All That Lives: A Novel of the Bell Witch

by Melissa Sanders-Self

Drawn from the legend of the Bell Witch, a powerful novel of family, murder, and unspeakable evil follows the distinguished Bell family, rural farmers who lead a peaceful existence, as they, and their entire community, are plagued by violent and malevolent unseen forces, but an evil far greater than the Bell Witch lurks deep within the Bell home.

Genres: Fiction, Horror, Historical Fiction, Paranormal, Mystery, Historical, Witches

450 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2002

Reviews

[Eric · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is the epitome of OK. The writing is well-done, with the dialog the most obvious flaw. I think the author made the mistaken assumption that people spoke the way they wrote. I liked the historical details and the immersion into the time period and setting. The haunting was okay with some nice malice (at times). The talking spirit device never really worked for me and I thought it was something of a cop-out. The action and the narrative should have made the spirit's motives clear. The book was slow, not so much in the sense that it was boring, but that it was pointless. There was little pacing and no sense of events picking up speed and leading to a satsifying conclusion. A nice effort that could have been a lot better.

[Lauren · Rating 1 out of 5]

Absolutely dreadful. I very rarely do not finish a book, but this one I literally threw down in disgust. The writing was poor, the dialogue felt contrived (I have read books written during the period in which this was based and no one talked the way these characters talk) and worst of all about halfway through the book I came across I scene where the "spirit" was taunting John Bell (who had only ever been called "John" up to this point, I believe) and said (and I quote): "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy."
What? WHAT? Are you kidding me? How does something like this get past a publisher?

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my first experience reading a ghost story(well, other than Wuthering Heights). I was comfortable with the old fashioned writing style, the story kept me engaged, and I liked the characters. Towards the end I struggled with some of Betsy' reasoning, and to have the main character barely fourteen years old understand things beyond my own comprehension was bewildering. For me, the book ended leaving one huge question unanswered. I would be interested in knowing if other readers were satisfied with the ending.

[Randy Ladenheim-Gil · Rating 2 out of 5]

I seem to be struggling my way through books this late spring/summer. I sort of knew the story of the Bell Witch, having struggled through a nonfiction account a few years back. Why I thought I'd like a novel more I have absolutely no idea! There are better ghost stories to read, and better historical novels as well. I recommend giving this one a pass.

[Kelly Mcculley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read and re-read this book no telling how many times. I find I enjoy reading it most in the fall- as the book begins in the fall. I've loved the story of the Bell Witch haunting ever since I was 13. Beautifully written and very entrancing.

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was wrapped up in this story until maybe three-fouths through then it got a little repetitious; like it could have been wrapped up with about 100 pages less. Then the ending....I'm still confused about the ending!


I was expecting a reason for the 'spirit' to tell Betsy, "Do Not have Josh Gardner" but there was never any kind of explanation. I thought maybe he was a player, maybe he had other girls, or there was something malicious or psychotic about him. This wasn't the case at all. He seemed sincere in his feelings for Betsy and he seemed like a nice boy who helped take care of his family. I just can't come up with a reasonable explanation for this.
I also could not understand why, if the spirit targeted this family (John Bell in particular) because of the incest that was hinted at over and over, why did the spirit take it out on Betsy Bell? Why when she was the innocent child in all of that?
What about the mother in all of this? It seems perhaps she would have been the one targeted; not Betsy. And what about the others who seemed to know what was going to happen when John Bell carried Betsy to her bedroom? There was dialogue like, "Are you sure you're up to it?" It was very confusing.
Those are the main reasons why I only gave this book 3 stars.


If you enjoy a spooky story, I think you will enjoy this one. Just don't expect all the questions to be answered.

[Jenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought the plot itself was interesting and at first the line of events were fascinating. However, too much of the "Being" inundated the family and too many things were left unexplained. The ending left everything hanging, truly one of the worst ends to a book I've experienced yet. Probably not something I would suggest to somebody else, although it was nice to pass the time with.

[Lisa Marie Kemmerer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have always been very interested in anything to do with "WITCHES"......mainly back in the 1800's. And, this story is no exception!! Beautifully written and the author makes you feel as though you are there and can feel everything the witch is doing to this family. It is very interesting that this story has been passed down from generation to generation....makes you wonder how much has changed since it first was told??
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it highly if you enjoy stories about witches!!

[Barbara Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Melissa Sanders-Self's brilliantly rendered story of The Bell Witch is both haunting and seductive. Her strength of character, vivid descriptions of the setting, and ability to conjure a community with all of the complexities of belief and family culture are a rare treat. I hope she has more work coming out soon!!!

[CozyCorner · Rating 2 out of 5]

It started off as an interesting story, but a third of the way in it was just slow and repetitive. I kept at it with the hopes it would get better. Some new events did happen but they didn't improve the story. The ending was just bizarre. Not a book I'd recommend to anyone

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had high hopes for this book. It started out pretty good, but, the ending felt like it didn't fit at all and ruined the experience for me.

[Kit★ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a decent read, not too exciting in either direction. To be honest, I picked it up when I saw it at the Goodwill mostly because I had seen the movie An American Haunting and thought it was alright, and I was hoping the book could expand upon the story given in the movie. Well, it did, but it didn't really have the dirty details and the scariness I was really hoping for. It was still an ok book though, I thought the author had a nice style, and the historic details kept it interesting when the supernatural excitement was lagging. At times it reminded me a bit of a Little House on the Prairie type story, especially with the children's doings, the snowball fights, and trips to the creek, and hitching up the sleigh in the winter, and the trek to the little one-room schoolhouse... all those details were good, and I actually found myself wanting more of that, those common-place things, details of what life was like for an average family back then. I thought the author really did well there, and could probably do well if she wrote some more historical fiction. As for the spooky element though... at first I guess the Spirit was a little spooky, what with the tapping on the window, and sounds of birds and trees and wind when nothing is seen to be causing the sound. That got a little bit of tension going, but it didn't seem to be fully sustained. Too soon I was thinking of the Spirit as just another in the cast of characters, not a terrifying villain, not scaring me into thinking of it while not reading. The conflict wasn't real sustained either, it came and went, and it seemed like all too soon, Betsy and everyone was used to its presence and accepting it, even if they weren't liking it. I really got more entertainment out of all the visitor's the Bells had, and the sometimes comical way the Spirit pestered people. I did get a little frustrated with it though every once in awhile, especially when it wouldn't explain or even give any clue as to why Betsy shouldn't marry the boy she loved. Because he would die and leave her heartbroken? Everyone dies, that's something people have to face regardless. So I didn't see what was the big deal there. As for Jack Bell, I didn't feel like I knew much of him. He was more the stolid figure, commanding, authoritative, imposing. Didn't seem like his wife really knew him either. How could she not have known what was going on with Betsy? Also there, it wasn't detailed, just hinted at, and if I hadn't seen the movie, I probably would've been a touch confused. It did go slowly in places, but I kept on, because I wanted to find out why the Spirit was messing with this family, and most of all, what kind of being was it, ghost, demon, something summoned by a witch? All together, it wasn't a bad story, a solid three. If the author ever tried her hand at writing another historical-set book, I'd give it a go.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

All That Lives by Melissa Sanders -Self
So this book was nothing at all like I expected.
It takes place in the 1800's and is the story of the Bell family. They are a very religious God-fearing family. Their daughter Betsy becomes prone to demonic possession. The workings of the spirit affect the entire family and town. It's a very simple read with a whole lot of scripture. I enjoyed it. My assumption is that it is a true story where as the opening acknowledgement acknowledged that the author's grandmother had passed the story down. Not scary at all!

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book quite a while ago in 2002, and since it was one of my favorites, I bought it to have on my Kindle and am reading it again, which I rarely do. Once I read a book I’m done with it.
I love historical fiction if the facts are close to accurate, and because there are so many eyewitness accounts to the remarkable phenomenon known as the Bell Witch (1817-1821/28), and because I’ve read much on these accounts, I can relate with confidence that this fictional interpretation stays close to the facts.
All That Lives is told from the first person point-of-view of Betsy Bell, the youngest daughter of John and Lucy Bell, who, along with her father, bore the brunt of the witch’s cruel assaults. This approach to the legend provides the reader with many interesting facets to the tale, though it is slow to reveal when things become truly incredible, spending a lot of time on the lives of the family as they deal with the beginnings of the poltergeist-like activity before the entity becomes strong enough to speak. Anyone familiar with this story, and even those who are not, will probably agree that it isn’t necessary to prolong the initial confusion of the family as they deal with disembodied scratching and bedpost gnawing, as well as curious raps and bumps in the night. It seems an overreach as the point is made continually. It also spends a lot of time relaying the hair pulling and beatings Betsy and other witnesses were subject to before it heightens to the more fascinating aspect of the manifestation.
However, this book isn’t for everyone, not only because so many might not be drawn to a novel detailing historical events, but because, quite simply, the author practices the appropriate language of the period. However, with the exception of the events leading up to the witch’s capability to communicate, the pacing is decent enough, and the writing is certainly bearable.
This is one of those rare stories that avid readers are pleased to find, and I do recommend it for those who wouldn’t mind the romantically thrilling side of an otherwise startling, well documented account.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was spooky and intriguing but lacked and ending really?

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is definately my favorite book. I think it's a really good example of the bell family witch. But, its not only that that makes this book enjoyable. The writer pulls you into the time frame. As the setting is 1815, the characters motives, and mentality all agree with the time. It also kind of prys into the mindset of fear, and how so much of it, can drive people crazy. On a more "supernatural" note, it represents qualities of a violent spirt very well. If you like stories about ghosts, you wouldn't pass this book up.

[Brittany · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'M FINALLY FINSIHED!!!

This book took forever to read and I shouted the above sentence(in my head)and then asked what the heck I had just read.

The plot was interesting enough, but the spirit/being/witch that terrorized this family constantly left a lot of things unexplained. It was bad, but it was good, it was the devil, no it wasn't... and the book just ended, nothing was wrapped up and like I said earlier, left me wondering what I had just read.

I will not recommend this book to anyone.

[Unapologetic_Bookaholic · Rating 2 out of 5]

I watched the movie (AN AMERICAN HAUNTING I believe is the title) before reading the book. I read a few chapters before growing bored of the narration and skipped ahead to where the story picks up. Even then after just a few pages the narration got to be boring. I don't think I'd try another book by this author anytime soon.

[Mary (Biblophile) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fictionalized account of the Bell Witch that haunted the Bell family in early 1800s Tennesee. Thirteen year old Betsy Bell hears tapping on her window one night and thus begins years of torment for her and her family.

A little repetitious but an interesting supposition as to why the witch haunted the Bells.

[Melissa Arenson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Started out pretty good....then drug on and on and became less good...then got really terrible. I wish I could have my 450 pages worth of reading back to dedicate to something else! If rewritten to only focus on only the good parts and to become a strong, cohesive story, then 300 pages would still have been more than enough!

[Ashley · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was not impressed with this book at all. Seriously, it was ok until the end, which I hated so much that it ruined the rest of the book. They recently made a movie of this book with Donald Sutherland, and I was unprepared for it to be the same story. I hated it just as much.

[Jan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rather slow moving, one must remember that this is set in the 1800s and involves a very religious family whose lives are forever changed by the Bell Witch of Tennessee. Not as suspenseful as I'd hoped, it was a good rendition of a classic American legend.

[Elizabeth Nesbit-comer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. I know most people don't believe this story, but I so want to. It's nice to think that a spirit should be able to kill a horrible father. I was voting for the ghost this entire book.

[Samantha Colson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am not sure how I feel about this book. I enjoyed it in the beginning and most of the way through. However, the ending was a disappointment. I am not sure that I completely understand what happened in the end. I was hoping for a book that was scary but this one did not do the trick.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maybe more just a spooky, fall book than a true horror novel, but very creepy and atmospheric!

I only know when I read this (adding it to GR years later) because I emailed my friend who recommended it to me on the day I finished it.

WOULD READ AGAIN

[Nicole · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ugh. This really like a 1 and a 1/2 stars.
I finished reading this wondering "what was the point?"

[Kate · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boooooooooooooooring.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

A disappointment. Very slow paced and not scary at all. The idea itself for the story was good, but I didn't like the writing.

[Marissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked that this book was sort of based on an old "true ghost story" but it left me a little unfulfilled, in many ways.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book was hard to put down and makes you wonder if the spirit is god.