Reviews

The Penguin Book of Ghost Stories: From Elizabeth Gaskell to Ambrose Bierce by Michael Newton

mike_brough's review

3.0

Some well-known classics and some that were new to me. I'd seen Green Tea referred to a few times and now at least I can say I've read it.

I had to give up on Henry James' The Jolly Corner - deeply, deeply impenetrable writing - but his namesake's Oh Whistle... is a personal favourite.

I enjoyed most of the stories so, on balance, three-stars.

halibut's review

4.0

A nice collection, the introduction makes clear they haven't tried to make unique selections but to provide a slice on the canonical writers and stories, so some I've read before. Among those new to me, The Cold Embrace was exceptional, not scary but melancholy and told with fascinating style. Afterward by Edith Wharton was a strong finish, I'd never looked at her ghost fiction before but having gone and sought out some more, they're really excellent.

Due to when it was first issued, some writers you might hope to encounter, like EF Benson and Algernon Blackwood aren't present, having only recently crept into public domain.

megselyane's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.5

schellenbergk's review

dark mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

As with any anthology it’s mixed. Some of the stories are great; some are tedious.

elizabeth22's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.0

octavietullier's review

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.0

seloreno's review against another edition

3.0

probably an equal number of stories that i enjoyed and didn’t enjoy,, did discover some writers who i want to read more of!!