Good Ghost Story Novels-Discussion

Musicman408 · #1 10-12-2008, 09:28 PM

Aright, anyone here ever heard of Joe Hill? I received a reccomendation to read Heart Shaped Box by him, and by doing some research, it looks very good.

Have any of you all read any good ghost story novels? Any suggestions. I haven't really read a whole lot, but would love too because I love ghost stories, and history and that kind of thing.

Much Love,
Ethan

ashton · #2 10-13-2008, 08:40 AM

The best ghost story that I ever read was one called "Night Stalks the Mansion." It is pretty old, but was re-released a few years ago. It is Amityville-horrorish and based on what happened in an actual house. While I haven't read it in years, this was always my favorite.

Gypsy-Rhiannon · #3 10-13-2008, 10:50 AM

The best ghost stories I ever read were by Clare McNally. Ghost House and Ghost House revenge seriously gave me nightmares!

Musicman408 · #4 10-13-2008, 02:50 PM

Thanks so much for all of these suggestions. Ghosts and or the thought of them, kind of scare me, so they are more my biggest scare.

I will definitely have to check many of these books out.

trackaghost · #5 10-13-2008, 03:48 PM

Joe Hill is Stephen King's son. I agree the book doesn't live up to the promise of the premise but it does get better as it goes along. It's an easy read though.

Ethan, you need to read some Edgar Allan Poe

Betsy · #6 10-14-2008, 11:21 AM

The Shining....read that back before the movie came out. I used to read it late at night, and when the refrigerator made a noise, I about had a heart attack.

I was clueless---Stephen King had to TELL me what RED RUM was all about.

A good collection of his short stories was called Night Shift and had a picture of a hand with all these eyeballs on it. I bought it in paperback...and I don't know if it is still in print, but I have seen it for sale on Ebay, Amazon and Alibrus.

They aren't *ghost* stories per say, but they are unpredictable and weird. When I taught high school and had some kid with nothing to do in study hall, I'd toss that book at him/her. I got more kids hooked on Mr. King that way.

Musicman408 · #7 10-14-2008, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Betsy

The Shining....read that back before the movie came out. I used to read it late at night, and when the refrigerator made a noise, I about had a heart attack.

I was clueless---Stephen King had to TELL me what RED RUM was all about.

A good collection of his short stories was called Night Shift and had a picture of a hand with all these eyeballs on it. I bought it in paperback...and I don't know if it is still in print, but I have seen it for sale on Ebay, Amazon and Alibrus.

They aren't *ghost* stories per say, but they are unpredictable and weird. When I taught high school and had some kid with nothing to do in study hall, I'd toss that book at him/her. I got more kids hooked on Mr. King that way.

I've read some Stephen King and have liked some, and not been so fond of some. Thank you for the tips!!!

Musicman408 · #8 10-14-2008, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gypsy-Rhiannon

The best ghost stories I ever read were by Clare McNally. Ghost House and Ghost House revenge seriously gave me nightmares!

Looks like most of Clare McNally's books are out of print. I'm hoping a half price books store has some of them, because I think I would really enjoy them.

Zombie · #9 10-15-2008, 02:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Musicman408

I've read some Stephen King and have liked some, and not been so fond of some. Thank you for the tips!!!

"Heart Shaped Box" was not too bad.

I'm a major horror fan in all its many incarnations, and while some people may scoff at Mr. King, I'm still diehard. If you haven't read "Bag of Bones," I recommend it. It's a good old fashioned ghost story, and, in my opinion, one of King's finest that isn't the Dark Tower series.

Also, while not quite horror, per se, I saw you said you like history, so you might want to check out a book called "The Terror" by Dan Simmons. It's based on a true story about an arctic expedition in the 1840s searching for the fabled Northwest Passage. The two ships, Erebus and Terror, became stuck in pack ice that just wouldn't let go, and to make matters worse, the big wigs financing the expedition bought canned food from the lowest bidder, much of which was contaminated by botulism.

The novel deviates from history by injecting yet another menace (as if being trapped & starving to death weren't enough) in the form of a monster that may or may not be real that terrorizes the crews of both ships as they try to figure out a way to survive.

It's a fascinating read all around (ending is a bit weak, but I liked the rest enough not to care).

Zombie · #10 10-15-2008, 02:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Betsy

The Shining....read that back before the movie came out. I used to read it late at night, and when the refrigerator made a noise, I about had a heart attack.

I was clueless---Stephen King had to TELL me what RED RUM was all about.

A good collection of his short stories was called Night Shift and had a picture of a hand with all these eyeballs on it. I bought it in paperback...and I don't know if it is still in print, but I have seen it for sale on Ebay, Amazon and Alibrus.

They aren't *ghost* stories per say, but they are unpredictable and weird. When I taught high school and had some kid with nothing to do in study hall, I'd toss that book at him/her. I got more kids hooked on Mr. King that way.

LOL @ the fridge thing

I remember a cousin of mine who'd watched the TV movie for "IT" the night before her little sister's birthday party, and so while she was getting a drink out of the fridge after the party, a stray balloon bounced merrily by and she shrieked "YIPE!" loud enough to put a steam whistle to shame.

That's the one and only time I've ever heard someone actually yell "YIPE!" when scared by something - I'd previously always thought it was just a thing writers use to approximate a shriek, but apparently not.

Richard B · #11 10-15-2008, 12:37 PM

Hell House - Richard Matheson

The Bell Witch (true story) - Brent Monahan

The Haunting of Hill House - Shirley Jackson (still great)

Ghost Story - Peter Straub

and anything by H.P. Lovecraft

estranged4life · #12 10-27-2008, 11:09 AM

I don't read ghost story novels, but the house I am in is haunted...

In the past I talked about how Debbie & myself saw 'someone' run into the bathroom one night as we watched a movie in the master bedroom, she was getting ready to call 911 while I proceeded to walk up the hallway (with my aluminum 'corked' baseball bat in hand) to protect myself, and when I peeked around the corner there was noone there. We both know we saw someone in black...

Fast forward to NOW, last night when I went to prepare to TRY to sleep, I noticed a 3" white candle laying on the foot of the bed. Don't even ask me where that candle came from, it didnt have any teeth marks that led me to believe one of the cats found it.

And this morning, in my recliner I found one of my cats sitting on top of a blue fabric case, but I dont know where that case came from. I think it was the one that Debbie's CPAP machine was stored in - BUT that case wasnt in the recliner this past weekend since I stayed in that recliner to sleep.

'Someone' is sending me clues from beyond...The white candle and this morning the blue fabric case (My brother said he didnt see that blue case either and I have the extra set of house keys that were on Debbie's keychain in my possession)

I agree about the Bell Witch being suggested reading...Though I prefer the Mercyful Fate song

Musicman408 · #13 10-28-2008, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by estranged4life

I don't read ghost story novels, but the house I am in is haunted...

In the past I talked about how Debbie & myself saw 'someone' run into the bathroom one night as we watched a movie in the master bedroom, she was getting ready to call 911 while I proceeded to walk up the hallway (with my aluminum 'corked' baseball bat in hand) to protect myself, and when I peeked around the corner there was noone there. We both know we saw someone in black...

Fast forward to NOW, last night when I went to prepare to TRY to sleep, I noticed a 3" white candle laying on the foot of the bed. Don't even ask me where that candle came from, it didnt have any teeth marks that led me to believe one of the cats found it.

And this morning, in my recliner I found one of my cats sitting on top of a blue fabric case, but I dont know where that case came from. I think it was the one that Debbie's CPAP machine was stored in - BUT that case wasnt in the recliner this past weekend since I stayed in that recliner to sleep.

'Someone' is sending me clues from beyond...The white candle and this morning the blue fabric case (My brother said he didnt see that blue case either and I have the extra set of house keys that were on Debbie's keychain in my possession)

I agree about the Bell Witch being suggested reading...Though I prefer the Mercyful Fate song

I think the spirit might be Debbie. I really do....