qualm is that as these stories are/were stand alone there is a certain amount of repetition between them concerning descriptions. If you can overlook that it’s a great group of short stories. ( )

Goth is book with six short horror stories; Goth, Wrist-Cut, Dog, Memory/Twins, Grave, and Voice. The stories are connected by two high school students that have a fondness for serial killers and occasionally get way too close to the killers.

The main character can be compared to a young Dexter, if you’ve seen the show. He has a very calm detachment to emotions, but is interested in how and why the serial killers work in each story.

Morino is a self-inserted side-kick to our main character. She makes herself useful to him and loves to investigate crimes, but it seems like she is more working to impress the main character than anything else.

What makes Goth different from other Japanese horror novels is the lack of supernatural elements. Each story has a different flair. A couple of the stories reveal dark secrets about the main characters while other stories are just plain dark and twisted, but each story is based on the actions of humans and not ghosts or demons like a typical Japanese novel.

The constant questions on the reader’s mind throughout the book is are the main characters eventually going to become killers themselves? Are they going to become victims when they get too close? It’s enough to keep drawing you in and shivering through the creeps working up and down your spine. ( )