John B. Kachuba, Ghosthunters: On the Trail of Mediums, Dowsers, Spirit Seekers & Other Investigators of America's Paranormal World (New Page, 2007) I bought John Kachuba's book during a recent trip to the Suwannee River near Live Oak, Florida. The Suwannee, with its history and dark Spanish moss-covered banks, seemed to me the sort of a place where ghosts -- or at least their stories -- might exist, so while plying a nearby bookstore I picked up a copy of Ghost Hunter. The writing in this book is top-notch. The text is crisp, smart and well-constructed. In addition, it has just the right amount of humor. I suspect the author could easily slip into more comedic fare if he chooses to pursue that avenue. The 22 chapters are extremely varied in their content. This is also a positive thing. It is really a fun read, bouncing between Civil War cemeteries and haunted items for sale on eBay. It makes the book a real page-turner, keeping the reader's interest throughout the book. I am bothered that the back cover proclaims the author as "neither a gullible believer nor a skeptical disbeliever." I find this misleading. I want a little skepticism in my ghost stories, but it seems to me, at the end of the day, Kachuba is a true believer. That's OK, but it disagrees with what I had been led to believe. Buy this book if you have even the slightest interest in the subject. The breadth and depth of Ghost Hunters will satisfy. Highly recommended! |
Rambles.NET book review by Michael L. Gooch 9 October 2010 Agree? Disagree? Send us your opinions! |