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darlaslays's review against another edition
dark
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I love Oscar Wilde’s writing, and I enjoyed this story as well. I read this book in audiobook form and it’s only an hour to listen to.
The narrator’s performance was delightful and engaging. However, the voice/accent he used for the ghost was a bit challenging to understand, so I had to rewind and repeat at certain parts. I also had to pause the audio and look up a lot of words because I’m not familiar with certain objects, structures, or subjects that were common in 1887, but with context clues, I could just infer what these things were.
It was short and sweet and inspired me to write my own story about ghostly redemption and finding peace. While it’s mostly lighthearted, it does talk about death and suffering as well. It had me reflect on what it would take for a wicked person to be forgiven and redeemed.
The narrator’s performance was delightful and engaging. However, the voice/accent he used for the ghost was a bit challenging to understand, so I had to rewind and repeat at certain parts. I also had to pause the audio and look up a lot of words because I’m not familiar with certain objects, structures, or subjects that were common in 1887, but with context clues, I could just infer what these things were.
It was short and sweet and inspired me to write my own story about ghostly redemption and finding peace. While it’s mostly lighthearted, it does talk about death and suffering as well. It had me reflect on what it would take for a wicked person to be forgiven and redeemed.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Domestic abuse, Suicide, Blood, and Murder
There is a part of me that really likes the ghost and feels pity for him but another part of me that also feels like it wasn’t fair thatchambre1055's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I am so happy for Virginia that i could jump off a bridge.
🥲
🥲
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
pancakes_alison's review against another edition
dark
funny
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Confinement and Murder
minzzi's review against another edition
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
It was a fun humorous read, but nothing much. I think if it was longer and more developed I would have liked it more.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Racism, and Murder
katharina_s's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs, Sexism, Blood, and Murder
maren_hemsath's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Racial slurs, Blood, and Murder
Minor: Racism
spinesinaline's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
I’d been meaning to read this one for a while so glad to finally get to it!
It is quite funny as an American family, living in England, move into a haunted house but the ghost finds it increasingly hard to haunt them. It plays on some British and American stereotypes in the characters’ attitudes, as the Americans at first don’t believe that the ghost exists but then try to “fix” it with different products — oil so his chains don’t squeak, a miracle cleaner to get the blood stain out of the carpet. The family also has two young twin boys who terrorize the ghost themselves, setting out pranks that impede his own haunting. And I loved all the ghost’s intricate and involved personas complete with costumes, he’s a true theatre person in his hauntings.
I think ultimately it was another case of not quite the book I expected. Several reviewers have commented on the tone of the book changing significantly and I felt the same with the second half of the book (which moves away from the humorous telling but I won’t give more details to avoid spoilers). I also didn’t much like the ghost — it was funny and sad to see how the twins’ pranks kept him confined in his own home and other circumstances that had happened in his life were quite horrible, but he directly caused so much death in his life and beyond that felt carelessly mentioned and mostly ignored in a story that seems set to honour him.
I am curious about a few things: the description of the ghost felt very unique – he’s described with skin, he can get bruised and wet! He’s the least ‘ghostly’ I’ve read before. And the bigger curiosity: the story is told from a first-person perspective but not from any one of the family members or the ghost. Who is this person who knows so much?
It is quite funny as an American family, living in England, move into a haunted house but the ghost finds it increasingly hard to haunt them. It plays on some British and American stereotypes in the characters’ attitudes, as the Americans at first don’t believe that the ghost exists but then try to “fix” it with different products — oil so his chains don’t squeak, a miracle cleaner to get the blood stain out of the carpet. The family also has two young twin boys who terrorize the ghost themselves, setting out pranks that impede his own haunting. And I loved all the ghost’s intricate and involved personas complete with costumes, he’s a true theatre person in his hauntings.
I think ultimately it was another case of not quite the book I expected. Several reviewers have commented on the tone of the book changing significantly and I felt the same with the second half of the book (which moves away from the humorous telling but I won’t give more details to avoid spoilers). I also didn’t much like the ghost — it was funny and sad to see how the twins’ pranks kept him confined in his own home and other circumstances that had happened in his life were quite horrible, but he directly caused so much death in his life and beyond that felt carelessly mentioned and mostly ignored in a story that seems set to honour him.
I am curious about a few things: the description of the ghost felt very unique – he’s described with skin, he can get bruised and wet! He’s the least ‘ghostly’ I’ve read before. And the bigger curiosity: the story is told from a first-person perspective but not from any one of the family members or the ghost. Who is this person who knows so much?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Suicide, Torture, and Murder
Minor: Mental illness, Blood, and Grief
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