Comments on: Things That Go Bump in the Book

By: Mary Branscombe

Mary Branscombe — Mon, 05 May 2008 01:21:47 +0000

Go right back to the beginnings of the modern ghost story. Wilkie Collins – The Woman in White is actually an anti-ghost story but very atmospheric. if you can find the 1980s BBC adaptation it’s superb. Run screaming from the musical.

Incompletely explained ghosts: Sheridan LeFanu. And the wonderful commentary Dorothy L Sayers has Harriet Vane write on him in Gaudy Night. I just assume from your writing that you know and love Sayers?

By: Shoshana

Shoshana — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 23:49:28 +0000

I know it’s coming in late but I’ve been afi (away from internet) for the past few weeks.
Anyway, my take might be a bit different: ghosts are not inherently scary. I mean, I grew up playing pirates using coffins for ships and instead of an invisible friend I had a ghost. At least, I did before my brother saw him and freaked out and my Mom chased him away. Anyway, what I’m saying is that ghosts alone aren’t scary, it’s what you do with them. Any more than a regular live person isn’t scary, unless you make them into a scary villain type.
So, along the lines of scary, and recommendations:
Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child’s books. Those are scary.

By: Gayle Hoover

Gayle Hoover — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 08:28:33 +0000

My mother, age 84, has been seeing ghosts as of late. She has macular degeneration and very poor eyesight, but sees ghosts nonetheless. First she told them to go away and they did. They don’t move or speak but just stand by her bed. Now she wants them to come back so she can say, “I love you”. She thinks the two ghosts are my father and brother. The two little girls in the background, wearing dresses with ruffles on them, she believes are the miscarriage she had before I was born. This is the first time I’ve heard of TWO that were miscarried. Actually, I take her fairly serious.

Smoochies,
Gayle

By: colebear

colebear — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 19:17:32 +0000

Another really interesting ghost story, but a bit preachy at the end, is “A Certain Slant of Light” by Laura Whitcomb. The story is told by a ghost who died a really horrible death and escaped hell to haunt “hosts” for over a hundred years before meeting another ghost who has stolen a mortal body.

And another is “Elsewhere” by Gabrielle Zevin which is the story of what happens after you die. The story is hear wrenching and while not really spooky, tells from the ghost’s perspective how and why hauntings happen.

Oh, and all three books are categorized as young adult, but I’ve never let Adult/YA labels keep me from reading an interesting story, no matter my age.

By: colebear

colebear — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 19:08:16 +0000

I have a suggestion for a spooky, but not horrific ghost story, “Tamsin” by Peter S Beagle. It’s told as a reminiscence of a young woman about what happened to her when her family moved into a haunted manor when she was 13. In addition to ghosts, there are fairies and way more British folklore than one would guess could exist.

By: Julie

Julie — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 21:14:11 +0000

The Haunting series on The Discovery Channel gave me and a roommate the worst nightmares we’d had since we were kids. (We caught a show in the middle of the day).I can’t leave my closet doors open anymore.

The Turning of The Screw is classic creepiness.

The Red Rose miniseries was a lot more scary then I expected.

By: Sherrie G.

Sherrie G. — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 22:51:31 +0000

Looking forward to the “ghost” book. Haven’t read anything really scary for a long time but from my younger days (aren’t they all?) two books come to mind. Sredni Vashtar, by Saki I think, and Burnt Offerings (the book version).

By: FreddyD

FreddyD — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 00:56:01 +0000

Lesser known items that I felt were worth a mention:

Film: Carnival of Souls (1962) Directed by Herk Harvey

Book: House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski

By: Emlyn

Emlyn — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 05:27:26 +0000

I don’t think anyone has mentioned Edith Wharton’s ghost stories. I was just in the bookstore & saw that all 12 or so of her ghost stories are out in a trade pb. The blurb on the back of the book said she was terrified of ghosts & that as a young woman she wouldn’t sleep in the same room as a book with ghost stories in it.

By: Kerry Baker

Kerry Baker — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 15:03:11 +0000

Have you read Tanya Huff’s “Summon the Keeper”? Talk about a ghost with personality! He also needs an anchor, either permament (futiture) or mobile (pillow) to move around.
Please don’t give up on “You Again”, it sound great so far. Just let it keep simmering in the bottom of the cauldron making sure to stir now and then to release the bubbles of inspiration.

By: Shawn

Shawn — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 17:24:20 +0000

I know I’m coming into this late but I have a couple of suggestions.

First, for research, definitely watch “Ghost Hunters”- Wednesday nights on SciFi (or you can rent Seasons 1 and 2). They do a good job of explaining the various phenomena that can be associated with ghosts, as well as debunking a lot of so-called “evidence.” Definitely check them out.

Also, see if you can find the Stephen King mini-series “Rose Red” on DVD. That was totally creepy. I can’t remember if there was much gore but I do remember actually being scared. I read and watch a lot of horror and for something to truly scare me is rare. “Rose Red” did.

By: Carrie

Carrie — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 00:12:18 +0000

With all the comments, I feel like I’m coming in late, but no one has mentioned the “A Haunting” series that is on the Discovery Channel. While the topic of ghosts is always debatable, what always strikes me when I watch the show is how violated the homeowners feel, very out of control in the one place they should have the most control. What a creepy thought that someone or something is watching you or your family and you may never be able to even confront that person.
Kay Hooper doesn’t scare me, but I find her subject matter fascinating. I did loan some of her books to a friend and she had to return them because they gave her nightmares!
Of course, now I have to pull my Barbara Michaels books out and read them all over again. Well, it is too wet to do yard work anyway…

By: Merry

Merry — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 04:02:34 +0000

Oh, like I ever stayed on topic for more than five minutes altogether. I thought that site looked cool, albeit pricy, and I do love the idea of dog crates and such blending in with the Martha Stewart view of home furnishings.

Besides, (veering back on-topic, more or less), the idea of dog furniture may well be scary to some people.

By: Merry

Merry — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 03:59:46 +0000

This comment is so far off-topic that it might as well have originated in another space-time dimension. Very well then. Imagine, if you will, a world where dog furniture has become “cool.”

Crate couture:
http://www.dogdayarchitecture.com/shop.php

By: Thea

Thea — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 03:09:20 +0000

Alice Hoffman. Her atmosphere of Impending is terrific. And her Supernatural is natural and plausible. Great writer.

By: Jenni

Jenni — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 16:51:42 +0000

Personally, I go for the chill down your spin and loose your lunch. The Shinning is my favorite book of all times.

Laura Benedict has a good story out called ISABELLA MOON and it’s out in hard cover now. I loved it.

By: Emlyn

Emlyn — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 01:10:14 +0000

Flamingo Cherry said: “With ghosts, the rules that govern our day to day lives are gone. You can’t formulate a plan, much less take action, if you don’t know what the underpinning rules are.”

Yes. Absolutely yes. This is exactly it.

Flamingo Cherry said: “The ghost can affect the human (emotionally/mentally, sometimes physically), but the human can’t touch the ghost, can’t make it go away, can’t make it stop doing whatever it’s doing. Other people don’t believe you when you ask for help from a ghost.”

I never thought of this. But you are 100% right. There’s no reciprocity. It’s like a rigged game (going back to the rules being suspended).

Sorry, not sure I pasted in quotes correctly. Probably not. Aaargh!

By: talpianna

talpianna — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 00:49:41 +0000

Someone pointed out (perhaps it was Stephen King in DANSE MACABRE) that we fear souls without bodies (ghosts) and bodies without souls (zombies, vampires, and other revenants). It’s the separation from the normal body/soul connection that creates the horror. Almost all societies, from primitive to advanced, have (or have had in the past) rituals to appease or at least pen in the dead, ranging from leaving offerings on the grave to staking the deceased at the crossroads.

By: JulieB

JulieB — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 00:21:35 +0000

I do think, however, that while ghosts by not be bound by rules of physics, in the sense that they don’t die, so they can be very old, or that they aren’t affected by the regular rules of force, you will have to figure out what ruled you deem plausible that they _will_ have to follow.

By: Flamingo Cherry/Shawn Reed

Flamingo Cherry/Shawn Reed — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 23:28:14 +0000

I think that real fear comes from a lack of knowledge and an inability to take action — true helplessness. In most realistic situations, we have a foundation of rules about how the world works (physics, human nature, standard operating procedure, what have you). Even in the most horrific situations, we can retain some control by figuring out our opponents’ weaknesses and forming some kind of action plan, and that takes away some of the fear.

With ghosts, the rules that govern our day to day lives are gone. You can’t formulate a plan, much less take action, if you don’t know what the underpinning rules are.

The ghost can affect the human (emotionally/mentally, sometimes physically), but the human can’t touch the ghost, can’t make it go away, can’t make it stop doing whatever it’s doing. Other people don’t believe you when you ask for help from a ghost. The rare few who do may be ineffective or lack credibility. You can’t kill a ghost … they are already dead. Depending on the ghost stories you come across, you may not even be able to run away from a ghost … it may follow you.

I think that creation of fear & suspense in a ghost story comes from demonstrating helplessness, an inability to control the situation, a sense that the protagonist can do nothing to help him/herself, can’t even convince others that he/she is in any kind of danger. In order to have a happy ending, the protagonist essentially has to figure out the rules of the ghost world so that he/she can get away from the fear and take back some kind of control.