A Ghost Around the House
by William MacKellar
On This Page
Tags
Recommendations
Member Recommendations
Member Reviews
A Ghost Around the House is the story of Malcolm MacDhu, cursed in 1720 because of his pride, as in one of the seven deadly sins. Malcolm has been haunting Strowan Castle since his death, even when a rich Scottish-American had it taken down and rebuilt near Litchville, Connecticut years ago. It's now a ruin.
A 12-year-old local lad named Jasper Trimble enters the castle one night and meets Malcolm. He would not have kept his appointment to meet Malcolm the next night, Halloween, but he learns that the castle is being torn down for a high rise apartment house. Malcolm has nowhere to go, so Jasper invites him to live at their house.
Jasper's father, Henry Trimble, teaches art appreciation. He also paints, though his paintings don't sell. show more Malcolm studied painting in Paris, Amsterdam, and London. He studied under the famous paintings Jean-Antoine Watteau and William Hogarth. Malcolm thinks it would be grand if he helped Henry paint better.
With the subtle changes Malcolm makes to Henry's paintings, Mr. Trimble starts winning art shows. Jasper's father isn't happy because he feels he's a fraud. Can Jasper help Malcolm realize what troubles his Pop?
Jasper's older sister, Debbie, has a pretentious boyfriend named Albert who provides comic relief. I am sorry about Albert's German Shepherd, Wolfgang (the dog lives, so don't worry).
Frankly, what Malcolm did to get himself cursed was truly despicable. How can he be redeemed?
The illustrations appear to be charcoal sketches. They get the scenes across.
Cat lovers will be glad to know that Cleo, the Trimbles' cat, doesn't get hurt at all.
It's a good story and I liked the way Malcolm and Henry's problems were solved. show less
A 12-year-old local lad named Jasper Trimble enters the castle one night and meets Malcolm. He would not have kept his appointment to meet Malcolm the next night, Halloween, but he learns that the castle is being torn down for a high rise apartment house. Malcolm has nowhere to go, so Jasper invites him to live at their house.
Jasper's father, Henry Trimble, teaches art appreciation. He also paints, though his paintings don't sell. show more Malcolm studied painting in Paris, Amsterdam, and London. He studied under the famous paintings Jean-Antoine Watteau and William Hogarth. Malcolm thinks it would be grand if he helped Henry paint better.
With the subtle changes Malcolm makes to Henry's paintings, Mr. Trimble starts winning art shows. Jasper's father isn't happy because he feels he's a fraud. Can Jasper help Malcolm realize what troubles his Pop?
Jasper's older sister, Debbie, has a pretentious boyfriend named Albert who provides comic relief. I am sorry about Albert's German Shepherd, Wolfgang (the dog lives, so don't worry).
Frankly, what Malcolm did to get himself cursed was truly despicable. How can he be redeemed?
The illustrations appear to be charcoal sketches. They get the scenes across.
Cat lovers will be glad to know that Cleo, the Trimbles' cat, doesn't get hurt at all.
It's a good story and I liked the way Malcolm and Henry's problems were solved. show less
Members
- Recently Added By
Author Information
28+ Works 282 Members
Series
Belongs to Publisher Series
Vintage Scholastic (TX2341)
Common Knowledge
- Original publication date
- 1970
- People/Characters
- Jasper Trimble (12 yr old, calls his teacher dad 'Pop'); Malcolm MacDhu (ghost, son of Donald MacDhu, Chief, Can MacDhu of Gilnochie); Henry Trimble (teaches Art Appreciation at Litchville Community College); Miss Louella Scruggs (late owner of Strowan Castle, Malcolm is glad she's dead); Mrs. Clara Trimble (Jasper's mom); Debbie Trimble (20 yr old, Jasper's big sister) (show all 13); Albert Hooplewaite (Debbie's boyfriend); Calum Carnoustic (laid a curse on Malcolm on 10/31/1720); Cleo (the Trimbles' calico cat); Rocky Bonelli (Jasper's classmate hates school even more than Jasper does); Wolfgang (Albert's fierce German shepherd); George Pottenbaugh (of the Litchville Art League); Alison (Malcolm's beloved when he was alive)
- Important places
- Strowan Castle (MacDhu home a Jonathan Ferguson had shipped over from Scotland); Litchville, Connecticut, near Wethersfield; Dead Man's Swamp (near Strowan Castle); the old Moore Farmhouse (bought by the Trimbles 5 yrs ago)
- Dedication
- FOR DAVID
who always did like ghosts - First words
- I guess, looking back, Halloween had something to do with it.
- Quotations
- [Malcolm wonders why Henry Trimble is upset because he's getting credit for Malcolm's work. No one would know.]
'Only Pop. He knew.' I hesitated. 'Maybe you don't know Pop. It's not that he's preachy or expects ot... (show all)her people to feel the same way he does. It's just that he's got this thing about being honest with himself. He claims that if a man isn't honest with himself he's going to find it awfully hard to be honest about what he does. Including painting. Maybe, deep down he doesn't really care whether he ever becomes a big shot painter or not. Just as long as it's fun and he knows he's doing the best job he can. Maybe--' I halted and stared hard at the ghost. (chapter 12) - Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)It was still rocking when I closed the door behind me and joined the others downstairs.
Classifications
Statistics
- Members
- 23
- Popularity
- 1,144,908
- Reviews
- 1
- Rating
- (3.50)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper
- ISBNs
- 1
- ASINs
- 3
