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kwdubz's review
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A brother struggles his whole life to understand what his sister means when she says "Half the house is haunted:. A man lies on this deathbed, surrounded by family, and confesses to homicides he never committed. A husband and wife purchase the latest in cutting edge home cleaning products and learn how dirty their past really is. A tourist takes the infamous Jupiter Drop and loses himself in isolation. And the remaining pair of a triplet set seek vengeance for their brother's murder in creative ways.
I have often found that short story and novella collections fall flat for me due to the similarity between the narrator voices. That was not the case here. Malerman created a distinct set of characters with unique voices and thoughts that aided in setting the tone and atmosphere for the entire novella series, a feat that is hard to accomplish and truly sets this collection apart. Each novella, while distinct, had enough similarities in writing style that the whole series was cohesive and felt like it belonged together.
Because of the benefits that a longer novella style story has, compared to a short story format, each had a well plotted series of events that wrapped up nicely at the end without overt abruptness and led the reader to a moral, theme, or lesson learned (though again, not overt and in your face).
The best word I can use to describe the book is Unsettling. That's the only thing that gets even close to representing this collection. Malerman explores the inner workings of the human mind in creative and often uncomfortable ways. I really enjoyed this collection and I'm eager to read more from this author.
I have often found that short story and novella collections fall flat for me due to the similarity between the narrator voices. That was not the case here. Malerman created a distinct set of characters with unique voices and thoughts that aided in setting the tone and atmosphere for the entire novella series, a feat that is hard to accomplish and truly sets this collection apart. Each novella, while distinct, had enough similarities in writing style that the whole series was cohesive and felt like it belonged together.
Because of the benefits that a longer novella style story has, compared to a short story format, each had a well plotted series of events that wrapped up nicely at the end without overt abruptness and led the reader to a moral, theme, or lesson learned (though again, not overt and in your face).
The best word I can use to describe the book is Unsettling. That's the only thing that gets even close to representing this collection. Malerman explores the inner workings of the human mind in creative and often uncomfortable ways. I really enjoyed this collection and I'm eager to read more from this author.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Blood, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Animal cruelty and Animal death
snazzymoose's review
3.0
First story was awesome! Second story blew. The next couple were okay. Last was meh.
justsusan85's review
2.0
I was gifted an arc of this book. I understand that’s it’s an unedited version but there were some structural misses that I couldn’t get past. The writing was mediocre and nothing special. The idea behind the stories would have been great if the writer had given it more thought and maybe written more to flesh it out some. I’m a fan of thrillers and horror books but this book of novellas didn’t really catch my attention enough to actually want to buy the book.
aaronlindsey's review
5.0
Five novellas from one of today's best horror writers. Josh Malerman is a true renascence man. I doubt there's anything he can't do. But he is a writer at heart. This collection features 5 stories of the unpredictable. There's horror in each, but one is a futuristic, Bradbury-ish tale of cosmic travel and another is a Dickens style revenge story.
In each story there are nuggets of wisdom that made me think.
I fully recommend Spin a Black Yarn.
In each story there are nuggets of wisdom that made me think.
I fully recommend Spin a Black Yarn.
receptively_reviewed's review
This particular ARC sat on my self long than I wanted to knowing once I started I would have to finish.
I am a HUGE fan of Josh Malerman. He makes imagery alive and refreshing, even it is dark. There's something about his author's writing style that's irresistible regardless of if I like the book (as a whole) or not. With this collection of short stories, I REALLY liked the first half, and although I wasn't too wild about the second half..
A mix of horror, mystery, thriller, and science fiction. I am not the biggest fan of science fiction, so in those novellas, it felt short, for me, but it was none the less interesting. It should not really deter you from reading the book.
My advice is to give this a read if you enjoy mind twists and dark human nature Your mind will unravel, like yarn, leave you in a knot a few times, leaving, you think, untying, your thoughts out of the peculiar quandary.
My advice is to give this a read if you enjoy mind twists and dark human nature coming alive. It will get the knots and stitching patterns in your mind, moving with each peculiar quandary.
I would rate this book a 3.5, overall. Systems like GoodReads and others make it hard as hard stars do not exist, so I had to get crafty of my website and Book instagram for my followers. (check it out!)
Thank you Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for this ARC.
I am a HUGE fan of Josh Malerman. He makes imagery alive and refreshing, even it is dark. There's something about his author's writing style that's irresistible regardless of if I like the book (as a whole) or not. With this collection of short stories, I REALLY liked the first half, and although I wasn't too wild about the second half..
A mix of horror, mystery, thriller, and science fiction. I am not the biggest fan of science fiction, so in those novellas, it felt short, for me, but it was none the less interesting. It should not really deter you from reading the book.
My advice is to give this a read if you enjoy mind twists and dark human nature Your mind will unravel, like yarn, leave you in a knot a few times, leaving, you think, untying, your thoughts out of the peculiar quandary.
My advice is to give this a read if you enjoy mind twists and dark human nature coming alive. It will get the knots and stitching patterns in your mind, moving with each peculiar quandary.
I would rate this book a 3.5, overall. Systems like GoodReads and others make it hard as hard stars do not exist, so I had to get crafty of my website and Book instagram for my followers. (check it out!)
Thank you Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for this ARC.
sukran_'s review
5.0
I listened to the audiobook and this is one of THE books of the year for me. Amazing stories, just start listening and stop everything else because you won't be able to concentrate on anything else.
Just what I need today.
Just what I need today.
dnemec's review
3.0
Novellas/short stories are always a mixed bag for me, and this collection was no different. Two of those did stand out for me: Argyle and Doug and Judy Buy the House Washer (TM).
Argyle is the story of Shawn Hasbro, who is on his deathbed. Surrounded by his wife and children, he begins to make a startling confession: he is not a serial killer, but he has spent nearly his whole life trying not to be. His sister, Ethel, has been buzzing around the edges of his life for years, watching and waiting to intervene. At an early age, he discovered these urges and has been fighting them ever since. He claims he was successful...
Doug and Judy Buy the House Washer (TM) begins like this: "Doug and Judy Barman are assholes." Gotta love a beginning line like that! Rita sells the couple a House Washer (TM), an innovative product that will literally clean your entire house while you either leave or sit in an airtight tube and watch. Doug and Judy, who are obsessed with money - both making it and spending it - readily buy the product, but let it sit in their living room for two weeks until they decide to throw a party to flaunt a big business deal and of course, the House Washer (TM). Once Doug and Judy get in the tube, things really get interesting... I could not put this one down.
Overall, the collection was fine. Not my favorite, but some gems were to be found.
Argyle is the story of Shawn Hasbro, who is on his deathbed. Surrounded by his wife and children, he begins to make a startling confession: he is not a serial killer, but he has spent nearly his whole life trying not to be. His sister, Ethel, has been buzzing around the edges of his life for years, watching and waiting to intervene. At an early age, he discovered these urges and has been fighting them ever since. He claims he was successful...
Doug and Judy Buy the House Washer (TM) begins like this: "Doug and Judy Barman are assholes." Gotta love a beginning line like that! Rita sells the couple a House Washer (TM), an innovative product that will literally clean your entire house while you either leave or sit in an airtight tube and watch. Doug and Judy, who are obsessed with money - both making it and spending it - readily buy the product, but let it sit in their living room for two weeks until they decide to throw a party to flaunt a big business deal and of course, the House Washer (TM). Once Doug and Judy get in the tube, things really get interesting... I could not put this one down.
Overall, the collection was fine. Not my favorite, but some gems were to be found.
booknerd7820's review against another edition
4.0
Josh Malerman’s books are always a treat to read and returning to his signature town of Samhattan in these five novellas was no exception. My favorite of the short stories, all of which are eerie and thought provoking was a tie between “Half the House is Haunted” (mainly because I grew up in a haunted house) and “Argyle”. In Argyle, a dying man is confessing to his children that if it weren’t for his desire to be a good man, he would have been a prolific serial killer. It reminded me of many people I know who purport to be godly, but there is something uneasy and sinister always lurking beneath the surface. My least favorite was actually the longest novella, Egorov. Although it had gothic elements it and an interesting concept, for me it just went on a bit too long. I also never really understood why the killer murdered the triplet.
Overall, if you are a fan of Goblin and Daphne, do not miss this out on this collection which adds to the town lore of Samhattan. Great horror short stories that have just enough weird in them to make Malerman’s stories stand out from the rest of modern day horror writers.
Thank you to NetGalley, Del Rey, and Josh Malerman for an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.
Overall, if you are a fan of Goblin and Daphne, do not miss this out on this collection which adds to the town lore of Samhattan. Great horror short stories that have just enough weird in them to make Malerman’s stories stand out from the rest of modern day horror writers.
Thank you to NetGalley, Del Rey, and Josh Malerman for an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.
nualasiobhan333's review
dark
fast-paced
4.0
i loved the first two stories but the last did not hold my attention
aoibhinnannwn's review
3.0
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.
This is the third book of Malerman's I have read, and it was a bit of a letdown. The first novella, "Half of the House," was definitely my favorite of the book. I liked the eerie vibes, and I kind of love when the speech of children is anachronistic - the children could have been from many different eras, and the story seemed very "Turn of the Screw"-ish at first.
"Argyle" was easily my least favorite story. The death-bed confession bit was too much, and it was rather dull for a story about a would-be serial killer.
The next two stories were very similar in concept, and I didn't really like either. They also felt very Bradbury-esque in their distrust of technology and mankind's faith in it. "Doug and Judy Buy a House Washer" started strong, but the dialogue was just not there for me in this one. Doug and Judy were too cartoonishly evil for me to care about either their redemption arc or their fates. In "The Jupiter Drop," I felt like the poor main character didn't get any resolution - I didn't feel like there was a strong enough connection between his guilt and his actions here.
Egorov was the least fantastical of the stories, and it completely fell flat for me. I found myself skimming through it after the first six or so "chapters."
I gave this one a 2.5 stars.
This is the third book of Malerman's I have read, and it was a bit of a letdown. The first novella, "Half of the House," was definitely my favorite of the book. I liked the eerie vibes, and I kind of love when the speech of children is anachronistic - the children could have been from many different eras, and the story seemed very "Turn of the Screw"-ish at first.
"Argyle" was easily my least favorite story. The death-bed confession bit was too much, and it was rather dull for a story about a would-be serial killer.
The next two stories were very similar in concept, and I didn't really like either. They also felt very Bradbury-esque in their distrust of technology and mankind's faith in it. "Doug and Judy Buy a House Washer" started strong, but the dialogue was just not there for me in this one. Doug and Judy were too cartoonishly evil for me to care about either their redemption arc or their fates. In "The Jupiter Drop," I felt like the poor main character didn't get any resolution - I didn't feel like there was a strong enough connection between his guilt and his actions here.
Egorov was the least fantastical of the stories, and it completely fell flat for me. I found myself skimming through it after the first six or so "chapters."
I gave this one a 2.5 stars.