Holy Ghosts: Or, How a (Not So) Good Catholic Boy Became a Believer in Things That Go Bump in the Night by Jansen, Gary

Holy Ghosts: Or, How a (Not So) Good Catholic Boy Became a Believer in Things That Go Bump in the Night — photo 1

Spiritualism

Holy Ghosts: Or, How a (Not So) Good Catholic Boy Became a Believer in Things That Go Bump in the Night

Name: Holy Ghosts: Or, How a (Not So) Good Catholic Boy Became a Believer in Things That Go Bump in the Night
Price: 27.00 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.6 (2 reviews)
Author: Jansen, Gary
ISBN: 9781585428953

Jansen, Gary

Reader rating

4.6

(1 reviews) 127 sold

$27.00

Editorial score How we rate

In stock

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📚 ABOUT THE BOOK

A rationalist's childhood home becomes a chilling crucible of the uncanny.

Gary Jansen, a respected writer and editor, once dismissed his devout Catholic mother's claims of their Long Island home being haunted. Despite inexplicable ringing doorbells, phantom footsteps, and his mother's startlingly accurate premonitions, Jansen clung to a rationalist worldview, even after a personal supernatural encounter in Prague. Decades later, returning to his childhood house with his own family, an undeniable, unsettling presence forces him to confront the mysteries he once ignored, challenging his perceptions of life, death, and the lingering echoes of his past.

Key themes

Skepticism & Belief Family Echoes & Haunting The Nature of the Unexplained

Historical context

This work resides within the modern tradition of first-person paranormal memoirs, bridging the gap between skeptical rationalism and spiritualist inquiry. It reflects a contemporary cultural fascination with re-evaluating childhood superstitions through the lens of adult experience.

Difficulty

● Easy

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🏛 Penguin Publishing Group 📅 2011 📖 224 pages 📔 Paperback 📐 Paperback ISBN: 9781585428953

Fun fact

Jansen delivers a remarkably candid and grounded account of a haunting that genuinely transforms a skeptic. This isn't a sensationalist ghost story but a thoughtful, personal inquiry into the nature of reality and belief. While it might disappoint those seeking pure horror or definitive answers, it excels as a profound spiritual memoir. It stands as a compelling testament to the power of personal experience to reshape one's worldview, making it a valuable addition to any collection on the supernatural and personal growth.

📝 Description: Holy Ghosts: Or, How a (Not So) Good Catholic Boy Became a Believer in Things That Go Bump in the Night

In this remarkable true story, the haunting of a Long Island household forces a respected writer and editor to reevaluate the mysteries of life and death as he struggles with the frightening truths of his childhood home and his town's past. Growing up in Rockville Center, Long Island, Gary Jansen never believed in ghosts. His mother-a devoutly Catholic woman with a keen sense for the uncanny-claimed that their family house was haunted. But Jansen never found anything inexplicable in how their doorbell would sometimes ring of its own accord; or in the mysterious sounds of footsteps or breaking glass that occasionally would fill their home; or even in his mother's sometimes unsettlingly accurate visions of future events and tragedies. Though he once experienced a supernatural encounter in a Prague church as a young man, Jansen grew up into a rationalist, as well as a noted writer and editor. Decades later, in 2001, Jansen moved back into the very same house where he had once grown up to raise a family with his wife. One day in 2007, he encountered a strange physical sensation in his toddler son's bedroom: As I reached into his dresser drawer, I felt something very strange behind me. Startled, I quickly turned around, but there was nothing there. I shrugged it off, grabbed the socks and, as I was walking to the doorway, experienced an odd phenomenon-sort of like an electrical hand rubbing the length of my back. I stopped and stood transfixed. "What the hell is that?" I said to myself. The pressure then seemed to break apart and, for a brief moment, I felt like I had a million little bugs crawling all over my back. Within seconds, however, the sensation was gone. This became the first step in uncovering a frightening, fullblown haunting in his home-a phenomenon that lasted an entire year and eventually included unveiling the identities of the spirits who occupied his house; discovering the chilling story of a century-old murder in his hometown; encountering mind-boggling coincidences between local history and events in his own family; and finally engaging in a climactic exorcism with the help of Mary Ann Winkowski, the real-life inspiration for TV's The Ghost Whisperer. The events of that year-in which Jansen's family was terrified of and terrorized by ghosts in their own home-forever changed how he viewed the mysteries of life and death. Holy Ghosts is not only a gripping true-life ghost story but a funny and touching memoir, as well as a meditation on the relationship between religion and the paranormal, which are often considered at odds with each other but which the author shows are intimately linked.

💎 Expert review

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💎

Esoterica Books editorial team

Occult literature desk

Jansen delivers a relatable journey from doubt to belief, grounded in specific domestic details rather than grandiose claims. However, readers seeking complex theological debate or rigorous academic analysis of spiritualism will likely find this work too personal and anecdotal. Those who prefer fast-paced horror fiction may find the pacing leisurely and reflective. It is best suited for casual readers interested in memoirs of the uncanny rather than scholars of the occult. The tone is warm but lacks the structural complexity some literary critics might demand.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers who enjoy introspective narratives about the intersection of faith and skepticism will find this account deeply compelling. It is ideal for those curious about how childhood environments shape adult perceptions of reality. The book offers a gentle, accessible exploration of personal transformation without requiring prior knowledge of esoteric theory. Families interested in discussing the nature of home and memory may also appreciate its emotional resonance. Ultimately, it serves as an inviting entry point for anyone who has ever wondered if their past holds more mystery than they initially realized.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Esoterica Books —

⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.7/5

★★★★★

If you're drawn to true accounts of paranormal experiences, particularly those explored through a skeptical yet open-minded lens, this memoir offers a compelling journey. Readers interested in personal spiritual awakenings and the intersection of faith, family, and the unexplained will find much to…

Reader rating

4.6

Based on 1 reviews

Esoterica Books editorial team

Jansen delivers a relatable journey from doubt to belief, grounded in specific domestic details rather than grandiose claims. However, readers seeking complex theological debate or rigorous academic analysis of spiritualism will likely find this work too personal and anecdotal. Those who prefer fast-paced horror fiction may find the pacing leisurely and reflective. It is best suited for casual readers interested in memoirs of the uncanny rather than scholars of the occult. The tone is warm but lacks the structural complexity some literary critics might demand.

❓ Frequently asked questions

No, 'Holy Ghosts' is an deeply personal memoir detailing the author's real-life experiences with unexplained phenomena in his childhood home, exploring his journey from disbelief to acceptance.

The book recounts a range of occurrences, including unexplained sounds like doorbells and footsteps, perceived breaking glass, his mother's accurate prophetic visions, and tactile, unsettling physical sensations experienced by Jansen himself.

📖 Who should read this

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

Skepticism & Belief

This memoir intricately charts Jansen's evolution from a steadfast rationalist, who systematically dismissed all supernatural occurrences, to a reluctant believer. It explores the profound personal and intellectual journey required to re-evaluate deeply ingrained convictions when confronted with undeniable, inexplicable phenomena within one's own home.

Family Echoes & Haunting

The book delves into the complex interplay between family history and the supernatural. Jansen's mother, with her intuitive spiritual sense, serves as a poignant counterpoint to his initial skepticism. The haunting itself is deeply intertwined with the family's past within the house, suggesting that personal history can manifest in spectral ways.

The Nature of the Unexplained

Jansen documents a range of phenomena, from auditory disturbances like phantom footsteps and breaking glass to unsettling physical sensations and prophetic visions. The narrative meticulously details these events, prompting readers to consider the various manifestations of the unseen and how they challenge conventional understandings of reality.

💬 Quotes from the book

“As I reached into his dresser drawer, I felt something very strange behind me.”

“Despite a supernatural encounter in Prague, the persistent whispers of the house and my mother's visions were merely anecdotes, until they became my own undeniable reality.”

📜 Historical context

Jansen's work fits squarely within the tradition of personal spiritual memoirs that bridge the gap between skepticism and belief, similar to works by authors grappling with transcendent experiences. It resonates with a long history of 'true haunting' narratives, yet distinguishes itself by focusing on the author's intellectual and emotional process of re-evaluation in a modern context, rather than sensationalism.

📚 Glossary

Rationalist
Haunting
Uncanny

📔 Questions to reflect on

How have your own deeply held beliefs been challenged by personal experiences that defy easy explanation?
Reflect on your childhood home or a significant place: do you believe places can retain an 'energy' or 'memory' of past events or inhabitants?
Consider the role of intuition versus rationality in your own life. When do you prioritize one over the other, particularly when facing the unknown?