Customer Reviews

Haunted Heartland (Dorset Reprints Series)

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It is rare to find a book that purports to relate "true" ghost stories that does so in a way that neither accepts nor denies out of hand the veracity of the stories. Sources are quoted, stories related, narratives spun without any editorial voice saying "this is folklore" or "this is fact". I guess at my age I don't need to know whether ghosts really exist to be fascinated in them. As Carl Sagan said, (paraphrased) "I am tolerant of ambiguity in this regard". I have many books on my nightstand, but somehow "Haunted Heartland" always works it's way to the top of the stack, upside down, open to a story that I've probably already read 7 times, and can't wait to continue at bed time. This is the perfect nightstand book, but I'd recommend you buy a nightlight to go with it. You'll need it... PS - I have ordered the second book from these authors on this topic, titled "Haunted America", and am waiting for the UPS truck to pull up!

Who doesn't enjoy a good ghost story? For the most part, it doesn't even matter if the story is true or not. Perhaps the best thing about this book is the fact that its authors are not trying to prove or disprove any of the stories. Each tale speaks for itself. Some are somewhat funny, almost all of them are weird, and a few of them are downright spooky. As an added bonus, we learn a little bit about the history of the American Midwest; most of the stories carry the reader back a century or more in time. There are ten to fifteen tales from each of the following states: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, and Wisconsin. For the most part, all of the stories are hum-dingers. About a dozen of them struck me as pretty scary, so I would not recommend this book as a late night read except for those of more stalwart heart than I possess. There are a couple of stories that don't fit into the typical haunting milieu, but such stories are so interesting that the authors surely could not resist adding them to the collection. For the most part, though, these tales reflect hauntings in the traditional sense, and many contain accounts of actual sightings of ghostly figures. The authors do a very good job in telling the stories, giving us enough information to appreciate and understand each unique mystery while refraining from offering any conclusions of their own. You can read a few tales at a time or sit back and dive into large sections all at once; the organization of the tales by their respective states of origin is well-done and helps to maintain a cohesive framework to the entire book. I was thoroughly entertained and intrigued from beginning to end.

This book's got it all--ghosts, disappearing hitchhikers, spontaneous human combustion, psychic detectives, haunted mines, vanishing ships, mysterious lights, death cars, and exorcisms. There's even a story of automatic writing.

Whoever dreamed America's Midwest could be so haunted?

Beth Scott and Michael Norman tell good stories, too. There is some repetition, which is to be expected in a collection of 120+ stories--it's amazing how many Midwestern towns are haunted by a 'lady in black'--but some of the tales (as far as I know) are completely unique. One of my favorites is "The Abduction of Oliver Larch." Here's how this mysterious tale from Indiana starts:

"In the eerie, flickering glow of a kerosene lamp, Matthew Larch followed his son's footprints in the snow. They started at the kitchen door and extended some seventy-five feet from the house. There were no other marks on the freshly-fallen flakes.

"Young Oliver's tracks just stopped. The oak water bucket he had carried lay on its side several yards to the left.

"Matthew Larch huddled under the dark sky with the small group of family and friends. Not a word passed among them. They listened intently, but could scarcely believe their senses.

"Oliver was crying, his voice growing fainter and fainter as he screamed for help...screamed from somewhere above them...in the black, cold sky."

This incident took place on Christmas Eve, 1889, so forget about helicopters.

The stories are arranged by state, including Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, and Wisconsin. The authors do not claim to be psychics or ghost-hunters. Some of their tales are pure folklore. Others have been collected from books or periodicals of limited circulation. Many of the contemporary accounts have never been published, before appearing in this book.

If you are interested in the unusual or the terrifying, read "Haunted Heartland" during one of our Midwestern thunderstorms. Especially if the lights go out and you have to read by the flickering glow of a candle.

Haunted Heartland is *the* book to have if you want true ghost stories, not boring investigative accounts of them. Michael and Beth do a lot of research to find out the most personal details of each home, building or piece of land they write up on in this book. They vividly describe each story to put the most succesful image in your head. This is my most favorite book of any books I have ever had. I finally got a hold of the Hardcover Edition (which I've been looking for forever) and I will never let go of it. I'm sure that you won't want to either. These ghost stories are the best you can find anywhere. They're not boring and not too exciting, but perfectly blended with each other to make up the best haunted book there is out there. You might even want to go investigate these places yourself after you get done reading some of the stories!

These roughly 150 stories of supposed true-life hauntings from across the American Heartland are an entertaining and not too spooky collection that make a fun read for anyone with a bent toward accounts of ghostly goings-on. These reports challenge the niceties of the accepted axiom "there are no such things as ghosts!" From decaying haunted houses, to fraternity hangouts, to whole towns infected with preternatural unease, from playful spirits to hate-filled demons, the authors have scoured the folklore banks of the Midwest and retold Resurrection Mary, the spirit of the dunes, Lincoln's phantom funeral train, and an Illinois house so overrun with evil that no one has ever successfully spent the night in its attic. I didn't find anything in here overpoweringly chilling but I know some people who spent nights sleeping with the lights on because of things they read in this book. I think it comes down to your tolerance levels but in my opinion these bits of folklore, tall tale and urban legend combine with the genuinely unexplained and set a reader up for a mind-twisting ride that's sure to kick start even the most sluggish imagination.

This was indeed good reading. The stories were well written.

A good scary book to read on a cold dark night.

Haunted Heartland is a great collection of ghost stories and peculiar happenings from the midwest. The Oliver Larch story disturbed me for years after reading the book and Cry Woman Bridge, the Emma Schmidt story and the haunted frat house wer also stand outs. Try reading Haunted Heartland at night in an empty dark house and you'll be amazed at how spooky it really is.

My grandmother let me have this book a long time ago. I think it was about 4 years ago. This book really gave me a scare because the stories are told in such detail. I recommend reading the story "Summerwind" first. It is my personal favorite.

I love how this book is divided by States! Some of the stories in my state were really close to home. It made me want to go check it out for myself! I read the entire book and it was fantastic! I'm looking forward to another book by the same authors, because they're true story accounts are so chilling!

this book is fascinating! It is hard to put down and my advice is to not read it at night, as you will have those scary thoughts, you know during the time that you turn the lights out, just before you fall asleep! This is a really good read!