Cape Encounters: Contemporary Cape Cod Ghost Stories [Paperback]

Dan Gordon (Author), Gary Joseph (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 2004

In this attractive 216 pg. trade paperback (the cover is by nationally-renowned jacket artist Wendell Minor), the authors have given voice to the many divergent--and equally passionate--points of view that surround ghosts and in the process created an intimate portrait of Cape Cod.

In their own words, forty Cape Codders describe ghosts who descend staircases that no longer exist, kiss sleeping women, flip theater seats, fold laundry, and join musicians onstage. Among those sharing their stories are the former National Environment Coordinator, a scientist from the United States Geological Survey, a retired West Point professor and a Wampanoag Native-American educator.

While seeking out only the mysterious, Gordon and Joseph instead met thoughtful individuals who related their stories with humor and insight. Their descriptions of often life-changing experiences are refreshingly frank and honest. Readers will respond to the joy, affection, humor, uncertainty, ambivalence, and other sincere emotions expressed in these accounts.

Those who have experienced America's most beloved summer travel destination will find this collection much like the Cape itself--beguiling, indelible and timeless.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...provides a wide range of believable ghost stories and examines the phenomenon from varied and thoughtful points of view." -- Carol Page, author of "Blood Lust: Conversations with Real Vampires"

"A great read--compelling, fun, moving. Perfectly captures the spirit, and the spirits of Cape Cod." -- Dr. Charles Foster, author of "What Do I Do Now?"

"A marvelous collection of stories, some spooky, all interesting, and some unexpectedly touching." -- Lawrence Brown, columnist, Cape Cod Times

A well-crafted book, this should be in your home library for ghost reference material. -- Ghostvillage.com, March 14, 2005

An easy, entertaining read that will provide you with plenty of tales to pass on to friends, kids or grandkids. -- South Coast Tribune, October 2004

An interesting book that asks the question "What if?" without drawing foregone conclusions. -- Cape Codder, August 12, 2004

If you're a skeptic, be warned: you might be converted. -- New London Day, October 27, 2004

In this winsome compendium of local lore, ghosts become a marvelous household amenity. -- Kirkus Discoveries, August 26, 2005

These encounters are recounted by everyday people, who seem to treat the paranormal as, perhaps, a normal part of life. -- Worcester Telegram & Gazette, October 29, 2004

stories told with a blend of smiles and shivers by the residents who lived them... Savor each story -- Taunton Sunday Gazette, October 10,2004

About the Author

Dan Gordon first experienced the magic of the Cape as a child vacationing two weeks each summer in Chatham. His admiration for the Cape's soulful homes inspired him to spend the last decade researching the Cape's ghost stories. He has covered global baseball for the Providence Journal. His work also appears in Elysian Fields Quarterly and Nine: A Journal of Baseball History and Culture. Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives: Sports Figures published his profile of Pedro Martinez. Gordon is currently working on a coming-of-age baseball travel memoir.

Gary Joseph, a lifelong Cape resident, has long been interested in accounts of ghost encounters. As a child, he enjoyed listening to adults tell these stories and observing the way people told them--their expressions, their mannerisms, and how they captivated an audience. He also writes about film, natural history, and the outdoors.

Product Details

• Paperback: 216 pages
• Publisher: Cockle Cove Press (May 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0974898368
• ISBN-13: 978-0974898360
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,349,439 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun and Gripping, these Stories Move Along, October 5, 2005

By 

Maggie Emmanuel - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cape Encounters: Contemporary Cape Cod Ghost Stories (Paperback)

For any one who has traveled to the Cape and experienced the history and charm of its small New England towns, this book could serve as a guidebook for noted ghost stories of the area. Researched with interviews of local townsfolk, you experience each tale through their eyes and words. From the ordinary patter of unknown footsteps, to the bizarre sighting of yard sale skeletons, each story is unique, gripping and independent from the last one. A great read in increments or cover-to-cover, this book sheds a spooky and entertaining light on a much loved vacation community.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Fascinating Read - -Hard to Put Down!, October 7, 2005

By 

Kelly Majewski (Newburyport, MA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cape Encounters: Contemporary Cape Cod Ghost Stories (Paperback)

I have always been interested in ghost stories. I especially love hearing about personal experiences. This was a great book told from the perspective of the person who had experienced ghostly encounters on the Cape. I loved that the book was a series of short stories, as a mom of two with a demanding work schedule I could read the stories and not have to close the book in the middle of a section. The problem was that the book was so fascinating that I could not put it down! I would recommend this book to anyone!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must Read, October 6, 2005

By 

J. ODonnell "JOD" (Marblehead, MA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cape Encounters: Contemporary Cape Cod Ghost Stories (Paperback)

This book gets you from the first page. It will capture you with the characters, (in fact, real characters) and the imagine of each story. The book is filled with real life stories of real houses in the Cape. For those of you that have spent a day - years down there, you will feel a sense of understanding from the begining. The authors have done an incredible job of giving you a sense of what the landmarks look like today and the discription of each individual. You can tell how much work went into this book. I highly recommend!