justinmartyr's review
4.0
After watching a Vice documentary on the Suicide Forrest, I was scared, excited and fascinated with the forrest. I read this book wanting to know more about this ancient forrest and the ancient culture of the Japanese people and their land. This book is a great beginner to explain The Who, what, why, when and where. But it also keeps things moving and interesting. It is not a long book and to do justice to the topic it could have went longer. But wow!!! Tara has done her research and her passion to dispel the stereotypes and to tell the story also shows her concern with people committing suicide and getting help to those people. After reading this book I would like to take a trip to Japan and investigate. I really enjoyed the book and read it in a day but like most books, it won't be going to a friend or a thrift store!!! It will be going back on my bookshelf to my beloved book collection.
nalice's review
informative
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide and Suicidal thoughts
melniksuzuki's review
5.0
As the title suggests, Aokigahara: The Truth Behind Japan's Suicide Forest is a non-fiction book that looks at Japan's infamous suicide forest. However, it does more than just cover the forest's dark happenings.
The book is split into four sections. The first covers the origins of Aokigahara. The second covers what most people are probably reading this book for: how Aokigahara earned the nickname of "suicide forest." This is the longest section within the book. The third goes about demystifying the legends that have sprung up about the forest. It is the shortest section. The final one covers the features that one can find in the forest - both natural and leftovers from the tormented souls that venture within.
I quite enjoyed this book. Its short page count, along with breezy prose, makes for a quick read. It also accomplished what it set out to do. Doesn't try to stretch out information to create tension, nor tries to sensationalize Aokighara's darkness. In fact, it was very illuminating how people both in and outside Japan focus on the darker aspects of the forest, forgetting/ignoring that it is more than just a spot where people go to end their lives. It is a forest at the base of Mount Fuji, after all.
The book is split into four sections. The first covers the origins of Aokigahara. The second covers what most people are probably reading this book for: how Aokigahara earned the nickname of "suicide forest." This is the longest section within the book. The third goes about demystifying the legends that have sprung up about the forest. It is the shortest section. The final one covers the features that one can find in the forest - both natural and leftovers from the tormented souls that venture within.
I quite enjoyed this book. Its short page count, along with breezy prose, makes for a quick read. It also accomplished what it set out to do. Doesn't try to stretch out information to create tension, nor tries to sensationalize Aokighara's darkness. In fact, it was very illuminating how people both in and outside Japan focus on the darker aspects of the forest, forgetting/ignoring that it is more than just a spot where people go to end their lives. It is a forest at the base of Mount Fuji, after all.
master's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
2.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Suicide
Minor: Death, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
More...