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Carpenter's Farm: A Serialized Novel
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About the author
Josh Malerman
91 books8,414 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
June 30, 2021
"So, this thing with Oliver. Is it a real issue or not? Should we be worried or not? Are we overreacting? Or not?"
Sooo here's the thing... this issue with Oliver.. its waaay beyond worrisome. Malerman knocked it out of the park with this one, its super creepy and unique!
Sooo here's the thing... this issue with Oliver.. its waaay beyond worrisome. Malerman knocked it out of the park with this one, its super creepy and unique!
May 17, 2020
The last (and only) serial novel I read was King's Green Mile. I bought the small paperbacks from the Ralph's grocery store near my house. It's a lovely memory, and equally lovely experience.
That experience was bested by my reading of Josh Malerman's online serial novel, Carpenter's Farm. I didn't read it "live" as Josh was posting. Frankly my reading couldn't keep up with his writing, that's how fast he moves. But over the last few weeks I'd take a break from writing my novel and read a chapter or two, or over a breakfast of coffee and a bagel, or late at night with a scotch just to see what was going on over there at Carpenter's Farm.
I don't know where Josh gets his ideas, probably the same place we all do--that weird noodle in our brain that whispers sweet dreams and nightmares. This story is a little bit of both (but definitely leans toward the latter), and it's one of the most genius concepts I've ever read.
Farm was easily the most unsettling reading experience (of fiction, mind you, let's set aside world events) of 2020 and probably many years more. Something about reading it online created an experience of reading a blog, a diary, a private, covert message from a sort of dark web. A place I felt a guilty pleasure from visiting.
I highly recommend taking a few minutes out of your day to follow the journey of those who visited the farm. To hear their story. Be warned, when you finish, you might not be the same person you were when you started out.
But maybe that's okay?
That experience was bested by my reading of Josh Malerman's online serial novel, Carpenter's Farm. I didn't read it "live" as Josh was posting. Frankly my reading couldn't keep up with his writing, that's how fast he moves. But over the last few weeks I'd take a break from writing my novel and read a chapter or two, or over a breakfast of coffee and a bagel, or late at night with a scotch just to see what was going on over there at Carpenter's Farm.
I don't know where Josh gets his ideas, probably the same place we all do--that weird noodle in our brain that whispers sweet dreams and nightmares. This story is a little bit of both (but definitely leans toward the latter), and it's one of the most genius concepts I've ever read.
Farm was easily the most unsettling reading experience (of fiction, mind you, let's set aside world events) of 2020 and probably many years more. Something about reading it online created an experience of reading a blog, a diary, a private, covert message from a sort of dark web. A place I felt a guilty pleasure from visiting.
I highly recommend taking a few minutes out of your day to follow the journey of those who visited the farm. To hear their story. Be warned, when you finish, you might not be the same person you were when you started out.
But maybe that's okay?
August 14, 2020
A group of thespian friends travel from New York to Michigan to check up on a former member of their group after they persuaded him to move to a farm he inherited in order to make a fresh start on his life. What they find when they get there is beyond anything they could ever have imagined, and it changes their lives for good. This story, published in serialized fashion on his website, was Malerman at his best. The tale is bizarre, weird and cosmic fiction, and yet another unique story, quite different from anything I've read before. 4.5/5*
May 18, 2020
A bizarre, twisted and strange novel. Probably going to be my favorite book of 2020. I absolutely adored this and wish it were longer and in print so I could own a copy.
June 3, 2020
(Available to read entirely for free online, in case anyone was unaware! ^^)
Malerman really excels at capturing people, at certain ages and stages of development, and their accompanying feelings and spirit in ways which very few authors can manage as effortlessly or strikingly to communicate. The subjectivity captured in these trying situations and his characters approaches toward navigating of them are a true pleasure and thrill to behold. It’s marvelous to find him exploring and putting his own unique spin on a story of this kind, and to see his returning to the country milieus he found such great triumphs and successes across with his previous novel Day of the Pig. If you’ve ever wondered what a team up between Josh and H.P. Lovecraft or Shirley Jackson might look like (also pleased to catch an overt nod to 'the Lottery'’s Ursula K. Le Guin in there <3) this is what you’ve been waiting for.
Malerman really excels at capturing people, at certain ages and stages of development, and their accompanying feelings and spirit in ways which very few authors can manage as effortlessly or strikingly to communicate. The subjectivity captured in these trying situations and his characters approaches toward navigating of them are a true pleasure and thrill to behold. It’s marvelous to find him exploring and putting his own unique spin on a story of this kind, and to see his returning to the country milieus he found such great triumphs and successes across with his previous novel Day of the Pig. If you’ve ever wondered what a team up between Josh and H.P. Lovecraft or Shirley Jackson might look like (also pleased to catch an overt nod to 'the Lottery'’s Ursula K. Le Guin in there <3) this is what you’ve been waiting for.
August 16, 2022
Josh Malerman does it again, and this time with a serialized novel (how cool!) I did not read this one online a bit each day as others did, but I have it on CD for an audiobook. I think both work but from what I have read in other reviews they can be effective in both ways. One potentially has more ambiance to the mix while the other might seem a little more private / make the reader feel more included. But, again, I have read nothing but glowing thoughts for both formats! This tale is eerie and bizarre and so SO well-done, well-written, well-executed, well... WELL you get the point! I believe this entire serialized novel can be found on Josh Malerman's website for free if you do not have this audio version. Enjoy!
September 27, 2021
I originally read this during the pandemic, it was a highlight for me as we faced extinction - but I realised soon after that the score for the book had been put together and so over the last week I’ve been re-reading it with the score and we’ll it adds a whole new dimension to the book - eerily beautiful and down right brilliant. If you can, I’d advise you to consume this book in this way, also if you’ve read it like me previously, re-read it with the music, it changes your whole engagement of the text!
The whole book is available for free on Josh Malerman’s website… go get some!
The whole book is available for free on Josh Malerman’s website… go get some!
September 8, 2020
This free online book really shows how Josh Malerman knows how to build the horror and suspense. A trip out to a farm to visit a friend takes many turns for a group of NYC friends. I enjoyed every page of this story.
May 16, 2020
My pandemic life was just one day running into another. But then the chapters started coming out. I almost remembered which day it was. Kept clicking that next arrow.
August 18, 2020
Fascinating serial online novel. Malerman has such a way of keeping a reader riveted and he has done it yet again. This one will stay on your mind long after. High Recommend.
November 25, 2024
“Is she scared? She doesn’t feel scared. But there’s a far away part of her that believes she should.”
I think these sentences alone perfectly summarize the entirety of the ambiance of this story. An overall sense of dread and uncertainty that is firmly established within the first few chapters. The idea that while, physically, there isn’t really anything that appears to be wrong, there’s a looming sense of dread and urgency. This constant on-edge feeling reflects off of the main characters and onto the reader themselves. I was recommended this online story after searching for ones similar to “I’m Thinking of Ending Things” (the movie did the story a terrible injustice!). I just overall adore stories revolving around the idea that both the characters and readers don’t have a full understanding of what is going on around them, and adds an ominous but fascinating layer to the plot. Additionally, as a midwesterner, I just adore the gloomy, snowy, and boring corn field vibes of these kinds of stories. My only criticism regards the ending, which I feel could’ve involved slightly more closure without being a complete halt to the plot. Overall a book that succeeds in what it aims to accomplish: uneasiness.
I think these sentences alone perfectly summarize the entirety of the ambiance of this story. An overall sense of dread and uncertainty that is firmly established within the first few chapters. The idea that while, physically, there isn’t really anything that appears to be wrong, there’s a looming sense of dread and urgency. This constant on-edge feeling reflects off of the main characters and onto the reader themselves. I was recommended this online story after searching for ones similar to “I’m Thinking of Ending Things” (the movie did the story a terrible injustice!). I just overall adore stories revolving around the idea that both the characters and readers don’t have a full understanding of what is going on around them, and adds an ominous but fascinating layer to the plot. Additionally, as a midwesterner, I just adore the gloomy, snowy, and boring corn field vibes of these kinds of stories. My only criticism regards the ending, which I feel could’ve involved slightly more closure without being a complete halt to the plot. Overall a book that succeeds in what it aims to accomplish: uneasiness.
May 19, 2020
When I heard Josh Malerman intended to write a serialized novel and share it with the world for free, I was ecstatic.
He is an awesome writer and for him to give his work away during the COVID-19 pandemic for people to have something to read was an awesome gesture.
This was my first time reading a serialized novel and was anxious to see how it flowed. I loved Carpenter’s Farm and all of the characters. It was so well written, I felt like I was there on the Farm, watching from a secret window, cheering my favorite characters on.
In the midst of everything going on in the world, I found myself looking forward to Mondays, Wednesdays, & Fridays when new chapters were released.
I didn’t think the novel could be any better, but Josh allowed other artists & writers to be a part of the story, which made for a wonderful trip!
There were poems, music, photos, & artwork to go along with the story, which enhanced the entire experience!
I highly recommend you read Carpenter’s Farm.
Five stars and then some!
He is an awesome writer and for him to give his work away during the COVID-19 pandemic for people to have something to read was an awesome gesture.
This was my first time reading a serialized novel and was anxious to see how it flowed. I loved Carpenter’s Farm and all of the characters. It was so well written, I felt like I was there on the Farm, watching from a secret window, cheering my favorite characters on.
In the midst of everything going on in the world, I found myself looking forward to Mondays, Wednesdays, & Fridays when new chapters were released.
I didn’t think the novel could be any better, but Josh allowed other artists & writers to be a part of the story, which made for a wonderful trip!
There were poems, music, photos, & artwork to go along with the story, which enhanced the entire experience!
I highly recommend you read Carpenter’s Farm.
Five stars and then some!
June 2, 2024
This book was written as it was posted, which means that no editors got their hands on it. As a result, there are plenty of long passages that contain only one sentence. This is something that has bothered me in the past, but when Malerman does it, it actually made the tension worse. I could feel myself speeding up as I read those sections too. They were very, very effective.
There were so many important themes brought up in this book. How can you change one thing about yourself without inadvertently changing another? Do we always need to be light and dark? Can another person choose your destiny and actually get it right? Or would that person just rip away the life you should have had? What are the implications of this?
I could go on and on, but let’s just say that this one will stick with me for a very long time, as every other Malerman book has. And, although it may have been a bit smoother with an editor, I prefer this book to be rougher. It’s perfectly in keeping with everything Malerman explored by writing Carpenter’s Farm.
There were so many important themes brought up in this book. How can you change one thing about yourself without inadvertently changing another? Do we always need to be light and dark? Can another person choose your destiny and actually get it right? Or would that person just rip away the life you should have had? What are the implications of this?
I could go on and on, but let’s just say that this one will stick with me for a very long time, as every other Malerman book has. And, although it may have been a bit smoother with an editor, I prefer this book to be rougher. It’s perfectly in keeping with everything Malerman explored by writing Carpenter’s Farm.
May 11, 2020
When I heard that Josh Malerman was posting a serialized novel for free online during this quarantine, I immediately thought of how excited I was to read the monthly installments of Stephen King’s The Green Mile when they were originally released over a 6 month period. What an incredible concept!
There’s just something about Malerman’s writing that is so fresh and yet so relatable, all while cleverly increasing the creeps and eeriness! That’s Malerman in a nutshell! I’ve often referred to him as a bonafide puppet master.
Carpenter’s Farm features some very deep thoughts and advanced reflection on personalities, normalcy, and awareness. It’s quintessential Malerman taking a seemingly innocent “what if” scenario, and wielding it into one hell of a rollercoaster ride!
Bravo Mr. Malerman. You’ve outdone yourself, yet again!
There’s just something about Malerman’s writing that is so fresh and yet so relatable, all while cleverly increasing the creeps and eeriness! That’s Malerman in a nutshell! I’ve often referred to him as a bonafide puppet master.
Carpenter’s Farm features some very deep thoughts and advanced reflection on personalities, normalcy, and awareness. It’s quintessential Malerman taking a seemingly innocent “what if” scenario, and wielding it into one hell of a rollercoaster ride!
Bravo Mr. Malerman. You’ve outdone yourself, yet again!
May 15, 2020
I found this book when Josh tweeted about it—a free, serialized novel for the days of Covid quarantine. Having read and loved his novel Inspection, I gave it a go. And what a go! Not much happens in the first half of the book. It’s beautiful and pastoral and weird ... what Joyelle McSweeney would call the necropastoral ... and told mostly in the form of existential, reflective questions. But the second half moves at breakneck speed toward a trippy, horrific conclusion that lingers like the after-effects of a long drug binge. I tore through it and loved every moment.
July 21, 2020
What a rich, engrossing, nuanced story about personal identity, friendship, maturation, and change. Josh Malerman is a fine writer that seems to be improving, and his dialog and characterization here are pitch perfect. The story shares a kinship with T.E.D. Klein and Machen, and there is a surreal atmosphere lurking throughout the tale. I really enjoyed this work. Like others commenting here, I think it's probably going to be one of the finer stories of 2020, and one of the shining examples of creativity emerging from these bleak COVID-19 days.
Highly recommended!
Highly recommended!
September 6, 2020
Josh Malerman’s books came highly recommended, so I decided to begin with Carpenter’s Farm. Let me just say, I was not disappointed. The characters and storyline were well thought out and blended so well together. I absolutely loved the mysteries of the farm as they came to life on the pages, so much so that I felt like I had been pulled into this mysterious place. I truly hated that it had to come to an end. Looking forward to diving into more works by this talented writer.
May 4, 2024
Eu gosto muito da escrita do Josh Malerman, gosto de como ele não tem medo de experimentar. Mas esperava muito mais desse livro. Um potencial gigantesco pra traumatizar qualquer leitor completamente desperdiçado. A narrativa fica dando voltas no mesmo lugar e não chega em lugar nenhum; apresenta várias ideias bacanas mas não as aproveita… Sem contar o desfecho, que foi ainda mais raso do que poderia ter sido.
May 14, 2020
Every Malerman book is completely unlike every other one. Carpenter's Farm has a building menace that is bolstered by the narrator's point of view. Fun and interesting, with a fair amount of what-the-fuck. And the whole thing is available for free on his website.
May 18, 2020
It's a mindgangbang. Be prepared for an unbuckled ride into your psyche and those responsible for sowing the seeds of it. Malerman captures the fluttering minds of his actor characters like they're insects in a Ball Jar and makes you feel like you're in their with 'em.
April 24, 2023
Josh Malerman must have one of the more creative voices in horror. The concept for Carpenter's Farm is completely off the wall, but it was compelling, and as I was reading, I couldn't wait to see where he was going to take the story next.
December 14, 2020
4.5 stars!
July 29, 2021
Fantastic horror story centered around paranoia of identity. Managed to effectively scare me while reading late at night.
March 6, 2024
The tension was perfect for me
April 7, 2024
The worst part about finding yourself is reaching the end.
November 12, 2024
I feel like this book was written exactly for my tastes. This was such a tense and thought provoking read! A great blend of horror, thriller, and magical realism.
January 10, 2025
Great pace, interesting characters, and very unique plot!
January 22, 2025
Malerman truly is a mastermind.
December 23, 2025
the premise was really interesting, not something I've come across, but there was just so much monologuing for the book to not even end completely 😒
May 16, 2020
Completely original concept!! Couldn't put it down. In fact I was reading another book when I started reading CF, that book fell to the wayside.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews