Lily Dale: The Town That Talks to the Dead (Plus) [Paperback]

Christine Wicker (Author)

Book Description

Series: Plus | Publication Date: September 26, 2006

In Lily Dale, New York, the dead don't die. Instead, they flit among the elms and stroll along the streets. According to spiritualists who have ruled this community for five generations, the spirits never go away—and they stay anything but quiet. Every summer twenty thousand guests come to consult the town's mediums in hopes of communicating with dead relatives or catching a glimpse of the future. Weaving past with present, the living with the dead, award-winning journalist and bestselling author Christine Wicker investigates the longings for love and connection that draw visitors to "the Dale," introducing us to a colorful cast of characters along the way—including such famous visitors as Susan B. Anthony, Harry Houdini, and Mae West. Laugh-out-loud funny at times, this honest portrayal shows us that ultimately it doesn't matter what we believe; it is belief itself that can transform us all.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Thoroughly engaging.” (Cleveland Plain Dealer )

“A probing study of the nature and power of faith, Wicker’s story is often a hoot as well....” (Fort Worth Star-Telegram )

“Royally entertaining.” (Dallas Morning News )

About the Author

Christine Wicker was raised in Oklahoma, Texas, and other parts of the South. Her mother's grandfather was an itinerant Baptist preacher, and her dad's father was a Kentucky coal miner. During her seventeen years at the Dallas Morning News, she was a feature writer, columnist, and religion reporter. She is the author of several books, including the highly acclaimed New York Times bestseller Lily Dale: The True Story of the Town That Talks to the Dead.

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: HarperOne (September 26, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061153745
• ISBN-13: 978-0061153747
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #700,005 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant & Sensitive Exploration of One Town's Beliefs, February 18, 2008

By 

Deborah Atherton (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lily Dale: The Town That Talks to the Dead (Plus) (Paperback)

Lily Dale fascinates because it is an unusual account of a skeptic approaching believers with sensitivity and openness. It is beautifully written, and a compelling story of the ins and outs of fragile faith. Christine Wicker goes to Lily Dale, a Spiritualist community in upstate New York, with many doubts, but that glimmer of hope we all feel when dreaming of communication with the next life. She meets a wide variety of characters, all involved with the Spiritualist faith that dominates the small town, (although not all in the town are true believers, and her firmest friendship is formed with a skeptic who loves the town's community.) The committed faith and experiences of the people she spends time with gradually win her over, if not to belief, at least to a real openness to the genuineness of their experiences, and paint a very compelling picture of one of the last Spiritualist communities in America. This is a one-of-a-kind book, and I can't recommend it highly enough - so grab it while you can still find copies!

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Lily Dale as it is and as it was, March 2, 2008

By 

Boudica (Ohio USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lily Dale: The Town That Talks to the Dead (Plus) (Paperback)

Christine Wicker was a journalist with the Dallas Morning News as the religion reporter. In this book she explores Lily Dale, the 122 year old spiritualist center. While much has been written about it, there has never been a thorough examination about exactly what goes on there, who the people are and what they do from the inside of the town.

The people of Lily Dale allow Ms. Wicker to come into their town, their homes and their lives to examine the spiritualist/medium movement, its history and its claims.

Ms. Wicker approaches the topic with gentle skepticism but an open mind. We are presented with a good history of the town and the spiritualist movement. We meet the people who had created Lily Dale and the people who are there now. Practices that were popular when the town was founded are discussed. Examined are some of the tricks that had been used. We see the changes that have been made, how the practice that had been a boom to the town became exposed, and how the town changed their practices to bring it more in line with spirituality rather than a side show.

Ms. Wicker does look at what the beliefs of the mediums are. And while I believe she is never totally convinced, she does have material to ponder, and she does question. I found that admirable. I also see where she re-examines her own beliefs, and comes away with some unexpected insights.

It's a lovely look at the town, at its history, at the practices and the spirituality. It is presented honestly and openly. And it also tells of Ms. Wicker's own journey through this examination of things that are just a little outside the box of normal religion and spirituality.

There is some good journalist writing here, the story is well told and will entertain, enlighten and possibly spark some curiosity on the readers part. Boudica

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beyond the fringe, August 26, 2008

By 

Mary E. Sibley (Carneys Point, NJ USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Lily Dale: The Town That Talks to the Dead (Plus) (Paperback)

Lily Dale is a summer camp for Spiritualism. It is sixty miles south of Buffalo. Sinclair Lewis visited in 1917. Mediums no longer use spirit cabinets, ouija boards, or crystal balls.

Only Spiritualists are permitted to buy the houses in the one hundred sixty-seven acre compound. The Lily Dale Association is a religious corporation. The community is located only twenty miles from Chautaugua.

What is a vibration, the author asked. Mediums believe that they can sense when a spirit is present. Even skeptics brelieve that Lily Dale may be a place of great spiritual wisdom.

Services at the encampment are called message services. There are no appointed ministers for the two churches in the community. There is much respect there for individual rights.

William James reported that belief in psychic events has appeared in every society. Cornelius Vanderbilt sought the assistance of clairvoyants. Karen Armstrong has noted that rationality cannot assuage our sorrow.

The author went to Lily Dale as a skeptic, but she changed. Spiritual growth is about walking into mystery. The author, a journalist, worked on the staff of a Dallas daily newspaper. She spent several seasons at Lily Dale. She gives a fair and interesting account of her sojourn there. Students of American history and general readers will find much to like in this book.