2 Novella Mini-Reviews (Six Foot Six & Out Behind the Barn)

Title: Out Behind the Barn

Author(s): John Boden & Chad Lutzke

Genre: Horror Novella

Number of Pages: 125

Rating: A-

Recommended?: Yes

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I don’t want to spoil too much about this intriguing little horror novella, because the reader should go in knowing as little about it as possible. Two little boys live on a farm with an older woman they consider to be like their mother, but something is obviously amiss from early on. ‘Miss Maggie’ is bringing prisoners to join her little family; prisoners who seem brainwashed and confused and often disappear shortly afterwards. The two brothers’ innocence makes this situation even more unsettling and creepy, and the end reveal is a humdinger that will stick with you for a long time.

Title: Six Foot Six

Author: Kit de Waal

Genre: Contemporary Fiction/Novella

Number of Pages: 80

Rating: C+

Recommended?: No

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Six Foot Six is a sappy and somewhat predictable story about Timothy Flowers, a cognitively disabled man who spends his twenty-first birthday being pulled into the drama of a construction worker who owes his boss money. We’ve seen so many stories about mentally limited adults with hearts of gold who positively impact those who are fortunate enough to cross paths with them. Timothy’s disability doesn’t always seem consistent and sometimes he’s slower than others, depending on what the story requires. It reminded me of Treacle Jr. (a British comedy/drama I actually love, and I wish more people would see) without the charm. I’d seen it all before, and I’d seen it done better.