Ghostland: In Search of a Haunted Country

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Everything seems to be going along smooth as silk until on the tram ride through the park an unexpected event happens when the computer system to the park fails and the trapped ghosts that are exhibits become "un-trapped"! Right now, there is a plethora of ‘reality’ shows that feature paranormal activities, hauntings and ghost hunters. Ghosts are highly sought after, and are endlessly fascinating. Overall, I found this book fascinating and interesting for the most part and enjoyed hearing my favorite haunted stories and the history behind them, and even enjoyed hearing the truth or the more plausible and logical explanation for them, but the author’s personal take on why people relate to these stories didn’t appeal to me most of the time and his attitude was a little over the top. For as long as I can remember, I have always been fascinated with ghost stories. Then to see that this book hooked stories of ghosts with American history, I was ready to engrossed with this book.

Man what a blast! True rip roaring fun! This story is so original, so unique, I cannot believe this book has not gotten more attention. I’m sure my review will not do it the justice it deserves. Didn't feel particularly invested in any of the characters, but I suspect I would have appreciated Lillian more if, again, I was reading as opposed to listening. She seemed to have a lot of spunk, but being voiced by a dull adult male didn't really help her case. Once upon a time there was a young prince who believed in all things but three. He did not believe in princesses, he did not believe in islands, he did not believe in God. His father, the king, told him that such things did not exist. As there were no princesses or islands in his father's domains, and no sign of God, the young prince believed his father. This is how ghost stories are born, after all: not from a complete story so much as from bits and pieces that don't quite add up, a kaleidoscope of menace and unease that coalesce in unpredictable ways. Fast forward to four years later when Rex is currently ostracized by everyone including his former best friend Lil (Lillian is what she prefers to be called now). Ghostland's grand opening its coming and Ben is determined to go to it with Lil in tow.I was so invested in this story. I loved the characters, wanted to see what happened, was interested in the way everything wove together, and wanted to see what the ultimate showdown was going to be. I loved the writing style. It was casual, easy to understand, gore in all the right places, a sense of humor to ease the sadness and grossness, just everything that really makes a great horror book great. Ben and Lilian are about to find out that there is nothing fun or amusing when it comes to the dead. GHOSTLAND, by Duncan Ralston, is a novel that felt like it covered epic proportions with the scope of its idea. In this world of technological advances, it seems that most anything is possible. The author was obviously inspired by Jurassic Park, so you can probably figure out what happens from there. But you see, the carnage is just the beginning.

I think if it had been edited more for the stupid people, *cough, cough, ME* then I would have enjoyed this book more. At times it felt like there were an over abundance of similes and I simply shook my head when our lambs to the slaughter took the time to locate toilets on the map. If all hell was breaking loose and I had to use the bathroom I doubt I’d risk my life further by detouring to find a public toilet. A few question marks appeared over my head as I was reading, including when Dr Wexler contradicted herself about how long Lilian had been in therapy for, but they are essentially quibbles in what was a fun bloodbath.Cutting through the hypocrisy of evangelism and conversion therapy's direct negative effect on youths, rather than offering yet another summer camp slasher, Damascus gives readers The Exorcist by way of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. However, I found the ending an odd mixture of a deus ex machina (which I hate) and courageous sacrifice which I admire, but on balance I'm satisfied. The DeM overlooked this time in favour of a character's clear sighted resolve and courage. I would have rated this higher for just the plot alone if it had been written a bit different for me. Now it's common to think of such places as the provenance of spirits. We have stories for such places: a tragic death, forlorn lovers, a devil waiting to make a deal -- stories that reflect a rich tradition of American folklore. But all this might have come much later, and these places might have first earned their haunted reputation through much more deviant methods. In the ghost-haunting legacies of many of these public spaces lies a hidden history of patrolling and limiting access.” What comes to be known as the "Ghostland Disaster" is just the beginning for Ben and Lilian. His spirit finally set free, Rex Garrote declares war against the living. He'll use the psychic trauma of the Ghostland mass murder to tear open a dimension between the mortal and ethereal worlds known as the Dark Rift, and unleash its legion of nightmare creatures upon anyone who refuses to kneel before him.

The book is a trove of wonderful, unexpected facts, especially in the footnotes. These range from the irreverent and funny to insightful, for example the one about the Overlook Hotel (i.e. the hotel in The Shining); overlook being an archaic term for the Evil Eye. The footnotes are also useful for drawing the connections between many of the different works and authors under discussion, often in erudite and wholly unexpected ways.I have to give it up for Ralston for putting together some really cool ghosts, paranormal ideas and a super cool idea for a book!

A lively assemblage and smart analysis of dozens of haunting stories… absorbing…[and] intellectually intriguing.”— The New York Times Book ReviewThe author posits that ghost stories are malleable, changing throughout the years to accommodate society's various needs: What happens to Ben, Lillian, and Dr. Wexler? Do they make it through the theme park unscathed? What causes the computer system to fail? What happens when the ghosts escape? No spoilers here as you will just have to read the book! Lange habe ich nachgedacht, wie man "Eerie stories" eigentlich am besten auf Deutsch überträgt, denn "Unheimliche Geschichten" oder "Gruselige Geschichten" trifft es nur zum Teil. And yet, at the end the story comes on strong, and I want the final surviving characters to survive. A conundrum then ... an uneven telling of the story. At its core, the mystery of how this place came to be, and the reason for relocating these spirits to be put on display, are the concepts our teenaged main characters must come to terms with.