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A Haunted History of Invisible Women: True Stories of America's Ghosts
From the notorious Lizzie Borden to the innumerable, haunted rooms of Sarah Winchester's mysterious mansion this offbeat, insightful, first-ever book of its kind explores the history behind America's female ghosts, the stereotypes, myths, and paranormal tales that swirl around them, what their stories reveal about us--and why they haunt us...
Sorrowful widows, vengeful jezebels, innocent maidens, wronged lovers, former slaves, even the occasional axe-murderess--America's female ghosts differ widely in background, class, and circumstance. Yet one thing unites them: their ability to instill fascination and fear, long after their deaths. Here are the full stories behind some of the best-known among them, as well as the lesser-known--though no less powerful.
Tales whispered in darkness often divulge more about the teller than the subject. America's most famous female ghosts, like New Orleans voodoo priestess Marie Laveau, and Bridget Bishop, the first person executed during the Salem witchcraft trials, mirror each era's fears and prejudices. Yet through urban legends and campfire stories, even ghosts like the nameless hard-working women lost in the infamous Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire --achieve a measure of power and agency in death, in ways unavailable to them as living women.
Riveting for skeptics and believers alike, with humor, curiosity, and expertise, A Haunted History of Invisible Women offers a unique lens on the significant role these ghostly legends play both within the spook-seeking corners of our minds and in the consciousness of a nation.
Foreword by Bram Stoker Award-winning author Linda D. Addison
Sorrowful widows, vengeful jezebels, innocent maidens, wronged lovers, former slaves, even the occasional axe-murderess--America's female ghosts differ widely in background, class, and circumstance. Yet one thing unites them: their ability to instill fascination and fear, long after their deaths. Here are the full stories behind some of the best-known among them, as well as the lesser-known--though no less powerful.
Tales whispered in darkness often divulge more about the teller than the subject. America's most famous female ghosts, like New Orleans voodoo priestess Marie Laveau, and Bridget Bishop, the first person executed during the Salem witchcraft trials, mirror each era's fears and prejudices. Yet through urban legends and campfire stories, even ghosts like the nameless hard-working women lost in the infamous Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire --achieve a measure of power and agency in death, in ways unavailable to them as living women.
Riveting for skeptics and believers alike, with humor, curiosity, and expertise, A Haunted History of Invisible Women offers a unique lens on the significant role these ghostly legends play both within the spook-seeking corners of our minds and in the consciousness of a nation.
Foreword by Bram Stoker Award-winning author Linda D. Addison
368 pages, Paperback
First published September 27, 2022
342 people are currently reading
8839 people want to read
About the author
Leanna Renee Hieber
66 books1,097 followersAuthor, actress, artist and playwright, Leanna received a BFA in Theatre, a focus in the Victorian Era and a scholarship to study in London. She adapted 19th Century literature for the stage and her one-act plays have been produced around the country. She is a 4 time Prism Award winner for excellence in Futuristic, Fantasy, or Paranormal Romance. Her debut novel, The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker, first in the "Strangely Beautiful" saga of Gothic Victorian Fantasy novels (Barnes & Noble Bestseller) won two 2010 Prism Awards (Best Fantasy, Best First Book) has been hailed by Tor Books as a "foundation work of Gaslamp Fantasy" and has been reissued in new, revised editions as STRANGELY BEAUTIFUL. The prequel, PERILOUS PROPHECY and the never before published MISS VIOLET AND THE GREAT WAR finish the quartet (Tor Books). DARKER STILL: A Novel of Magic Most Foul was named an Indie Next title by the American Book Association and a Scholastic book fair "Highly Recommended" title. All books in the Magic Most Foul trilogy are now available as is THE ETERNA FILES trilogy of Gaslamp Fantasy novels (Tor Books). Her new series with Kensington's new Rebel Base imprint, THE SPECTRAL CITY, a Gaslamp Fantasy / Supernatural Suspense became a # 1 Amazon bestseller in Gaslamp Fantasy, Steampunk and Metaphysical Fantasy as well as hitting the top ten across other platforms. The series continues with three novels. Her short fiction has been included in anthologies such as QUEEN VICTORIA'S BOOK OF SPELLS and the MAMMOTH BOOK OF GASLAMP ROMANCE. All her Victorian-set series feature crossover characters. A member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, Mystery Writers of America and the International Thriller Writers, she is a proud co-founder of Lady Jane's Salon Reading Series in New York City. A member of Actors Equity Association and SAG-AFTRA, Leanna works often in film and television on shows like Boardwalk Empire and Mysteries at the Museum, works as a ghost tour guide for Boroughs of the Dead tour company and creates unique neo-Victorian and Steampunk jewelry on Etsy. In 2018 Leanna wrote, developed and now tours a one woman show "By the Light of Tiffany: A Meeting with Clara Driscoll" about the talented 19th century artist. Visit http://leannareneehieber.com for free reads, writers' resources, interviews, videos and more, and follow her on Twitter http://twitter.com/leannarenee and FB http://facebook.com/lrhieber.
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September 24, 2022
Narrated by Linda Jones
Just today, I finished listening to A HAUNTED HISTORY OF INVISIBLE WOMEN by Leanna Renee Hieber and Andrea Janes. I thought it made a fine audiobook, in the sense my grandmother used the word "fine": "It would be just fine to see you for dinner on Sunday, Dona." I always took this to mean she was high-mindedly pleased I would present myself. Jones's narration felt dry, but it suited the material well, the reading was smooth, and I could listen for enormous chunks at a time.
I learned a great deal from INVISIBLE WOMEN. I expected something lurid and instead found a book well-researched, self-aware, and polished. But above all, I found a history of women unlike anything I'd ever encountered.
Each chapter presents, indulges, and finally debunks myths and legends from all over the United States, from New York City to tiny localities you will have never previously heard of. What ties these chapters and "ghosts" together is how Hieber and Janes always direct their considerable academic and literary effort toward the same goal: to humanize and reveal the women at the hearts of these "hauntings." One of the things I really appreciate about INVISIBLE WOMEN is Hieber and Janes's consistent habit of checking the privilege of the ghosts and legends they researched, and also those still profiting from them.
I picked this book for one of my Halloween reads, and while it's not scary in the traditional sense, this book is absolutely full of horror. Well researched books about women's history typically are and this one is no different.
Thank you NetGalley, Tantor Audio, and Leanna Renee Hieber and Andrea Janes for the audio ARC of this wonderful book.
Rating 5 stars because there aren't 6 stars
Finished September 2022
Recommended highly for readers who like general nonfiction, feminist or women's nonfiction, supernatural nonfiction, ghost stories, local myths and legends, US folklore, US history, US women's history
TW⚠️ There are a lot of triggers in INVISIBLE WOMEN. It's about women throughout history who were (mostly) miserable enough to become ghosts and legends.
*Follow my Instagram book blog for all my reviews, challenges, and book lists! http://www.instagram.com/donasbooks *
Just today, I finished listening to A HAUNTED HISTORY OF INVISIBLE WOMEN by Leanna Renee Hieber and Andrea Janes. I thought it made a fine audiobook, in the sense my grandmother used the word "fine": "It would be just fine to see you for dinner on Sunday, Dona." I always took this to mean she was high-mindedly pleased I would present myself. Jones's narration felt dry, but it suited the material well, the reading was smooth, and I could listen for enormous chunks at a time.
I learned a great deal from INVISIBLE WOMEN. I expected something lurid and instead found a book well-researched, self-aware, and polished. But above all, I found a history of women unlike anything I'd ever encountered.
Each chapter presents, indulges, and finally debunks myths and legends from all over the United States, from New York City to tiny localities you will have never previously heard of. What ties these chapters and "ghosts" together is how Hieber and Janes always direct their considerable academic and literary effort toward the same goal: to humanize and reveal the women at the hearts of these "hauntings." One of the things I really appreciate about INVISIBLE WOMEN is Hieber and Janes's consistent habit of checking the privilege of the ghosts and legends they researched, and also those still profiting from them.
I picked this book for one of my Halloween reads, and while it's not scary in the traditional sense, this book is absolutely full of horror. Well researched books about women's history typically are and this one is no different.
Thank you NetGalley, Tantor Audio, and Leanna Renee Hieber and Andrea Janes for the audio ARC of this wonderful book.
Rating 5 stars because there aren't 6 stars
Finished September 2022
Recommended highly for readers who like general nonfiction, feminist or women's nonfiction, supernatural nonfiction, ghost stories, local myths and legends, US folklore, US history, US women's history
TW⚠️ There are a lot of triggers in INVISIBLE WOMEN. It's about women throughout history who were (mostly) miserable enough to become ghosts and legends.
*Follow my Instagram book blog for all my reviews, challenges, and book lists! http://www.instagram.com/donasbooks *
September 26, 2022
Thought provoking story
This interesting compilation of stories of ghosts, of apparitions, of places that harbor spirits was a well done and effective tale. The authors managed to convey both skepticism and belief in these spectral happenings as they explore the various places these occurrences have happened.
Ironically, most of the hauntings have been done by women, women who have been treated badly, used, and abused. Names like Lizzie Borden, Mrs. Spnecer (who haunted Joan Rivers's home in NYC), Mary Surratt, and a plethora of others are cited and discussed in the narrative. Traveling through the country, the author encountered many places where hauntings were reported and found some to be a money making hoax, and others to be unexplainable.
Some of the hauntings were terrifying and some of these places today are used for tours where many of the tour guides won't even enter into certain areas. The proverbial cold spot in homes is spoken of as well as the reasons behind why these women were compelled. in their own way. to right the wrong they felt they had been dealt.
The author herself tells of communicating with her dead mother and grandmother and forcefully shows the reader that these are not rare occurrences. I am sure many of us have some sort of messages from our loved departed. When my mother passed, I saw the dresses move in her closet and I knew she was still in her room, looking for something to wear. (she loved dressing up and was fastidious about her appearance)
I am a believer and I definitely know I share my feelings with many others. As Shakespeare wrote in Hamlet, "“There are more things in Heaven and Earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.”
If you need a well done book to welcome in the season of ghosts and things that go bump in the night, this might be the one to chose. Thanks go out to Andrea Janes Leanna Renee Hieber , and NetGalley for a copy of this story narrated by Linda Jones.
This interesting compilation of stories of ghosts, of apparitions, of places that harbor spirits was a well done and effective tale. The authors managed to convey both skepticism and belief in these spectral happenings as they explore the various places these occurrences have happened.
Ironically, most of the hauntings have been done by women, women who have been treated badly, used, and abused. Names like Lizzie Borden, Mrs. Spnecer (who haunted Joan Rivers's home in NYC), Mary Surratt, and a plethora of others are cited and discussed in the narrative. Traveling through the country, the author encountered many places where hauntings were reported and found some to be a money making hoax, and others to be unexplainable.
Some of the hauntings were terrifying and some of these places today are used for tours where many of the tour guides won't even enter into certain areas. The proverbial cold spot in homes is spoken of as well as the reasons behind why these women were compelled. in their own way. to right the wrong they felt they had been dealt.
The author herself tells of communicating with her dead mother and grandmother and forcefully shows the reader that these are not rare occurrences. I am sure many of us have some sort of messages from our loved departed. When my mother passed, I saw the dresses move in her closet and I knew she was still in her room, looking for something to wear. (she loved dressing up and was fastidious about her appearance)
I am a believer and I definitely know I share my feelings with many others. As Shakespeare wrote in Hamlet, "“There are more things in Heaven and Earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.”
If you need a well done book to welcome in the season of ghosts and things that go bump in the night, this might be the one to chose. Thanks go out to Andrea Janes Leanna Renee Hieber , and NetGalley for a copy of this story narrated by Linda Jones.
August 8, 2022
I got to the end of the introduction to Part 3 about Mothers.
There are so many problems with this collection it’s hard to know where to start. So I’m going to list them below, and while numbered these are in no particular order. I’d be very hard pressed to pick which of these is the worst of the offences listed.
1) No First Hand Accounts
Neither of the female authors who wrote this book have any first hand accounts, interviews, or new information on any of these stories. Instead they are just regurgitating the stories as they were told by someone else. How can you have a new perspective, interest, or reason to tell the story if you haven’t been to the site, talked to those who have experienced the phenom, or at least done more than read an article by another (more experienced likely) author. With nothing new to contribute (that doesn’t fall into the points below) there is really no sense in publishing this book.
2) Feminist Manifesto of Misleading Proportions
The introductions and large portions of the ghost story narratives themselves read as feminist political manifestos. To the point where I found it not only obnoxious but downright insulting. As a female myself I do not believe many of the things stated are fair or even true based on todays society. In the 1800s sure; but not today. For example, you can’t honestly tell me that the majority of women still go to college only to find a “suitable husband”!?! Don’t put a spin on a story just so it meets your specific narrative. It is very obvious and leaves no room for you to be incorrect.
3) Not Qualified at All
If someone wants to write a book dissecting society, it’s treatment of women, the ramifications, and how that might influence ghosts or spirits; then you had better have a professional at least consulted. It would be better if the psychologist, feminine studies professor, historical professor, sociologist, or any number of experts wrote the actual book; but at least have someone consulted, quoted, and vetting your statements. The women who wrote this book have zero credentials (except that they presumably each identify as female) to make any of the far reaching, condemning, and frankly at times insulting comments they make.
4) Cherry Picking to Fit a Motive
Throughout the book the women defend why they chose the examples they did. At first in part 1 I was mostly okay with this. In part 2 it started to be very skewed that they were intentionally ignoring specific styles of ghost stories (presumably as they didn’t fit their feminist, man-hating agenda). By part 3, about mothers, I was flat out insulted.
Who are these women to decide that mothers who’ve lost their child and haunt the area looking for them, or committed suicide after losing a child are ‘not interesting’!?!?
Im sorry but how dare you take someone’s massive grief and disregard it. Whether it’s a well substantiated haunting story or not! Obviously neither of these women have lost a baby or known someone who had. Because no one with half a heart and knowledge of what it’s like to see a child die would be so disrespectful as to literally blow-off a very specific type of motherly trauma that is often connected to haunting. I could not be more disgusted in the attitude and tone this section took. Hence why I chose to put this book down and not complete it.
Overall
The constant arrogance, disrespect, and man-hating energy from this book (as far as I read) is just gross. Each time I read a new section or justification for why these authors believed a certain spirit was remaining or how in life the woman was held down by men felt more and more like they were using these stories (many tragic and heartbreaking) in order to further their inexperienced,, certainly not professional, commentary regarding the patriarch.
Don’t get me wrong, many statements made are totally true. And both capitalism and the patriarch are rife with obvious massive problems. But I do not think taking a paintbrush and making assumptions, having done no first hand research and with no educational background on the topics at hand, is appropriate. May I apologize to the memories, spirits, and legacy of each of the women discussed in this book for having their story used as a prop. In no way is this a memorial to any of these women, nor is it fair for these women to dissect and decide on motives or feelings at that time based on someone else’s version of a story they have read.
Finally may I apologize with all sincerity to anyone who has lost a child or been close to someone who has, for such callus disregard of your trauma and plight that these women shove you in a corner as if your stories are worthless or insignificant. As a childless women (partially by choice), and someone who has been present watching and attempting to support the grief of a mother whose child died, let me offer you my sincere apology that this book has been published and put out into the world with the phrasing that your stories are boring or not worthy of the authors time.
Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.
There are so many problems with this collection it’s hard to know where to start. So I’m going to list them below, and while numbered these are in no particular order. I’d be very hard pressed to pick which of these is the worst of the offences listed.
1) No First Hand Accounts
Neither of the female authors who wrote this book have any first hand accounts, interviews, or new information on any of these stories. Instead they are just regurgitating the stories as they were told by someone else. How can you have a new perspective, interest, or reason to tell the story if you haven’t been to the site, talked to those who have experienced the phenom, or at least done more than read an article by another (more experienced likely) author. With nothing new to contribute (that doesn’t fall into the points below) there is really no sense in publishing this book.
2) Feminist Manifesto of Misleading Proportions
The introductions and large portions of the ghost story narratives themselves read as feminist political manifestos. To the point where I found it not only obnoxious but downright insulting. As a female myself I do not believe many of the things stated are fair or even true based on todays society. In the 1800s sure; but not today. For example, you can’t honestly tell me that the majority of women still go to college only to find a “suitable husband”!?! Don’t put a spin on a story just so it meets your specific narrative. It is very obvious and leaves no room for you to be incorrect.
3) Not Qualified at All
If someone wants to write a book dissecting society, it’s treatment of women, the ramifications, and how that might influence ghosts or spirits; then you had better have a professional at least consulted. It would be better if the psychologist, feminine studies professor, historical professor, sociologist, or any number of experts wrote the actual book; but at least have someone consulted, quoted, and vetting your statements. The women who wrote this book have zero credentials (except that they presumably each identify as female) to make any of the far reaching, condemning, and frankly at times insulting comments they make.
4) Cherry Picking to Fit a Motive
Throughout the book the women defend why they chose the examples they did. At first in part 1 I was mostly okay with this. In part 2 it started to be very skewed that they were intentionally ignoring specific styles of ghost stories (presumably as they didn’t fit their feminist, man-hating agenda). By part 3, about mothers, I was flat out insulted.
Who are these women to decide that mothers who’ve lost their child and haunt the area looking for them, or committed suicide after losing a child are ‘not interesting’!?!?
Im sorry but how dare you take someone’s massive grief and disregard it. Whether it’s a well substantiated haunting story or not! Obviously neither of these women have lost a baby or known someone who had. Because no one with half a heart and knowledge of what it’s like to see a child die would be so disrespectful as to literally blow-off a very specific type of motherly trauma that is often connected to haunting. I could not be more disgusted in the attitude and tone this section took. Hence why I chose to put this book down and not complete it.
Overall
The constant arrogance, disrespect, and man-hating energy from this book (as far as I read) is just gross. Each time I read a new section or justification for why these authors believed a certain spirit was remaining or how in life the woman was held down by men felt more and more like they were using these stories (many tragic and heartbreaking) in order to further their inexperienced,, certainly not professional, commentary regarding the patriarch.
Don’t get me wrong, many statements made are totally true. And both capitalism and the patriarch are rife with obvious massive problems. But I do not think taking a paintbrush and making assumptions, having done no first hand research and with no educational background on the topics at hand, is appropriate. May I apologize to the memories, spirits, and legacy of each of the women discussed in this book for having their story used as a prop. In no way is this a memorial to any of these women, nor is it fair for these women to dissect and decide on motives or feelings at that time based on someone else’s version of a story they have read.
Finally may I apologize with all sincerity to anyone who has lost a child or been close to someone who has, for such callus disregard of your trauma and plight that these women shove you in a corner as if your stories are worthless or insignificant. As a childless women (partially by choice), and someone who has been present watching and attempting to support the grief of a mother whose child died, let me offer you my sincere apology that this book has been published and put out into the world with the phrasing that your stories are boring or not worthy of the authors time.
Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.
August 3, 2022
Authors and ghost tour guides Leanna Renee Hieber and Andrea Janes tell the stories of America’s female ghosts, discussing how they fall in the landscape of gender and time.
I enjoy a good ghost story, which was why I requested this book on NetGalley. However, what I learned was far beyond the scope of merely spooky tales, and I really enjoyed this. The authors relate the stories of the ghosts with particular emphasis on the women’s place in space and time, expanding the way I looked at them.
Yet at the same time, the stories managed to be humorous and heart-rending and spooky. I especially liked the story in the chapter “An Unreliable Narrator,” which tells the story of a certain strange house in New York City.
However, I did think the authors sometimes wrote with sweeping generalizations about both ghosts and gender, and the tone of the writing became a little dramatic at times. I also wished that the authors would have included more stories about women from marginalized backgrounds – while they discussed the paucity of stories about such ghosts, I thought it would have been interesting if they could have included more of the stories they did find.
Overall, a fascinating read for those who believe in ghosts as well as those in search of good historical yarns.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.
I enjoy a good ghost story, which was why I requested this book on NetGalley. However, what I learned was far beyond the scope of merely spooky tales, and I really enjoyed this. The authors relate the stories of the ghosts with particular emphasis on the women’s place in space and time, expanding the way I looked at them.
Yet at the same time, the stories managed to be humorous and heart-rending and spooky. I especially liked the story in the chapter “An Unreliable Narrator,” which tells the story of a certain strange house in New York City.
However, I did think the authors sometimes wrote with sweeping generalizations about both ghosts and gender, and the tone of the writing became a little dramatic at times. I also wished that the authors would have included more stories about women from marginalized backgrounds – while they discussed the paucity of stories about such ghosts, I thought it would have been interesting if they could have included more of the stories they did find.
Overall, a fascinating read for those who believe in ghosts as well as those in search of good historical yarns.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.
June 16, 2022
A Haunted History of Invisible Women: True Stories of America's Ghosts by Leanna Renee Hieber; Andrea Janes is an excellent nonfiction that takes us into the vast realm of ghost stories and the history that surrounds them.
This is such a unique book. Part history, part paranormal, part historical biography, it gives the reader many examples of ghost stories involve famous and non famous women in the past and the historical events that surround each woman.
I really enjoyed reading more about these women and also the basis for the paranormal stories that developed from their earthly existence. Excellent.
5/5 stars
Thank you NG and Citadel/Kensington Books for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 9/27/22.
This is such a unique book. Part history, part paranormal, part historical biography, it gives the reader many examples of ghost stories involve famous and non famous women in the past and the historical events that surround each woman.
I really enjoyed reading more about these women and also the basis for the paranormal stories that developed from their earthly existence. Excellent.
5/5 stars
Thank you NG and Citadel/Kensington Books for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 9/27/22.
July 21, 2022
With insight and empathy, authors Hieber and Janes recover and honor the real women behind legendary U.S. ghost stories (categorized as Maidens, Witches, Mothers and Wives, Jezebels, Madwomen, Spinsters and Widows, and Frauds). Theirs is not a comprehensive or encyclopedic undertaking of original scholarship, but it's not intended to be. Hieber and Janes choose illustrative examples (most famous and oft-retold, many from their home base of New York, some from personal experiences) to unfold their larger (feminist) argument about women's roles and voices in the United States. This is an entertaining, accessible, and at times very moving book -- and, best of all, it's a work that invites the reader to follow up on footnotes and sources in the bibliography, to do more investigating and pondering, and to interrogate the familiar tales we repeat and rethink their meanings. Both Hieber and Janes are terrific storytellers, and their different approaches to the material is one of the book's many strengths.
I received this ebook from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
I received this ebook from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
October 11, 2022
A Haunted History of Invisible Women by Leanna Renee Hieber and Andrea Janes is a well done and engaging look at the true stories behind the legends of ghosts and the supernatural.
As the book description says, "From the notorious Lizzie Borden to the innumerable, haunted rooms of Sarah Winchester's mysterious mansion, this offbeat, insightful, first-ever book of its kind explores the history behind America’s female ghosts, the stereotypes, myths, and paranormal tales that swirl around them, what their stories reveal about us—and why they haunt us…" the book deals with the history, facts, exaggerations and lies that surround some of the hauntings and is not just a collection of ghost stories. It also looks at how societies views of women have shaped the stories and legends around the ghosts.
One thing I wish that had been expanded upon a little more was the fact that some of the ghost stories are also cautionary tales and how that fits within the original history.
As someone who has a heavy interest in the paranormal and history there were still some facts and information that I found surprising--the part about Savannah, Georgia and it's embracement of Dark Tourism is a prime example.
I found this to be a very engaging, entertaining, and educational book.
I would like to thank #NetGalley, and #KenisngtonBooks and the authors for the eARC of the book and Kristen Vega for the physical copy (and the cool Black Leaves) of #AHauntedHistoryofInvisibleWomen.
As the book description says, "From the notorious Lizzie Borden to the innumerable, haunted rooms of Sarah Winchester's mysterious mansion, this offbeat, insightful, first-ever book of its kind explores the history behind America’s female ghosts, the stereotypes, myths, and paranormal tales that swirl around them, what their stories reveal about us—and why they haunt us…" the book deals with the history, facts, exaggerations and lies that surround some of the hauntings and is not just a collection of ghost stories. It also looks at how societies views of women have shaped the stories and legends around the ghosts.
One thing I wish that had been expanded upon a little more was the fact that some of the ghost stories are also cautionary tales and how that fits within the original history.
As someone who has a heavy interest in the paranormal and history there were still some facts and information that I found surprising--the part about Savannah, Georgia and it's embracement of Dark Tourism is a prime example.
I found this to be a very engaging, entertaining, and educational book.
I would like to thank #NetGalley, and #KenisngtonBooks and the authors for the eARC of the book and Kristen Vega for the physical copy (and the cool Black Leaves) of #AHauntedHistoryofInvisibleWomen.
October 5, 2022
DNF @ about 40%
I'm not entirely sure why but this book just isn't clicking for me. I think part of it - and this is totally on me - is that I'm unable to entirely take it seriously after realizing that the authors actually believe in ghosts. Which I guess probably makes me kind of a dick but every time they would talk about something supernatural like it was fact I found myself rolling my eyes.
In general I think the idea behind the book is a very good one and there should be a lot to discuss with regard to the ghost stories and what they say about society, but in reality I felt like the sections I read had very little to add to the actual ghost stories and the social commentary part seemed to be trying very hard to shoe-horn things in a certain way. Either way I just found it incredibly boring and often found my attention wandering while listening so I decided to just let it go.
I'm not entirely sure why but this book just isn't clicking for me. I think part of it - and this is totally on me - is that I'm unable to entirely take it seriously after realizing that the authors actually believe in ghosts. Which I guess probably makes me kind of a dick but every time they would talk about something supernatural like it was fact I found myself rolling my eyes.
In general I think the idea behind the book is a very good one and there should be a lot to discuss with regard to the ghost stories and what they say about society, but in reality I felt like the sections I read had very little to add to the actual ghost stories and the social commentary part seemed to be trying very hard to shoe-horn things in a certain way. Either way I just found it incredibly boring and often found my attention wandering while listening so I decided to just let it go.
February 1, 2023
A Haunted History of Invisible Women is a non-fiction book about female ghosts in the US and what they can tell us about society, history, and culture. I love books that look at the intersectionality of myth and folklore and thought this would be an informative read for spooky season!
I had a good time with this book! The authors have been active in giving ghost tours so there was a bit more of a "ghosts are real" lean than I was expecting in non-fiction. However, I felt this added to the spooky ambiance. I liked learning about the different ghosts, some I was previously familiar with and some I was not. I like the diversity in stories and the analysis about race, gender, and class in ghost stories.
Overall, this was a great spooky non-fiction book and I'm glad I read it! Would recommend to anyone who finds the title interesting. 3.85 stars rounded up to 4 from me. Thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for the electronic advanced reader's copy of this book!
I had a good time with this book! The authors have been active in giving ghost tours so there was a bit more of a "ghosts are real" lean than I was expecting in non-fiction. However, I felt this added to the spooky ambiance. I liked learning about the different ghosts, some I was previously familiar with and some I was not. I like the diversity in stories and the analysis about race, gender, and class in ghost stories.
Overall, this was a great spooky non-fiction book and I'm glad I read it! Would recommend to anyone who finds the title interesting. 3.85 stars rounded up to 4 from me. Thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for the electronic advanced reader's copy of this book!
September 25, 2022
I'm sorry, but this book is a mess and not what I was expecting at all. I was hoping to learn about these ghosts, their histories, and what is going on with them now. I didn't want social commentary. In fact, I had to abandon this audiobook and not finish it.
First, there are no "true stories of America's ghosts" as mentioned in the title. The "authors" mention a ghost and tell us that people have seen them. That's it. There's no real research or background into the people that became the ghost, the community, or the recounting from people at the time. They take a quote from someone who actually has qualifications and say that's research.
Second, there is too much of a rant on society's undervaluing of women. They are treated as objects. They only go to school to find a husband to take care of them. The ghosts haunt people because they weren't treated well in life by their community. While this is an important subject that could be the topic of a book on its own, this book wasn't it. I wanted to hear about ghosts, not getting hit over the head repeatedly with social commentary.
Third, as far as I can tell, the "authors" don't have any real qualifications in this area of study. They are not scientists or parapsychologists that have studied ghost sightings in different locations for many years. They are tour guides that have a script that they go off of while driving a tour bus around the city. And that's exactly how this writing comes across - disjointed, unorganized, and straying off the original topic.
Thank you to NetGalley and Tantor Audio for an ARC audiobook in exchange for an honest review. I wish it could've been more positive.
First, there are no "true stories of America's ghosts" as mentioned in the title. The "authors" mention a ghost and tell us that people have seen them. That's it. There's no real research or background into the people that became the ghost, the community, or the recounting from people at the time. They take a quote from someone who actually has qualifications and say that's research.
Second, there is too much of a rant on society's undervaluing of women. They are treated as objects. They only go to school to find a husband to take care of them. The ghosts haunt people because they weren't treated well in life by their community. While this is an important subject that could be the topic of a book on its own, this book wasn't it. I wanted to hear about ghosts, not getting hit over the head repeatedly with social commentary.
Third, as far as I can tell, the "authors" don't have any real qualifications in this area of study. They are not scientists or parapsychologists that have studied ghost sightings in different locations for many years. They are tour guides that have a script that they go off of while driving a tour bus around the city. And that's exactly how this writing comes across - disjointed, unorganized, and straying off the original topic.
Thank you to NetGalley and Tantor Audio for an ARC audiobook in exchange for an honest review. I wish it could've been more positive.
June 23, 2022
3.75
Arc received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
When I saw this book available on NetGalley, I eagerly sent a request in. I love ghosts and I love history, this seemed like a perfect match of my interests.
The book is divided into six themes, with an introduction and three essays about female ghosts both famous and unknown. I liked that there were also pictures interspersed throughout, and I wish that a couple more made it into the arc instead of just the captions, but still I'm excited to see what the photos would be in the final copy.
Admittedly, there were some essays that felt a tad overdramatic in the tone and the way that it's written. I feel like it significantly improved as I coursed through the book though — most of my favorites were in the middle and the last parts. An Unreliable Narrator honestly spooked me.
I also liked how this book didn't just talk about the ghosts and the hauntings, but opened up conversation on how the lives of often very real women were commodified in the after life and how some ghost tours barely talk about how awful some of the lives of these women were back then, instead just sensationalizing them. I especially liked the essay about the Sorrel Weed House concerning this topic.
Overall, an informative and thought-provoking book. If you're a lover of both the paranormal and history, I'd definitely recommend this book as something you'd enjoy.
Arc received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
When I saw this book available on NetGalley, I eagerly sent a request in. I love ghosts and I love history, this seemed like a perfect match of my interests.
The book is divided into six themes, with an introduction and three essays about female ghosts both famous and unknown. I liked that there were also pictures interspersed throughout, and I wish that a couple more made it into the arc instead of just the captions, but still I'm excited to see what the photos would be in the final copy.
Admittedly, there were some essays that felt a tad overdramatic in the tone and the way that it's written. I feel like it significantly improved as I coursed through the book though — most of my favorites were in the middle and the last parts. An Unreliable Narrator honestly spooked me.
I also liked how this book didn't just talk about the ghosts and the hauntings, but opened up conversation on how the lives of often very real women were commodified in the after life and how some ghost tours barely talk about how awful some of the lives of these women were back then, instead just sensationalizing them. I especially liked the essay about the Sorrel Weed House concerning this topic.
Overall, an informative and thought-provoking book. If you're a lover of both the paranormal and history, I'd definitely recommend this book as something you'd enjoy.
December 2, 2022
I found this incredibly dull and uninspiring, even as an audiobook, something that I suppose doesn't surprise me as this book retreads a lot of well-worn ground while offering exactly zero fresh takes or new material.
It also displays very shoddy research in my opinion, putting forth recountings of recountings in its passages and rendering the book very unimpressive. There are no primary sources, a lot of ambiguous quoting of or referring to "other researchers" and this is simply lazy, especially as I've encountered most of this material already in a combination of feminist history and ghost books.
The audiobook didn't label the sections that the book titled Mothers, Witches etc., which made it confusing to figure out where I was in it.
There are sweeping generalizations, such as describing the early twenties "college years" as a massive time of metamorphosis for women - never mind that in the time periods these passages referred to, not many women attended, and even in modern times, people don't all attend straight out of high school. That bothered me immensely. There are futher issues other reviews describe but I just don't care more, lol. DNF at 50%.
It also displays very shoddy research in my opinion, putting forth recountings of recountings in its passages and rendering the book very unimpressive. There are no primary sources, a lot of ambiguous quoting of or referring to "other researchers" and this is simply lazy, especially as I've encountered most of this material already in a combination of feminist history and ghost books.
The audiobook didn't label the sections that the book titled Mothers, Witches etc., which made it confusing to figure out where I was in it.
There are sweeping generalizations, such as describing the early twenties "college years" as a massive time of metamorphosis for women - never mind that in the time periods these passages referred to, not many women attended, and even in modern times, people don't all attend straight out of high school. That bothered me immensely. There are futher issues other reviews describe but I just don't care more, lol. DNF at 50%.
September 22, 2022
Audiobook Review
Wow yall.
I like to tell those who don't read audiobooks that a good narrator will take an ok book and make it so much better. In this case, the narration made the book so much more enjoyable even during the parts where some details can become dull and your mind can wander.
In this one, we have so many different stories about ghosts, witches, and all sorts of paranormal happenings where the actual person is forgotten in the stories. Or the woman will be known for horrible things that were things that happened to her. I loved the details on each story and how not all of it was believed to be true.
I did not find a lot of stories where the woman/women who died to make them seem more powerful as the blurb claimed, but it did showcase how a person can die and anyone can make a story out of them.
While I loved these tales, my one criticism is that it was so long. I would have loved for this to have been about the less known stories and have focus on those, but I do recommend this for anyone interested in the other worldly.
Wow yall.
I like to tell those who don't read audiobooks that a good narrator will take an ok book and make it so much better. In this case, the narration made the book so much more enjoyable even during the parts where some details can become dull and your mind can wander.
In this one, we have so many different stories about ghosts, witches, and all sorts of paranormal happenings where the actual person is forgotten in the stories. Or the woman will be known for horrible things that were things that happened to her. I loved the details on each story and how not all of it was believed to be true.
I did not find a lot of stories where the woman/women who died to make them seem more powerful as the blurb claimed, but it did showcase how a person can die and anyone can make a story out of them.
While I loved these tales, my one criticism is that it was so long. I would have loved for this to have been about the less known stories and have focus on those, but I do recommend this for anyone interested in the other worldly.
December 2, 2022
I received this book from goodreads' giveawys.
Now this book is a master-work of knowledge about your classic, general, and witchy ghosts.
I myself do not believe in ghosts, but I am fascinated by ghost stories.
Now this book is not a ghost story, but describes the history behind some of the lesser ghost stories, as well as the more famous ones, such as Lizzie Borden, the Winchester House, etc.
Very nice research was done, super informative stuff there.
Very good job by the authors !
Again - this is not just one story, but many stories and more of a extensive and factual book in ghost research.
Very well done !
Now this book is a master-work of knowledge about your classic, general, and witchy ghosts.
I myself do not believe in ghosts, but I am fascinated by ghost stories.
Now this book is not a ghost story, but describes the history behind some of the lesser ghost stories, as well as the more famous ones, such as Lizzie Borden, the Winchester House, etc.
Very nice research was done, super informative stuff there.
Very good job by the authors !
Again - this is not just one story, but many stories and more of a extensive and factual book in ghost research.
Very well done !
July 28, 2022
I received an ARC of, A Haunted History of Invisible Women, by Leanna Renee Hieber: Andrea Janes. Wow women have been through a lot in history, no wonder some have become ghosts. From the witch trials in Salem Massachusetts, to women who have been wronged, or have done bad things, a lot of them are in this book.
November 1, 2022
Although I am grateful for the free copy, I received on Goodreads giveaways, the cost of nothing is still too much for this book. Awful, I'm not even sure what the purpose of this book was besides some major, man-hating feminism hidden behind ghost "stories". These aren't even stories, it's a brief touch on what others have written. I get it, you hate men, but your book sucks!
October 19, 2022
This is good on audio and I'm glad I listened to it, because I think it would have been a slog for me in print. It's not what I was expecting. I was thinking it would be a good listen for Spooky Season - oh sure, ghost stories, why not? But instead it's more a dissection of female-centered ghost stories through a feminist lens. More approachable academic then thrills and chills.
Also, mileage will vary on this - but the authors seem to believe in spirits, ghosts and the unexplained and well - sure, Jan. Do ghosts exist? Can places be haunted? Whatever. I'm much more frightened by the inhumanity of the living and breathing than anything remotely "supernatural." Too much Scooby Doo as a kid I think. It's usually a flesh and blood person being an a-hole, not a ghost.
It's OK but not something I'll be pushing on to other readers.
Also, mileage will vary on this - but the authors seem to believe in spirits, ghosts and the unexplained and well - sure, Jan. Do ghosts exist? Can places be haunted? Whatever. I'm much more frightened by the inhumanity of the living and breathing than anything remotely "supernatural." Too much Scooby Doo as a kid I think. It's usually a flesh and blood person being an a-hole, not a ghost.
It's OK but not something I'll be pushing on to other readers.
April 12, 2024
I love this book! Both authors write with so much empathy that it was genuinely affirming to read.
March 25, 2023
How I read this: Free ebook copy received through NetGalley
If I could give this book more than 5 stars, I absolutely would. It's so perfectly wistful and the mood is just right. I don't usually even like reading essays, but this is different - it's like all these small stories about women's ghosts, the ghostliness of how we are perceived by society and the cultural impact of it. Some of those are based on existing ghost stories, some on imagined ones. The authors don't even skip fake ghost stories and their histories, which I really appreciated. What a great read.
Some of my other thoughts about it that I wrote down while reading it... I never thought of ghost stories like that, but as I was reading the preface to this book? It's so true. Ghost stories are so often women's stories. Women are often more interested in them, and have historically been more involved with dealing (and I mean, dealing as a chore) with death more often than men. A lot of ghost stories were written by women, and were the first feminist tales, where the angry wife gets to exact her revenge, because she's is no longer tied to societal norms or expectations. A lot of these ghosts are tragic, but that doesn't change the fascinating fact that ghost stories, at least old ones, are indeed more often about women, and interest women moreso than men. Fascinating.
This book may be more meant for those who believe in ghosts, as it's very sincere and sensitive about these matters. There is also a lot of respect and empathy towards the living people who turned into these ghosts, whether real or not - before the ghost, there was always a living person's story with its sufferings and complications. So I think it doesn't really matter if you believe ghosts or not, it's a good book to read - and even if you don't believe in them, the book explores a lot of cultural impacts and our beliefs that have shaped or have been shaped by these stories. It's an incredibly interesting exploration, and the authors have done an amazing job in assembling all those facts and the lore that comes with the locations and ghost stories involved.
I thank the publisher for giving me a free copy of the ebook in exchange to my honest review. This has not affected my opinion.
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If I could give this book more than 5 stars, I absolutely would. It's so perfectly wistful and the mood is just right. I don't usually even like reading essays, but this is different - it's like all these small stories about women's ghosts, the ghostliness of how we are perceived by society and the cultural impact of it. Some of those are based on existing ghost stories, some on imagined ones. The authors don't even skip fake ghost stories and their histories, which I really appreciated. What a great read.
Some of my other thoughts about it that I wrote down while reading it... I never thought of ghost stories like that, but as I was reading the preface to this book? It's so true. Ghost stories are so often women's stories. Women are often more interested in them, and have historically been more involved with dealing (and I mean, dealing as a chore) with death more often than men. A lot of ghost stories were written by women, and were the first feminist tales, where the angry wife gets to exact her revenge, because she's is no longer tied to societal norms or expectations. A lot of these ghosts are tragic, but that doesn't change the fascinating fact that ghost stories, at least old ones, are indeed more often about women, and interest women moreso than men. Fascinating.
This book may be more meant for those who believe in ghosts, as it's very sincere and sensitive about these matters. There is also a lot of respect and empathy towards the living people who turned into these ghosts, whether real or not - before the ghost, there was always a living person's story with its sufferings and complications. So I think it doesn't really matter if you believe ghosts or not, it's a good book to read - and even if you don't believe in them, the book explores a lot of cultural impacts and our beliefs that have shaped or have been shaped by these stories. It's an incredibly interesting exploration, and the authors have done an amazing job in assembling all those facts and the lore that comes with the locations and ghost stories involved.
I thank the publisher for giving me a free copy of the ebook in exchange to my honest review. This has not affected my opinion.
Book Blog | Bookstagram | Bookish Twitter
August 4, 2022
I have long had a quiet interest in things ghostly and haunting for a very good reason. I have had experiences with spirits and had hoped these authors would bring new information to my attention. There is good information here, but it is rather meager regarding personal experiences of either of these two authors. As someone familiar with the subject I would have welcomed more individual experiences. The segments where one or the other author was relating personally experienced activity at a specific location was more engaging for me instead of being just a recitation of facts (or fiction as some stories represent). If you have done any exploration into the phenomenon of witches, ghosts, haunts or spirits, you will have seen how women were so often victims of society and made scapegoats because they didn't have anyone to stand up for them and defend the charges against them. Society tends to come down harshly on someone who is different and Leanna Renee Hieber and Andrea Janes have done an excellent job of illustrating how this has happened to women over and over through time. What they have also shown is how some women managed to overcome their position in society to find a place to survive and even thrive in a world that makes most people just a little bit nervous.
If this is your first step in exploring the world of the paranormal, you will certainly find an abundance of information to help you find your way through the subject. This book can certainly point you in the direction you need to go in order to focus on one type of hauntings. I couldn't help but smile while reading the chapter devoted to the hauntings in Savannah, Georgia. Those folks are certainly willing to do (or say?) whatever it takes to keep the ghost tours going strong in their city. Who would have believed that ghosts could foster an entire tourism category in the life of a city.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for an e-galley of this book.
If this is your first step in exploring the world of the paranormal, you will certainly find an abundance of information to help you find your way through the subject. This book can certainly point you in the direction you need to go in order to focus on one type of hauntings. I couldn't help but smile while reading the chapter devoted to the hauntings in Savannah, Georgia. Those folks are certainly willing to do (or say?) whatever it takes to keep the ghost tours going strong in their city. Who would have believed that ghosts could foster an entire tourism category in the life of a city.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for an e-galley of this book.
December 13, 2022
In A Haunted History of Invisible Women, Leanna and Andrea don’t merely collect ghost stories—they study these stories, critique them, fit them into a wider cultural context, and discuss what we can learn from them. Each coauthor has her own introduction to the book. In Andrea’s introduction, titled “Women, Death, and Ghosts,” she lays out the book’s premise: “Women are profoundly entwined with ghosts and ghost stories”—there’s some intrinsic link between women and ghosts in folklore, literature, religion, history, and in daily life. In Leanna’s introduction, “Existential Questions,” she discusses how “one’s relationship to the spirit world, like religion and identity, is fundamentally personal and contains multitudes.” The rest of the book is organized into sections based on character tropes that the women in these ghost stories tend to fall into, from mothers and wives to “witches” and “madwomen.” Each section has its own introduction followed by three or four ghost stories that exemplify the trope. The chapter headings indicate whether each chapter is written by Leanna, Andrea, or both. The tales discussed within range from famous figures like Lizzie Borden and Sarah Winchester to little-known local haunts. The final section of the book tackles “Frauds, Fakes, and Mythmaking,” exploring provably false ghost stories, why they were invented, and why they persist despite a lack of evidence. Lastly, an “Afterward” written by Linda D. Addison meditates on the importance of stories.
See my full review: https://www.thegothiclibrary.com/a-ha...
See my full review: https://www.thegothiclibrary.com/a-ha...
July 5, 2022
I don't really know what i was expecting when i requested this ARC, maybe some sort of horror book, some ghost stories, or maybe ghost localizations, this book was much further than what I was expecting, instead of a regular horror story, I got the story how the said ghost come to be, the story of the women that later became the ghost of legends, yes, we as human we dwell a lot in the past, and how things happened means a lot to us, I guess that’s the reason why in most ghost tours, like the writer of the book said, 90% of said tours are women, we want to connect to these lost souls..
This is the kind of book that will make you sad, and at the same time make you read more, I guess we like Mulder, we just want to believe and know more, this is a great read, you go from hotels to colleges, passing by witches, and you know what?, you have a name to these otherwise unknown ghosts, you have a backstory, what makes the reader so much closer to the story, you also get to know how these ghosts make their presence know in modern times, it is a great read, and will make you busy until the last page.
Thank you NetGalley for the free ARC and this is my honest opinion.
This is the kind of book that will make you sad, and at the same time make you read more, I guess we like Mulder, we just want to believe and know more, this is a great read, you go from hotels to colleges, passing by witches, and you know what?, you have a name to these otherwise unknown ghosts, you have a backstory, what makes the reader so much closer to the story, you also get to know how these ghosts make their presence know in modern times, it is a great read, and will make you busy until the last page.
Thank you NetGalley for the free ARC and this is my honest opinion.
August 3, 2022
I received an arc of this book and sadly dfn halfway through. While the premise of the book is promising I found it was not what I expected. There was a lot of this will be explained later in the book or references to other chapters so it didn't flow well. I expected more ghost stories where instead there were just small albeit interesting stories added in with mostly explanations that went with each chapter.
Now if you are looking for a history of women in history especially when it comes to injustices in women's rights you will probably really enjoy this book. It just wasn't a good match for me.
Now if you are looking for a history of women in history especially when it comes to injustices in women's rights you will probably really enjoy this book. It just wasn't a good match for me.
March 19, 2023
That will teach me to trust other reviews more than my own judgement.
I read a review earlier that was quite disparaging about the social elements of this narrative, which understandably may put a lot of readers off, but that also illustrates how readers match books and vice versa.
This was such an insightful discussing about the potentiality of folklore in culture with ghosts being the example used.
I was fascinated and I would love yo reading something more about other countries heritage with folklore and ghosts.
I read a review earlier that was quite disparaging about the social elements of this narrative, which understandably may put a lot of readers off, but that also illustrates how readers match books and vice versa.
This was such an insightful discussing about the potentiality of folklore in culture with ghosts being the example used.
I was fascinated and I would love yo reading something more about other countries heritage with folklore and ghosts.
October 3, 2022
4.5 rounded up. This book exists at the intersection of history, folklore, and women's studies, and it does an excellent job of showing why all three of those subjects ought to be combined for a more thorough look at just why there are so many female ghosts and why they fit so neatly into a series of accepted tropes. Certainly it's made me think about the local ghostly women I grew up hearing about in a different way, and that's a mark of a book well done.
January 30, 2025
This is a good big overview about the history of ghosts, some of the common tropes and their origins. It’s also well organized to give us different kinds of stories. Most of the ghost tales told are pretty solid and compelling, although I found a few of them to be a little too cursory.
The biggest weakness of the book is gets sidetracked too often with asides that aren’t too relative to the stories. Sometimes this takes the form of jokes and bits that didn’t land for me.
The biggest weakness of the book is gets sidetracked too often with asides that aren’t too relative to the stories. Sometimes this takes the form of jokes and bits that didn’t land for me.
November 29, 2022
3.5
In A Haunted History of Invisible Women, co-authors Hieber and Janes examine some of the best-known American ghost stories, not so much for the details of the hauntings themselves, but for the ways the stories are socially constructed. They're less interested in whether the stories are "true," and more interested in what ghostlore reveals about our fears, our prejudices, our unease with our history, and our attempts to cope with change.
This was different than I expected. I went in looking for a bunch of fun ghost stories, with a side of feminist thinking. What I got instead was a dash of ghost story, with a main course of critical exploration. That's not a bad thing! The book's title is just a little misleading. I really appreciated the friendly skeptic/true believer collaboration between Hieber and Janes, along with many of the new-to-me ideas they share, including: 1) Ghosts and ghost stories are gendered! The skew heavily female/feminine. 2) Ghost stories can't be objectively verified, but that's okay, because whether they can be proven is pretty much the least interesting thing about them. 3) Actual lived trauma can manifest in events that appear supernatural or ghostly.
I was on board with all these ideas, but unfortunately, they didn't exactly make for riveting reading. When the ghostly events themselves don't matter so much, when they're told many degrees removed and held at a critical distance, the experience is a little lackluster. I could nod my head in agreement, but I couldn't be moved to the edge of my seat. For me, the book fluctuated wildly between pleasantly juicy and dry as a Triscuit.
In A Haunted History of Invisible Women, co-authors Hieber and Janes examine some of the best-known American ghost stories, not so much for the details of the hauntings themselves, but for the ways the stories are socially constructed. They're less interested in whether the stories are "true," and more interested in what ghostlore reveals about our fears, our prejudices, our unease with our history, and our attempts to cope with change.
This was different than I expected. I went in looking for a bunch of fun ghost stories, with a side of feminist thinking. What I got instead was a dash of ghost story, with a main course of critical exploration. That's not a bad thing! The book's title is just a little misleading. I really appreciated the friendly skeptic/true believer collaboration between Hieber and Janes, along with many of the new-to-me ideas they share, including: 1) Ghosts and ghost stories are gendered! The skew heavily female/feminine. 2) Ghost stories can't be objectively verified, but that's okay, because whether they can be proven is pretty much the least interesting thing about them. 3) Actual lived trauma can manifest in events that appear supernatural or ghostly.
I was on board with all these ideas, but unfortunately, they didn't exactly make for riveting reading. When the ghostly events themselves don't matter so much, when they're told many degrees removed and held at a critical distance, the experience is a little lackluster. I could nod my head in agreement, but I couldn't be moved to the edge of my seat. For me, the book fluctuated wildly between pleasantly juicy and dry as a Triscuit.
September 26, 2022
Big thanks to the publisher @penguinrandomhouse (Citadel Books) for providing an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
This nonfiction book wasn't what I was expecting; it was better. The authors investigate well-known ghost stories more deeply than you might find in your average book of hauntings. This book seeks to do more than simply scare the reader. Instead, the authors reveal the social and psychological aspects of ghost stories, and more specifically what is revealed in the ways we discuss ghostly women. This is a lofty goal, but it was handled well and I was impressed by the authors' breadth of knowledge on this topic. While I was familiar with most of the stories, they were presented in a way that challenged my understanding. I particularly enjoyed how the book was organized into tropes, using the commonalities between the stories as a critical lens.
This nonfiction book wasn't what I was expecting; it was better. The authors investigate well-known ghost stories more deeply than you might find in your average book of hauntings. This book seeks to do more than simply scare the reader. Instead, the authors reveal the social and psychological aspects of ghost stories, and more specifically what is revealed in the ways we discuss ghostly women. This is a lofty goal, but it was handled well and I was impressed by the authors' breadth of knowledge on this topic. While I was familiar with most of the stories, they were presented in a way that challenged my understanding. I particularly enjoyed how the book was organized into tropes, using the commonalities between the stories as a critical lens.
October 24, 2022
High, high praise for A haunted history of Invincible Women. I will admit I am not a big non-fiction reader, but when books discuss a topic I truly enjoy like witches, ghosts and hauntings I can definitely make an exception. The authors did such an incredible job at researching, getting evidence together and just creating an atmospheric book. As soon as you read the introductions from the authors, you immediately will be engrossed in it's content.
I have watched a lot of documentaries about the supernatural, Salem Witch Trials, ghosts and paranormal, but the amount of detail and evidence shown here is beyond anything I've encountered. My absolute favorite chapters were The beautiful stranger and Dark Academia, when you read this book, you'll absolutely have a different perspective of historical landmarks. Every place could have a hidden history or a past ready to be discovered.
I have watched a lot of documentaries about the supernatural, Salem Witch Trials, ghosts and paranormal, but the amount of detail and evidence shown here is beyond anything I've encountered. My absolute favorite chapters were The beautiful stranger and Dark Academia, when you read this book, you'll absolutely have a different perspective of historical landmarks. Every place could have a hidden history or a past ready to be discovered.
May 25, 2023
Profoundly moving
They are silent spectres no more. These once-women now speak through the study of Hieber and James in this amazing and illuminating compendium of stories, places, and women. Highly recommended.
They are silent spectres no more. These once-women now speak through the study of Hieber and James in this amazing and illuminating compendium of stories, places, and women. Highly recommended.
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