Some books have such an engrossing tale to tell and are just so darned much fun to read, the marvelous hours spent immersed in the story provide you a merciful reprieve from all the junk in your life. Gary Jansen’s Holy Ghosts is just such a book.
The story itself is amazing. A young family coexisting with ghosts is an intriguing plot for a novel. What blows your mind about this book is that every word is true to life. It’s fascinating to learn how ghosts behave when they are stuck in no-man’s land. We learn that it is not easy on the ghosts to be between one’s physical life and the after life. Nor is it easy on the host family. I supposed it’s a little like having the foreign exchange student from hell under your roof, an uncooperative, ungrateful kid who tests the patience of everyone and yet maintains the attitude, What’s your problem?
What makes this book special is what Jansen does with his real-life experience as a Ghost Host. He does two things extraordinarily well. First, he packs his book with history and knowledge about his subject matter--and about how it relates to religion and, specifically, his own faith (Jansen is Catholic)--so slyly, the reader learns a great deal without ever having the feeling of being taught. Never didactic, yet authoritative, Jansen knows what he is about here. This book is well researched, and the fruits of the author’s labor are presented in a way that is organic to the events as they unfold.
Second, Jansen is a terrific host not only to his ghosts but also to his readers. Warm and engaging, he invites us right into his home. He introduces us to his beautiful,unflappable wife, Grace, and their two young sons. With confidence in us, his guests, he trustingly shares intimate details about their life together. And--a delightful bonus--we are able to meet and come to know the Jansen family’s guest of honor, Mary Ann Winkowski.
Jansen takes everything to another level, however, when he weaves into his storytelling multi-generation legends and personal experiences from his childhood. Just like the consummate host who has invited us to a party we’ll be talking about for years, he serves up the best and holds nothing back.
This is one of those wonderful, quirky, surprising books that will dominate quite a few conversations at the office and with your clients. You’ll want all your friends to read it. They’ll think you’re a little goofy for being ga-ga over a book about ghosts but they’ll understand once they’ve read it. What I like about Holy Ghosts is that you don’t need a campfire to enjoy this ghost story. It stands up tothe glaring light of day as a first rate good read.
This book, read by the author, is now available on iTunes. http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAudiobook?id=406083203&s=143441