The Spirits of Christmas by Sylvia Shults
Reviewed by: Sylvia Shults, Circulation
Genre: Non-fiction
Suggested Age: Adults
What is the book about?: ‘Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house, not a creature was stirring … but are you sure about that? Ghost stories don’t stop when the calendar page turns from October 31 to November 1 — as a matter of fact, the long, dark, cold nights of winter are the perfect time to cuddle up with a good ghost story. Sylvia Shults has collected over 120 true stories of Christmas catastrophes, midwinter madness, and ghoulish tales for the ghostly-minded. The book is divided up into several sections for ease in reading. “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” takes a look at the Victorians and why they popularized the telling of ghost tales at Christmas. “We Wish You A Merry Christmas — Or Else!” looks at the bizarre traditions and celebrations of Christmas Past. “He Sees You When You’re Sleeping” is a rogues’ gallery of the demons and monsters of Christmas around the world. “In The Bleak Midwinter” is a look at creepy stories that happened in the depths of the biting cold. “The Darkest Midnight in December” tells the stories of December tragedies. ” ‘Tis the Season” is a collection of true ghost stories of December, and “It Came Upon A Midnight Clear” focuses on ghost stories of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. You’ll find plenty of true tales, both spooky and touching, in this collection.
My Review: I had so much fun writing this book! There were plenty of Christmas- and December- and winter-themed ghost stories out there that I’d never heard of, and I’m so pleased to be able to bring you guys these tales. The part about December tragedies was not easy to write — I’m not gonna lie. And some of the stories in here even creeped ME out! But all of them were just so wonderful that I had to share them.
Three Words That Describe This Book: Creepy, informative, FUN!
Give This a Try if You Like… anything by Troy Taylor, or collections of true ghost stories, or books that explore folklore.
Rating: 5/5
About FDL Reads
Welcome to FDL Reads, weekly book reviews from Fondulac District Library. Librarians (and possibly some other guest reviewers) review all types of books, from children’s picture books, young adult favorites, to the latest adult thriller, and share their thoughts each week at fondulaclibrary.org. If the book is owned by Fondulac District Library (or another local library), you’ll see a direct link to the catalog entry and whether or not it is available. If it is checked out or at another local library, you will be able to place a hold as long as you have your library card and PIN numbers. As with any book review, these are our opinions…we disagree amongst ourselves about books frequently. We all have different likes and dislikes, which is what makes the world an interesting place. Please enjoy, and keep on reading!