Hawthorne, James, and the Chowderarians

 Ghost Story

by Peter Staub

Reviewed by Aaron DeWeese

 

I have collected quite a few Peter Straub novels, but had not cracked one.  What finally did it for me was MacDonald's, in a round about sort of way.  I had just picked up Ray Kroc's biography.  He was the paper cup salesman who founded MacDonald's fast food chain.  I was standing in my library, perusing for an hour or so, trying to pick out something to read.  It was between the aforementioned title, Henry James, Flaubert, and Bentley Little.  I was in the mood for horror fast food.  I picked up Straub's "Julia" (my girlfriend's name), and then put it back down and picked up "Ghost Story".  It was published in 1980 (the year of my birth).  I opened the book to a page and saw the word "MacDonald's". 

In the opening kidnapping, we are led to believe something truly horrible is taking place between a young girl, and what we may have guessed was a pedophile.  "He ties me onto him when he sleeps!"  The sense of gloom and mental instability within Don is as heavy as a damp moldy blanket.

I really enjoyed my visits within the Chowder Society.  I couldn't help but think of Ricky Hawthorne as Mr. Pickwick, surrounded by fellow Pickwickians.  I envied their company and Sears' cigars.  The setting really had a classical feel to it.  Stella was sure to ruin that, as Mrs. Bardell had ruined Pickwick's fun.

The entire novel felt like a long and jumbled train ride, with some cars only loosely attached (wow, were a lot of cars lost).  Nevertheless, the train's engine never failed, and a destination was reached.  When we reached it, I laughed out loud.  Straub's sense of humor is fantastic, and a really nice quality to have as a horror writer (I'm reminded of Sears' compliment to Ricky).

I'd like to digress on a few things that piqued my interest.  Firstly, its pretty obvious that Ricky's true marriage was to Sears (indeed, Ricky feared physical intimateness with Sears—which he shouldn't have, because Sears was most obviously not that kind of bachelor); and yet, in the end, Ricky without objection lets Sears march off into the unknown, alone.  One could argue, both of them knew that it was their fate, I suppose.

Secondly, I get the feeling that Straub isn't that fond of women.  Look at Stella, and at the antagonist.  I get the creeps thinking of all the incarnations of A.M., with her feminine intelligence and beauty, malevolent eyes, and sneering faces.  It may be more accurate to say that Straub distrusts beautiful women.  It's a different story with Milly Sheehan (she sure is ignorant and a snoop though) and the poor mother of Jim Hardie.  The most heart-wrenching character is Helen Kayon from Berkeley.  She too betrays us (Don) in the end.  Stupid Don.

Lastly, I would like to touch upon the wisdom which pertains to writing that Straub illuminates us with.  We see the first glimpses of this with Don's academic life.  The digressions on Hawthorne, Crane, Chaucer (something is extremely erotic about big Helen and her Chaucer in the library—Chaucer and his nether eyes and such).  Really, this comes to a head just before the book ends.  Straub reveals the secret of Hawthorne and James, whilst missing Poe.  He tells writers that we must apprentice ourselves to the the masters, who after so long "come up fresh as flowers". 

I really did love the ending.  Throughout, evil had a bit of a ridiculous undercurrent, and the end did not deny this, but embraced it.  Leaves you with a taste of faeries.  A wasp.  It was hilarious.  That security guard!  HAHAHA!