Goth: Otsuichi
Reviewed By Fiona Dodwell
If I had to describe Goth with one word, it would be this: bleak. It is one of the bleakest books I have read, and because of that, it was thoroughly disturbing. I’m getting ahead of myself, though. Let me rewind and introduce you…..Goth is a horror novel written by Japanese author Otsuichi (and translated into English by Kendi Oiwa). It was originally released in 2002, so let’s face it, I’m ridiculously late to the game. However, in recent years I have been reading more and more dark fiction from Japan and this title had been on my radar for quite some time before I finally read it.
So, back to the story itself…Goth is an extremely dark, foreboding and unsettling book – and I mean that in the “nicest” way! If you like your fiction to be dark and brooding, then you don’t need to look further than what Otsuichi has created here. Goth focuses on two central characters – both high school teenagers – who are obsessed with serial killers and death. The story takes us deep into the character’s minds – why are they like this? What do they think about life and death? What are they capable of?
As we follow the novel, the reader begins to understand more about the two teenagers – and most of what we uncover is very sinister. After school each day, they begin investigating a spate of murders as a result of their obsession with death and serial killers, and they become closely involved in several deaths themselves.
Goth is a novel broken up into several short stories, but all of the stories connect with each other and are all linked with the main characters – they continue to tell the story as a whole and seem to get darker as each tale develops.
Otsuichi’s writing is superb – really gritty, raw and dark. It is almost as if he takes the reader’s mind and makes him or her see what it’s like to not care about life (or death)… Nothing is precious in the world of Goth…The author behind the tale takes everything we hold dear and smashes it to pieces with each sentence.
I worked my way through the book quickly, because it was a really addictive read. I felt immersed in the world of Goth and found that I wanted to stay there to uncover the realm that the author had created. It’s a testament to the writer’s talent.
I recommend it for any horror fan – especially if you can handle a bit of gore and psychological darkness.
Goth
Morino is the strangest girl in school-how could she not be, given her obsession with brutal murders? And there are plenty of murders to grow obsessed with as the town in which she lives is a magnet for serial killers. She and her schoolmate will go to any length to investigate the murders, even putting their own bodies on the line. And they don’t want to stop the killer, but simply to understand him.
You can buy Goth from Amazon UK & Amazon US
Fiona Dodwell
Fiona Dodwell has been writing fiction for almost 10 years, with several horror/paranormal titles released under various publishers. Alongside this, she is a freelance writer for various websites and magazines. She has written features for Warner Music, Made In Shoreditch Magazine, Music-news.com and Tremr.
Fiona has studied Psychology, Film Studies, Theology and Health & Social Care.
Her biggest passion is reading dark fiction, as well as creating new stories of her own – the creepier the better!
To find out more about Fiona:
Twitter: @Angel_devil982
Books: Amazon Store
The Given
Madison Walter thought she had everything.
A good job. A perfect husband. A baby on the way.
When a terrible tragedy turns her life upside down, Madison knows things will never be the same again.
Intent on saving her marriage, she joins her husband on a luxury trip abroad. However, a week in the sun turns into an abyss of despair and horror.
Can Madison save her life, her sanity and her family before it’s too late?
Leave a Reply