Women and Ghosts

by Alison Lurie

Ghostly hauntings, both literal and metaphorical, are the subject of this delightful Halloween treat by one of America's wittiest and most literate novelists. An irresistible blend of realism, satire and fantasy, each story is delightfully spooky and satisfying.

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction, Horror, Supernatural, Ghost Stories, Mystery, Anthologies

184 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1994

About the author

Alison Stewart Lurie was an American novelist and academic. She won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for her 1984 novel Foreign Affairs. Although better known as a novelist, she wrote many non-fiction books and articles, particularly on children's literature and the semiotics of dress.

Reviews

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of eerie short stories about haunted women at moments of crisis and decision in their lives. Well written, wryly amusing at times, chilling at others. A short, enjoyable read.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the stories included in this collection- especially after reading earlier comments here on goodreads where readers gave a review of "lame." I guess I should've know from that unimaginative adjective that I shouldn't rely too heavily on those opinions.

This collection is elegant, intuitive, and imaginative. Society is becoming increasingly obsessed with the paranormal world, and these stories are able to integrate elements of that obsession without being heavy-handed or overly dramatic. A good read, unless you consider Stephen King's fiction to be the epitome of horror and supernatural literature. Then you might find these stories lame...

[Plum-crazy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a handy little book for carrying around & a quick read but then I didn't want to put the book down 'til I was at the end of a tale :o)

I loved "The Highboy" for it's quirkiness & "The Pool People" in particular made me smirk with it's ending proving some people get what they deserve ;o)

The only one I didn't particularly care for was Fat People but overall I really enjoyed these tales with their hints of the supernatural.

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

at best, they were entertaining attempts at women-focused horror. at worst, the conventional white married woman prevails the horror of people she looks down on. There's glimpses of empathy, but almost all of the protagonists' ghost symbolizes her husband, ex-husband, or their in-law's. The spookiest story was the sheep one, all the others felt too gilded and straight-forward that the paranormal aspects weren't that compelling.

The best story is the furthest from these tropes: The Highboy. Evil furniture, with annoying husbands only distant in the background. If it means anything to you, this is the only story that passes the Bechdel test, too.
A few rely on thoroughly racist tropes.

Everyone's popping valium and insecure about their weight.

I guess i've been too spoiled with my intersectional feminist speculative fiction.

[David]

At first, a collection of ghost stories from usually-realist usually-novelist Alison Lurie seems an odd endeavour. In fact, as representations of fiction written by Lurie, they might be considered relatively second-rate. But what I think is going on here is that this is the book of short stories envisioned by author/character Janet Belle Smith back in Real People. Envisioned during her stay at Illyria (the Yaddo-style artists' retreat), Smith's effort to change her habitual style seems to bear fruit in this collection which, although it does use some of Lurie's repeating characters/names, seems to be part of a broader challenge entertained by Lurie. It's as if Anthony Powell (whose work Lurie admired; she was also a friend) had provided a sample of fiction written by Nicholas Jenkins to go along with A Dance to the Music of Time. I have no idea whether this was Lurie's actual intent; it just seems plausible to me in light of the rest of her body of work.

[Carla]

Simply adored these witty, inventive stories that are (for the most part) not-quite-ghost tales, but marvellously spooky and a pleasure to read. No Gothic castles or moors for Lurie: these are real-life women haunted in ways any woman can understand. I especially enjoyed “The Double Poet” which manages to be scary and laugh-out loud funny.

[Seville Croker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun and easy read!
To me, some of the stories were reminiscent of The Yellow Wallpaper with the ghosts and hauntings, feminist undertones, and the effects of gender roles on the women’s psyche. But also some of the stories were just silly or poetic.

[Naomi · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice collection of short stories. A bit cutting, a bit eerie. Women haunted by their relationships, experiences and decisions. Each has a satisfying twist in the tale.

I burned through these and would recommend, except at least two are distinctly unpalatable to the modern reader. A 4 knocked down to a 3. Buyer beware.

[Victoria · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked some of the stories and some were just rediculous, like the sheep one, but it's always hit and miss with anthologies.

[Anum Rajput · Rating 2 out of 5]

Short eerie stories as the book describes but some were not quite creepy as I expected them to be. Overall okish read. I wish there was a 2.5 🌟 option tho

[Deborah Markus · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite books. I reread it incessantly. All of the stories enjoy the benefit of Lurie's finely developed sense of humor, even the ones that end on an eerie note. And Lurie is deeply creative, playing merrily with exactly what qualifies as a ghost. A haunted piece of furniture? Visitations from a woman who's still alive (and may not even realize she's "haunting" her ex-husband's new fiancée)? A fertility goddess manifesting in our world just for a moment (maybe)?

Some of the stories are genuinely eerie; some are absolutely upbeat; a few are ambiguous, so far as "happy" endings are concerned. You don't have to be familiar with Lurie's novels to enjoy this book deeply, but those who have read "The War Between The Tates" or "The Truth About Lorin Jones" or "Real People" may recognize some characters in this collection.

This is one of those books I'd pay extra to be able to read for the first time again.

[Saara · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little gem of a collection, Women & Ghosts held me enthralled with its tales. Ten women come face to face with something not quite of this world and find themselves wondering if they have in fact gone mad. We cannot be sure, and that's part of the charm.

I have lately come to appreciate the supernatural genre, so when I found the little paperback in a box of our late professor's books that had been donated to my student guild, I decided to pick it up and see whether it was a good read. Now I'm glad I did, and will probably try to get my hands on Lurie's other work.

While I did indeed like this book, it's an unfortunate fact that I have way too many in my possession already. Thus it shall be freed.

[Mindy Steinberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Eerie Fun

This compilation of "ghost stories" proved an unexpected treat to this reader, a fan of Alison Lurie's novels. The short, beautifully written tales have a gentle, lyrical spookiness that entertains and enchants, providing an especially satisfying experience. It left me wanting more.

[Eugenea Pollock · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a super Halloween treat, full of clever literary tricks. My favorite 5-star stories were The Double Poet, In the Shadow, and Another Halloween. Very creative twists on what is meant by the word "ghost."

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun read. Lurie has been described as "one of America's most cerebral and sophisticated writers." It is possible to only read her fiction only as diversion - her writing is clean and straightforward; she doesn't throw around a bunch of 25c words. Her characters are relatable, nice and "ordinary." When I (stupidly) read Lorin Jones for the first time, I completely missed the satire. Why specifically women with the ghosts? There is an element of retribution or punishment - the ghosts are wreaking vengeance. Are there real fears unique to women that result in spectral interference? Fears of marrying the wrong man, of being punished for how we treat others, guilt associated w/ binge eating, the belief that inanimate objects have agency, that if we pray to the right gods we will be rewarded?

**spoiler alert**
There are 10 stories in this collection:
--Ilse's House - Ilse's ghost inadvertently(?) protects Dinah from marrying Greg, a selfish, childish misogynist; it isn't clear (other than the fact that Greg was good looking and popular w/ women) why the narrator is even with him in the first place. One reviewer compared this story to the tale of Bluebeard
--The Pool People - the two ghosts of disgruntled handymen pull their elitist homophobic homeowner nemesis into the pool, killing her at a pool party. This quote drove quiet self-reflection: "the town was supposed to be full of interesting types, but June didn't seem to have met any of them. Her acquaintances were all well-to-do retired people, mildly and monotonously interested in travel, real estate, hoe improvement, tropical gardening, and their own ailments."
--The Highboy
--Counting Sheep - a graduate turns into a sheep in order to stay in Wordsworth country
--In the Shadow - a haunted family ring kept by a rather cold callous pretty woman comes with the rude and offensive ghost of a deceased boyfriend. She covets designer clothing she cannot afford; she only has feeling/desire for things. A statement on consumerism?
--Waiting for the Baby - a couple tries to adopt a baby in India
--Fat People - a woman obsesses about a statement made by her husband that they should both try to lose weight
--Another Halloween
--The Double Poet - a famous poet believes she has a double who is showing up and pretending to be her, buying sweaters, signing books
--Something Borrowed, Something Blue

(I wouldn't describe these stories as "highly unconventional.")

[Judith Evens · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a surprisingly good collection of short stories! I was a bit hesitant to buy this book because I am usually not a big fan of short stories (once I get into a character I want to know more about her/his story), but this was such a fun and and at times haunting read. If you're a fan of Alison Lurie's novels you should give this one a try as well. The characters are very similar to her other novels, which I really enjoyed.

"The volume a poet has touched and signed develops an instant invisible aura, becomes a minor sort of holy icon in the religion of poetry. A religion, yes, or at least a cult, with its own temples and altars, its dead saints, its living hierarchy of priests and priestesses; its deacons, vergers and sextons (the critics), and its statistically small but devout congregations. Yes, and the rare-book dealers are like those shoddy sellers of religious goods whose shops you see near European cathedrals - not true believers, merely peddlers with a sharp eye to profits."- Story no. 10: The Double Poet

[Kat · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is not going to be your supernatural walk on the wild side, a stifled scream and unable to turn the pages and I feel the title, also, doesn't suffice, making it sound as though the stories have a vague, haunting quality: complex and intuitive. Alison Lurie is a good writer, and I think this is why I enjoyed reading them, being walked through pleasantly with nothing in the plot lurching out, terrifying or suspenseful. For another writer I would probably be harsher, but I like Lurie and her style and had a good time reading the book. What can I say?

Also liked how one character- Gary Mumpson, an Oklahoma businessman is seemingly related or recycled into another from 'Foreign Affairs'-Chuck Mumpson.

Also, A+ for the cover of my copy.

[Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an easy enough read, but I think I was disappointed by the banality of the ghosts in this book— I was hoping for something a bit more frightening and paranormal, not the specters of weight gain and bad relationships.
Also, the book is well-written, but I just couldn’t bond with any of the characters: they all seemed like various shades of the same bored middle-class city girl who has an inelegant distaste for different cultures. Whether the author did this on purpose or not, it got tedious.
I think if you want a book of short stories about women, this might satisfy, but if you want a book of short stories about ghosts, look elsewhere.

[Philippa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A chest of drawers that has ‘attitude’, even a persona? A much desired baby that you would give everything for! The sugary food that suddenly appears the moment you begin dieting. This is a collection of 10 short stories each focussed on one of those imaginings whenever we become a bit stressed. Did that chest of drawers really snap shut because it didn’t like what happened? How come there are donuts everywhere I look just as I said I wouldn’t eat this food? These stories pursue those doubts and fears which come upon us, the ghosts of our imagination, and what happens sometimes with a woman as the central character. They are sometimes funny and always surprising. The last story is surly about the author and the ‘nightmares’ experienced on tour.
4 stars.

[Sheila (in LA) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book consists of ten short stories, each one involving, if not an actual ghost, an unexplained (and seemingly unnatural) presence of some kind. As with many ghost stories, there is more than one way to read everything that happens. I thought the author's gift for psychological realism made her a natural for telling these kinds of tales. It will be interesting to see which ones stay with me, but I enjoyed them all.

[Chloe Morley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not for me and I hardly liked any of the characters. Also, didn’t exactly promote body positivity (if you don’t like hearing about people complaining about body sizes and losing weight maybe skip the Fat People story and the some characters were quite self-concerned. Counting Sheep and Another Halloween were the ones I liked most.

[Margaux Tatin Blanc]

Decided to reread some Alison Lurie books as she recently died... and i found that some of her writing is kind of "dated" (SORRY ALISON!) but women and ghosts is light, deep and still fresh...
I especially like the story about the furniture that wants to end up in a museum (well cared and far from careless hands of the owner's children and relatives!)

[Jashvina Shah · Rating 1 out of 5]

It was passable until she got up to the story that was based in India. You can always tell when a non-Indian is describing the country in a really xenophobic way. Can't in good faith give this anything more than a star

[Janice Torrance · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a collection of short stories that I wouldn't actually characterize as "ghost" stories. Some of them included ghosts, but others were events that couldn't be explained, although I thought some of the stories were rather predictable.

[Adina · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 maybe? I don't really have any thoughts on these stories, although I liked the first one (ghost of ex-wife in the kitchen).

Almost all of these protagonists were annoying and were women (presumably white) who looked down on others...nothing new, kinda boring.

[Fran · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very enjoyable read -- made me laugh a lot.

[Elizabeth Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have a 1995 version of this book that I had forgotten about until I did some lockdown clearing up. What a gem to discover again!

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favourite was ‘The Highboy’.

[Carrie Cantalupo-Sharp · Rating 2 out of 5]

Entertaining but no great shakes.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a pretty fun little book of ghost stories. Not great, not bad.