What do you think?
A Pair Of Ghostly Hands And Other Stories: 100 Headwords
If you wake up in the night and hear a tap running somewhere in the house, what do you do? You get up, of course, and go and turn the tap off. A little later you hear the tap running again. You are alone in the house, and you know you turned the tap off. What do you do then? The ghosts in these stories all have unfinished business with the living world. They come back from the grave to continue their work, to keep a promise, to look for something they have lost. Sometimes they want to help people, sometimes they want to punish them - or kill them.
First published January 10, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
November 10, 2021
Really liked the first story
March 22, 2022
This book includes a couple of ghost and vampire stories. Some have good endings, and some do not. I like "A pair of ghostly hands", "Lost Heart" and "John Chharrington's wedding", which are the ones with better endings. "Mrs Amworth" and "The Waxwork" made me shiver due to the horrible illustrations.
I'd like not to talk about them.
First, "A pair of ghostly hands" is about a woman renting a house with a housekeeper. The house always miraculously cleaned itself at night, and there's always someone washing their hands at midnight. It reveals the pitiful fate of a young girl who died of a disease. She was the one who cleaned the house every night. She was left inside after her father died. The housekeeper was her nanny, so she told the woman about the little girl's ghost. Unfortunately, the people who rented the house before were horrible and made the little girl work so hard. So, the nice woman stayed and eventually, she had to move out. Before she left, she called out to the little girl and cradled her ghostly pair of hands.
I think the little girl is very thoughtful and sensible. She worked silently for the people who lived there. And the universe sometimes is so unfair. Those people who take things for granted are alive, while a sensible, innocent girl was taken away by a disease.
Another one is called "Lost Hearts". It talks about a young boy, Stephen, and his false-kind uncle, Mr Abney, with his terrible intentions. After Stephen's parents died in an accident, he lived with his uncle. His uncle's servant thought he was a very kind man because he provided children with no one to depend on an abode. However, the two children before Stephen disappeared one day suddenly. Stephen kept having weird dreams about kids his age as ghosts in the house. The images are children with a big black hole in their chests. Those are the children who were killed by Mr Abney. He had a weird obsession with the hearts of children aged under 12. Since he read about a superhuman who could fly after he had eaten three living children's hearts, Mr Abney killed innocent children and buried them in his house. So, the ghosts were still inside and were trying to take revenge. One day, Stephen went to his uncle's study to find out his uncle was dead. There was a clean knife beside him, and the window was wide open. And Mr Abney's left side chest was hallowed.
This story can be tagged as "ambiguous", and there is the use of foreshadowing. The ending was a bittersweet one since the children eventually took revenge, but at the same time, they still died horribly. It also reveals the dark and selfish nature of humans. To achieve his own success, Mr Abney lost all his compassion and kindness as he killed children for his personal gain.
I'd like not to talk about them.
First, "A pair of ghostly hands" is about a woman renting a house with a housekeeper. The house always miraculously cleaned itself at night, and there's always someone washing their hands at midnight. It reveals the pitiful fate of a young girl who died of a disease. She was the one who cleaned the house every night. She was left inside after her father died. The housekeeper was her nanny, so she told the woman about the little girl's ghost. Unfortunately, the people who rented the house before were horrible and made the little girl work so hard. So, the nice woman stayed and eventually, she had to move out. Before she left, she called out to the little girl and cradled her ghostly pair of hands.
I think the little girl is very thoughtful and sensible. She worked silently for the people who lived there. And the universe sometimes is so unfair. Those people who take things for granted are alive, while a sensible, innocent girl was taken away by a disease.
Another one is called "Lost Hearts". It talks about a young boy, Stephen, and his false-kind uncle, Mr Abney, with his terrible intentions. After Stephen's parents died in an accident, he lived with his uncle. His uncle's servant thought he was a very kind man because he provided children with no one to depend on an abode. However, the two children before Stephen disappeared one day suddenly. Stephen kept having weird dreams about kids his age as ghosts in the house. The images are children with a big black hole in their chests. Those are the children who were killed by Mr Abney. He had a weird obsession with the hearts of children aged under 12. Since he read about a superhuman who could fly after he had eaten three living children's hearts, Mr Abney killed innocent children and buried them in his house. So, the ghosts were still inside and were trying to take revenge. One day, Stephen went to his uncle's study to find out his uncle was dead. There was a clean knife beside him, and the window was wide open. And Mr Abney's left side chest was hallowed.
This story can be tagged as "ambiguous", and there is the use of foreshadowing. The ending was a bittersweet one since the children eventually took revenge, but at the same time, they still died horribly. It also reveals the dark and selfish nature of humans. To achieve his own success, Mr Abney lost all his compassion and kindness as he killed children for his personal gain.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 14, 2020
OMG! I’ve loved it!
This book was amazing. Literally, all of the stories gave me goosebumps and I couldn’t stop reading till it was over.
It also helped me so much discovering unknown words.
My favorite one was ”John Charrington’s Wedding” because of the way it kept me caught in the story and how well it was written but ”a pair of ghostly hands” has a space in my heart.
I didn't want to finish this book, but all the good things come to an end, so to sum up, I am going to leave you down below how many stars I gave to each story.
•”A pair of ghostly hands” by Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️4/5
•”Lost hearts” by M.R. James ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️4/5
•”Mrs Amworth” by E.F. Benson ⭐️⭐️⭐️3/5
•”The waxwork” by A.M. Burrage ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3.5/5
•”John Charrington’s wedding” by Edith Nesbit ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️4/5
This book was amazing. Literally, all of the stories gave me goosebumps and I couldn’t stop reading till it was over.
It also helped me so much discovering unknown words.
My favorite one was ”John Charrington’s Wedding” because of the way it kept me caught in the story and how well it was written but ”a pair of ghostly hands” has a space in my heart.
I didn't want to finish this book, but all the good things come to an end, so to sum up, I am going to leave you down below how many stars I gave to each story.
•”A pair of ghostly hands” by Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️4/5
•”Lost hearts” by M.R. James ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️4/5
•”Mrs Amworth” by E.F. Benson ⭐️⭐️⭐️3/5
•”The waxwork” by A.M. Burrage ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3.5/5
•”John Charrington’s wedding” by Edith Nesbit ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️4/5
January 8, 2010
hehe kiddies book
January 22, 2020
It was kinda scary. I got frightened while I was reading it but it was the best horror book I've seen in my life. I don't like it, I love it!
July 1, 2023
I use Oxford Bookworms to engage my classes of adult learners in reading. These are simplified versions of old ghost stories by different authors. There are five stories. The first one, the title story, is quite unusual and I think my class will enjoy it. Of the others, John Charrington's Wedding is the best but I think Lost Hearts and Mrs Amworth are less likely to hold their attention. The final story, The Waxwork, is quite good, but we've already read it from another anthology.
November 29, 2023
As a person that doesn't talk English that much as others, I like this book because of the topics, I honestly think that this book has fascinating ghost stories and tales, and I also think that this was a book that was easy to read.
April 23, 2023
3.5⭐ lectura obligatoria de inglés, no me ha dado miedo pero a la vez sí😫
June 25, 2014
1. Publisher/Level:Oxford/3
2. 06/25=110minutes
3. Seven-word summary: 1)ghost 2)hand 3)children 4)heart 5)frighten 6) country 7)vampire
4.(a): I like the story of "Lost Hearts". The main person of this story is a eleven-year-old boy, Stephen. He lost his family. Mr Abney who is a writer and his cousin offered to give the boy a home. They lived together with some servants. Something strange happened to Stephen in the house. One day he was invited the library by Mr Abney. Before Stephen went to the library, in his room, out of the window, he heard strange, sad cries and it seemed to be very close to the house. Then, they stopped but he saw a boy and a girl in the garden below. They are ghosts. He has seen them in his dream. In addtion, a very frightening thing happened, the ghost boy's chest a great black hole slowly opened. The next moment, they disappeared. As he entered the library, he found the paper. The most important cantents of the paper was "You can get a special power by eating three hearts from children below the age of twelve. It is important to cut out the hearts from a living body." Stephen was a last child for Mr Abney. But a wild-cat had got in and killed Mr Abney, so Stephen was safe.
(b): I like this story because as I read first page, I didn't understand what scary, strange thing will happen. However, the more I read, the more I understood how scary this story is. I like this way of story. The ending was very unpredictable, so I really got exciting.
5. I usually read level 2 but this time, I tried to read level 3. I'm interested in mysterious stories like ghosts' story so I chose this book even it is level 3. I could enjoy reading this book, because I had not read such a scary book in English. I concentrated on the story forgetting a real world. I'd like to recommend this book, everyone who like mysterious stories should read this book!!
2. 06/25=110minutes
3. Seven-word summary: 1)ghost 2)hand 3)children 4)heart 5)frighten 6) country 7)vampire
4.(a): I like the story of "Lost Hearts". The main person of this story is a eleven-year-old boy, Stephen. He lost his family. Mr Abney who is a writer and his cousin offered to give the boy a home. They lived together with some servants. Something strange happened to Stephen in the house. One day he was invited the library by Mr Abney. Before Stephen went to the library, in his room, out of the window, he heard strange, sad cries and it seemed to be very close to the house. Then, they stopped but he saw a boy and a girl in the garden below. They are ghosts. He has seen them in his dream. In addtion, a very frightening thing happened, the ghost boy's chest a great black hole slowly opened. The next moment, they disappeared. As he entered the library, he found the paper. The most important cantents of the paper was "You can get a special power by eating three hearts from children below the age of twelve. It is important to cut out the hearts from a living body." Stephen was a last child for Mr Abney. But a wild-cat had got in and killed Mr Abney, so Stephen was safe.
(b): I like this story because as I read first page, I didn't understand what scary, strange thing will happen. However, the more I read, the more I understood how scary this story is. I like this way of story. The ending was very unpredictable, so I really got exciting.
5. I usually read level 2 but this time, I tried to read level 3. I'm interested in mysterious stories like ghosts' story so I chose this book even it is level 3. I could enjoy reading this book, because I had not read such a scary book in English. I concentrated on the story forgetting a real world. I'd like to recommend this book, everyone who like mysterious stories should read this book!!
July 3, 2015
1. Oxford level 3
2. 6/27-30minutes, 6/28-40minutes,7/1-15minutes
3. House, house keeper, cleaning, water, two hands, ghost, happy
4.a And-for a moment only- two little hands lay in my mind.
B. This little hands ate ghost's hands. This passage is the last one. When the woman leaves the house, she want to say goodbye to ghost and it is first time to get a response from the ghost. Then, that's situation appeared.
5. This story is about the house which a ghost appears, however it's not scare. The ghost which is a girl who died when she was seven years old likes cleaning and she always cleans all of the house. She had sad story when she was alive. The woman likes her after knowing her story and she didn't want to leave this house but she couldn't. This story is sat a little but I enjoyed reading!
2. 6/27-30minutes, 6/28-40minutes,7/1-15minutes
3. House, house keeper, cleaning, water, two hands, ghost, happy
4.a And-for a moment only- two little hands lay in my mind.
B. This little hands ate ghost's hands. This passage is the last one. When the woman leaves the house, she want to say goodbye to ghost and it is first time to get a response from the ghost. Then, that's situation appeared.
5. This story is about the house which a ghost appears, however it's not scare. The ghost which is a girl who died when she was seven years old likes cleaning and she always cleans all of the house. She had sad story when she was alive. The woman likes her after knowing her story and she didn't want to leave this house but she couldn't. This story is sat a little but I enjoyed reading!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 17, 2014
A Pair of Ghostly Hands
(and other plays) (Oxford Level. 3)
7/16 =80minutes
Ghost, hands, night, bathroom, moon, housekeeper, washbasin
"There was no answer. I tried again this time I closed my eyes and put out both my hands. 'Mrgatet! 'I said. And - for a moment only - two little hands lay in mine."
Last week, I read little wonderful ghosts story. This story is about also ghosts, but this one is stranger and more mysterious. I have never experienced such strange situation, but I think I will do at least once someday.
(and other plays) (Oxford Level. 3)
7/16 =80minutes
Ghost, hands, night, bathroom, moon, housekeeper, washbasin
"There was no answer. I tried again this time I closed my eyes and put out both my hands. 'Mrgatet! 'I said. And - for a moment only - two little hands lay in mine."
Last week, I read little wonderful ghosts story. This story is about also ghosts, but this one is stranger and more mysterious. I have never experienced such strange situation, but I think I will do at least once someday.
November 14, 2014
1. 11/9=40m,11/10=70m
2. Oxford lelel3
3. ghost
hands
washbasin
eleven-year
vampire
waxwork
wedding
4. This book has five stories about ghost and horror.
I felt not only fear but also something warm. I think Haman and ghost can live together in harmony.
5.I'm going to explain my favorite story. A women was looking for the house to move somewhere. She found a house an dasked about it for owners. He said that "You can take the house, you had to take Mrs Carkeek too as a housekeeper."
tap
2. Oxford lelel3
3. ghost
hands
washbasin
eleven-year
vampire
waxwork
wedding
4. This book has five stories about ghost and horror.
I felt not only fear but also something warm. I think Haman and ghost can live together in harmony.
5.I'm going to explain my favorite story. A women was looking for the house to move somewhere. She found a house an dasked about it for owners. He said that "You can take the house, you had to take Mrs Carkeek too as a housekeeper."
tap
April 2, 2020
For some reason I love this book. I read it when i was much younger in middle school, when I was too lazy to read books, especially longer books because I did not like to look at letters and so I find them boring (how stupid I was). Now I regret not having read more during that time. Anyways, back to the review of the book: This is a simple book for english learners but it is special to me. The creepy vibe it gives will keep readers enthralled. The illustrations add to the creepy content of the stories, too! I was so scared looking at the picture of the wax figure's face!
December 5, 2012
-OXFORD, level 3.
-Time: 11/19 = 30 minutes; 11/20 = 60 minutes 11/21 = 20 minutes
-7-word summary:
housekeeper
housework
water
tanks
rose
hands
leave
-Discussion questions:
1.Do you want ghosts who do housework?
No. They are not people, so I'm afraid to treat them like slaves.
2.If you are a ghost, do you want to work for living people?
No, because I want to sleep under a grave peacefully.
-Time: 11/19 = 30 minutes; 11/20 = 60 minutes 11/21 = 20 minutes
-7-word summary:
housekeeper
housework
water
tanks
rose
hands
leave
-Discussion questions:
1.Do you want ghosts who do housework?
No. They are not people, so I'm afraid to treat them like slaves.
2.If you are a ghost, do you want to work for living people?
No, because I want to sleep under a grave peacefully.
May 24, 2013
Oxford level 3
Time 5/24 35minutes 5/25 30minutes
7 word summary many-stories-related-to-ghost-and-horror
Discussion question
Q. Have you ever been afraid of anything such as ghost?
A. Yes,I have. When I was elementary school student, there are rumors related to ghost. Many
my friend said that ghost exsisted
near graveyards. I do not know whether that rumors are true or not.
I like horror books. This book include many stories. That is very
good. I was able to enjoy reading.
Time 5/24 35minutes 5/25 30minutes
7 word summary many-stories-related-to-ghost-and-horror
Discussion question
Q. Have you ever been afraid of anything such as ghost?
A. Yes,I have. When I was elementary school student, there are rumors related to ghost. Many
my friend said that ghost exsisted
near graveyards. I do not know whether that rumors are true or not.
I like horror books. This book include many stories. That is very
good. I was able to enjoy reading.
November 26, 2013
Oxford level3
Time= 130 minutes
Seven word summary= ghost, hand, marry, hearts, housekeeper, waxwork, vampire
What do you think about ghosts which help housework??
I think they are very useful, but I don’t want to meet them, and I don’t need them.
There are many short horror stories in this book. All stories were interesting and good. I don’t like ghost, but I really enjoyed reading them. I want my friends to read this book.
Time= 130 minutes
Seven word summary= ghost, hand, marry, hearts, housekeeper, waxwork, vampire
What do you think about ghosts which help housework??
I think they are very useful, but I don’t want to meet them, and I don’t need them.
There are many short horror stories in this book. All stories were interesting and good. I don’t like ghost, but I really enjoyed reading them. I want my friends to read this book.
February 5, 2017
This book kind horror but I'm not scare, I'm boring
March 29, 2015
Oh, I do love ghost stories! The Waxworks is my favourite in this book. The story just simply terrifying, the illustration is even more frightening! It's a really enjoyable piece for horror and supernatural lovers.
Read
October 26, 2008xcvxc
March 7, 2013
Not bad
Read
March 8, 2013i like read books about enigms
Want to Read
March 18, 2013i think ie is very good
September 6, 2013
Really enjoyed this book, it's not your normal all days horror scares. it's more deep, more into the emotions, such a fun book
April 13, 2015
This book described five mysterious ghost stories.I don't like horror stories because I'm very easily scared.I want to recomend this book for a person who likes horror story.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews