Customer Reviews

Alfred Hitchcocks Ghostly Gallery

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I first discovered the Alfred Hitchcock anthologies when I was in about fourth grade. Recently I found _Ghostly Galleries_ and _Haunted Houseful_ in a bookstore, and snapped them up for my kids to read when they get older. Of course, I had to read them again for the sake of nostalgia, and I found that I still enjoyed the stories as much as when I was 10. The collections feature some of the greatest names in fiction writing. _Ghostly Galleries_ has stories by H.G. Wells ("The Truth About Pycraft"), Robert Louis Stevenson ("The Isle of Voices"), Algernon Blackwood ("The Valley of the Beasts"), F. Marion Crawford ("The Upper Berth") and Lord Dunsany ("In a Dim Room"). Less well known, but a personal favorite of mine, is Robert Arthur ("The Haunted Trailer," "The Wonderful Day" and "Obstinate Uncle Otis"). He also helped edit the book, and was responsible for those great "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" anthologies, like _Stories My Mother Never Told Me_. If you're considering this book for your kids, most of the stories have a very mild 'spook' factor, and some are more humorous than scary, like "Miss Emmeline Takes Off" by Walter Brooks. "The Upper Berth" is probably the spookiest, but a ten year-old should be able to handle it. I did. If you're considering the book for yourself, rest assured that the stories are classics in the genre of pulp fiction, that is, stories from the old Weird Tales type publications that mixed horror, mystery, sci-fi and humor. There's more emphasis on humor than horror, but you should find the reading enjoyable.

Could a heavy looking man actually be lighter than air? Stories like these and more can be located in Alfred Hitchcock's "Ghostly Gallery".Alfred Hitchcock is the mastermind behind these spooky stories including:"The Waxman", "The Haunted Trailer" and "In The Jungle"."What should I do about my lightness" said the George Healy is a quote from my favorite story "Heavy Man Healy".Have you ever done something you've regretted? Or have a feeling that you're being watched?If you like these types of stories,try this book.I recommend this book for for people, kids and adults because of his stories with frightening things that happen with strange endings and who loved his classic movies. "Ghostly Gallery" can be found at a library or bookstore near you

When I was a child in the 1960s I took this book out of the library several times and it seemed to cast a spell over me. The illustrations were creepy and marvelously done, and it ran chills up my spines just to look at the pictures. This was the first book in the Random House Hitchcock "juvenile" anthology collection--I put the "juvenile" in quotes because the majority of the stories in this collection weren't written for children at all, but for adults. In fact it was above my reading level at the time and I could never get through it. As an adult I've since collected all the juvenile anthologies, but this one, and Haunted Houseful are by far the best of the series. If you're an adult thinking they might be good gifts for the young people in your lives, think again. I gave copies of these to my nephew when he was a child and I don't think he even attempted to read them. The kids now-a-days don't even know who Alfred Hitchock was, nor is it likely they've watched any of the Hitchcock movies or tv shows as we baby boomers did. I think this book is great for nostaligia and just some plain old scary stories with well known authors for the most part. In fact, I can honestly say, the entire series is better and more enjoyable than Hitchcock's adult anthologies--which were mostly forgettable pulp authors.

Love these stories. I grew up in a creepy old house and older siblings who liked scaring the bejeezus out of me on a regular basis. We watched Alfred Hitchcock's show and the Twilight Zone. I'd never read this book before and bought it on a nostalgic whim. I love it mostly just to have in my book collection... such a great cover! But the stories are worth reading. Really fun and creepy.

I sought out this book because I remember it from when I was growing up. Fun stories,good suspense and a good read that isn't dumbed down for kids.