Rating: 
Summary: INTERESTING COMPENDIUM
Review: At just under four-hundred pages Ghosts of the Northeast is filled with intriguing stories ranging from a few paragraphs to two or three pages in length. Most are accompanied by original drawings and photos of the haunted sites. Some of these places look pretty spooky and it's nice to see just what the author is writing about. He also includes brief background on people and structures before delving into their paranormal histories. This effort has a contemporary feel to it as Pitkin includes many ocurrences from the 1990's thru 2001. The author definitely believes in God and an afterlife. Most importantly, he warns readers not to seek out the occult particularly thru seances, ouija boards and the like. I'm skeptical of human earthbound spirits. I believe ghostly entities emanate from a evil realm we should avoid. Good read, but take the author's warnings to heart.
Rating:
Summary: Alternate Plain Road Trip
Review: David Pitkin's latest book is not for those who want to be scared (or to scare others). It will take you to places that are not necessarily in the tour books already, or have had motion pictures made about them; ordinary houses and places where spirits manifest themselves across time BECAUSE OF THE PLACE and what it holds. Like the ones we all live in.I finding out who these souls are, tracing back the history of a place and thus giving background to occurrances otherwise unexplainable, Mr.Pitkin both gives us a 'how-to' regarding our own experiences [whether frightening or benevolent] and an understanding of the sensitivity power that exists in most of us [whether developed or not] to the plains inhabited by the souls of the past. This book is comprehensive, succint in its 'tale presentation' and definitely leaving its readers anxious for the author's NEXT book on the subject.
Rating:
Summary: First hand experiences
Review: Findally a book that gives insights into people and places that
that have ghosts and their first hand experiences. It will make you not want to put this one down . Interesting,well written and quite simply fun to read. If I could buy just one book this is the one !
Rating:
Summary: First hand experiences
Review: Findally a book that gives insights into people and places that
that have ghosts and their first hand experiences. It will make you not want to put this one down . Interesting,well written and quite simply fun to read. If I could buy just one book this is the one !
Rating:
Summary: An In-Depth Review
Review: I don't think the title of this book does it justice, really. This book isn't just about ghosts, but about the people who live with them, their houses, and the houses' history. But, the ghosts are the focal point, and that's why this book is such an excellent one. The author does his own investigating; he doesn't just put together a bunch of stories from other sources. This pleasantly lengthy book is chock-full of well-written, recent, true ghost stories that you haven't read elsewhere. I highly recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: A Must For Those Who Collect Ghost Stories
Review: I had a hard time putting this book down!! Well written stories that come straight from the people who witnessed the events!! It was nice to see photos of the places the stories were written about.This will definately be added to my collection of ghost books. I hope Mr.Pitkin continues to research ghost stories and pass them along to us!!
Rating:
Summary: BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN COMPENDIUM
Review: I often purchase books thru Amazon and then resell after I've read them, but I think I'll keep this little gem. You'll get your money's worth here. At just under four-hundred pages, Ghosts of the Northeast is jampacked with entertaining stories ranging from a few paragraphs to two or three pages in length. Most are accompanied by original drawings and photos of the haunted sites. Granted, a building is a building, but some of these places look pretty spooky and it's nice to see just what the author is writing about. He includes brief background on people and structures before delving into their paranormal histories. I was particularly pleased at the contemporary feel of this book. Some books in this genre relay events which seem too dated to be relevant, but Pitkin includes many ocurrences from the 1990's thru 2001. The author is personable and very spiritual - he doesn't shy away from his beliefs in God and an afterlife. He is also responsible in warning his readers not to pursue the occult, particularly thru seances and ouija boards. I don't hold much credence in earthbound spirits. I think many entities emanate from a potentially evil realm we may never understand. Nevertheless, I enjoyed his presentations immensely.
Rating:
Summary: A Really Good Book
Review: I'm sick to death of books that spend 15 pages telling you the history of a building or area-histories that are often spurious or just folklore-and then end the chapter with, "There are some who say that if you listen on a windy night..." These are not books about ghosts-they're collections of legends and they're pretty much useless to anyone who is actually interested in ghosts.
Pitkin's book is more in the style of the collections made by the early SPR-he is interested in the ghostly experiences of his subjects, not the history of the county they're in. Mr. Pitkin has spent his time wisely,interviewing witnesses instead of reading travelogues. The people in this book have seen apparitions, have watched the movement of objects when no one or thing was influencing them, etc. For some reason this is rare these days. I highly recommend this book and I hope Mr. Pitkin writes more like it.
Rating:
Summary: The Most Intelligent Book yet on Ghost Stories
Review: Mr. Pitkin has put together a stylish glossary of ghost stories, taking place in a series of Up State New York (among other places) Villages and Cities. Some hit close to home as I live only a short drive from where many stories are reported to have taken place. I bought two copies (one in a book store) and have lent it out to many friends who love it too. It is a wonderful book to take along on a country drive up and down New York State's open roads. The stories are told with honesty and an open mind, never attempting to capitalize on the "fright" factor, but instead bringing common sense to the stories, although there were one or two that had me sleeping with the night light on a couple of times. Truly one of the BEST books on true hauntings I have read to date. I look forward to more from Mr. Pitkin.
Rating:
Summary: An In-Depth Review
Review: My wife and I had the pleasure of listening to David's on-air interview with 'Mark and Brian' of 95.5FM KLOS on Friday October 31st. David's command of English and a very intriguing voice made even the 'duo of rascals' keep quiet and allow this man to enthrall us with partial contents of "Ghosts of the Northeast". I am on the way to the bookstore after I sign off to purchase what I hope is already on audio-tape with David as the storyteller. He is very informative, witty, and perfectly spoken. If his book is half as good as his on-air persona, he would not only be a major success on any speaking tour he so chooses, but the public would demand his written works continue (if not already). Buy this book, ... be informed and entertained at the same time - a rarity these days!
Greg Lawritson
Aliso Viejo, CA
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