The Canterville Ghost by Oscar Wilde

For almost three centuries, a spirit has resided in the house. The ghost, Sir Simon de Canterville, is an old man with blood red eyes, matted gray hair, and dressed in rags. From his wrist and ankles hung heavy shackles. He considers groaning while moving in the corridor at midnight and glowing with a neon green color his whole purpose of existence. Added to that, he has a passion to play dress-up to scare the occupants, which is a rare sight in British land. Nevertheless, such was the case with Canterville Chase's haunted mansion.

                   Now he is being challenged by an American minister, Mr. Hiram B. Otis, and his family, who decide to call it BS and move into this residence anyway. This family has four kids, the eldest son named Washington, a girl named Virginia, and then there were the mischeivious twin boys. They are cultured Americans, classy and Republican at heart, have a modern outlook on life, and couldn't be bothered any less by the repertoire that this house brought. So, what happens when such a family is confronted by a ghost of yesteryear? Will they be accommodating or will they make his life hell?

                  A lighthearted comedy with sprinkles of human emotion is exactly what can sum up this book. The shenanigans the ghost cooks to scare the family members are wholesome. But even more are the responses he receives from Otis family members towards his development. Although the ghost was quite evil in all his deeds, the reader will become softened when we hear what he wants at the end. The plot does not have a serious depth or psyche development, nor does it involve any mentally stimulating logic. The book has an abrupt and unintelligible ending, but it's still a happy one.

                 This is one of the author's shorter novels. It's a great time killer, and you'll laugh a few times as well. There are instances when the reader may wonder, shouldn't ghosts have more powers? But there are times when we must read and follow the author's direction without questioning everything and reasoning with logic. 2 out of 5 stars is what I would like to rate this book. If you enjoy ghost stories, family adventures, and light laughter during the holiday season, do pick up this book and let me know what you think. Happy holidays!

Interesting Facts:

• First published story: The Canterville Ghost was Wilde's first published work, appearing in The Court and Society Review in 1887.
• Inspiration: Wilde wrote the story to mock the rivalry between the United States and England at the time.
• Themes: The story includes themes of American bluntness and consumerism.