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The Little Book of True Ghost Stories

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Barroom brawler ghosts, a ghost prayer group, Peeping Tom ghosts, a ghost who hates children, and even a ghost who didn't know he was dead are just a few of the wild assortment of characters in Echo Bodine's delightful new collection of true ghost stories. A psychic who has been hunting ghosts for 40 years, Bodine shares her story of how she became a ghost buster along with the stories of ghosts, hauntings, and possessions she encountered along the way. Wondering if those flickering lights, jangling door knobs, and mumbling sounds in the middle of the night mean you have a ghost? Bodine offers step-by-step instructions for getting rid of them along with clearing and protection prayers to keep them away. These funny, sometimes unnerving, and always entertaining stories will provide reassurance to anyone who has ever encountered things that go bump in the night. Previously published as Relax, It's Only a Ghost .

208 pages, Paperback

First published July 12, 2011

15 people are currently reading
131 people want to read

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Echo Bodine

22 books55 followers

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5 stars
59 (25%)
4 stars
69 (30%)
3 stars
58 (25%)
2 stars
36 (15%)
1 star
8 (3%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
Profile Image for Joana’s World.
646 reviews319 followers
March 4, 2019
Um livro pequenino que se lê num instante. Eu adoro histórias paranormais, fantasmas e espíritos e pensava que ia ser uma ótima leitura. Acho que a história está mal construída no geral, não há sequência. São pequenas histórias que a autora viveu mas não há assim muitos pormenores nem explicações. Não sei, mas faltou algo.
Profile Image for Sharan.
35 reviews1 follower
July 9, 2012
Ghosts are always an interesting subject, and real ghost stories even more so! I'm sure the author, Echo Bodine, is attempting to write sincerely, but her story telling sucks. She shares her psychic beginnings very well, but fails to bring detail to any other of her anecdotes. Bodine admits her abilities focus on another sensibility than we, the readers (or non-ghost sensers) are exposed to, yet rarely delves into detail when it comes to the entities she comes in contact with. She is also very repetitive for such a short text. Ultimately, Bodine has managed to make a very enticing premise a boring read.
Profile Image for Debra Stang.
Author 6 books11 followers
January 11, 2012
I'm a little too much of a skeptic to buy into everything Bodine says, but the book was easy to read, and I did pick up some interesting information for a novel I'm currently working on.
3 reviews
December 3, 2012
I think this book was a really good book if you like ghosts books. I understood this book completely. I thought it was a good book because I like the way the author organized the book, the way she worded things and describing everything about the ghosts. I believe in ghosts so of course I thought this book was good. I have not found a ghost book that i haven't liked. There was only one part of this book that I didn't like and that was in some of the stories it seemed like she made it up when it was really suppose to be a true story. A brief summary about "The Little Book of True Ghost Stories", there really wasn't an ending to this book, every chapter was the same in the story. In the book Echo and her brother investigate places, talk to ghosts and they get the ghost to leave where they are haunting. I would recommend this book to others. If they like true ghost stories they should read this book, it's a quick read and if you believe in ghosts then you can relate to some of the stories.
Profile Image for Heather.
589 reviews6 followers
November 7, 2016
I love ghost stories and I do believe in ghosts but the entire time I read this all I could think was that something was off. I don't know if it was in her story telling or just the unbelievable ease of how everyone can see all these apparitions and talk with spirits. Also she contradicts herself a few times by saying ghosts are stuck but spirits aren't yet she tries to "un-stuck" the ghosts, but by definition she shouldn't be able to do that.
Also she said how she learned at church that those who commit suicide go to purgatory and have to stay there until they would have naturally died. If she is talking about the Christian Church, first of all purgatory is not discussed anymore in most churches however from my studies on the religious beliefs of the Christian church on the accession of spirits/souls, they believe that those who have committed suicide (depending on which specific faith) either go to hell permanently or remain in purgatory until they learned their wrong doing and earn the right to ascend into Heaven.
Profile Image for Barry Huddleston.
147 reviews3 followers
November 2, 2011
Echo Bodine kicks off the book by drawing a line between ghosts and spirits in the Preface and goes into greater detail in her first chapter. The last several chapters cover various topics dealing with ghosts. For me, the real meat of the book was the ghostly anecdotes.

Each story was like paranormal popcorn, I couldn’t stop reading them. They were each around 2 to 5 pages long and end with a “ghost fact.” It was a perfect read for the holiday season. I recommend this book for anyone interested in ghosts or psychics.
Profile Image for Psistriker.
28 reviews
October 29, 2011
My only complaint was it was too short! I started it & finished in a matter of hours. But I love Echo's approach to the paranormal (she described the feeling in one haunted location as "totally yucky"). And her down to earth, plain speaking, take no BS attitude makes her my kind of psychic.
3 reviews
October 15, 2012
Im in the middle of the book and so far its good. it can scare you at night but its not that of a thriller. Its about a medium who gets callos to go to houses to get rid of ghost in the home. i wont give you to much cause its up to you to read it.
21 reviews
December 24, 2018
Echo Bodine is an excellent writer. Her books have definitely assisted me in my spiritual growth. She usually writes pretty simply without a ton of spiritual jargon. Her stories were either scary, heartwarming, sweet, confusing, and amazing. I enjoyed the story about the 12 or so ghosts in a house. A deceased teenage greaser ghost held the hands of a little girl and a little boy and took them to Heaven. An angel came down to take the soul of a dying woman. The story that almost made me tear up was when a group of little kids transitioned to the other side together.
Profile Image for Charles Jr..
Author 7 books8 followers
July 13, 2019
Kind of jumped the ectoplasmic shark for me late in the book when she spoke of watching the ghosts of famous celebrities comporting in the afterlife (Elvis, Marilyn, JFK Jr.). Prince I could a little bit understand because she has to play to her Minneapolis-area readership, but...even as a paranormal author myself there are lines I find hard to cross, sorry folks.
Profile Image for Molly.
475 reviews
December 28, 2020
The author has experienced some really interesting haunting and performs some exciting ghost busting, but the storytelling is very poor. This would have benefitted from a strong edit and perhaps a co-writer to better describe these true ghost stories.
8 reviews
September 16, 2023
I liked the book however after a while the book felt like it repeated itself or that it was the same story over and over again. or the spirit guides always said the same things.
39 reviews
December 11, 2024
Ghosts are a bad vibe, but they're no match for my spirit guide's healing energy
Profile Image for Sarah.
1,227 reviews33 followers
September 27, 2015
Wow, according to this self-proclaimed medium, death is really fun. I mean, you get to hang out wherever you want on earth and do whatever you please, socialize with other ghosts, and go to heaven (where everyone goes regardless of how they lived on earth) and choose whether to be reborn as a new person, or to stay in paradise. Really, who would want to be alive, when the afterlife is so great? All well and good – except there's absolutely no proof or reason to believe that any of it is true. Only one woman's word, and it seems pretty shaky.


According to this book, the world is populated with ghosts. Bodine, of course, can see these ghosts that other people can't see, and dialogue with them. She walks into a haunted house, immediately finds the ghost, talks to it, and gets it to move into the light and leave the dwelling to the living. She's great at her job. She charges money (how much I'm not sure) to travel to the homes or business places of people who think they're being hunted by ghosts, and doesn her professional ghost busting. She has absolutely no problem seeing and dialoguing with the invisible spirits. I have to grant that her stories of talking to ghosts were interesting, and sometimes quite entertaining, but I don't believe for one moment any of them to be true. Her book is basically a commercial for her ghost busting services, and I'm sure she got some extra business after it was published.

I wanted to believe so badly that at first I really considered what she was saying – but the claims got wilder and wilder. Towards the end of the book, it really jumped the shark by talking about all the celebrity ghosts she seen. She discusses various dead celebrities and where they are now, and how they adjusted to the "other side"

She also talks about interviewing a woman who was the reincarnation of Marilyn Monroe, and who was visited during the interview by the ghosts of John F. Kennedy and Elvis Presley. This apparently wasn't the first time she seen the King in his ghostly form. I mean seriously… Wow. It's hard to believe that anybody could buy the stuff. Yet people shelled out good money for the book and also pay this woman to heal them (yes, she also has the power to heal by laying her hands on people – one wonders why she doesn't just go to a hospital and get a job doing it) and do psychic readings as well as her ghost busting.

The book was ludicrous. Oh yes, it was entertaining – it was fun to read if approached as fiction. But of course, the author presented it as the truth – she made money off people and their gullibility. So I wrestle with how many stars to give it –. I've decided to give it three for entertainment value alone – but I still think it's immoral that this author is in practice fooling gullible people. I don't want this author to benefit from her lies and wild stories. If you are going to take this book with a grain of salt and just treated as fiction to enjoy, I would recommend it – but please, please buy it used, so the author doesn't make any money.
Profile Image for Charmin.
1,077 reviews140 followers
March 18, 2024
HIGHLIGHTS:
1. GHOSTS HANG AROUND PEOPLE:
Anywhere that people hang out, ghosts hang out too.

2. GHOSTS MANIPULATE LIVING ENERGY:
- At some point ghosts realize that they can manipulate energy.
- When they get bored or want to get a kick out of frightening people, some of them start playing tricks to get people's attention.

3. FEAR & ANGER ARE POWERFUL EMOTIONS:
- Ghosts learned that fear and anger or two powerful emotions with a lot of energy, so they’ll try to create these emotions by frightening people.
- Ghosts can breathe in someone’s energy to boost their own or use it to make more scary things happen, which then generates more energy.

4. DEMAND:
- Demand that the ghost leave your house.
- It is an uninvited guest.

5. SMUDGING:
- When smudging a room, leave a window open so the negative energy can leave.

6. GET HELP TO REMOVE GHOSTS:
- Call on angels or deceased loving friends or relatives to help the ghost move forward into the light.

7. DO NOT SPEAK OF GHOST AFTER LEAVING:
- After a ghost leaves, do not speak of the ghost for three days.
- Talking about it will draw it back.

8. SQUADRON:
- if you suspect you have a ghost and would rather not try getting rid of it yourself, there is a very nice group of former Ghosts who call themselves the squadron.
- Ask them out loud to please come to your home and get rid of the ghosts.
- They make house calls and their services are free.
- Call on them at night because all of the activity at the home has calmed down.

9. ASK FOR HEALING ANGEL:
- Once the ghosts have come and gone, ask for a healing angel to come in and fill up your house with the white light of blessings and protection.
- Ask the angel to seal the house up so you won’t be bothered by more intruders.

10. YOU ARE MORE POWERFUL:
- You are more powerful than any ghost or spirit.
- You never have to be victimized by any of these earthbound souls, but the reality is always up to you.
Profile Image for Claudia Loureiro.
Author 9 books27 followers
December 18, 2015
As an admirer of Echo Bodine, I was really pleased to notice another book on her experiences with ghosts. Echo is an excellent writer whose life experience in the field makes this book even more interesting. If your looking for unique and honest encounters with spirits from a real life medium/ghost hunter than this is your book. Some humorous stories like "the ghost who liked sex" and "the ghost who threw around the renter" will definitely keep your attention. I wasn't disappointed with this read.
38 reviews
June 9, 2014
I really enjoyed the book, however I feel like it should be more descriptions such as scenarios. Overall it was interesting and I want to read more books from Echo Bodine.

Gostei muito do livro apesar de achar que havia de ter mais descrições a nível de cenários, para haver uma maior contextualização. De qualquer forma este livro foi diferente dos livros que costumo ler sobre esta temática e quero ler mais livros da Echo Bodine. Muito bom!
Profile Image for Abby.
154 reviews
February 12, 2014
This book was not what I expected at all. I picked it up thinking it was ghost stories from all over the U.S. As it turns out it is stories from a psychic named Echo Bodine. She talks about different ghosts and situations she has encountered, while giving littler tips to help the general public deal with unwanted spiritual guests. It was very interesting and a quick read.
Profile Image for Raquel.
1,332 reviews41 followers
August 25, 2017
Sou suspeita por dizer que adorei ler este livro? NÃO!!!! Adoro histórias como esta que foram escritas pela autora Echo Bodine. Fala sobre alguns episódios pelos quais a autora passou, como passou, como os ajudou. São histórias fantásticas posso dizer. Até nos ajuda, como "caçar" um fantasma...

http://aviciadadoslivros.blogspot.pt/...
Profile Image for Venessa Toups.
6 reviews
April 12, 2012
I myself have had paranormal experiences, but seriously ...if someone has experienced all the things this woman says she has seen...would there still be any room for skepticism. I don't buy it...and I actually DO believe in hauntings!
Profile Image for Wendy.
151 reviews
May 12, 2012
This book was not well written. The way the auther talks it was like her first time every time, but she said she has been to houndreds along with many TV showes about ghost hunting. I would not recommend reading this book.
Profile Image for Amy.
8 reviews
June 4, 2012
I love this book. It's easy to read and has a variety of personal accounts Echo has experienced. I love how she gives tips throughout the book to help others who may be experiencing similar situations. I learned a lot from this book and will look for more of her books to read.
Profile Image for Sabrina Morgan.
88 reviews
March 22, 2013
This book is full of two page stories. So if your not looking for a little build up and maybe some info to your stories, then go ahead and read this. If you are like me then this book will just be annoying.
Profile Image for Ravenna.
408 reviews24 followers
May 8, 2017
I have always heard a lot about Echo Bodine through my time learning about those who are a part of the paranormal world. I was really interested in Echo's stories and her experiences. I really enjoyed reading this book and hearing her experiences.
Profile Image for Donna.
142 reviews2 followers
October 22, 2011
Loved this book. Chock full of ghostly experiences & investigations by a truely talented psychic. A psychic who also has the same beliefs I have. This one is staying on my book shelf.
Profile Image for Arlene.
185 reviews1 follower
January 12, 2012
Quick read! Read in one day! Interesting stories about ghosts and spirits!
337 reviews
June 20, 2013
It was a bunch of short stories about the cases that the author went on. I would have liked a little more on each story but it wasn't bad.
Profile Image for Angela.
72 reviews1 follower
October 18, 2013
2.5 stars. Quick read, but not quite what I was looking for. Best chapter was the one on Bobby Mackey's.
239 reviews5 followers
November 3, 2015
An interesting, easy to read collection of the author's experience with ghosts. Perfect October read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews

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