Customer Reviews

Don't Call Them Ghosts: The Spirit Children of Fontaine Manse- A True Story

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I really love this story. I believe her account. I love her first person, REAL person, narrative. Refreshing to read a novice writer's story, this makes her genuine, classy and I connect with her. Hurray that she's not a polished novelist! Not only is this a book about a haunting, it's about how spirits communicate w/sound, movement, visions and heat and cold, universal experiences by those haunted! She brings compassion to the topic in a way I've never read before in a ghostly tale . . . and finally she explains, in her way, how God and guiding spirits are connected to all this. She's a warrior soul who I admire. BRAVO KATHLEEN! If you are a seeker of truth and love metaphysical experiences . . . DON'T PASS THIS ONE UP!!!!

I admit it, I am a sucker for a good ghost story. I've been hearing and sometimes seeing spirits since childhood and I have empathy for those who share my experiences. Kathleen McConnell is compassionate and wise in her love and acceptance of the spirit children who reside in her new home. Over five years these spirits become part of the family and Kathleen is instrumental in resolving their situation. This is the most comforting and intriguing book about spirits that I have ever read and I can't recommend it more highly.

This book started out with a bang...literally! I thought great, a fast moving book that's gets right to the point. However after that the plot slowed down immensely. I found myself getting impatient. This is the authors first book and some allowances must be made but I feel it could have been edited better. There are pages of the author discribing her thoughts which seemed to run in circles. It got to the point I began to look at the ending, which I never do, to see how much more I had to go. Also it was a bit too religious for my tastes. Nothing wrong with that but I wish I would have known that from the start. I did find the ending to be very moving and was glad for some resolution to the story. All in all, it's a good first book but not something I would recommend to friends without a few disclaimers.

This book is technically nothing special, but the story is enthralling and beautiful. If you want to read a story about spirits that is not the normal horror story of spirits, this is just the book for you. I loved it.

The basis for the story is beautiful--rather than being frightened by the "spirit children" in her new home, Kathleen McConnell befriends and becomes a sort of mother to them. However, the writing style is simplistic to say the least--nothing poetic or really creative, it is chock-full of grammatical errors that may or may not have been intentional (lots of "Me and So-and-so did this..), and the ghostly events that take place would be best saved for campfire fodder. After reading her story, I believe Kathleen may be one of the sweetest people out there, which makes it hard for me to say that unless you LOVE true ghost stories, it is probably best to just let someone else read this one and then tell you about it.

I have recently read this book and have found it absolutley amazing. This book was one that I did not want to put down once I started reading it. I have recommended it to all of my friends and family and now I want to recommend it to everyone viewing this site. You really should purchase this book and have the oppourtunity to know what this family has experienced and how truly amazing this was for them. Thank you for taking the time to read my review. I look forward to reading everyone elses after they read this book also.

I was listening to Art Bell on the radio and he was interviewing Kathleen McConnell about this book. I had not heard of the book prior to this interview. It was incredible to listen to the interview as I was driving through Louisville, Ky. on the way to work. By the time I got to work I knew I had to obtain the book to read it and a few days later I picked it up at a local book store. I started reading it and couldn't put it down, I finished it in two settings and I was disappointed to get to the end - I just didn't want the story to end - but at the same time I was thrilled by the ending. It is an incredible story about a local bit of history and I was enthralled. I have now passed the book on to a co-worker who is going to pass it on to another co-worker to read as soon as he finishes it and I have been asked by others to be allowed to read it. I highly recommend this book.

I Like books about real ghosts. I could relate to this story because I was kid in the early 1970s and we also had a ghost in our house. I could hear him walking up and down the hallway at night and could tell when he was in the room but never saw him. So i really loved the fact that this lady finally got to see the kids and she could help them. it made me feel happy. I recommend this book for anyone who has had a ghost in their house or who just loves books about real folks who have had to deal with real ghsots. thanks

Having grown up in the author's hometown and working in Louisville KY, I enjoyed the perfect re-creation of the feel of this area. I have seen the house of the story, and it's charming. Ms.McConnell captures the feel of the early '70's and historic Portland perfectly. I disagree with other reviewers that the weakness of the book lies in the detail the author uses to describe her adventures. She is a obviously a sensitive, communicative woman who has to tell her tale just as it unfolded. The real problem lies in the grammer. Really atrocious useage. Wanting something "so bad," "me and fill-in-the-blank," (pointed out by another reviewer) too many wrongly hyphenated words, etc. I blame the publishers entirely for these errors, which a literate editor could have quickly cleaned up. (and could still--I just bought the 2007 edition. The book is in its sixth printing.)

Ms.McConnell gives so many innocent and accurate descriptions of real places and local social conditons that I tend to believe what she has written. I know only one person in the book--an MD, and his nature is described so perfectly, I was astounded. I lived in a haunted house for 15 years, albeit a house not nearly so lively, and can verify that the noises, the moving (and hiding) of objects are common and can be heard/witnessed by anyone who happens to be in the house. My house was haunted by a verifiably "real" person. We discovered her name and met her family (without telling them about the manifestations.) She was a woman who was wronged in life and who couldn't let go of her anger. Still, after a kind talking to and the laying down of ground rules, this spirit settled in to live with us peacefully, several times doing us major favors. We tried talking her into a higher realm, "the light," but couldn't convince her to go. Sure enough, the family that bought this house when we moved had to make their peace with her as well--but she won't leave.

I've never heard of an ending like the one in this book, but I can't put anything past the spirit world, and a soft-hearted, motherly woman like Ms.McConnell truly seems the sort of person who could manage such a feat of compassion and righteous anger at a seeming injustice. Her tenderness and literal innocence shine though like a lantern. I wish I knew her, but would never be so rude as to try and contact her.

If you believe in an afterlife, do read this book. If you scoff, don't trouble yourself. It is a satisfying "ghost story" for those who enjoy them, and an affirmation of goodness for those who study human nature.

this is a great book! i am a true beliver of the paranormal and i have had several encounters. when i first bought this book i read it every chance i got.kathleen showed us the more nicer side of the spirit world. this book was indeed heartwarming and i rarely cry when i read a book but this book was different. towards the end of the book i started bawling! it was sooo sad..you can picture everything that is said...i highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested...