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 Texas : Features : Book Reviews

BEST TALES OF TEXAS GHOSTS

by Docia Schultz Williams


Reviewed by 
Raoul Hashimoto

While reading this book, I came to the conclusion that reading ghost stories is a lot like eating jelly beans. This isn't surprising, since I was also eating jelly beans at the time. I've heard people say I can't walk and chew gum at the same time, but eat and read? No problem. Conclusions:

  1. Like jelly beans, each ghost story has it's own flavor, yet it's similar to the others.
  2. You can't remember the last one you ate/read while you are eating/reading the current one.
  3. You can eat/read too many at one sitting.

On the other hand, ghost stories don't stick to your teeth, and jelly beans don't make you get up in the middle of the night to check the lock on the back door.

This book is a must for your nightstand, and I can assure you after it's read, that it will make the trip from your bookcase back to your nightstand many times.

Best Tales of Texas Ghosts is conveniently divided into geographic regions, so one can immediately check on how many spooks are in one's neighborhood. This division also confirms suspicions you may have had about other regions.

Namely that your ghosts are far more interesting than in other parts of Texas.

The poetry will get you if you don't watch out!

Each region is introduced with a poem by the author. Don't skip these, thinking that this is ‘free verse'. These are downhome ghost stories, not The New Yorker. The poems actually rhyme and rhyme well.

They're everywhere! They're everywhere!

While Victorian houses are still number one with spirits (especially houses with Mansard roofs), there's a waiting list as long as Abe Lincoln's funeral train. The shortage is so acute that Forts, Saloons, Fire Stations, Hotels and Courthouses all have their resident lodgers. Even the Aircraft Carrier Lexington in Corpus Christi has a full complement of phantoms and one must assume that enlisted ghosts are segregated from the officer ghosts.  "Boo, Sir!" Theaters are popular with spirits, but is that so surprising, considering the reluctance of actors to leave the stage?

A WIDE SPECTRUM OF SPECTERS

These stories run the gamut of human emotions. One would have to listen to hours of Country Western music (or Italian Opera) to get a fraction of the pathos in these stories.  There are benevolent ghosts, malevolent ghosts, wilted (Senior Spirits), jilted and kilted ghosts (Scottish Texans).

BEST TALES OF TEXAS GHOSTS was published this year so many of the witnesses to recent appearances are still amoung us, although many have changed employment because of their experience. An extra bonus to the reader is Ms.Williams' inclusion of addresses and phone numbers of Beds and Breakfasts and Hotels who continue to host guests that have stayed beyond check out time. Way beyond.  

Ms. Williams has written four previous books (in five years!) and the stories in Best Tales Of Texas Ghosts are her hand picked favorites from these and another work in progress.  While your personal library may not have a supernatural section, Best Tales of Texas Ghosts certainly belongs in your Texana collection.

For those of you that give books as gifts, this is one that will be read.

1998
© John Troesser

Related Topics: Texas Ghosts | Texas Ghost Towns | Texas Books

 
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