ellenskye's review against another edition
This was a fun mystery/thriller to read. It switches between the present and then journal entries from the past. There was a great twist at the end that I didn’t see coming.
atsundarsingh's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
I wanted to like this mystery, but I ultimately didn’t really feel attached to the narrator, and finished it more out of curiosity about the craft of how the author would close out the novel than the actual story. Not for me. Should have DNF’d.
inkstained's review against another edition
5.0
"Your own life is terrifying, but life is an unending astonishment."
I loved this book. I loved the rawness of it, despite the almost eye roll approach to ghost and spirits and a house that's almost alive. It was my kind of creepy, my kind of angst. I was on edge and kept fascinated, and I especially loved the interludes of pieces of Wright's writings and parts of Hannah's journal and teaching hints. It's cool when a book like this comes together in the end, when you didn't see ahead of time all the ways it could, and I'm glad I was kept on edge til the end.
I loved this book. I loved the rawness of it, despite the almost eye roll approach to ghost and spirits and a house that's almost alive. It was my kind of creepy, my kind of angst. I was on edge and kept fascinated, and I especially loved the interludes of pieces of Wright's writings and parts of Hannah's journal and teaching hints. It's cool when a book like this comes together in the end, when you didn't see ahead of time all the ways it could, and I'm glad I was kept on edge til the end.
cedrics_mom's review against another edition
4.0
This small book caught my eye while reading the New York Times Book Review. The premise sounded intriguing so I gave it a read. Very good writing; Dolnick is quite skilled at descriptions, imaging and metaphor. This is a hybrid of ghost story, haunted house tale and first marriage love. He doesn’t linger but makes it into, through and out of the story in under 250 pages. Definitely worth a read. He has several other books out of you need more.
daynpitseleh's review against another edition
3.0
I received this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is an atmospheric, supernatural tale that focuses on a historical museum. I read it pretty quickly, in two sittings and overall, I enjoyed it. Parts of it seemed a little rushed to me/not as fleshed out, but it was entertaining and had some great details/moments for me. Definitely an interesting story, I would recommend it.
This is an atmospheric, supernatural tale that focuses on a historical museum. I read it pretty quickly, in two sittings and overall, I enjoyed it. Parts of it seemed a little rushed to me/not as fleshed out, but it was entertaining and had some great details/moments for me. Definitely an interesting story, I would recommend it.
oddly's review against another edition
5.0
This review and others here: https://www.shelfstalker.net/blog/the-ghost-notebooks-ben-dolnick
“Am I, this trembling, hallucinating ball of sinew, really any stranger of a creature, any more improbable of an object, than a ghost?”
If you are looking for something a bit different to read, something literary, but with a compelling narrative and totally innovative plot, this is it.
The main story revolves around Nick and Hannah, a couple who are not quite sure if their relationship will make it. To try something new and escape the city, Hannah takes a job as the live-in director of the Wright Historic House, a museum in the middle of nowhere dedicated to a nineteenth-century philosopher who barely anyone has heard of.
There is something about the house, a creaky old maze, enticing and creepy at turns, that draws Hannah deeper and deeper inside Edmund Wright’s research. Nick, the narrator of the story, doesn’t realize that something is wrong with her until she is missing one morning. And then he is left retracing her steps to see what happened, what he missed, and if she can be found.
I loved this one. It will almost certainly be in my top ten for the year. (A huge thanks to Belletrist, without whom I wouldn’t have read this one!)
This is not your typical ghost story or haunted house novel—but that is one of the reasons why I loved it. “Haunted house” might be my favorite narrative to read—there is just so much you can do with that idea! I have read a bunch of them and am always looking for new ones . . . (suggestions please!) And this one tried something really new to great effect. I loved every minute of it.
I spent a lot (and I mean A LOT) of time thinking about and trying to wrap my head around ghosts and the idea of haunting as it is presented in this book. First of all, it takes the story a long time to get to these elements—in fact, it is definitely more about the people, the living people and their own psychology than any ghosts.
But in any case, how they haunt, if they even do haunt, and what a haunting might be (something your own mind creates the space for? Something enacted upon you?)—I don’t want to get into it too far since that is part of the mystery that the book threads along, but it presents a very unique concept of ghosts and what a haunted house is.
I wouldn’t say that this is a scary book by any means. It is quiet, introspective, and lyrically haunting. There is a lot of character development and such beautiful writing, but a very ephemeral nature. It touches on depression, stress, and the potential of the psyche through the lens of a relationship—how much do you really know about your partner?
Nick, as he narrates, is really telling Hannah’s story, but there is this gauzy veil around her; we don’t really know what she was thinking or feeling, only his interpretation of it. I enjoyed seeing how his thoughts grew and changed across the book.
I found the plot to be compelling—I didn’t see what was coming and the mix of an intriguing plot, a good psychological mind puzzle, and great writing that I could linger on was a perfect combination for me. I like a book I can think about, puzzle through, one with characters that feel real and complex, and one with enough buildup to let me imagine that there is more to the world of the story than we know.
“Am I, this trembling, hallucinating ball of sinew, really any stranger of a creature, any more improbable of an object, than a ghost?”
If you are looking for something a bit different to read, something literary, but with a compelling narrative and totally innovative plot, this is it.
The main story revolves around Nick and Hannah, a couple who are not quite sure if their relationship will make it. To try something new and escape the city, Hannah takes a job as the live-in director of the Wright Historic House, a museum in the middle of nowhere dedicated to a nineteenth-century philosopher who barely anyone has heard of.
There is something about the house, a creaky old maze, enticing and creepy at turns, that draws Hannah deeper and deeper inside Edmund Wright’s research. Nick, the narrator of the story, doesn’t realize that something is wrong with her until she is missing one morning. And then he is left retracing her steps to see what happened, what he missed, and if she can be found.
I loved this one. It will almost certainly be in my top ten for the year. (A huge thanks to Belletrist, without whom I wouldn’t have read this one!)
This is not your typical ghost story or haunted house novel—but that is one of the reasons why I loved it. “Haunted house” might be my favorite narrative to read—there is just so much you can do with that idea! I have read a bunch of them and am always looking for new ones . . . (suggestions please!) And this one tried something really new to great effect. I loved every minute of it.
I spent a lot (and I mean A LOT) of time thinking about and trying to wrap my head around ghosts and the idea of haunting as it is presented in this book. First of all, it takes the story a long time to get to these elements—in fact, it is definitely more about the people, the living people and their own psychology than any ghosts.
But in any case, how they haunt, if they even do haunt, and what a haunting might be (something your own mind creates the space for? Something enacted upon you?)—I don’t want to get into it too far since that is part of the mystery that the book threads along, but it presents a very unique concept of ghosts and what a haunted house is.
I wouldn’t say that this is a scary book by any means. It is quiet, introspective, and lyrically haunting. There is a lot of character development and such beautiful writing, but a very ephemeral nature. It touches on depression, stress, and the potential of the psyche through the lens of a relationship—how much do you really know about your partner?
Nick, as he narrates, is really telling Hannah’s story, but there is this gauzy veil around her; we don’t really know what she was thinking or feeling, only his interpretation of it. I enjoyed seeing how his thoughts grew and changed across the book.
I found the plot to be compelling—I didn’t see what was coming and the mix of an intriguing plot, a good psychological mind puzzle, and great writing that I could linger on was a perfect combination for me. I like a book I can think about, puzzle through, one with characters that feel real and complex, and one with enough buildup to let me imagine that there is more to the world of the story than we know.
mamaorgana80's review
3.0
Some beautiful thoughts on grief. Promising premise, wanted more from the plot.
bethreadsandnaps's review
3.0
3.5 stars
I really liked how this novel started out. Hannah and Nick move to a rural setting from the big city so that Hannah can take a job at a local museum.
Given the title of the book, I expected Paranormal Activity hijinks, but this is less jump scare-y and far more psychological and deeper. I didn’t expect what happened about halfway in. I did find this an interesting story, but I don’t feel it will stick with me in the way a true 4 star book will.
I really liked how this novel started out. Hannah and Nick move to a rural setting from the big city so that Hannah can take a job at a local museum.
Given the title of the book, I expected Paranormal Activity hijinks, but this is less jump scare-y and far more psychological and deeper. I didn’t expect what happened about halfway in. I did find this an interesting story, but I don’t feel it will stick with me in the way a true 4 star book will.
flightlessfinch's review
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide and Mental illness
pageturn_industries's review
dark
reflective
sad
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