What do you think?
Rate this book
My Friend Richard: A True Ghost Story
A close friend of mine, maybe the brightest student in our high school of four thousand, came to see me some years back. He came as a ghost with a favor to ask, renewing a friendship that continues a decade later.
Richard has the same immature young adult personality he had when he died in a Haight-Asbury fire in 1970. But as a spirit he can travel very far very fast, appear and disappear at will, or shape-shift into a feisty moth. He enters locked homes to visit loved ones, sometimes projecting powerful images into their minds. Annoyed, he’s a smelly, destructive nuisance. Sometimes he’s affectionate.
Anyone wanting to know more about ghosts will find a wealth of firsthand information in this true narrative, which follows the life and afterlife of my artistically gifted but dismayingly self-destructive buddy. For adults and young adults.
Richard has the same immature young adult personality he had when he died in a Haight-Asbury fire in 1970. But as a spirit he can travel very far very fast, appear and disappear at will, or shape-shift into a feisty moth. He enters locked homes to visit loved ones, sometimes projecting powerful images into their minds. Annoyed, he’s a smelly, destructive nuisance. Sometimes he’s affectionate.
Anyone wanting to know more about ghosts will find a wealth of firsthand information in this true narrative, which follows the life and afterlife of my artistically gifted but dismayingly self-destructive buddy. For adults and young adults.
41 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 6, 2022
17 people are currently reading
5 people want to read
About the author
William Hart
5 books106 followersWilliam Hart is a novelist and poet living in Los Angeles. After earning a doctorate in English from the University of Southern California, he taught college writing courses in LA and wrote. Now he writes--fiction mostly--while helping produce the documentaries of filmmaker Jayasri Majumdar, his wife. Hart's work has appeared in several hundred literary journals, commercial magazines, newspapers, and anthologies, and fourteen books. A pair of one-hour documentaries from Hartfilms aired nationally on PBS, the latest receiving Emmy nominations.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
December 6, 2022
My Friend Richard.
There are times in your life when you read something that hits you hard, but not in the way the author intended. So, this review will be about the emotions I experienced while reading the book, more than the book itself. I do apologize to the author, William Hart, for that.
The book starts out with the author writing a tribute to his friend who had died a while ago. While trying to write it strange things start happening.
Unfortunately, in my life right now, I am having say the long goodbye to the most brilliant woman I have ever known. While I'm doing that ghosts or gremlins have invaded her house.
My mother has moderate Alzheimer's syndrome. So strange things happen around the house that no one remembers doing. At the same time the brilliant woman who has a master's degree in Physics is trying to communicate with me, but the Alzheimer's gets in the way.
As the strange things happen in the book, it triggers the author to remember things about his artistically gifted but self-destructive friend Richard. Who reminds me of myself before I was put on Zoloft.
While I'm taking care of my mother I have to always think, when the gremlins do something, is it just a habit hitting at the wrong time? Like when I'm cooking, and I turn around to find all my utensils put away. Or is it the genius trying to communicate? Like on Thanksgiving when the notebook with letters from my ancestors from the 1620s is out of place? In that case, I'm pretty sure the old brilliant woman was trying to say something.
As I read about the ghost of Richard interacting with the author, it left me sad. Just as Richard wants a good story of his life to be told, and for his friends and family to remember him, I am trying to remember the great lady that my mom was.
The thing I took away from this book, and my current struggles, is as long as we remember our friends and family, they will live on in our hearts.
There are times in your life when you read something that hits you hard, but not in the way the author intended. So, this review will be about the emotions I experienced while reading the book, more than the book itself. I do apologize to the author, William Hart, for that.
The book starts out with the author writing a tribute to his friend who had died a while ago. While trying to write it strange things start happening.
Unfortunately, in my life right now, I am having say the long goodbye to the most brilliant woman I have ever known. While I'm doing that ghosts or gremlins have invaded her house.
My mother has moderate Alzheimer's syndrome. So strange things happen around the house that no one remembers doing. At the same time the brilliant woman who has a master's degree in Physics is trying to communicate with me, but the Alzheimer's gets in the way.
As the strange things happen in the book, it triggers the author to remember things about his artistically gifted but self-destructive friend Richard. Who reminds me of myself before I was put on Zoloft.
While I'm taking care of my mother I have to always think, when the gremlins do something, is it just a habit hitting at the wrong time? Like when I'm cooking, and I turn around to find all my utensils put away. Or is it the genius trying to communicate? Like on Thanksgiving when the notebook with letters from my ancestors from the 1620s is out of place? In that case, I'm pretty sure the old brilliant woman was trying to say something.
As I read about the ghost of Richard interacting with the author, it left me sad. Just as Richard wants a good story of his life to be told, and for his friends and family to remember him, I am trying to remember the great lady that my mom was.
The thing I took away from this book, and my current struggles, is as long as we remember our friends and family, they will live on in our hearts.
November 14, 2022
My Friend Richard begins with a preface from the author that even if you don't believe in ghosts, you might still enjoy this short memoir if you relish a great story. I fall into this category, and found My Friend Richard to be a great story indeed.
A series of (mostly) perfectly mundane events convinces William Hart that his childhood friend Richard is visiting long-term from beyond the grave. A dropped coaster, a flickering shadow, a moth — these are the call signs of Richard Johnson, who died in an unfortunate house fire back in 1970.
The story of Richard's life is short but full, soaked with alcohol and beat poetry and trashed motel rooms and aborted college attempts. It's at once endearing and tragic, difficult to put down even as he spirals out of control.
Hart's writing is what makes the story so much fun to read. With prose reminiscent of Steinbeck and the charming, easy pace of a good Mark Twain novel, Hart kept my attention not necessarily because I agreed with all his conclusions but because he's a hell of a storyteller. Whether you believe in ghosts or not, chances are you, too, will be captivated by My Friend Richard.
A series of (mostly) perfectly mundane events convinces William Hart that his childhood friend Richard is visiting long-term from beyond the grave. A dropped coaster, a flickering shadow, a moth — these are the call signs of Richard Johnson, who died in an unfortunate house fire back in 1970.
The story of Richard's life is short but full, soaked with alcohol and beat poetry and trashed motel rooms and aborted college attempts. It's at once endearing and tragic, difficult to put down even as he spirals out of control.
Hart's writing is what makes the story so much fun to read. With prose reminiscent of Steinbeck and the charming, easy pace of a good Mark Twain novel, Hart kept my attention not necessarily because I agreed with all his conclusions but because he's a hell of a storyteller. Whether you believe in ghosts or not, chances are you, too, will be captivated by My Friend Richard.
September 6, 2022
Presented as a true ghost story, this book is also a tribute. The friendship between the author and Richard has never stopped. The exemplary sharing of the life of Richard is a tremendous honor for a friend. Everyone who reads this book will know that Richard lived life hard and fast and sometimes that is the road people take.
The life of Richard did remind me of Bon Scott. He didn't stay around long but when he was there, he flashed across the sky like a bright comet. That is similar to the life of Richard. If you believe in ghosts, then you will love this book.
If you are curious about the hereafter, then you will enjoy reading this book. If you just want to read a book about ghosts because you are a fan of ghost stories...you will enjoy this book.
A tale that stands on its own merit. It is the story of a friendship that never stops and about a man who lives on...in words, memories, and perhaps in a house in the hills.
Disclaimer: I bought a copy on Amazon CA.
My Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by: Mr. N
This review first appeared: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/po...
The life of Richard did remind me of Bon Scott. He didn't stay around long but when he was there, he flashed across the sky like a bright comet. That is similar to the life of Richard. If you believe in ghosts, then you will love this book.
If you are curious about the hereafter, then you will enjoy reading this book. If you just want to read a book about ghosts because you are a fan of ghost stories...you will enjoy this book.
A tale that stands on its own merit. It is the story of a friendship that never stops and about a man who lives on...in words, memories, and perhaps in a house in the hills.
Disclaimer: I bought a copy on Amazon CA.
My Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by: Mr. N
This review first appeared: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/po...
September 21, 2022
The Review
For those of you who aren’t familiar with me beyond my book reviews, aside from being a writer and author, I am a paranormal enthusiast. I have a paranormal podcast, have joined several paranormal communities, and have even investigated a few locations with more to come. So anytime I am able to get my hands on a nonfiction narrative surrounding the paranormal, I am thrilled to do so. The author here did an incredible job of presenting a personal and relatable story of experiencing the paranormal and connecting with the spirit themselves. The imagery and tone the author struck felt both casual and yet emotionally in-depth.
Yet it was the thoughtful and emotional journey the author went on that really resonated with me. The experience of seeing or hearing something paranormal can be a profound one. The experience is always unique to the individual. Sometimes it can be a loved one, family member, or friend who visits us. Other times it can be an encounter with something otherworldly altogether. Yet those moments that William Hart captures here with his friend Richard felt both relatable and heartfelt in the author’s delivery. The short-story format allowed the author to focus solely on this paranormal experience, and the relationship both in life and death that the author had with Richard is something so many people have experienced at one point or another in life, adding a very real human level to this nonfiction narrative.
The Verdict
Thoughtful, engaging, and memorable, author William Hart’s “My Friend Richard: A True Ghost Story” is a must-read short story and a nonfiction book. The book was both an easy read and yet a powerful and striking story of coming face to face with the unknown, opening oneself to new possibilities, and reconnecting with the people who have made an impact on our lives, even if they are no longer physically here.
For those of you who aren’t familiar with me beyond my book reviews, aside from being a writer and author, I am a paranormal enthusiast. I have a paranormal podcast, have joined several paranormal communities, and have even investigated a few locations with more to come. So anytime I am able to get my hands on a nonfiction narrative surrounding the paranormal, I am thrilled to do so. The author here did an incredible job of presenting a personal and relatable story of experiencing the paranormal and connecting with the spirit themselves. The imagery and tone the author struck felt both casual and yet emotionally in-depth.
Yet it was the thoughtful and emotional journey the author went on that really resonated with me. The experience of seeing or hearing something paranormal can be a profound one. The experience is always unique to the individual. Sometimes it can be a loved one, family member, or friend who visits us. Other times it can be an encounter with something otherworldly altogether. Yet those moments that William Hart captures here with his friend Richard felt both relatable and heartfelt in the author’s delivery. The short-story format allowed the author to focus solely on this paranormal experience, and the relationship both in life and death that the author had with Richard is something so many people have experienced at one point or another in life, adding a very real human level to this nonfiction narrative.
The Verdict
Thoughtful, engaging, and memorable, author William Hart’s “My Friend Richard: A True Ghost Story” is a must-read short story and a nonfiction book. The book was both an easy read and yet a powerful and striking story of coming face to face with the unknown, opening oneself to new possibilities, and reconnecting with the people who have made an impact on our lives, even if they are no longer physically here.
September 8, 2022
The linchpin is that this claims to be a true story. I simply cannot believe that.
When it comes to things like this, I like to have an open mind, but I'm also not easily persuaded.
At the beginning of the book, the author and his wife go on a ghost ship tour. Then later when he first encounters Richard (that's the name of the ghost) he is described as looking identical to the video footage shown on the ghost tour! The problem is every adult with a functioning brain knows that the footage shown on ghost tours is fake. And the author continuously brings this comparison up. And that, for me, ruins any sort of credibility this story had going for it.
The middle section focuses mostly on the life of Richard, he and the author had been friends since elementary school. This part is the longest part of the book. To me this reads like the author ran out of ghost material so he just started writing about Richard's life. I understand telling the reader a little of Richard's backstory, but I don’t think what he did in cub scouts has any bearing on the rest of the book.
The last part (and easily my favorite), deals with Richard's death (which happened 50 years before this book was written) and the last encounter the author had with the ghost. The last few pages sees the author musing about spirituality and the nature of the human soul. Honestly, this last part is beautifully written and almost bumped this review up to 2 (maybe even 3) stars. However, for the above reasons I couldn't bring myself to do it.
When it comes to things like this, I like to have an open mind, but I'm also not easily persuaded.
At the beginning of the book, the author and his wife go on a ghost ship tour. Then later when he first encounters Richard (that's the name of the ghost) he is described as looking identical to the video footage shown on the ghost tour! The problem is every adult with a functioning brain knows that the footage shown on ghost tours is fake. And the author continuously brings this comparison up. And that, for me, ruins any sort of credibility this story had going for it.
The middle section focuses mostly on the life of Richard, he and the author had been friends since elementary school. This part is the longest part of the book. To me this reads like the author ran out of ghost material so he just started writing about Richard's life. I understand telling the reader a little of Richard's backstory, but I don’t think what he did in cub scouts has any bearing on the rest of the book.
The last part (and easily my favorite), deals with Richard's death (which happened 50 years before this book was written) and the last encounter the author had with the ghost. The last few pages sees the author musing about spirituality and the nature of the human soul. Honestly, this last part is beautifully written and almost bumped this review up to 2 (maybe even 3) stars. However, for the above reasons I couldn't bring myself to do it.
November 17, 2022
An Unusual Ghost Story
What I liked most about Hart's novella, "My Friend Richard" is that it does not abide by the cliche rules of the ghost story/esoteric genre. "My Friend Richard" is touching and personal - also due its memoire nature, being a kind and generous tribute to a friend. Another detail is that it offers an interesting take on the concept of ghosts (even though I do not fall into the immediate target audience of the book). Ghosts aside, this is also a story that encourages personal soul-searching as well as reflection about the nature of our world, which I always appreciate in any creative writing piece.
At the same time, I found the writing style slightly curt, even brusque at times. This is something that I personally do not enjoy much, but I could see why some might. Also I believe that the story of friendship between Richard and the narrator could have been described in greater detail, their emotional attachment explored - transitions between their school and university time feel slightly abrupt. That said, the approach of the author referenced above left me with an overall good impression.
What I liked most about Hart's novella, "My Friend Richard" is that it does not abide by the cliche rules of the ghost story/esoteric genre. "My Friend Richard" is touching and personal - also due its memoire nature, being a kind and generous tribute to a friend. Another detail is that it offers an interesting take on the concept of ghosts (even though I do not fall into the immediate target audience of the book). Ghosts aside, this is also a story that encourages personal soul-searching as well as reflection about the nature of our world, which I always appreciate in any creative writing piece.
At the same time, I found the writing style slightly curt, even brusque at times. This is something that I personally do not enjoy much, but I could see why some might. Also I believe that the story of friendship between Richard and the narrator could have been described in greater detail, their emotional attachment explored - transitions between their school and university time feel slightly abrupt. That said, the approach of the author referenced above left me with an overall good impression.
November 21, 2022
My Friend Richard : A True Ghost Story is a well-written, short memoir. It includes, but is not limited to, William Hart's relationship with the spirit of Richard, his best friend from high school.
Richard died when he was 25 because he ran back into a burning building to try to save his guitar. This action is an indication of how wild and hyperfocused he could be and it's not the only irrational impulse Richard acted on during his short life. Those actions give us a picture of someone impossible to forget but also someone whose spirit would be determined enough to reach out to the friend he left behind.
My favorite chapter in Hart's book is the last one. In the previous chapters he told us of Richard's attempts to communicate and the effect this ghost had on his life. In the last chapter he discusses the reality of spirits among us. Here is an excerpt from this section:
“Western science, focused entirely on the material, denies or ignores the existence of a spiritual reality in the universe, making our physics terribly incomplete.”
Richard died when he was 25 because he ran back into a burning building to try to save his guitar. This action is an indication of how wild and hyperfocused he could be and it's not the only irrational impulse Richard acted on during his short life. Those actions give us a picture of someone impossible to forget but also someone whose spirit would be determined enough to reach out to the friend he left behind.
My favorite chapter in Hart's book is the last one. In the previous chapters he told us of Richard's attempts to communicate and the effect this ghost had on his life. In the last chapter he discusses the reality of spirits among us. Here is an excerpt from this section:
“Western science, focused entirely on the material, denies or ignores the existence of a spiritual reality in the universe, making our physics terribly incomplete.”
February 2, 2023
I was given a review copy of this book and I thought it was a lovely tribute to a friend while exploring the paranormal - do ghosts exist?
It's always a good idea to keep an open mind about anything in the world and the concept of ghosts is debatable and yet there does seem to be plenty of evidence that they do, while others wonder if it's 'wishful thinking' or a trick that minds can play; especially where emotions are concerned.
This short account delves into what friendship can mean and when that ends due to death, does the spirit of that friendship linger? Part of the story explains the kind of person Richard was and I was intrigued with the idea that the character traits seem to remain - or maybe the one left behind attributes that very personality to what they've experienced after death?
The writing style was good and I liked the touch of humour. It was honest about mistakes and frailties and at the very least it was thought-provoking.
Worth a look with an open mind.
It's always a good idea to keep an open mind about anything in the world and the concept of ghosts is debatable and yet there does seem to be plenty of evidence that they do, while others wonder if it's 'wishful thinking' or a trick that minds can play; especially where emotions are concerned.
This short account delves into what friendship can mean and when that ends due to death, does the spirit of that friendship linger? Part of the story explains the kind of person Richard was and I was intrigued with the idea that the character traits seem to remain - or maybe the one left behind attributes that very personality to what they've experienced after death?
The writing style was good and I liked the touch of humour. It was honest about mistakes and frailties and at the very least it was thought-provoking.
Worth a look with an open mind.
September 7, 2022
My Friend Richard is a very unique and interesting story. Now, because I have had a supernatural experience that involved talking to a “ghost,” I don’t have any issues “believing” this tale. However, my experience was short and certainly not as immersive as the one between the author and his childhood friend, who ends up staying with him as a ghost.
More importantly, the book makes for an exciting story, no matter your opinion about the supernatural. The way William weaves in a memoir of his and his friend while telling about his ghost encounter is just excellent.
Here’s the thing, though, at the end of it all, the book is more an homage to childhood friendships and people who might physically leave us early but have a profound life-long impact on our being. Short and thought-provoking, you can finish the book in one quick sitting.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
More importantly, the book makes for an exciting story, no matter your opinion about the supernatural. The way William weaves in a memoir of his and his friend while telling about his ghost encounter is just excellent.
Here’s the thing, though, at the end of it all, the book is more an homage to childhood friendships and people who might physically leave us early but have a profound life-long impact on our being. Short and thought-provoking, you can finish the book in one quick sitting.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
September 6, 2022
This is an extremely short book so you’ll be able to read it in less than an hour. I believe in ghosts so I can buy that Richard would return to be with his friend.
This book doesn’t contain spooky bumps in the night. As the title states, Richard is a friend. He is around in spirit and support.
I believe this is a beautiful way to honor a friend that has passed. To feel that they are with you always.
I received an advanced review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you.
This book doesn’t contain spooky bumps in the night. As the title states, Richard is a friend. He is around in spirit and support.
I believe this is a beautiful way to honor a friend that has passed. To feel that they are with you always.
I received an advanced review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you.
January 16, 2023
short book.. a bit of a memoir.. that is centered around a friendship that picks back up years after the death of Richard..
i believe that spirits can come to us in the form of totems, oracles & signs.. sometimes they stay with us in the form of a guardian angel..
i loved the book.. i love that their are people out there like William Hart that aren't afraid to write about such a personal part of his life.. and he writes beautifully..
i believe that spirits can come to us in the form of totems, oracles & signs.. sometimes they stay with us in the form of a guardian angel..
i loved the book.. i love that their are people out there like William Hart that aren't afraid to write about such a personal part of his life.. and he writes beautifully..
February 6, 2023
More than a ghost story
Having been something of a witness to these events, I thought I knew what would be in here. I was mistaken. It's about friendship, something I've found myself thinking about a lot as I grow older and lose friends to distance and death. I finished reading with a lump in my throat.
Having been something of a witness to these events, I thought I knew what would be in here. I was mistaken. It's about friendship, something I've found myself thinking about a lot as I grow older and lose friends to distance and death. I finished reading with a lump in my throat.
April 11, 2025
Endures
This short read reevaluated what I already knew and put it very simply. I have experienced each phenomenon with some very important losses and unequivocally known exactly who chose to communicate. Thank you
This short read reevaluated what I already knew and put it very simply. I have experienced each phenomenon with some very important losses and unequivocally known exactly who chose to communicate. Thank you
January 28, 2024
Not your average ghost story!
Poet and fiction author William Hart has written a personal memoir about his life and his longtime interactions with whom he believes to be the ghost of his close high school and college buddy. His deceased friend, Richard, comes into William’s life for a second time when he agrees to write a memorial article for an upcoming high school reunion. From that point forward, the spirit of Richard would make his presence known, either through flashing shades of light, emitting foul odors, or the smell of smoke. He would also appear as an oddly behaving moth or as apparitions that resembled or didn’t resemble his 25-year-old likeness at the time of his death. He would also cause unwitnessed displacement of small articles like coasters, wall calendars, and ceiling tiles, for which the movement had no normal physical explanation. I did not read this story to learn about ghosts or to get a good scare, and if you are looking for the latter, you will be sorely disappointed. This tale is mostly a riveting story about friendship and a bond that seems to have been reborn after one of the pals passed away decades earlier. The author describes other events, including ghost tours on the Queen Mary ship docked at Long Beach harbor in California and his wife’s and acquaintances’ experiences with ghosts. This book may or may not convince you of the existence of spirits, but it is a heartfelt treatise of one man’s experiences that he believed confirms their existence. As the author suggests, if you don’t believe in ghosts, this novella may not be for you unless you want to read a great story. If you think spirits might exist, or you know they do, this story will give you food for thought. It will not scare you like a Hollywood film but will make you think.
Poet and fiction author William Hart has written a personal memoir about his life and his longtime interactions with whom he believes to be the ghost of his close high school and college buddy. His deceased friend, Richard, comes into William’s life for a second time when he agrees to write a memorial article for an upcoming high school reunion. From that point forward, the spirit of Richard would make his presence known, either through flashing shades of light, emitting foul odors, or the smell of smoke. He would also appear as an oddly behaving moth or as apparitions that resembled or didn’t resemble his 25-year-old likeness at the time of his death. He would also cause unwitnessed displacement of small articles like coasters, wall calendars, and ceiling tiles, for which the movement had no normal physical explanation. I did not read this story to learn about ghosts or to get a good scare, and if you are looking for the latter, you will be sorely disappointed. This tale is mostly a riveting story about friendship and a bond that seems to have been reborn after one of the pals passed away decades earlier. The author describes other events, including ghost tours on the Queen Mary ship docked at Long Beach harbor in California and his wife’s and acquaintances’ experiences with ghosts. This book may or may not convince you of the existence of spirits, but it is a heartfelt treatise of one man’s experiences that he believed confirms their existence. As the author suggests, if you don’t believe in ghosts, this novella may not be for you unless you want to read a great story. If you think spirits might exist, or you know they do, this story will give you food for thought. It will not scare you like a Hollywood film but will make you think.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews