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ArecRain (8 KP) rated The Ghost of Crutchfield Hall in Books

Jan 18, 2018

By far one of my favorites by Ms Hahn. This is one of her classic ghost stories where someone, in this case Sophia, meets their tragic end and is unable to rest.

This novel read quickly, however, I feel there was a lot of build up to a short climax. It wasnt necessarily bad, I had just hoped for more ghost interaction with Sophia. Once she is introduced, the novel seems to fly by. This could be because I was so enthralled with it. I would like to say the rather abrupt ending left me wanting more, but I felt content with the story as a whole. I only real issue I have with this novel is that I wasnt sure it was over until I turned the page and there was no more text. Hahn is known for providing closure in her stories, but, for once, I wasnt 100% sure it was over.

Kudos

Ross (3284 KP) rated Ghost in the Shell (2017) in Movies

Aug 13, 2018

Ghost in the Shell (2017)

2017 | Action, Drama, Sci-Fi

6.2

(73 Ratings)

Movie Rating Watch

Great SFX, little elsewhere

The Ghost in the Shell refers to the emerging technology of being able to put a human brain/soul (the ghost) inside an artificial body (the shell). In a world where everyone is getting cybernetic enhancements added to their bodies, Scarlett Johansson plays Major, the first such fully artificial creation, as she awakes to find herself inside a body she is unfamiliar with. From there her career as a soldier begins, looking to root out the growing threat of brain hacking in the city.
I feel like the plot has been done so many times before that as soon as the phrase "the first of her kind" was uttered I knew most of what was to follow. While the SFX were quite special, as with Ready Player One, I felt they were a little overdone and possibly just thrown in to distract from the clichéd plot and sparse action scenes.

Kudos

Roxanne (13 KP) rated The Small Hand in Books

Nov 14, 2018

After browsing through the shelves at my local library I spotted this book and knew I recognised the author's name...the brilliant author who wrote The Woman in Black (which I read quite recently and very much enjoyed) so I thought I would pick this one up.
The Small Hand is a nice, enjoyable ghost story which unfortunately lacked a certain chill, I did not find it to be scary in any way and I found that perhaps I was somewhat spoilt by the rollercoaster of The Woman in Black. I got a bit bored part way through with the constant diversions and the lack of depth, I wanted more meat that was sadly missing from this short book, this made it feel rushed or if there were pages missing.
I would still say that if you enjoy ghost stories please do give this one a read, it's not bad but in my opinion it just wasn't that great either.

Kudos

Phil Leader (619 KP) rated The White Hart (Red Grouse Tales) in Books

Nov 28, 2019

The White Hart (Red Grouse Tales)

Leslie W.P. Garland | 2015 | Fiction & Poetry, Mystery, Paranormal

8.0

(1 Ratings)

Book Rating

The fourth of The Red Grouse Tales is also the most obviously paranormal in nature. Told by Pete, a keen fell runner and ladies' man, his one tale actually consists of three linked stories. The central and longest concerns a visit to an old chapel, all that remains of a stately home. There he meets a woman who relates the tragic story of Christine, the former owner of the house and supposed ghost.

This isn't a ghost story designed to spook or discomfort; instead the intriguing tale of Christine, along with that of Pete himself, is a moral one of how some men and women manipulate each other and at what level that becomes unacceptable. The story itself is light with a happy (if not entirely surprising) ending that will leave a warmth where other stories in this collection have left a chill.

The lightest of the Red Grouse tales (in the edition I read) but very much a suitable one to end with.