25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Must-Have for Ghost Story Fans!, March 16, 2003
This review is from: The Ghost Next Door: True Stories of Paranormal Encounters from Everyday People (Paperback)
I have a fairly extensive collection of books on true ghost experiences, and The Ghost Next Door is written just the way I like them. The author prefaces each story with some interesting (and sometimes eerie) commentary. He wraps each of them up with commentary, as well. I also like that the stories come straight from the source--the person who actually had the encounter with a ghost. I couldn't put this book down, and I read most of it in one night (I was up until two in the morning, and didn't want to go to sleep because I was so creeped out!). If you're interested in ghosts and paranormal phenomena, this book is a must-have!
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19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good, scary fun!, January 15, 2004
This review is from: The Ghost Next Door: True Stories of Paranormal Encounters from Everyday People (Paperback)
I ordered this book after a friend recommended it. I'm glad I did, because I enjoyed it very much. The book just happened to arrive on a day when it was raining, cold and windy outside. I curled up in front of a roaring fire and read most of this book in one evening. Very eerie reading, indeed! It had me glancing around the room as I was reading.
I've read a lot of true ghost story books, but I've never read about the particular hauntings in this book, which is great. New, original stories are always a welcome find. I also love the way this author writes. Very easy to read, and very atmospheric. He sets the mood quite well.
I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in ghosts or likes to be creeped out. I give it five stars!
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16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
EXCELLENT COLLECTION OF TRUE GHOST STORIES, February 11, 2004
This review is from: The Ghost Next Door: True Stories of Paranormal Encounters from Everyday People (Paperback)
Having been involved in the paranormal for many years, I have picked up, flipped through and subsequently replaced many books that have been written on this subject. I am not a regular reader of books; I do enjoy them, but I rarely have enough spare time to sit down and really get into them. I do own many ghost books, most of which have to do with famous buildings that house famous ghosts. The accounts tend to read more like local urban myths, however, and I rarely read them properly but refer back to them if I ever need to review information on a particular location.
A coworker handed me "The Ghost Next Door" and asked me to write a review of it. As soon as the book landed in my hands, I flipped it over to read the back cover. I had only to read the first paragraph to understand how interesting this book was going to be...
I'd made a decision before arriving home that I WOULD find the time to read this book and write a short review--but I also decided to be honest and not write a great review simply to be nice to the author. I was so keen by the time I got home that, despite the hour being late and myself tired, I jumped onto the sofa and kicked off my shoes, thinking, "I shall just read a few pages to see what it's about..."
The author's introduction was excellent, and I found myself in agreement with many of his theories and ideas. I also found myself launching straight into the first story...then the second. I was captivated, only eventually closing the book due to a desperate need for sleep, which was definitely not brought about by the book itself! I was actually rather surprised at how much of the book I'd already read. As I lay in bed drifting off to sleep, I thought about the book and the stories within it; these were REAL stories from everyday people. It was that which made it so interesting--and so chilling!
What I really like about this book is its simplicity. As you read, you genuinely feel as if these people are speaking directly to you. There are no long paragraphs designed solely to aid in imagining the scenery; there is simply no need for it. From the first sentence, you are there with them--these everyday people; you are in their homes, in their workplaces and, in some cases, you can sense their fear.
Having spent a night completely alone in one of the UK's most haunted houses, it's safe to say I am not easily spooked; in fact, I enjoyed it a great deal. When I hear about others' experiences with the paranormal, I sometimes think, "I wish I could have been there and witnessed it myself." In THIS book, however, (although it was my favorite story) "The Thing in the Cabin" was one encounter that I would prefer to avoid having, especially after reminding myself these are REAL people and REAL stories...so this actually happened to someone!
Having read this book twice now, the ONLY somewhat negative point I can make is that it should have been thicker; this is taking nothing away from what IS in the book, but when I reached the end, I simply wanted more.
Mark Alan Morris has gone some way to demonstrate that these "rare and elusive creatures" (ghosts) might not be so rare as we think, and that people just like you and me can (and do) suddenly and unexpectedly find themselves face to face with the unknown...
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