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Haunts
It is 1976 in freewheeling San Francisco, California. Robin Jenks, a young woman in her mid-twenties, is in an unhappy marriage. She and her husband, Mac, live along Skid Row in a rundown industrial building that they—along with a bisexual redhead and a lame ex-beach bum—have converted into living space and a rehearsal studio. Punk rock blasts at all hours. Wine flows like water. Musicians trade cocaine for rehearsal time. As the pressures mount, Robin begins to see spirits.
194 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 17, 2018
3 people are currently reading
2 people want to read
About the author
George Jansen
7 books2 followersGeorge Jansen has collaborated on half a dozen technical books concerning computer languages, operating systems and email. His first novel, "The Jesse James Scrapbook" was published by Hilliard & Harris in 2003. His second, “The Fade-Away,” was published by Pocol Press in 2007. Both were republished by Fool Church Media in 2017. His third novel, "Haunts" was published by Fool Church Media in 2018. He currently resides in Pleasanton, California with a ridiculously fat cat. He is also an Honorary Mouseketeer.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 22, 2018
George Jansen just published his third historical novel. After “The Fade Away” and “The Jessie James Scrapbook” now comes "Haunts”: a well-told story taking place in 1975 San Francisco - capturing the mood of the time.
The book starts with George Zumpo, a mixed breed home-less man looking for a Mission to spend the night. He came to San Francisco to find his wife Leela, who left him with another man and took his pure white German Shepard named White dog and his 1975 Volkswagen Westfalia. His life is soon entangled with that of Robin, her husband Moe and other young people who are living in an old warehouse, now musical rehearsal room, south of Market St. Robin is quite frustrated working in an office in the financial district. She never gets enough sleep because she and her friends are staying up all night drinking and listening to music. The ever changing relation between Robin, Moe and her friend Sheila is well drawn out and A supernatural component adds further to an intriguing story.
Anyone who remembers this time in the city will find a lot to like.
The book starts with George Zumpo, a mixed breed home-less man looking for a Mission to spend the night. He came to San Francisco to find his wife Leela, who left him with another man and took his pure white German Shepard named White dog and his 1975 Volkswagen Westfalia. His life is soon entangled with that of Robin, her husband Moe and other young people who are living in an old warehouse, now musical rehearsal room, south of Market St. Robin is quite frustrated working in an office in the financial district. She never gets enough sleep because she and her friends are staying up all night drinking and listening to music. The ever changing relation between Robin, Moe and her friend Sheila is well drawn out and A supernatural component adds further to an intriguing story.
Anyone who remembers this time in the city will find a lot to like.
October 27, 2018
Haunts by George Jansen is set in the 1970's telling a dark tale of San Francisco at that time.
The reader follows George Zumpo a mixed race home-less man looking for somewhere to shelter for the night. George finds himself in San Francisco in the hopes of finding his wife Leela that left him for another man, taking his German Shepherd and his Volkswagen Westfalia . He finds his life become entwined with Robin, her husband Moe and a group of young people that live in an old warehouse that's now a musical rehearsal room located south of Market street.
The relationship between Robin and Moe is quite an interesting one. The reader along the way is introduced to several other characters throughout the book. The author has included humour into the mix but it is also extremely dark at time with a supernatural undercurrent.
For someone that wasn't born during this time it was an interesting insight to what San Francisco was like.
The reader follows George Zumpo a mixed race home-less man looking for somewhere to shelter for the night. George finds himself in San Francisco in the hopes of finding his wife Leela that left him for another man, taking his German Shepherd and his Volkswagen Westfalia . He finds his life become entwined with Robin, her husband Moe and a group of young people that live in an old warehouse that's now a musical rehearsal room located south of Market street.
The relationship between Robin and Moe is quite an interesting one. The reader along the way is introduced to several other characters throughout the book. The author has included humour into the mix but it is also extremely dark at time with a supernatural undercurrent.
For someone that wasn't born during this time it was an interesting insight to what San Francisco was like.
October 10, 2018
What happens when you are homeless and ignored by the masses
Haunts is a unique insightful story of the homeless people around the city and how the live. Zumpo is a mixed homeless guy on a mission to find his wife, dog , and vw. After his release from jail he makes his way to San Francisco in search of what he lost. While there, he meets robin and moe along with several other people living in a warehouse drinking and partying all night. This is a very dark look at the world of the homeless and how they survive the streets. The story is a must read. I found it hard to put down. The characters are developed and relatable on some levels. The journey is a moderately dark and twisted one. I recommend this one to everyone looking for a good read that takes you on a wild journey.
Haunts is a unique insightful story of the homeless people around the city and how the live. Zumpo is a mixed homeless guy on a mission to find his wife, dog , and vw. After his release from jail he makes his way to San Francisco in search of what he lost. While there, he meets robin and moe along with several other people living in a warehouse drinking and partying all night. This is a very dark look at the world of the homeless and how they survive the streets. The story is a must read. I found it hard to put down. The characters are developed and relatable on some levels. The journey is a moderately dark and twisted one. I recommend this one to everyone looking for a good read that takes you on a wild journey.
October 13, 2018
When you're tired of romance and love stories, and want some action, you can buy Haunts and try something completely different. What can shock you.
The story of a man who wants to find his car and the wife who left him, he has a decline in life, he is frustrated and upset. He is surrounded by homeless people who have surrendered to fight for life, some of them have begun to take drugs. Every person especially influences us, but how have homeless people and this environment influenced him? It is interesting to follow this.
I like the author’s style, where he describes the situation in detail and copes with the gloomy colors of the surrounding world that the reader can feel goosebumps and imagine himself there. The story of how luck sometimes leaves you, but you have to live on and deal with it. I recommend to read.
The story of a man who wants to find his car and the wife who left him, he has a decline in life, he is frustrated and upset. He is surrounded by homeless people who have surrendered to fight for life, some of them have begun to take drugs. Every person especially influences us, but how have homeless people and this environment influenced him? It is interesting to follow this.
I like the author’s style, where he describes the situation in detail and copes with the gloomy colors of the surrounding world that the reader can feel goosebumps and imagine himself there. The story of how luck sometimes leaves you, but you have to live on and deal with it. I recommend to read.
October 19, 2018
Haunts is a lot darker than what I expected. It follows the story of George Zimpo, during the 1970’s, in San Francisco, leaving nothing out of the picture.
The author does an amazing job creating a vivid picture, not only of the city during those years but also of the vibe and the people’s life. It’s dark and unapologetic and it is real life, with its hardships, hopes, loneliness, and craziness of the 70’s, with a pinch of supernatural, that offers an escape of the gruesome reality.
The characters are intense, and you can’t help but empathize with them, no matter how sketchy their background is. This is not an easy novel. Or a feel-good story. It’s a book about humanity or the lack thereof, and their continuous search to make sense of a world where nothing appears to be right or fair.
The author does an amazing job creating a vivid picture, not only of the city during those years but also of the vibe and the people’s life. It’s dark and unapologetic and it is real life, with its hardships, hopes, loneliness, and craziness of the 70’s, with a pinch of supernatural, that offers an escape of the gruesome reality.
The characters are intense, and you can’t help but empathize with them, no matter how sketchy their background is. This is not an easy novel. Or a feel-good story. It’s a book about humanity or the lack thereof, and their continuous search to make sense of a world where nothing appears to be right or fair.
October 18, 2018
Absolutely fantastic. There’s nothing more I like in a book than one that shows the down and outs, the rejects of society and shows them in a light that humanises them and shows the depth of their character past their societal discretions.
This exactly what this book is about, you meet drunks, drug addicts and plain right out nut jobs. You see how they survive in a world set against them and all written in a fantastically humorous way.
If you want to see the dark side of humanity and feel a mixture of sadness, humour and intrigue then I’d definitely recommend giving this guy a read.
Intense as hell and so gripping this is definitely a 5/5.
This exactly what this book is about, you meet drunks, drug addicts and plain right out nut jobs. You see how they survive in a world set against them and all written in a fantastically humorous way.
If you want to see the dark side of humanity and feel a mixture of sadness, humour and intrigue then I’d definitely recommend giving this guy a read.
Intense as hell and so gripping this is definitely a 5/5.
October 10, 2018
70s!
Haunts is fiction story based on life of homeless people in big city San Francisco in 70s, who are down on their luck. Though it’s a dark and tragic story but has lines of hope and supernatural element to it. George Zimpo, who is looking for his wife who left him and took his dog and car away, comes to San Francisco and meets these bunch of homeless drunks that impacts his life. The story is well told and characters are described well to create the scene of 70s, with enough twists to keep the interest going.
Haunts is fiction story based on life of homeless people in big city San Francisco in 70s, who are down on their luck. Though it’s a dark and tragic story but has lines of hope and supernatural element to it. George Zimpo, who is looking for his wife who left him and took his dog and car away, comes to San Francisco and meets these bunch of homeless drunks that impacts his life. The story is well told and characters are described well to create the scene of 70s, with enough twists to keep the interest going.
January 2, 2019
Remember 1976? Looking for perspective on the time and the people in San Francisco? George Jensen’s Haunts is a story that brings back San Francisco as seen through the eyes of an Indian seeking his wife and the man who stole her, a lesbian seeking acceptance, a musician and more.
The joy of this quick read is in the details, the flawed characters, and the incredible research or remembrance of that time. If you like San Francisco, remember the ‘70s or are simply curious about how others live, you should read Haunts.
The joy of this quick read is in the details, the flawed characters, and the incredible research or remembrance of that time. If you like San Francisco, remember the ‘70s or are simply curious about how others live, you should read Haunts.
October 9, 2018
Haunts focuses around the life of those who live in a more undesirable part of Los Angeles. George Zumpo is out of jail now and wants his wife, white German Shepherd, and VW camper back, not necessarily in that order either. Living on the streets does not bother this man. He definitely meets interesting people, but finds the warehouse where bands practice fascinates him. Through an act of kindness he receives lodging in the same warehouse, with people having similar interests. That is when he meets a girl who has out-of-body experiences, stuck in an odd marriage, and seeing weird people.
I truly enjoyed a previous book written by George Jansen, but Haunts is more of a dark fiction. The attitudes and behavior is consistent with a homeless lifestyle, but I cringe when I read about this society. I think people who like urban romance or controversial living would enjoy this novel.
I truly enjoyed a previous book written by George Jansen, but Haunts is more of a dark fiction. The attitudes and behavior is consistent with a homeless lifestyle, but I cringe when I read about this society. I think people who like urban romance or controversial living would enjoy this novel.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews