Ghost Worlds

This is a first for me. I was asked to review this book, by the Author. I have known Melba for many years, and in point of fact was one of the people that encouraged her to write this book. I was also the one that insisted she send it to Llewellyn Publishers rather than self publishing. My philosophy has always been the worst thing they can do is say no, so why not try? You can still publish it yourself after you get the rejection slip. Well, it got snapped up in one shot.

So it is with no small amount of pride that I give my first requested review.

This book is about ghosts, hauntings and ghost hunting as a hobby. If you do not believe in the supernatural, then there is not much common ground for you.

Melba is a true believer. This book is not a scientific treatise, filled with facts and figures, graphs of EM readings and thermographic logs. Melba recounts her experiences and gives the reader an overview of Ghost Hunting, the lingo, the techniques and the procedures to run a Ghost Hunting Club. The evidence is anecdotal, but intriguing.

The book is 241 pages, and nineteen chapters long, with a glossary at the end. The chapters deal with specific aspects of the phenomena under question, explaining each from Melba's understanding of them. As I said, Melba is a true believer, and comes from that approach, but is wise enough and reasonable enough to include alternate beliefs. She never claims to have a lock on the truth.

Chapter One: Do You Believe in Ghosts? In this introductory chapter, Ms. Goodwyn deals with the subject of belief. Most people who believe in ghosts do so because they had an experience they can not explain. The chapter discusses the various things that happen that could be evidence of a haunting, and how pervasive the phenomenon is. Her last line in the chapter really raises the real question: Are you prepared to admit you believe in ghosts?

Chapter Two: Hauntings Past and Present. This chapter deals with the sorts of places where one can find ghosts. It starts with a few of the author's first experiences, then goes on to detail those places most likely to be instilled with psychic residue, Cemeteries, Taverns, Hotels and Boarding Houses, Theaters, Museums, Abandoned Jails and Prisons, Large Community Buildings, Accident and Crime Scenes, Battlefields, Hospitals and Asylums, Caves and Mineshafts, Historic Homes, Isolated Roads, and Libraries, all have historic connections to hauntings.

Chapter Three: Haunted Possessions and Ghostly Connections. This chapter has to do with the phenomena of haunted objects, dolls, jewelry and even a crystal ball, all can contain impressions of their former owners, and sometimes when you bring a new old object into your home, you may be letting in more than you bargained for.

Chapter Four: A Ghostly Presence deals with the phenomena of actual communication with ghostly entities. It explains a great deal about the theory that ghosts exist in different vibrational states, and that some people can shift their perceptions higher and lower, and that these are the people who have ghostly experiences. She also discusses the phenomena of Crisis Ghosts, those apparitions that seem to warn of danger, or appear to loved ones to tell them they have passed on.

Chapter Five: Appearances of Residual Ghosts deal with the phenomena of "Ghostly Recordings" scenes that replay for witnesses...perhaps not ghosts, but memories preserved in the fabric of existence.

Chapter Six: Shadow Ghosts Mysterious dark patches, usually in photographs, are discussed lightly.

Chapter Seven: Imaginary Playmates. What if Suzie or Mr. Man is not in your child's head? What if your child just has the sight?

Chapter Eight: Poltergeists. One of the most troubling hauntings, and it's not even a ghost.

Chapter Nine: Ghost Orbs Ever had a picture ruined by a glowing blob right in front of Aunt Myrtle's face? That could have been Uncle Bob.

Chapter Ten: Ecto Mist Another largely photographic Phenomenon.

Chapter Eleven: Vortex: A Ghostly Conveyance. One of the more extreme psychic photograph phenomena. (Or just the camera strap?)

Chapter Twelve: Portals and Interdimensional Travel. The most extreme of phenomena, and the hardest to accept.

Chapter Thirteen: Energy Anomalies: Or, the things that don't fit into chapters six through twelve.

Chapter Fourteen: Who are Ghost Hunters, anyway? Or, what to do with the information from chapters one through Thirteen. An overview of the hobby, avocation and obsession of Ghost Hunting.

Chapter Fifteen: Investigations and Field Trips. Or, how to be a Ghost Hunter. Detailed information of where and how to practice your new hobby, with emphasis on how to avoid mistakes that will discredit any evidence you gather, or put you in danger.

Chapter Sixteen: A Ghost Hunter's Tool Kit. This is the most technical section, discussing the tools of the trade used by mere mortals without any psychic sensitivity to guide them. They include, cameras, film, Polaroid and digital, video camcorders, Thermometers, compasses, motion detectors, chimes or "ghost catchers", Electromagnetic Field Detectors, Dowsing Rods, Blank Tapes for Electronic Voice Phenomena, Digital Recorders, two way radios, and of course, notebooks, flashlights, and sensible shoes.

Chapter Seventeen: A Ghostly Invitation. This chapter basically deals with using your kit to gather reliable evidence.

Chapter Eighteen: Ghostly Conversations. This chapter discusses how to talk to the ghost and determine what it wants. It talks a great deal about opening up your intuition, and learning to recognize the subtle things that may be a ghost's frantic efforts to communicate.

Chapter Nineteen: The Ultimate Ghost Tale: Melba closes out her book with the scariest story in her repertoire of experiences as a ghost hunter. Can there be a better way to end a book like this?

The glossary is a simple definition of any technical or jargon terms in the book.

The Final Analysis

This book is a friendly, easily readable discussion of ghosts, and ghost hunting. It is told from a believer's point of view. Ms. Goodwyn's writing style is casual, personal, and fun to read. If you like the show Ghost Hunters on Sci Fi, you will love this book.

To close, I would like to include one of the quotes included at the beginning of the chapters:

Do I believe in ghosts? No, but I am afraid of them.

Marie Anne du Deffand (1697-1789)