I am sorry to report that I seem to be losing my touch when it comes to finding books to buy. Well, actually.. let me rephrase that. I seem to be losing my touch hen it comes to finding cheap books to buy. I went into the Age Concern Bookshop in Wolverton yesterday and had a good rummage through all the book shelves and could not find one single book that took my fancy. I feared that perhaps I had trained my mind so well in the not buying books mentality that I had subconsciously raised a book buying barrier in my brain that would not let me part with any money in a book store. So I decided to put the theory to the test by going into another 2 bookshops today. A Waterstones in MK was my first port of call. I went in and immediately spotted a couple of books that I would not mind having but then my conscience kicked and as I looked at the price I thought... You know, I could probably get these cheaper online?! Yeah.. let's do that. I have yet to order them. Then I went into WH Smith where the signs of buy-one-get-one-half-price screamed at me from the minute I got into the store. Again, I noticed a few books that I was tempted by but then again my conscience kicked in and told me... You know. Buy one get one half price is not that good a deal. Buy one get one FREE would be a better deal. Also, if you bought them online you might be able to get more for your money. So, once again I let out a sigh and went out of the store.
Now, if I am honest I do have plenty of books that I still have to read. But it is always so nice to have something to read that you can look forward to. To have that book that you have been looking for for so long or have become intrigued by because you heard about it or have wanted to read since you were a child or that you heard someone else talk about and are sure that you will like too. So for now reason and my conscience reign victorious in the (non) book buying sector of my brain but I am sure I will catch them out..... eventually.
#### SPOILER ALERT ####
Ghosts over Britain - Peter Moss
I notice from the first page that I have had this one lying around since June 2008. I fear there may be more like this on my stack of books to be read. I bought this one on a little expedition to the bookshop in Wolverton. I remember buying it and going for a Full English in the Agora afterwards. I am not sure which I enjoyed more? Finding the book or eating the breakfast.
The books is in essence a collection of factual ghost stories, sightings and strange goings on in Britain. It does exactly what it says on the tin. The events retold are all noted down from the people who experienced them and collected in several (sort of random) categories. The events portrayed range from ghost pigs, to eyes in floor boards, animals going beserk and malevolent spirits wandering in and out of houses. As you might expect a number of the stories feature old mansions and churches but it seems that the regular two up two down is not stranger to haunting presences either.
One of the tales that struck a chord with me is one of the earlier ones. It tells about a young woman going to stay with some friends and being awoken by some female presence only to find out the next day that the person that used to live in the room committed suicide there. I am not sure what amazed me more about this one. the fact that she saw the ghost of the suicide victim or the fact that the people who let her stay in the room had not even bothered to change the bed or mattress since the event took place. There is also the one about the headless cyclist. Being a cyclist myself I can tell you that we are kind of attached to our heads in more ways than one. A man spots a cyclist plodding through the snow towards a car and only afterwards realises that it seemed as if the guy was headless. The car does not slow down but the inevitable crash does not materialise. The landlord of a pub close by obliges in revealing the origins of the story. Someone was knocked of their bike there.. about 25 years ago.
The book shows ghosts in their many different guises. Some are helpful and try to prevent bad things from happening to those they appear to. Others seem hell bent on taunting and torturing the ones they visit. There is also a fair few stories in which animals seem to be the ones who are more aware of something being here. Dogs or cats that refuse to go into certain rooms. One story mentions a dog that goes crazy when a family moves into their new home. It gets so bad that they have to re-home the dog and as soon as that happens it becomes its usual cheery self again. There is even one about Bletchley where there is a ghost nurse that wanders round the wards of the RAF sick quarters. She and her trolley of surgical equipment seem to vanish through a wall of the ward.
All in all, this is a nice little collection of factual ghost stories of all over Britain. Nothing spectacular but worth the reading.
Title: Ghosts over Britain
Author: Peter Moss
173 pages
Book Club Associates
no ISBN nr
Books to be read: 69
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