Ghostland
An American History in Haunted Places
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- اطلاعات
- نقد و بررسی
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نقد و بررسی
One might expect that listening to a book about ghosts should be avoided at night. However, Colin Dickey's history is more academic than scary, and Jon Lindstrom's narration reflects that approach. As such, there's no risk of sensationalizing the topic. But this more formal narration style may limit the attraction to the audio. Although the narration varies in pace and tone, and Lindstrom's voice is comfortable and reassuring, the nonfiction tenor of the material is strong. One difficulty in this performance is that it's often tough to differentiate the author's words from quoted materials. Listening will work best for those who have an interest in the topic. S.C.E. � AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine
December 1, 2016
Dickey (Afterlives of the Saints) cites a statistic that 45 percent of Americans believe in ghosts, and 30 percent profess to have had firsthand encounters. Such undying fascination means there was no shortage of stories to choose from when Dickey spent several years traveling the country, listening to ghosts, and compiling, researching, even debunking plenty of not-so-supernatural tales. Through mansions, hotels, brothels, graveyards, and beyond, Dickey follows undead souls--revealing many kept alive through embellishment, even fiction, including the House of the Seven Gables (it had nine) and the "real" Annabel Lee (she didn't exist). His final section on "ruin porn," including New Orleans and Detroit, is especially haunting. With the supernatural as big business--ghost tours, ghost hunting, reality shows, societies--Dickey also reminds listeners to do their research. Regardless of whether you believe, Dickey reveals how ghost stories are more about the history they harbor and the living who tell (and sell) them. VERDICT Librarians, be warned: Jon Lindstrom's narration is serviceable enough, but his insertion of unnecessary accents proves so jarring, even inappropriate, that patrons may be better advised to stick to the page. ["Sophisticated readers with gothic sensibilities who enjoy literary histories, social commentary, and authoritative travelogs will find this a worthy title": LJ 9/1/16 review of the Viking hc.]--Terry Hong, Smithsonian BookDragon, Washington, DC
Copyright 2016 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
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