I've always been a fan of reading about the supernatural and paranormal, mostly real life cases. I'm currently reading Ghosts of Virginia Volume 4, which is a good book. The ghost stories are wonderful, plus you learn about the history of the state.
Any fans of ghost stories?
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I'm also am a big fan of ghost stories. Haven't really found anything that doesn't sound kind of lame.
The Ghost Stories of M.R. James. Classics - but you have to get into James writing style.
The Haunting by Paul Doherty. I couldn't put the book down. When I finished reading it I could not go to sleep. I keep wanting to re-read it but cannot make my mind up about when to read it - mid winter with the wind howling down the chimney or on a bright summers day so I don't get scared almost witless.
The Haunting by Paul Doherty. I couldn't put the book down. When I finished reading it I could not go to sleep. I keep wanting to re-read it but cannot make my mind up about when to read it - mid winter with the wind howling down the chimney or on a bright summers day so I don't get scared almost witless.
The Haunting is all kinds of scary.
Also, a new one, Dark Matter by Michelle Paver, is one I read mid-winter because it's set in the Arctic. Scared me all good and proper.
I find MR James is really easy to read, and his stories are wonderful.
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This is fantastic. I'm getting new books to add to my wish list. 
The one I'm reading is by Straub, and as far as I can tell it really is a ghost story. At the very least, it has awesome little ghost stories strewn in throughout. I'm enjoying it. I love his style, and while I don't scare easily, I can say that it's got a wonderfully creepy atmosphere.
The one I'm reading is by Straub, and as far as I can tell it really is a ghost story. At the very least, it has awesome little ghost stories strewn in throughout. I'm enjoying it. I love his style, and while I don't scare easily, I can say that it's got a wonderfully creepy atmosphere.
mirandashell
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The Haunting? Is that the one that was made into the creepiest film ever? And then destroyed in the remake?
Now, that film kept me awake for hours!
Now, that film kept me awake for hours!
Putting some of these into my tbr pile. Used to be a big fan of ghost stories as a kid, but honestly haven't read any in a long time.
Edith Wharton wrote some excellent ones, notably "Afterward".
E.F. Benson and Oliver Onions were both masters of the form. Onions (he pronounced it O-NY-onz) is my fave probably of all time. M.R. James, already mentioned, I would recommend, too. And a rather forgotten Victorian writer, Mrs. J.A. Riddell.
E.F. Benson and Oliver Onions were both masters of the form. Onions (he pronounced it O-NY-onz) is my fave probably of all time. M.R. James, already mentioned, I would recommend, too. And a rather forgotten Victorian writer, Mrs. J.A. Riddell.
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Seconding Dark Matter. Superb. I also enjoyed Christopher Ransom's two books which have both got unfairly harsh reviews on Amazon in my oh so humble opinon.
M.R. James, definitely. There's another writer along his lines (and of the same time) whose name escapes me. I'll return when I remember.
M.R. James, definitely. There's another writer along his lines (and of the same time) whose name escapes me. I'll return when I remember.
This is an intriguing discussion in general. I've had the feeling that "ghost" stories had become considered "quaint" and "passé", with today's Horror genre feasting on zombies and guts and gore and blood and stuff. Yet, cable TV, notably the Rupert Murdoch-owned "History" channel hosting shows about ghost hunters and haunted localities, etc.
What say we host a friendly AW challenge for new real live dead ghost short stories? Anyone up for that?
Seun could probably write a good one about the ghost of his head hair reappearing.
What say we host a friendly AW challenge for new real live dead ghost short stories? Anyone up for that?
Seun could probably write a good one about the ghost of his head hair reappearing.
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You know, I've actually had a short story idea that's based around the ghost of the school I used to work at. I'm not particularly good at ghost stories, and it's not even really a scary ghost story, but I'd be up for writing it if anyone wanted to read it.
I'm not sure all ghost stories have to be "scary". But it's true that most of them give the reader a chill at the end.
I mentioned Wharton's story "Afterward", which more than one important writer has nominated as the finest ghost story ever written.
I'll throw in another I read just a couple of nights ago, from the previously-recommended Oliver Onions: "The Accident".
I mentioned Wharton's story "Afterward", which more than one important writer has nominated as the finest ghost story ever written.
I'll throw in another I read just a couple of nights ago, from the previously-recommended Oliver Onions: "The Accident".
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Nah, that was The Haunting of Hill House, by Shirley Jackson. Not to be confused with The Legend of Hell House. And yeah, the original movie = SCARY!! The remake -- just scary bad. oof. (Not to be confused with the movie of Hell House, which was scary scary.)
Chalk up another MAJOR fan of MR James. He is an absolute master. His stories are like little chocolate-dipped truffles of terror. I love him so much.
And Kaitie, Ghost Story is Straub's best, and one of the best novel-length horror stories ever, in my opinion. I'm so glad you're enjoying it too.
As for writing, my WIP features ghosts which are based on a true episode of New England history.
Oooh, I love a good ghost story. Taking notes right now on the ones you guys have mentioned. I already read Straub's, Ghost Story. That was a good novel. I haven't read any except for that one lately, so, sorry, I don't have any to add that I can think of.
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Joseph Sheridan LeFanu is not to be forgotten. His style can be pretty difficult, but he hit some real highs. I think his "Squire Toby's Will" has some of the scariest, most disturbing images ever.
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mirandashell
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mirandashell
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I love ghost stories and haunted houses/towns/whatever. I have Heart Shaped Box but haven't read it yet.
I think one of my favorites is The House Next Door by Anne River Siddons and of course The Haunting of Hill House!
I watch a lot of ghost movies too.
I think one of my favorites is The House Next Door by Anne River Siddons and of course The Haunting of Hill House!
I watch a lot of ghost movies too.
Nothing better than a good, old-fashioned ghost story. I'd be into a writing challenge, only my head is stuck right up my book's butt at the moment, with no signs of pulling loose.
What about short stories? Have a look at the Fontana books (Of Great Ghost Stories) series, especially the early ones. I think they got a bit limp towards the end, but 1 to 10 are pretty solid.
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The best true ghost story I've ever read is the Bell Witch story. I own two books about the haunting, a poltergeist case so famous that Andrew Jackson mentions it in his memoirs:Authenthicated History of the Bell Witch by MV Ingram--written in 1894 and based on the memoirs of Williams Bell and interviews with others in the Bell family--and The Bell Witch of Tennessee, written by Dr. Charles Bailey Bell and released in 1934. The two books relate a lot of the same stories. Ingram interviewed one part of the family while Bell relates the reminiscences of his grandfather, who was the eldest son involved in the actual haunting.
And the Bell Witch has NOTHING TO DO with that travesty of a movie based on it starring Sissy Spacek and Dennis Sutherland a few years ago- An American Haunting. I grew up about ten miles from the old Bell homestead and the legend is not only familiar but growing--as in the haunting allegedly continues to this day. Creepy, creepy stuff. When a poltergeist in the backwoods of Tennessee not only begins to talk in 1817, interacts with a future President of the United States and claims responsibility for the murder of the family patriarch in 1820, it's a pretty chillling story.
And the Bell Witch has NOTHING TO DO with that travesty of a movie based on it starring Sissy Spacek and Dennis Sutherland a few years ago- An American Haunting. I grew up about ten miles from the old Bell homestead and the legend is not only familiar but growing--as in the haunting allegedly continues to this day. Creepy, creepy stuff. When a poltergeist in the backwoods of Tennessee not only begins to talk in 1817, interacts with a future President of the United States and claims responsibility for the murder of the family patriarch in 1820, it's a pretty chillling story.