The Ghosts of Nantucket: 23 True Accounts [Hardcover]

Blue Balliett (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: 1984

Nantucket residents describe their firsthand encounters with paranormal phenomena in this unusual (and bestselling) book. Their accounts are both surprising and entertaining, for Nantucket's ghosts are as individualistic as today's flesh-and-blood inhabitants.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 118 pages
• Publisher: Down East Books (1984)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0892721987
• ISBN-13: 978-0892721986
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,095,436 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Blue Balliett grew up in New York City, where she often visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Guggenheim Museum, and the Frick Collection. She took public transportation to school around the city, and discovered early that every crowded bus or train is packed with mystery and drama'and that stories are everywhere. Balliett studied art history at Brown University. She and her family lived year-round on Nantucket Island for many years, and now live in Chicago. Before becoming a full-time writer, she taught at the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools. Balliett is a recipient of the Chicago Public Library's 21st Century Award, the first time the award was given to a children's book writer. She has appeared on NBC's Today Show and has been featured in various national and international publications.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best of its kind, September 13, 2004

By 

Max Hurst (Richardson, Tx United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Ghosts of Nantucket: 23 True Accounts (Paperback)

This is the best true accounts ghost story book I have ever read and I have been reading them since I was ten( I'm now 50). I don't know what universe Blue Ballitt wandered into when she was writing this but it has a real ring of authenticity to it and the stories are sometimes so downright strange-- A Red Freind comes particularly to mind--that the very bizarreness argues for some sort of belief. My favorite story and the scariest true life story ever is A Little Girl. Yikes. It is creepy. Not M.R. James with his strange elementals. Just very straight-forward human apparitons with a great deal of will! This is a very fun sort of book and the reader will not be dissapointed.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great oral history., July 16, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Ghosts of Nantucket: 23 True Accounts (Paperback)

This is an extremely well written oral history--interviews with year-round and summer residents of Nantucket Island who have actually experienced ghosts. These are unembellished accounts from some rather unlikely and credible sources. A great read in summer, or any season, its sequel, "Nantucket Hauntings" is also available.

4.0 out of 5 stars Perfect for Halloween, October 21, 2011

By 

D. Sorel "book lovah" (Massachusetts USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Ghosts of Nantucket: 23 True Accounts (Paperback)

October is my favorite month. I love apple picking, the chill in the air...oh, and scary stories!! I am always on the hunt for a good spooky tale but too often I get stuck with gory books or stories that fall flat. When I saw this book at my local library, I thought that I would take a shot (even if the book is older than I am!). I am SO glad that I picked up this book because it was the perfect combination of scary, eerie, and chilling. Better yet, there are no dead bodies or bloody corpses.

The author has compiled a beautiful collection of stories that was born out of an oral history project. Perhaps this is the reason why the different tales come together so well, because she is not writing for the sheer scream factor. Additionally, she allows the people to speak for themselves without ever making them sound crazy or delusional. Due to this, the book is spine-chilling and perfect for the season!!