sum up the book in a tweet
Wicked spirits at play. Madness or premonition — who’s to know? Megan Cherniak In this ghost story an unnamed narrator pursues a friendship with a troubled Signalman on the railway line. The narrator has secrets of his own; he has newly been released from confinement of some sort, whether jail, a bad marriage or some other prison. He learns the strange tale of the solitary Signalman and has his rational world view quite shaken.
Sheila Gabel Dickens’ narrative subtly draws us in to the horror of the train signalman’s premonition of disaster and death. In the end, the modern reader is left wanting for further explanation of the wherefores and whys of this strange individual, only to be left with realization that eeriness may defy reason. Mark Slome A typical eerie ghost story, better heard aloud than read, full of premonition and mystery. The illustrations were very appropriate portraying just the right level of simplicity, mystery and dread. Margaret Landstrom Nice sense of foreshadowing and foreboding as two strangers meet on a dark night. The tale is truly in the telling.
Nancy Goodyer This is a chilling story of premonition and forewarning. Sometimes the message is for you. Jacquie Cushnie A nicely illustrated edition, but the story is more tragic than scary. The awkward sentence structure does not lend itself to reading aloud. Sara Greenwood A classic ghost story that, while dated, still stands the test of time to send chills down your spine. Peter MacDonald A classic yuletide ghost story that gives the feeling of a slow touch of a frozen finger tracing out my spine. Olivia Rutt Dickens was a master of the ghost stories so popular with the Victorians. His ghosts are not so much alien beings as extensions of real life and all the scarier for it. Mary Wiggin Great ghost story to read to kids in the 8- 12 range in front of a camp fire. ( The ending) is a great shock! Michele Rothschild Enigmatic, confusing, engrossing, admirable turns of phrase, very evocative Seth illustrative panels and a masterful overboding atmosphere of bad stuff to come. Anne Gibson A man gets more than he bargained for after chatting with a railway worker. The Signal- Man is sinister, mysterious, dark, and downright creepy.
Amanda Brown A solid practical man sees ghosts, senses his own death coming, tells the narrator who first suspects madness. There’s an increasing sense of dread ending in the death foreseen which the reader realizes is coming but is inevitable. John Kehoe