'Being Dead' by Vivian Vande Velde is a collection of seven ghost stories that range from creepy to funny to poignant. The stories cover various themes related to death and ghosts, such as a girl falling in love with a ghost, a cautionary tale about karma, and a family torn apart by grief and guilt. The writing style is described as suspenseful, with each story leaving the reader hanging after each page, and the prose is smooth and makes for easy reading.

Characters:

The characters range from emotionally compelling to somewhat flat, showcasing diverse human experiences related to loss and love within the context of ghostly encounters.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is characterized by smooth and accessible prose, often combining humor with chilling tales, making it suitable for younger audiences.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot consists of seven short stories that explore themes of death and the supernatural, combining elements of horror, humor, and poignancy. While some stories succeed, others fall short of their potential.

Setting:

The settings range from historical to modern contexts, enhancing atmospheric tension and complementing the stories' narratives, including a key focus on the Great Depression.

Pacing:

The pacing across the stories is uneven, with some being quick and engaging, while others feel more contemplative, sometimes leading to less effective conclusions.

The first thing I remember about Saturday was I had a headache that felt as though tiny aliens were trying to chew their way out of my head through my left eyeball, and my brother, Danny, was being ob...

Notes:

Being Dead is a collection of seven short stories about ghosts and death.

The stories range from funny to chilling to poignant.

The anthology includes unique perspectives on the afterlife, such as phone calls from disconnected lines and ghostly romances.

October Chill, one of the stories, explores a love story between a dying girl and a colonial soldier.

Being Dead, the title story, features a paperboy's attempt to deliver an important message after his death during the Great Depression.

Some stories felt incomplete or predictable, but others were praised as works of art.

Dancing with Marjorie's Ghost is a cautionary tale about the consequences of summoning a loved one from the grave.

The book is described as suitable for young adults, balancing mild creepiness without excessive gore or explicit content.

Readers enjoyed the ability to relive moments from the stories, even if they already knew the endings.

The prose is smooth and easy to read, contributing to a pleasant reading experience.

Has Romance?

Several stories include romantic elements, particularly 'October Chill' and 'For Love of Him', but romance is not the central focus of the anthology.

From The Publisher:

A sixteen-year-old will give anything to be with her true love-even though he died two hundred years ago. . . . A sopping-wet little dead girl stalks a teen who had nothing to do with her death-honest! . . . A heartless man dances with his wife-after she's passed away.

From the hilarious to the horrific, master storyteller Vivian Vande Velde explores the world of the dead-and the undead-in this surprisingly moving collection of unnerving tales.

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Being Dead

Vivian Vande Velde