BOO!

I think just about everyone enjoys a good ghost story. It's how we connect, create new folktales, share history. It doesn't even matter if you believe in it or not. The truth is that a small part inside of us hopes it is real. We hope that the ghosts and monsters that we talk about are real. Without them,where is the mystery in life?
I can not resist a good ghostly tale. In fact, I am obsessed. Any ghost show on TV, you know where to find me. Any compendium of true ghost stories, it'll be in my hands. I can't pass by a cemetery without imagining some lonesome spirit wandering amongst the tombstones. If someone begins to tell a tale, I will stop everything and listen with rapt attention. I don't even know when this obsession began. I've always been into creepy things, so maybe I was born this way. I never really thought twice about it, though. It's simply who I am. Recently, though, I have been wondering why I am so hooked on haunts. What is it about them that pulls me in? I'm not alone either. I know plenty of other folks like me who are addicted to ghosts too. My husband thinks I am a bit obsessed and I admit that I do make him suffer while I watch ghost-hunting shows, that are basically people walking in the dark and filming creepy locations. Still, I never get bored. I just don't understand it, and I'm not sure I ever will. It's safe to say that humans are afraid of death, so why are we so fascinated with everything that surrounds it? I can't even chalk it up to hopes of an afterlife. It is way beyond that. When you listen to people's experiences and stories, it is quite telling of who they are and how they live in this world. I think that's why I like to listen to people, to hear their thoughts on ghosts and their relationship with them. I've always wanted to write a good ghost tale, but I find that nothing I can imagine is ever as scary as what actually happens to people. Maybe one day I'll figure it out...

So, putting aside the debate of "are ghosts real"(really, if you believe in something, doesn't that make it real to you anyway?), I've made a list of what I consider the best ghost "stuff" out there to whet your appetite. That is, if you aren't too chicken!

Best Ghost Books:
Fiction- The Haunting of Hill House- Shirley Jackson
Hell House-Richard Matheson
Ghost Story- Peter Straub
Non-Fiction- Haunted America- Michael Norman, Beth Scott
Ghosts- Hans Holzer
Possessed Possessions (any of the series)- Ed Okonowicz

Best Ghost Movies:
Changeling (not the Angelina Jolie movie, folks!)
Ammityville Horror
The Haunting (with Claire Bloom)
Burnt Offerings
The Legend of Hell House

Best Ghost Shows:
Ghost Hunters- Syfy (let's not get started about the sci-fi name change)
Ghost Adventures- Travel Channel
Haunted History- History Channel
Ghostly Encounters- Biography Channel


I would love for anyone to add to this list. I crave this stuff, so feed my addiction!!!!