Ghost Story
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Product Description
Product Description
When Agatha and Paddy decide to leave London and buy a house on the coast, they are full of hope for themselves and their growing family - baby Max and a new child on the way. Three months later, when the builders move out and they move in, things look very different. A personal tragedy threatens to destroy all they have carefully built up and only a small miracle, it seems, will save them. . . Ghost Story is a book both haunted and haunting, which asks how we can ever mourn something that hasn't lived. Emotionally resonant, beautifully crafted and ultimately redemptive, it will take you to the heart of suffering and desire.
About the Author
Toby Litt was born in 1968. He is the author of Adventures in Capitalism, Beatniks, Corpsing, deadkidsongs, Exhibitionism and Finding Myself.
Inside This Book
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First Sentence
'YOU'LL see,' says the young man probably an estate agent coming through the front door of the house. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
'YOU'LL see,' says the young man probably an estate agent coming through the front door of the house. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Format:Paperback
This book is a disappointment.
The title suggests something spooky or chilling. It's not.
The beginning is very abstract and I ended up skipping it mainly because the main part of the book starts several pages in and the beginning just seems so irrelevant and complex and completely unconnected to the rest of the story. When the actual story begins about the couple, Paddy and Agatha, it does seem quite interesting initially. A couple buying a new home together following a miscarriage. Yet for chapter after chapter, nothing happens and I got bored. I read on and on only to be confronted by a six paged conversation between the couple one night in bed about whether their house has a personality and whether it has humility or dignity and then they argue about whether they are the same thing and they talk about the house as if it is alive. Seriously, who has these conversations?! This is where I lost respect for the book, the characters and the author.
The story is not badly written but it is boring and pointless. I am also horrified to see the price on Amazon is £12 something for a paperback! I got mine in a charity shop and I fear that's where it is going to end up once again.
The title suggests something spooky or chilling. It's not.
The beginning is very abstract and I ended up skipping it mainly because the main part of the book starts several pages in and the beginning just seems so irrelevant and complex and completely unconnected to the rest of the story. When the actual story begins about the couple, Paddy and Agatha, it does seem quite interesting initially. A couple buying a new home together following a miscarriage. Yet for chapter after chapter, nothing happens and I got bored. I read on and on only to be confronted by a six paged conversation between the couple one night in bed about whether their house has a personality and whether it has humility or dignity and then they argue about whether they are the same thing and they talk about the house as if it is alive. Seriously, who has these conversations?! This is where I lost respect for the book, the characters and the author.
The story is not badly written but it is boring and pointless. I am also horrified to see the price on Amazon is £12 something for a paperback! I got mine in a charity shop and I fear that's where it is going to end up once again.
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Before the main part of this book, there's a brilliantly-written short story, and a (presumably) autobiographical account of Toby Litt's experience of his girlfriend's miscarriages. This I found harrowing and moving, along the lines of the outstanding Love Life by Ray Kluum. Then we get into the main fictional story, that of Paddy and Aggie, who have bought their dream house, but can not be happy there because Aggie has lost her baby and the bereavement is destroying their relationship. I admit to being prejudiced against men who try to write about specifically female issues from a woman's perspective. It hardly ever works and it didn't here. Because I couldn't believe in Aggie for a moment as a woman, the story wasn't worth reading.
Toby Litt is brilliant, but when writing about subjects as intimate and personal as this, I really think he should stick to the male perspective.
Toby Litt is brilliant, but when writing about subjects as intimate and personal as this, I really think he should stick to the male perspective.
4 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
What on earth was Toby Litt on ? The couple of chapters before the main story were quite honestly wierd and disturbing. How can you think that you are a hare (yes - as in big rabbit) and not be worried about your sanity ? I read on because I never give up on a book but rather wished I hadn't. The story never really got anywhere and because of the title, `Ghost Story' I expected a bit of spookiness - it didn't happen. The whole story revolves around a wife who has lost a baby and almost loses her mind. The author is writing about a very sensitive area and everyone deals with problems differently but the main character is depressing to read about. I have friends who have miscarried but they didn't start avoiding their friends, stop leaving the house and above all didn't abandon their existing child. Weird, depressing & boring.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Confusing, boring take on this emotive topic
It's rare for me to dislike a book as much as I did this one. Admittedly, it's got to be hard to write a novel about miscarriage, let alone a novel that's readable, interesting and... Read more
Published on 30 Aug 2009 by Gabrielle O
A perceptive study of bereavement.
A skilled narrative depicting the disintegration of a personality and relationship following bereavement. Accurately observed, perceptive prose.
Published on 29 July 2007 by nearasyouget
Okay.
I'm not sure if I like this book or not. The character of Aggie annoyed me, and although most of the story came out eventually, there were still some things that I was left... Read more
Published on 5 April 2006 by Mandy
Genius
I totally disagree with the other reviewers of this book. It seems to me a strange, brilliant, moving piece of work by a writer who continues to surprise and delight. Read more
Published on 12 Feb 2006 by "owenbangor"
Very disappointing
I have just finished this book and to be honest it was very boring and hard going. Twice I almost chucked it but at the price decided to continue. Read more
Published on 3 Feb 2006 by P. Vine
poor
compared to the authors usual highly readable and highly enjoyable work, this is a chor.
Published on 5 Dec 2005 by "gtveee"
Shallow Angst
Mmmm - have to admit that I stopped reading this when I was three quarters through it. Don't think I've ever done that before. Read more
Published on 7 Aug 2005
Moving to the point of tears
I found the author's preface extremely moving, having suffered a recent miscarriage myself; it made me cry to the extent that I had to stop reading it! Read more
Published on 6 Aug 2005 by R. A. Collins
Refreshingly good
This is a great novel, not too heavy but if you let yourself you can really be drawn into it. Certainly Litt's best from what I've read... Read more
Published on 14 Mar 2005 by "bmanicsa"
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