Ghost 19 by Simone St. James
Synopsis: Is there something wrong with Ginette Cox? It’s what everyone seems to think. When a doctor suggests that what she might need is less excitement, she packs up and moves from New York City to a house in suburban NY: 19 Howard Ave. The town offers Ginette little in the way of entertainment in 1959, but at least she has interesting neighbors.
Whether it’s the little girl with her doll or the couple and their mother-in-law, Ginette watches them from her window and makes up names and stories for them.
But it’s not all peaceful in suburbia. Ginette finds it hard to sleep in her new house. There are strange and scary noises coming from the basement, and she is trapped, either by a ghost or her own madness.
But when Ginette starts to think a murder has taken place and a mysterious man starts making terrifying appearances outside her window, it’s clear she must deal with whatever isn’t allowing her to escape this house…
The intriguing events and internal dialogue pull you in and makes it hard to put it down. For a short story the plot doesn’t feel rushed. There is a steady pace to the story and the way it unfolds. Ginette is unable leave her home. And is constantly waiting for whatever is in the house has in store for her.
I felt a connection with her; as she feels like she is going crazy and not many people take her seriously. Definitely shines a light on mental health for women during the 1950s. Things that today we call manic, depression, anxiety – were described as “mad” or “over excited”. And the prescription was moving somewhere with “less excitement”. So by herself away from the big city, with no friends or family. Ginnette finds herself talking to herself and the house as she tries to figure out why exactly it won’t let her go.
There is a theme of this book that reminds me of the 1954 Alfred Hitchcock movie; Rear Window. A woman feeling trapped in her own home, spending a great deal of time watching her neighbors from her window. Inventing stories of their lives, witnessing a potential murder – and the author adds her own twist. Ghosts.
A note on the audio narration:
Narrator: Brittany Pressley
I wanted to make a special note that the narration of this book was top notch. Ms.Pressley breathes life into our main character, and the rest of our cast of the story. She has a brilliant way of making the words come off the page and placing you within the it.
Overall Rating: 9/10
Re-readability Rating: 10/10
Audiobook Narration: 10/10
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