Dolly

The last time Edward Cayley laid eyes on the "dun-colored fens" and "huge oppressive skies" of Iyot Lock, he was just a frail, timid boy, an orphan. He, along with his tempestuous cousin Leonora, had been sent to spend the summer with their Aunt Kestrel at her home, Iyot House. Forty years have passed since that fateful summer, and both he and Leonora have returned for the reading of Aunt Kestrel's will. But Edward's arrival awakens something there, first at the old, lonely churchyard, then at the empty house itself. Something . . . an inexplicable compulsion seemingly driven by the soft rustling of a memory struggling to free itself of the past. Yes, those things, accompanied by something much, much darker. That night, unable to sleep, Edward finally remembers what Leonora did that summer long ago, the unforgiveable act she committed in a childish fit of rage which they'll both pay for in the end.

Dolly is Susan Hill's fifth ghost story, and like those that have come before it (The Woman in Black, The Mist in the Mirror, The Man in the Picture, and The Small Hand), it's an expertly crafted and enjoyable read--for those of us who enjoy such dark tales, that is. Hill's strength as a writer lies in her vivid depictions of place and time, as well as her ability to slowly darken the mood with each passing chapter, effectively heightening the reader's sense of dread. With fall coming and Halloween right around the corner, keep this book in mind when you're looking for something deliciously creepy to curl up with on a dark evening.

"I want to hold your hand . . ."

If you're familiar with British author Susan Hill, then you know that she writes the Chief Superintendent Simon Serrailler mystery series. She's also written numerous stand-alone novels and novellas, among them being several superb ghost stories. I love Susan Hill's ghost stories. I've written about one already in this very blog--The Woman in Black--and now I'm going to tell you about another: The Small Hand. It features an antiquarian book seller by the name of Adam Snow who, lost, happens upon an abandoned country house (the "White House") and garden one evening. It's a peculiar place made even more interesting by the fact that, while there, Adam feels someone unseen, a child, take his hand. As Adam learns more about the White House, visits by the spectral owner of this unseen hand grow in frequency and become increasingly more frightening, causing Adam to doubt his own sanity and to fear for his life. This spirit intends to do him harm and he feels powerless to stop it. But why does it wish to hurt him? What connection does it have to the White House? And perhaps even more sinister: what connection does it have to Adam's family, namely his older brother Hugo? At the heart of every good ghost story is an intriguing mystery, and The Small Hand is no exception. Of course, if you've read any of Hill's other ghost stories, you'll already know that things usually don't end well for those involved. The Small Hand is a short read, but boy is it a pleasure, as Hill's prose is so lush and descriptive you'll feel as though you were right beside Adam as his pleasant life falls apart and he's pushed headlong into a nightmare. No, this story probably won't keep you awake at night, but when you reach the end of it, you just might say, "Now that was well done."   

Welcome to the dark carnival

Imagine you’ve gone to visit a dear old friend, and after having a good dinner and conversation, your friend turns to you and asks if you would like to hear a “strange and disturbing” story. It’s a bitterly cold night, and as you both sit by a cozy fire, a good story sounds delightful. But this is no tall-tale you’re about to hear. No, my friend, this is something far creepier. Thus begins Susan Hill’s The Man in the Picture: A Ghost Story. In it, Cambridge professor Theo Parmitter relates to one of his former students the story of a strange painting that he purchased as a young man at an art auction and which he still owns. Depicting a rather sinister-looking Venetian carnival scene, this painting—according to what Theo was told of it—apparently has the power to trap the living within its confines, taking them out of this world forever. To be sure, there is a face on the canvas that appears eerily similar to one Theo was shown in a photograph, but surely this is only coincidence? No mere painting could possess the demonic power necessary to accomplish such a feat, could it? Oh, but it could, and according to its dark history, it has claimed many. And yet, ever since he first laid eyes on it, Theo has never been able to rid himself of the desire to possess it, an irrationality that will ultimately prove to be both his and his young friend’s undoing.

With The Man in the Picture, Susan Hill has crafted yet another short but ghoulishly delightful page turner, keeping in line with her much more well-known The Woman in Black. The witching season is almost upon us, so if you’re looking for a quick but classically written ghost story, add this one to your reading lists. And while you’re at it, don’t forget her very latest dark tale, The Small Hand. I enjoyed all three, and hopefully you will too.

 

Guest Blogger: John B. Kachuba

We at Fine Print are very excited to bring a series of posts by local authors. We have asked them to share their thoughts about their favorite book, something they've read recently, or the role reading has played in their lives.  John Kachuba is the author of seven books, four of them about ghosts and ghosthunting. A noted speaker at universities and libraries, conferences, and on TV and radio programs, John also teaches Creative Writing at Ohio University, Antioch University Midwest, and the Gotham Writers Workshop. Dark Entry, a ghost story, is his new e-book available on Amazon.com. John’s Website is www.JohnKachuba.com John  Kachuba will be one of the local authors at A Tasting With Friends at Benham's Grove on September 13. For more information on this event or to buy tickets, check out this page.

A library is not a luxury, but one of the necessities of life. – Henry Ward Beecher

I can’t imagine what my life would have been like without libraries; simply put, I would never have become a writer. Even as a child, libraries inspired my imagination to wander down endless mental corridors, exploring rooms of wonder that I never knew existed. Igniting my curiosity, fueling my burgeoning passion for new words and new worlds, libraries have always been a necessary part of my life.

While libraries nurtured me as a writer they still play an important role in my writing life. Yes, they remain a source of research for me but they also have become a way for me to connect directly with my readers. Writers rarely get the chance to meet and speak to their readers but over the last several years I have given presentations about ghosts and ghost hunting—extremely popular topics these days—in over eighty libraries in my home state of Ohio, as well as in libraries in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Florida. The audiences have ranged in size (the largest was 72 people, the smallest 6) but in almost every instance the sponsoring librarians have told me that the numbers in attendance exceeded their expectations.

Part of the reason for that is the subject matter itself; it seems that everyone wants to hear a good ghost story. But there is another reason, I believe. In times of economic hardship, as we are facing now, many people simply can’t afford a night out for entertainment. When the local library offers a free and interesting program—whether it be about ghosts or some other topic—people recognize a deal that just can’t be beat. Such programming is a win-win situation. Patrons are treated to an enjoyable night out while the library draws many people who might not normally come to the facility---and once there, they have the opportunity to find out about all the other programs the library offers and to realize that, oh yes, there are books and DVDs aplenty and they’re all available free!

The Woman in Black

Okay, the holidays are over and spring is still a ways off, so what else have you got to do besides scare yourself silly? You may have seen trailers for a movie called "The Woman in Black," which just opened in theaters February 3 and stars everyone's favorite boy-wizard, Daniel Radcliffe. While I'm not pushing the movie on you (I haven't seen it, so I can't comment on how good--or bad--it might be), it's based on a book also titled The Woman in Black by Susan Hill. Within its pages you'll meet Arthur Kipps, a young attorney on the rise in London of yesteryear. When his boss sends him--alone--on an assignment to Eel Marsh House to settle the affairs of a recently expired widow, Mrs. Alice Drablow, he has high hopes that this will land him a much-desired promotion within the ranks of the law firm. Once he arrives, though, he finds himself in the middle of a spine-tingling mystery. Why are the townsfolk so standoffish about about Mrs. Drablow? And just who is the dreadful woman in black? Kipps is determined to find answers, but learning the truth has grave consequences, and by tale's end he wishes he'd never stepped foot in Eel Marsh House. This is a great story superbly written in the style of classic gothic novels, and also a long-running theater production on the London stage. So maybe the book won't exactly scare the dickens out of you, but it's a nice spine-tingler. And if you enjoy it, you'll probably like Susan Hill's other ghostly tale as well, The Man in the Picture.

Good ghost tales

I was never the kid who liked to tell ghost stories late at night.  I get too creeped out too easily for those.  Even the Ghost of Christmas Future from A Christmas Carol  always scared me a little.  As I finished reading Twenties Girl, the latest by author Sophie Kinsella (best known for her Shopaholic series), though, I realized that I've read some very good ghost stories lately.  Twenties Girl is the story of Lara, a slightly adrift Londoner, who is forced to attend the funeral of the 105-year-old Great-Aunt Sadie nobody really knew.  At the funeral, Lara is haunted by the ghost of her great-aunt as a 23-year-old flapper, who demands she stops the proceedings until her necklace is found.  Madcap antics and personal growth ensue.  It's a light, fun, and quick book, and an entertaining ghost story.

On the meatier side of things was Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger, author of the wildly popular The Time Traveler's Wife.  Like Twenties Girl, Her Fearful Symmetry begins with a death of an unknown aunt in London, but there the similarities between the two end.  Elspeth died at a young age and left her apartment and posessions to her 20-year-old American nieces, with the condition that they live in the flat for a year.  What they didn't count on was Elspeth's ghost being trapped in the apartment and trying to communicate with them, affecting their lives permanently. Fair warning: It wasn't as good as The Time Traveler's Wife, but if you're looking for a ghost story that will leave you feeling unsettled, this is a good one.  I couldn't shake the creeped-out feeling, and the question, "Who would DO that?!?" for a couple of days.

If nothing else, these two wildly different books helped me realize the range of good ghost stories out there.  If you're looking for one, check here.  Have you got a favorite ghost story?  Post a comment, or vote for it as a People's Choice Favorite in our Great Books, Great Libraries Reading Challenge.

Put a Stake in it, Already*

Imagine the scene: Mild-mannered book lovers stand in the stacks wondering what to read next. Suddenly from behind every corner jumps a vampire crouched to attack the plots of every genre, sucking out the originality, intrigue, and, when they're very skilled (dare I say it?) writing talent from before our very eyes. Quick! Call Buffy, text Van Helsing, bring on Blade, or Anita Blake, or Jacob and his wolfish clan, but whatever you do, please, please, please: someone needs to stop the vampire takeover!

Not being much of a horror fan (I blame reading Roald Dahl's The Witches as a kid --I was terrified for weeks), I've never had much exposure to vampires. My first intro to the bloodsuckers was because I'm a sucker for humor and I'd heard good things about Christopher Moore's You Suck which was pretty funny. I wouldn't say I instantly became a convert to all things vampiric, but I enjoyed it. A year or two later, all the buzz raised my curiosity and I read the Twilight series and, no, it wasn't really my cup of tea but it seemed, much like the "vegetarian"vampires on its pages, to be relatively harmless. People were lining up in masses to read the tale of Bella, and hey...if it's something that people like to read, it's all to the good....right?

But now, everywhere I look, vampires have taken over. Every genre now seems to have an entire subgenre of vampire-driven stories. As I was looking at a book website the other evening, I noticed a forthcoming book called Wuthering Bites, part of the smash-up lit genre that's emerged (e.g., Pride and Prejudice and Zombies) where Wuthering Heights meets... of course...vampires. I'm not even reading these books and I'm tired of them. I have vampire fatigue by proxy.

If you, too, are a bit tired of the vampiric takeover of all things fiction, but still want a good read for the Halloween season, I highly recommend Audrey Niffenegger's new release, Her Fearful Symmetry, a creepy good ghost story that will haunt me for while. Other books safe for a vampire-free Halloween diet include Ghost Music and Neverwhere, or just about anything by Stephen King.

*Thanks to Scott, also sick of the vampire takeover, who graciously suggested the title of this blog post.