Apparitions, haunting presences and the uncanny dominated January's meeting of the Tyneside Book Club. If you had met the members, you might think that's nothing new.
But for once this was the result of the chosen book, rather than the characteristics of the group. We read ten tales from MR James' canon of ghost stories.
And although most acknowledged James was a master of the craft, there was some division about whether the tales were actually scary.
Some members tried everything they could - late night readings, near-darkness, banishment of family members - to create a creepy atmosphere, but still didn't really get much in the way of spine-tingling terror.
And for some the tales were at their best when any "ghost" was mysterious and unseen, rather than something which actually manifested.
But there was a lot of admiration for the imagination and creativity involved, and the way James built up tension and did leave the reader feeling unsettled. And he did deliver - these were no ghosts of the mind; these spirits were real.
This was an author whose influence has lasted and still has the power to hold your attention a century on.
Most agreed that they were better read individually, and lost something when you read one after another in quick succession. One member remarked on the lack of female characters - and wondered whether that affected the way she felt about the stories. Most could remember details they enjoyed and appreciated though. And several had gone on to read more than the selected ten.
February sees the group move from horror to suspense with Michael Crichton's first published novel, Odds On (although it was not initially released under his name).
But for once this was the result of the chosen book, rather than the characteristics of the group. We read ten tales from MR James' canon of ghost stories.
And although most acknowledged James was a master of the craft, there was some division about whether the tales were actually scary.
Some members tried everything they could - late night readings, near-darkness, banishment of family members - to create a creepy atmosphere, but still didn't really get much in the way of spine-tingling terror.
And for some the tales were at their best when any "ghost" was mysterious and unseen, rather than something which actually manifested.
But there was a lot of admiration for the imagination and creativity involved, and the way James built up tension and did leave the reader feeling unsettled. And he did deliver - these were no ghosts of the mind; these spirits were real.
This was an author whose influence has lasted and still has the power to hold your attention a century on.
Most agreed that they were better read individually, and lost something when you read one after another in quick succession. One member remarked on the lack of female characters - and wondered whether that affected the way she felt about the stories. Most could remember details they enjoyed and appreciated though. And several had gone on to read more than the selected ten.
February sees the group move from horror to suspense with Michael Crichton's first published novel, Odds On (although it was not initially released under his name).
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