People from the Other Side

"The enigmatic Fox sisters and the history of Victorian spiritualism" by Maurice Leonard.
THis is another book I managed to find in the library van and it's a new one, things are looking up! It's an interesting book as it tells the story of the Fox family, from the time Kate and Maggie first heard the raps to their sad decent into alcoholism and death. There is quite a bit about Helena Blavatsky, Helen Duncan and other famous (and infamous) mediums. It's fascinating to read about the early seances and sittings on both sides of the Atlantic, and to know how some of the "materialisations" were created. The piece about Helen Duncans "ectoplasm" made me feel quite sick! However, some things cannot be explained and there are more questions than answers. Worth reading.

Forgot to add--it's a paperback published by THe History Press and it's £16.99 to buy.

You seem to have a good library van there, they closed the actually library building they used to have in our village and moved it to a shop.
Trouble is, it is not opened very often so people don't use it as much as they would if it was a van that came at a regular time.
Have you put in a request for paranormal themed books Hollyrose?

That sounds a good read Holyrose thanks for the tip. Mags it must be so frustrating not having a good libary with good opening hours etc I am so lucky ours it up the road but I order so many of my books from the libary online then they send me a letter and I go and collect all for 80p bargin.

Our village library used to be in a building that was the original village school. It was also the doctors surgery--no kidding! You could be talking to the doc and looking for a good book at the same time. Well eventually it was decided by the council that a mobile library would be better (cheaper?) so that's what we got! It now comes every week but sometimes the stock seems to be a bit boring-all daft romantic novels etc. I just got lucky with the paranormal books Mags I didn't order them. I did find the Derbyshire ones in with the local history stuff so I know where to keep looking now.
Mel do they charge 80p each book you order? I think it's 50p here but I am not sure. I must have a look online at what they have, thanks for reminding me about that.

What I do is go online order loads from the libary and the really good ones like the Ruth Ellis book I got the other week I will then buy etc its a good and cheep way of getting books even new releases etc and it keeps our libary open.

It is fustrating as the building they closed down is still there standing doing nothing. Why they did not leave it as a library I don't know.

I bet some property developer is going to make it into more offices to be left unlet for the next 10 years like you say why could they not have left the building as it was I think someone was out to make some money somewhere.

What is even more criminal Mel, that the library was only two rooms at the front of the building, there was some sort of council office the other side and at the back was a day centre for old folk. They used to go their for their lunches and clubs.

Mags that is terrible it sounds like a real community place somewhere where the OAP could meet up etc. My James was having a rant because he went to a local ice rink/swimming pool etc with his girlfriend on Sat night and saw the ice hockey they thought it was going to be adults etc but it was kids but they stayed anyway to watch it and was amazed at there talent etc. He was so mad as they are planning to shut the place as some supermarket wants to build there. James said its so unfair its a real place for the community and those kids were great etc and like we need another supermarket.

Mel it is always the same, in Sunbury they managed to buy and build on a green belt piece of land, yet my dad could not get his small holding off green belt when it was supposed to come off over ten years ago.

It's diabolical that areas that can be used to keep kids off the streets like the ice rink are being closed down.
We have very few ice rinks in this country as it is.
The government wonder why the kids are getting obeser?
Could it be that Thatcher's government gave the council's permission to sell off the playing fields nearly every school had for the kids to wonder around during their breaks, or the fact that the councils have cut back on playschemes and play areas for kids and finally there are fewer pools around.
There used to be an open air swimming pool in Ashford and it was always opened in the summer and full of kids, very basic facilities but there was never less than twenty kids in there.
Now it costs an arm and a leg for a kiddie to go swimming regularly.
The girls were going every other week, but only because I had been saving the tokens for getting one in free.