A Fine and Private Place by Peter S Beagle.
Paperback: 296 pages
Publisher: Tachyon Publications (May 28, 2007)
ISBN-10: 1892391465
Amazon.com Review
Conversing in a mausoleum with the dead, an eccentric recluse is tugged back into the world by a pair of ghostly lovers bearing an extraordinary gift–the final chance for his own happiness. When challenged by a faithless wife and aided by a talking raven, the lives of the living and the dead may be renewed by courage and passion, but only if not belatedly. Told with an elegiac wisdom, this delightful tale of magic and otherworldly love is a timeless work of fantasy imbued with hope and wonder. After multiple printings since 1960, this newest edition will contain the author’s recent revisions and will stand as the definitive version of an ageless classic.
I wasn’t sure I’d like this book but then I kept thinking, *why not? I liked The Graveyard book by Gaiman*, so when I saw it for only 4.99 I bought it.
I will admit up front that they way I’ve been feeling I almost put the book down..not because it wasn’t enjoyable but because of how I’ve been lately…but I pushed on ever so slowly, and I did like the book quite a lot.
Basically it’s about a man named Rebeck who lives in a cemetery. He’s lived there for years and he can see and talk to ghosts.
Honestly, even though I just said the words cemetery and ghosts in the description I’m not sure it belongs in RIP, because it’s certainly not a scary story!
I don’t want to say too much about the book because it’s not a big book and I don’t want to give away what actually happens to Rebeck and his ghost friends. I will say that you eventually learn more about Rebeck and you learn the stories of a few ghosts within the cemetery and along the way you review some of life’s lessons. It’s really a sort of comfort read…. if one can say that about a cemetery.
This book would be an enjoyable read any time of the year….but I guess it does belong in RIP…I have to admit, there aren’t many feel good cemetery books around.. you might want to read this one!
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