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Title: Haunted Houses of California: A Ghostly Guide to Haunted Houses and Wandering Spirits by Antoinette May ISBN: 0-933174-91-8 Publisher: Wide World Pub Tetra Pub. Date: August, 1993 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $10.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.67 (9 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: It's almost like a field guide!
Comment: Since I live in the bay area, I'm pretty close to most of the places talked about in the book. It's a pretty fun weekend activity; my friends and I make a mini road trip of it. I've been to the majority of the places listed, and I have to admit that there have been a few times where I've had the ba-jezus scared out of me. Plus, it's a good way to connect with the state history. Unfortuatly, this book is definatly a lot more interesting to someone who lives in California or is planning on visiting. Otherwise, I highly recommend it to anyone who loves anything supernatural.
Rating: 4
Summary: A lot of FUN for Californians!
Comment: I collect books on hauntings, and a major problem I often find is that the telling of the "incident" or "occurence" can be either dry or so wordy you are bored to tears. This is not a problem with this book. The author attempts the bring the location alive with history and accounts of what (may have) taken place to cause the phenomena. However, it's greatest asset is also it's greatest flaw. As others have stated, some "ghost" stories have very little documentation of the actual hauntings, which is disappointing. Personally, I really enjoyed this book. I would recommend it, especially if you are from Califonia. I used it to plan "haunted tours" with friends, and it provides information about each location (address, ph#, when and if it's open to the public) for those who want to experience it themselves. If you know the area(s), familiarity adds to the fun. If you are looking for an in depth study, I wouldn't say this book is for you. It's a fun, spooky, simple read, not an in depth study. But overall, I think people have been too hard on it, I've owned my copy since 1993, and reread it many times. It's pretty much what it claims to be. And really it's the only book I have read so far that is focused exclusively on (the entire) state of California.
Rating: 2
Summary: Lacks any real depth
Comment: This book was a dissapointment, but I love the subject of haunted houses, so I keep it around. Antoinette May concentrated more on the history of the actual buildings than on the hauntings themselves, and in one case (a story about Hollywood actress Thelma Todd) she treats the story like a who-done-it rather than account for any haunting. She goes on for six and a half pages about who killed Thelma Todd, and finishes up with ONE PARAGRAPH about building workers who say they've seen a ghost.
The story of the Red, White, and Blue beach is the only readable story in the book, and is the ONLY reason I give this book 2 stars, but even that could have backed with research or better pictures or SOMETHING, ANYTHING. The story was chilling, all the details the physics were picking up, and the fear they all felt, but again, I was left dissapointed with the story overall.
This is a light read, and if you have nothing better to do, and are in some tourist information about California, then by all means pick it up. If you are looking for depth and insight into hauntings and haunted houses, I suggest you look elseware.
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Title: Ghost Stories of California by Barbara Smith ISBN: 1551052377 Publisher: Lone Pine Publishing Pub. Date: June, 2000 List Price(USD): $10.95 |
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Title: Haunted Places: The National Directory: Ghostly Abodes, Sacred Sites, Ufo Landings, and Other Supernatural Locations by Dennis William Hauck ISBN: 0142002348 Publisher: Penguin USA (Paper) Pub. Date: September, 2002 List Price(USD): $18.00 |
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Title: San Diego Specters: Ghosts, Poltergeists and Phantastic Tales by John J. Lamb ISBN: 0932653324 Publisher: Sunbelt Publications Pub. Date: October, 1999 List Price(USD): $12.95 |
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Title: Haunted: The Incredible True Story of a Canadian Family's Experience Living in a Haunted House by Dorah L. Williams ISBN: 1550023780 Publisher: Dundurn Press, Ltd. Pub. Date: 01 April, 2002 List Price(USD): $13.99 |
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