Weird N.J.: Your Travel Guide to New Jersey's Local Legends and Best Kept Secrets [Paperback]

Mark Moran (Author), Mark Sceurman (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

There's much more to New Jersey than highways and diners, and Sceurman and Moran do their part to exalt the state's lesser-known virtues in this "journal of strange travels," which goes far beyond the legend of the Jersey Devil. The book, which sheds light on "slightly offbeat or left of center" oddities of the Garden State, is a kooky compilation of roads less traveled, unexplained phenomenon and unsolved mysteries. The authors divide their work by subject, so there are chapters on strange roads (including Franklin Lakes's "gravity road," where cars in neutral travel uphill "as if forced by unseen hands"), local heroes and villains (such as Wyckoff's Midnight Walker, who's been scaring Bergen County teenagers for years) and eccentric abodes (like Richie and Leila Zorzi's Kendall Park home, which boasts a bowling ball collection on the front lawn). In a more serious vein, the book also devotes a good chunk of pages to more unusual aspects of New Jersey's history. The magazine-like format, perked up with numerous photos, perfectly suits the subject's quirky nature.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Sterling; Reprint edition (May 5, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1402766858
• ISBN-13: 978-1402766855
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #157,223 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fun, funky folklore..., November 7, 2005

By 

Cynthia K. Robertson (beverly, new jersey USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Weird N.J.: Your Travel Guide to New Jersey's Local Legends and Best Kept Secrets (Hardcover)

Weird NJ is a fun, funky book of legends and folklore about the Garden State. Written by Mark Sceurman and Mark Moran, it started as a journal, evolved into a magazine and has now morphed into a popular book (in New Jersey, anyway).

Most readers have heard about the Jersey Devil and UFO's. But Weird NJ goes way beyond these "mainstream" oddities. The stories in Weird NJ were gathered over ten years. The authors claim that they like to "churn up the historical muck" and that "when the line between history and legend begins to blur is the tightrope we like to tread." Many of the stories came from readers, and it is to them this book is dedicated.

The authors take us on quite a journey. We would expect monsters, ghosts and haunted houses. But Sceurman and Moran bring us even further. The chapters are broken down into such topics as Ancient Mysteries, Unexplained Phenomena, Local Heroes and Villains, Cemetery Safari, Roadside Oddities, Roads Less Traveled and Abandoned NJ (to name just some of them). Most of the stories also include pictures and drawings. We see a Stone Living Room and a house shaped like a cookie jar. The authors try to find the fabled midget village and tribes of albinos. We see a mystery lake in the Pine Barrens called the Blue Hole, and the Gates of Hell in Clifton. There is just so much here to keep you entertained.

My only complaint about Weird NJ is that most of the stories take place in North Jersey (South Jersey gets slighted once again). Also, I felt the authors could have done a little more to separate fact from fiction in some instances. But despite these minor flaws, I plan on giving a number of these books for Christmas this year. I know that they'll be a big hit.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars That's So....Weird!, March 8, 2005

By 

Barry "Barrybgb" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Weird N.J.: Your Travel Guide to New Jersey's Local Legends and Best Kept Secrets (Hardcover)

Have you ever wondered if there is a pair of dancing underwear out there somewhere in the world?. How about a mattress flying across a road late one night from nowhere?. Have you ever thought about a retired gym teacher who buys your old, smelly socks from you?. If you have, then boy are you in luck!. Those are just the tip of the iceberg of all the goodies and treats that await you in this fun, fascinating, and mind boggingly interesting read. The two Mark's, Sceurman and Moran, are two guys who started the Weird N.J. magazine years ago. A magazine that first started out as a pamphlet of all the oddities and mysteries and what have you in their home state of New Jersey. It became a magazine, and now it has gone into books, spreading their incredible weirdness for everyone to see and get hooked. The books are nicely designed, and have some incredible photographs, as well as some amazing artwork. The authors tell the reader in the beginning that this is not necessarily a book of facts. Things here are not proven or disproven. They are told, and the rest is up to you. It serves as a travel guide, but some places are not given directions too out of the area's privacy, or your own safety. The book is filled with amazing stories from different sections. Here they are. First up is the section "Local Legends", which is a chapter that deals with ongoing legends or myths in certain areas. Stories like Demon's Alley, and The Devil's Tower. After that is a small section on "The Gates Of Hell", places where people believe will lead you to the warm place. Next up is "Ancient Mysteries", a chapter on areas and structures that are shrouded in mystery as to their origin. The next section is "Fabled People And Places", a chapter about interesting people in history and folklore, that includes an albino village and a town for midgets!. Then we have "Unexplained Phenomena", a chapter which I think is easily explainable on it's own. UFO's and other, well, unexplained phenomena. "Bizarre Beasts" details all the odd and scary creatures of unknown origin in the areas of NJ. "Local Heroes And Legends" is a part about people known locally for being weird, odd, eccentric, and/or just plain infamous. This section includes murderer John List. "Personalized Properties" shows you the yards, or homes, of peoples' residences that the owners have decorated. "Roadside Oddities" details those odd and cool little things you find off the beaten path. "Roads Less Traveled" chronicles the weird roads, back roads, and side streets you wouldn't want to travel down at night. "Garden State Ghosts" is a big favorite. Telling stories of ghosts and hauntings. Sure enough to leave you with the light on when you go to bed after reading it. "Cemetery Safari" is an interesting section showing all the weird and interesting final resting places and gravestones of the deceased. "Abandoned In New Jersey" is the last creepy chapter. Telling us about those old, decrepid, worn down buildings, homes, etc. that lay empty for years and develop their own stories and mystiques over the years. There is always something creepy about abandoned places. I got the "Weird U.S." book first, before I even knew this book existed. If you got the "U.S." book first, then you will find some of the same stories in here. But before you skip those, I must tell you that even tho some same stories are in here, there are some new stories about them that weren't in the other book, so it is still worth reading the same stories. I am so glad I discovered these books, because before I had never heard of them. They are a blast from start to finish. You cannot beat it's reporting, it's history, it's pictures, or the fascination of it all. The "Weird U.S." one is bigger and even better. So, don't deprive yourself any longer. Get these two books and curl up and discover the weirdness that surrounds us all.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book is friggin great., September 15, 2005

By 

J. Carnes (Orange, NJ) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Weird N.J.: Your Travel Guide to New Jersey's Local Legends and Best Kept Secrets (Hardcover)

This book is definitely a must-have for any borderline-eccentric New Jerseyans who are in to strange / off-the-wall stuff about the Garden State. It's definitely one of those "I couldn't put it down" type of books. Oh yeah, it's a bit creepy too. Enjoy!