What do you think?
Rate this book
Little Book Series III
A Little Red Book of Requests
The fourth title in the Little Books Series III is a presentation of three all-new original novelettes by Josh Malerman, whose novel Bird Box has enjoyed recent critical success as a film.
The stories:
In “Fafa Dillenger’s Box” A desperate man asks that his most hideous potential be buried where he can’t find it . . .
In “Dead Witch’s Hair” A young boy asks his mother if he can please leave the lights on in his bedroom at night, no matter what they reveal . . .
In “Breadcrumbs” A famished hiker asks Fate for much needed bread and water, no mater where it comes from . . .
And while all three get what they’ve requested, each also learns the horror that often accompanies wishes fulfilled in this . . . . A Little Red Book of Requests
The stories:
In “Fafa Dillenger’s Box” A desperate man asks that his most hideous potential be buried where he can’t find it . . .
In “Dead Witch’s Hair” A young boy asks his mother if he can please leave the lights on in his bedroom at night, no matter what they reveal . . .
In “Breadcrumbs” A famished hiker asks Fate for much needed bread and water, no mater where it comes from . . .
And while all three get what they’ve requested, each also learns the horror that often accompanies wishes fulfilled in this . . . . A Little Red Book of Requests
- GenresHorror
124 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 2019
198 people want to read
About the author
Josh Malerman
89 books8,386 followersJosh Malerman is the New York Times best selling author of BIRD BOX, MALORIE, GOBLIN, PEARL, GHOUL n THE CAPE, and more.
He's also one of two singer/songwriter for the rock band The High Strung.
He's also one of two singer/songwriter for the rock band The High Strung.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
June 11, 2020
Holy mackerel, that last story. Right up my alley!
January 9, 2022
What we get with ‘A Little Red Book Of Requests’ is a captivating three story collection from the brilliant mind of Josh Malerman.
The first story ‘Fafa Dillenger’s Box’ is the longest story of the bunch, but a story that has so much weight it’ll smother you, and so much slow brooding horror that you’ll not be able to look away. This one read like a love story to Poe and his story ‘The Tell Tale Heart’ but given that Malerman twist. There were also tones I found of Matheson which was also a welcome delight. The story though is deeply original, how each of us has a box somewhere in the world where our darkest desires, the worst thing we could ever do is buried - buried at the location of that act or acts. The characters in this story are all well rounded and the direction this story takes also help to showcase a masterful storyteller - not once did I question, not once did I get bored, I just followed, like a bull with a ring in its nose - gave myself to the story and was rewarded for that journey.
The second story ‘Dead Witch’s Hair’ is an almost urban legend of a story, one that was deeply original, it also gave me vibes of Japanese horror like Ring - but in this one we have a mother and son, the son can’t sleep without the lights on, it’s driving the mother mad and so she tells her son that their is a woman who lives in the lights and is drawn by them to the world, that if you sleep with the lights on - it’s an open door, and light reveals all! Creepy and a hell of a read.
‘Breadcrumbs’ closes this slice of Malerman brilliance with a story of a man following a trail, he’s lost and stumbles across a house in the woods, it reads like a disturbed Brothers Grimm story - one with a lot of blood and freaky goings on. It’s almost the three bears (if the bears were deformed beasts) and Goldilocks (if she were a man and desperately trying to find sustenance to keep himself alive). Or protagonist finds himself trapped in their larder when the home owners return, he has to watch unthinkable things happening and witness their grotesque beings as he doesn’t want to reveal himself - but not only is he in the larder he is also right in the middle of a trap… a trap that keeps attracting prey, and now he needs to escape!
A delightful discovery of a lesser known Malerman work - all of the stories deliver brilliance but that first story was the standout and worth the cost of this book alone, utterly brilliant!
The first story ‘Fafa Dillenger’s Box’ is the longest story of the bunch, but a story that has so much weight it’ll smother you, and so much slow brooding horror that you’ll not be able to look away. This one read like a love story to Poe and his story ‘The Tell Tale Heart’ but given that Malerman twist. There were also tones I found of Matheson which was also a welcome delight. The story though is deeply original, how each of us has a box somewhere in the world where our darkest desires, the worst thing we could ever do is buried - buried at the location of that act or acts. The characters in this story are all well rounded and the direction this story takes also help to showcase a masterful storyteller - not once did I question, not once did I get bored, I just followed, like a bull with a ring in its nose - gave myself to the story and was rewarded for that journey.
The second story ‘Dead Witch’s Hair’ is an almost urban legend of a story, one that was deeply original, it also gave me vibes of Japanese horror like Ring - but in this one we have a mother and son, the son can’t sleep without the lights on, it’s driving the mother mad and so she tells her son that their is a woman who lives in the lights and is drawn by them to the world, that if you sleep with the lights on - it’s an open door, and light reveals all! Creepy and a hell of a read.
‘Breadcrumbs’ closes this slice of Malerman brilliance with a story of a man following a trail, he’s lost and stumbles across a house in the woods, it reads like a disturbed Brothers Grimm story - one with a lot of blood and freaky goings on. It’s almost the three bears (if the bears were deformed beasts) and Goldilocks (if she were a man and desperately trying to find sustenance to keep himself alive). Or protagonist finds himself trapped in their larder when the home owners return, he has to watch unthinkable things happening and witness their grotesque beings as he doesn’t want to reveal himself - but not only is he in the larder he is also right in the middle of a trap… a trap that keeps attracting prey, and now he needs to escape!
A delightful discovery of a lesser known Malerman work - all of the stories deliver brilliance but that first story was the standout and worth the cost of this book alone, utterly brilliant!
April 1, 2019
There’s a famous idiom that says, “Be careful what you wish for, lest it come true.”
No truer sentiment can be uttered after reading Josh Malerman’s “A Little Red Book of Requests”. In this little book, are three stories of people who get what they request; and unlike the Willy Wonka quote (“...don’t forget what happened to the man who suddenly got everything he always wanted. He lived happily ever after.”), the people in these stories learn that the idiom above holds true.
I am a huge fan of Josh’s – a self-proclaimed Malermaniac; but I, like some others who have read this book, also found it a little lacking in the “completion” department.
The first story, “Fafa Dillenger’s Box”, which takes up almost two-thirds of the book, could have easily been a decent sized novella. I thought it was a fantastic story that would have benefited from a little more “meat”. A man discovers that buried all over the world are boxes that contain our most hideous potential. When learning of this, he decides to find out if there is a way to prevent those deeds from happening, and learns the location of his own box.
The second story, “Dead Witch’s Hair”, deals with a boy’s fear of the dark, and then the light. The ending was a little confusing, and I found I had to reread it to understand what was happening.
The last story, “Breadcrumbs”, was my favorite. Having done a lot of camping, and hiking, in my time, a story about an in experienced hiker getting lost in the woods and coming upon an empty cabin, really hit home. When the owners arrive is when the terror hits.
This was a fun, and interesting read, but unless you are a huge fan of Josh’s work (like I am), it wouldn’t be something I’d tell you to go run out and get.
No truer sentiment can be uttered after reading Josh Malerman’s “A Little Red Book of Requests”. In this little book, are three stories of people who get what they request; and unlike the Willy Wonka quote (“...don’t forget what happened to the man who suddenly got everything he always wanted. He lived happily ever after.”), the people in these stories learn that the idiom above holds true.
I am a huge fan of Josh’s – a self-proclaimed Malermaniac; but I, like some others who have read this book, also found it a little lacking in the “completion” department.
The first story, “Fafa Dillenger’s Box”, which takes up almost two-thirds of the book, could have easily been a decent sized novella. I thought it was a fantastic story that would have benefited from a little more “meat”. A man discovers that buried all over the world are boxes that contain our most hideous potential. When learning of this, he decides to find out if there is a way to prevent those deeds from happening, and learns the location of his own box.
The second story, “Dead Witch’s Hair”, deals with a boy’s fear of the dark, and then the light. The ending was a little confusing, and I found I had to reread it to understand what was happening.
The last story, “Breadcrumbs”, was my favorite. Having done a lot of camping, and hiking, in my time, a story about an in experienced hiker getting lost in the woods and coming upon an empty cabin, really hit home. When the owners arrive is when the terror hits.
This was a fun, and interesting read, but unless you are a huge fan of Josh’s work (like I am), it wouldn’t be something I’d tell you to go run out and get.
June 2, 2019
“Fafa Dillenger’s Box” - 5/5. The first story is the longest and best. As a short story it really paints a full world of characters. It's hard to read this without feeling like you're reading Poe.
“Dead Witch’s Hair” - 2/5. This one felt like a script for a comic one shot. Not much here. A kid scared of the dark. I've read it before and unless you're going to give me something original or a killer ending I don't need to read this again.
“Breadcrumbs” - 3.5/5. This one felt like a writing exercise. Very descriptive and a good POV; but it seemed written to show off not really tell a story.
As of this review the book is only available as a limited $40 release. The question most will have is it worth it for 3 stories at just over 120 pages. I'd say yes if you're the type of person who is used to buying limited releases like this. It's better than most. If you're, like me, sometimes disappointed in Malerman's work you may want to think about diving in. The first story is the best and 80 pages of the 120, and is more in the vein of Unbury Carol than Bird Box. If you're more into the sci-fi type work of Malerman this is probably a pass for you.
“Dead Witch’s Hair” - 2/5. This one felt like a script for a comic one shot. Not much here. A kid scared of the dark. I've read it before and unless you're going to give me something original or a killer ending I don't need to read this again.
“Breadcrumbs” - 3.5/5. This one felt like a writing exercise. Very descriptive and a good POV; but it seemed written to show off not really tell a story.
As of this review the book is only available as a limited $40 release. The question most will have is it worth it for 3 stories at just over 120 pages. I'd say yes if you're the type of person who is used to buying limited releases like this. It's better than most. If you're, like me, sometimes disappointed in Malerman's work you may want to think about diving in. The first story is the best and 80 pages of the 120, and is more in the vein of Unbury Carol than Bird Box. If you're more into the sci-fi type work of Malerman this is probably a pass for you.
March 28, 2019
All three of these were enjoyable stories. I would like to have seen a longer version of “Fafa Dillingers Box” as I wanted to spend more time with those characters and story!!
March 25, 2019
This book has Malerman's creepiest/most suspenseful/most horrific fiction to date. But the best stories felt unfinished. Witch's Hair and Breadcrumbs were both awesome and cut off. They ended so suddenly I was wondering if maybe a page or two were missing. This would have been EASILY a 5 star review if the endings came to some resolution on both of those tales.
Tremendously fun read and highly recommended for those Malerman completists and autograph chasers.
Tremendously fun read and highly recommended for those Malerman completists and autograph chasers.
April 17, 2019
I am not a “Malermaniac”. I do not think he is the second coming of Stephen King and won’t buy a book just because his name is on it. That said, I did enjoy Bird Box and do think he has interesting ideas; ideas he is turning into published books at quite a clip. So, I do intend to read some more of Malerman in the future, and I was looking forward to reading his contribution to the “Little Book” series from Borderlands Press.
Often, these “Little Books” contain reprinted material from an author’s previous works. In this case, I believe Malerman contributed three original short stories for his “Little Book”. I thought that was a nice gesture and added to its allure. The theme for the book is the idiom, “be careful what you wish for because you just might get it”.
The three stories are essentially fairy tales. The longest story, Fafa Dillingers’ Box, asks you to believe that every human being’s most hideous potential is contained in their own personal box, buried somewhere on the planet. Okay, so it’s a riff on the Pandora’s Box myth. Ultimately, it becomes a tale of ego and obsession, with a cast of characters that unfortunately didn’t engage me.
Dead Witch’s Hair concerns the frustrated mother of an OCD child who, though maybe with good intentions, nevertheless makes life for her child even more difficult. This story is very short with basically a non-ending. It’s an interesting idea that could use some more depth.
Breadcrumbs would fit right in with the Brothers Grimm. A hiker gets lost in the woods and comes across a cottage with some very curious occupants doing some very disturbing things. Were these the hallucinations of a desperate hiker? I couldn’t quite tell and didn’t care that much either way.
Malermaniacs will undoubtedly love A Little Red Book of Requests, and while I won’t be able to agree with them in this case, I do suspect I will find more in common with them in the future. It appears Bird Box is becoming a franchise for the author, with a sequel due in the fall. Maybe I will qualify for membership then.
Often, these “Little Books” contain reprinted material from an author’s previous works. In this case, I believe Malerman contributed three original short stories for his “Little Book”. I thought that was a nice gesture and added to its allure. The theme for the book is the idiom, “be careful what you wish for because you just might get it”.
The three stories are essentially fairy tales. The longest story, Fafa Dillingers’ Box, asks you to believe that every human being’s most hideous potential is contained in their own personal box, buried somewhere on the planet. Okay, so it’s a riff on the Pandora’s Box myth. Ultimately, it becomes a tale of ego and obsession, with a cast of characters that unfortunately didn’t engage me.
Dead Witch’s Hair concerns the frustrated mother of an OCD child who, though maybe with good intentions, nevertheless makes life for her child even more difficult. This story is very short with basically a non-ending. It’s an interesting idea that could use some more depth.
Breadcrumbs would fit right in with the Brothers Grimm. A hiker gets lost in the woods and comes across a cottage with some very curious occupants doing some very disturbing things. Were these the hallucinations of a desperate hiker? I couldn’t quite tell and didn’t care that much either way.
Malermaniacs will undoubtedly love A Little Red Book of Requests, and while I won’t be able to agree with them in this case, I do suspect I will find more in common with them in the future. It appears Bird Box is becoming a franchise for the author, with a sequel due in the fall. Maybe I will qualify for membership then.
June 10, 2023
Malerman, Josh - A Little Red Book Of Requests
Another bestselling author I never heard of.
Yeah, I’m falling behind.
Three stories here. Requests are “be careful what you wish for” variants.
First is a folksy version of the Pandora box myth.
A hard luck plebe rises to celebrity, and collects an entourage. Helpers with nicknames such as Sympathetic Sue, Honest Henry, Marvelous Mark, you get it.
The homespun narration goes on way too long (I dislike folksy), and the final reveal is a prize cheaper than a Cracker Jack toy.
Next yarn is a child and his fears. I avoid childhood stories, and I think putting child in danger is the lowest, cheapest form of horror scare. Nevertheless, this kid was annoying as hell.
The final piece started strong.
A wannabe hiker treks the PCT (West coast version of the Appalachian Trail).
He gets lost, runs out of food, makes bone-headed mistakes.
The narrative enters cabin in the woods territory, and the tone darkens.
Then! It ends. This, like the earlier child story, use the despised “was it a dream” cheat.
Worse, despite an OK premise, one gets the feeling the author kept an internal page count.
That once he hit his 15-20-whatever pages, he shrugged, “Good enough,” and quit.
I wanted to toss the book across the room. Wasted my time.
Later, I did something I rarely do, I read other readers’ comments about this individual.
Turns out, others feel he has a history of running out of gas, or offering asinine endings.
Be forewarned.
Another bestselling author I never heard of.
Yeah, I’m falling behind.
Three stories here. Requests are “be careful what you wish for” variants.
First is a folksy version of the Pandora box myth.
A hard luck plebe rises to celebrity, and collects an entourage. Helpers with nicknames such as Sympathetic Sue, Honest Henry, Marvelous Mark, you get it.
The homespun narration goes on way too long (I dislike folksy), and the final reveal is a prize cheaper than a Cracker Jack toy.
Next yarn is a child and his fears. I avoid childhood stories, and I think putting child in danger is the lowest, cheapest form of horror scare. Nevertheless, this kid was annoying as hell.
The final piece started strong.
A wannabe hiker treks the PCT (West coast version of the Appalachian Trail).
He gets lost, runs out of food, makes bone-headed mistakes.
The narrative enters cabin in the woods territory, and the tone darkens.
Then! It ends. This, like the earlier child story, use the despised “was it a dream” cheat.
Worse, despite an OK premise, one gets the feeling the author kept an internal page count.
That once he hit his 15-20-whatever pages, he shrugged, “Good enough,” and quit.
I wanted to toss the book across the room. Wasted my time.
Later, I did something I rarely do, I read other readers’ comments about this individual.
Turns out, others feel he has a history of running out of gas, or offering asinine endings.
Be forewarned.
April 13, 2019
A good little collection of short Malerman stories. I was slightly disappointed by the abruptness of the endings in the last two, seeing as the first had the flavor of being a complete tale. However, Malerman was successful in writing three creepy little stories that delight and disquiet at the same time.
January 30, 2023
This was more like one complete story and a few fragmented ideas.
November 16, 2024
a little different, a little odd, everything you would expect from Malerman
December 6, 2019
This has 3 short stories crammed into this tiny book. Each one, I felt, would have been much better had they have been longer. I really enjoy Malerman’s writing, but this was just not enough.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews