Review of 'Ghostland: An American History in Haunted Places' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
This book is wonderful. I picked it up expecting the usual well hashed American ghost locations and instead got a solid, thoughtful, book about ghost stories and what they reveal about the people/culture who spawn them. I felt like I had picked up fast food and ended up with a home cooked meal.
In Ghostland, Dickey discusses the ethics of ghost stories, the impact of ghost tourism on living relatives of the victim, the use of ghost stories to keep the downtrodden from gathering to forment rebellion, and the changing nature of the genre in the face of the internet and facts at our finger tips.
If you are looking for a simple thrill, pick another book, but if you are looking for some thoughtful essays AND chills? This is the one for you!
