lior34's review
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
throatsprockets's review
5.0
A top-notch weird tale that’s just reaching its 50th anniversary. I liked it more than the more elaborate snd overtly horrific, but overlong, novel The Ceremonies that Klein extended it into.
alyz's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
willgalltall's review
5.0
I thoroughly enjoyed this from start to finish. I loved the way in which it was written and the whole concept of the story. I recommend it to anyone who likes this genre of fiction! I may have to read The Ceremonies which is a revised and expanded version of The Events at Poroth Farm.
chmccann's review
5.0
This had great atmosphere - Klein manages to evoke that Dunwich feeling in modern (yes I'm old) New Jersey, deftly setting up the natural surroundings as ominous and creepy crawly.
It also shows both deep knowledge of weird fiction, and a playful attitude in making use of references. Taking a summer to read creepy stories in a primitive building in the wild - what could go wrong? (I strongly recommend listening to the H.P. Lovecraft Literary Podcast analysis, with guest Ken Hite - he understands all the nuance of Klein's use of uncanny literature, as well as taking the listener multiple layers deep in the "unreliable narrator" question.)
Overall, this is a must-read for fans of Lovecraft, Gothic tales, or weird literature in general.
It also shows both deep knowledge of weird fiction, and a playful attitude in making use of references. Taking a summer to read creepy stories in a primitive building in the wild - what could go wrong? (I strongly recommend listening to the H.P. Lovecraft Literary Podcast analysis, with guest Ken Hite - he understands all the nuance of Klein's use of uncanny literature, as well as taking the listener multiple layers deep in the "unreliable narrator" question.)
Overall, this is a must-read for fans of Lovecraft, Gothic tales, or weird literature in general.
mackenzi's review
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
thecommonswings's review
5.0
Is it better than the Ceremonies? Possibly, and certainly the final line uttered by the whatever it is feels far creepier than the ending of the novel (not taking into account the postscript), but they have very different ways of invoking fear. The Ceremonies feels far more concerned with pacing and slowly putting together the awfulness of the narrative; Poroth Farm feels like a nightmarish glimmer into a darker design. Both are brilliantly written, even if whole chunks of the short story end up in the novel. I first read this on a tiny Norwegian island and the dread I had in a landscape different but somehow similar cannot be matched and I was particularly pleased that lingered on today’s reading too
artofwelding's review
4.0
4.5.
A solid lil' story. Not a ton of creeping dread, but it got me toward the end, when I started listening for bugs and closing my blinds. Bwada is a dead ringer for Church from Pet Sematary, if you'll excuse the pun.
A solid lil' story. Not a ton of creeping dread, but it got me toward the end, when I started listening for bugs and closing my blinds. Bwada is a dead ringer for Church from Pet Sematary, if you'll excuse the pun.
kateofmind's review
4.0
Exceptional for its wonderfully entomological details! Slightly marred by the protagonist's insecticidal tendencies.
addy5001's review
5.0
A beautifully written short story, which is quite disturbing, written in the form of journal entries about the unnatural incidents that happen during a teacher's visit to a rural farmhouse in New Jersey. It does not contain gore or explicit body horror but nevertheless gives haunting thoughts. As T.E.D. Klein quotes certain abstractions, in books read long ago, would provide "a pleasant shudder", The Events at Poroth Farm suffused me with that same experience. I would definitely re-read it a later point in time.