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Ghosting
Set in the fledgling world of radio and TV in the 1950s, this is the story of Dickie Chambers and his battle to keep his dark past hidden when a chance event propels him to unexpected stardom.
Paperback
First published July 1, 1996
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About the author
John Preston
28 books159 followersJohn Preston is the arts editor and television critic of the Sunday Telegraph. He is the author of three highly acclaimed novels, including Kings of the Roundhouse (2005), and a travel book, Touching the Moon. He lives in London.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
July 20, 2012
disclaimer: I've read this book 10 yrs ago and recently found a copy of the review I shared as an article in our org's paper. This is me writing 10 yrs ago.
I am a self-confessed unlikely book reader of the month. I do not read novels with much gusto. I prefer watching movies or creating my own stories which I subject to my own scrutiny before I do even get to write the biting end. The rare moments I do get to leisurely read a book are moments I treasure. The books that I did enjoy include those made by the now dead Douglas Adams. He introduced me to this dry, witty British humor combined with sarcasm and fantasy. But the book I have just read is my top one hit when it comes to doomsville meets suicide Joe. It pissed me from start to finish.
I have finished this book entitled "Ghosting". I bought it a few years back in a book sale. It said it is a good travel book and has lots of humor in it. As I read on, I was unconsciously trying to decipher as to where did the humor part go?
It was a first-person narration of a certain broadcaster's life back in the 50's where television is just getting introduced. He told about his life as a child with eczema infested hands, his young, lively television personality but an empty private life, and his middle age crisis adorned by his fall in show business and his divorce to his wife whom he has never touched even during their honeymoon.
Over-all, it's pathetic, As I moved on to read it in search for the dry British humor, I found myself getting depressed. Every page came dry, really dry but still, no humor was found. when I reached the last chapter, the whole story unfolded itself. It ended with a symbolism that his inner self showing up in front of him in a ghostly form appearing for the last time before it dies. In short, it wasn't a fun book but a novel about following the voices deep within and not those that comes from other people. It was a self awareness book.
I was misled. In the middle of my reading, I was trying to figure out if there was something wrong with my perception or if the book is covered wrong, a glitch in the production that's why it was on sale.
In fairness, there were a few rare surprises that the author forgot to delete. These includes the introduction of unusual characters he met along the way, like the unlikely gay couples where one of them lusted for him, the other gay guy he met in a bar whom he danced every night, and his first time with a woman then with a man. When you finally felt that this certain chapter is the start of "Fun" in the book, the author successfully cuts it even before it reaches the climax. I was left with the denouement and the feeling of depression builds up into me.
I can go on scrutinizing this book, page after page. But I dare not drag you further into the book's depressive world. I just wanted to release some of the "pissy-ness" or whatever I felt after I finished reading this book. The cover was doubtingly impressive, the writeups deviously adorned with flowery words. After this, nothing follows. I just don't hope you don;t fall into the same trap I have fallen into. Good books are hard to find, I learned the hard way. From now on, I am sticking to my Douglas Adams books, it has everything I ever wanted in a book and more
I am a self-confessed unlikely book reader of the month. I do not read novels with much gusto. I prefer watching movies or creating my own stories which I subject to my own scrutiny before I do even get to write the biting end. The rare moments I do get to leisurely read a book are moments I treasure. The books that I did enjoy include those made by the now dead Douglas Adams. He introduced me to this dry, witty British humor combined with sarcasm and fantasy. But the book I have just read is my top one hit when it comes to doomsville meets suicide Joe. It pissed me from start to finish.
I have finished this book entitled "Ghosting". I bought it a few years back in a book sale. It said it is a good travel book and has lots of humor in it. As I read on, I was unconsciously trying to decipher as to where did the humor part go?
It was a first-person narration of a certain broadcaster's life back in the 50's where television is just getting introduced. He told about his life as a child with eczema infested hands, his young, lively television personality but an empty private life, and his middle age crisis adorned by his fall in show business and his divorce to his wife whom he has never touched even during their honeymoon.
Over-all, it's pathetic, As I moved on to read it in search for the dry British humor, I found myself getting depressed. Every page came dry, really dry but still, no humor was found. when I reached the last chapter, the whole story unfolded itself. It ended with a symbolism that his inner self showing up in front of him in a ghostly form appearing for the last time before it dies. In short, it wasn't a fun book but a novel about following the voices deep within and not those that comes from other people. It was a self awareness book.
I was misled. In the middle of my reading, I was trying to figure out if there was something wrong with my perception or if the book is covered wrong, a glitch in the production that's why it was on sale.
In fairness, there were a few rare surprises that the author forgot to delete. These includes the introduction of unusual characters he met along the way, like the unlikely gay couples where one of them lusted for him, the other gay guy he met in a bar whom he danced every night, and his first time with a woman then with a man. When you finally felt that this certain chapter is the start of "Fun" in the book, the author successfully cuts it even before it reaches the climax. I was left with the denouement and the feeling of depression builds up into me.
I can go on scrutinizing this book, page after page. But I dare not drag you further into the book's depressive world. I just wanted to release some of the "pissy-ness" or whatever I felt after I finished reading this book. The cover was doubtingly impressive, the writeups deviously adorned with flowery words. After this, nothing follows. I just don't hope you don;t fall into the same trap I have fallen into. Good books are hard to find, I learned the hard way. From now on, I am sticking to my Douglas Adams books, it has everything I ever wanted in a book and more
October 20, 2018
I was expecting more comic satire, as usual in the novels of John Preston, but this one is almost unremittingly grim. It definitely left me feeling depressed rather than amused. That said, the descriptions of life in the early 20th century radio world are very good and I really felt I was there. So, it's well written but it won't put a spring in your step!
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews