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Footprints in the Snow: True Stories of Haunted Russia | 
 enlarge | Author: James, L. Choron
Publisher: Zumaya Publications US
Category: Book
List Price: $14.99
Buy New: $8.62
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Avg. Customer Rating:  26 reviews
Sales Rank: 422929
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 268
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.1
Dimensions (in): 7.8 x 4.8 x 0.7
ISBN: 1934135062
Dewey Decimal Number: 813
EAN: 9781934135068
ASIN: 1934135062
Publication Date: January 29, 2007
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Product Description
They are the damned, the forgotten-those who cry out to let us know they lived. They are all ages and all sexes. They remain earthbound for many reasons-duty, devotion, a sense of responsibility, but most of all for the simplest and most compelling reason of all: love. Come explore the vast land that is Russia, from the metropolitan streets of Moscow to the windswept steppes and farflung plains of Siberia. Discover the strange tales of those whose lives have continued long after their bodies perished, and whose restless spirits yet leave footprints in the Russian snows.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 21 more reviews...
Trully amazing May 1, 2008
Mr Choron has done what few in the paranormal field have done. He has brought to light the paranormal experiences that everyday people have without the sensationalism. This is not a book about "how to" ghost hunt, it is a book about the everyday person who experiences the paranormal in a country that embraces and takes seriously the events that, as James L Choron puts it, "...exists but lies outside the accepted normal of the culture and society that surrounds it." After reading the book, I have to admit that there is hope in shedding light on the subject of the paranormal in a world that predominantly believes in a supernatural deity, but refuses to believe in the paranormal. Excellent book.
Rose's review April 29, 2008
The stories in this book are very well researched & beautifully told. I hope there will be a second book!
Footprints in the snow: an investigator's perspective April 5, 2008
The topic of ghostly lore never ceases to amaze me. From east to west, spirits manifest in similar manners and for similar needs. One area of untapped spectral potential is found in Russia, a vast land of diverse geographic features, which has been actively inhabited with civilizations for several millennia. It has been home to Greek traders, Gallic nomads, and Russian royalty. It has been swallowed up in conflict, from the aggressions of Napoleon to hosting a frontline for both World Wars to the inner turmoil of the Communist Revolution. These factors prove beneficial in Choron's "Footprints in the Snow" which gives an outlet to the neglected ghost stories of Eastern Europe.
One favored story includes that of Nadia Kozlova, the spirit of an over-achieving school girl. As Russia evolved into a communistic country in the 1920s children were encouraged, in the spirit of Marx, to go for an education. Nadia was an overachiever, striving to get the gold medal for academic excellence and hoping to go to university. She never missed a day of school, she turned in all of her assignments, and she came early to study in the library. This high standard proved to be her undoing. One morning, as she studied in the library, the coal bunker underneath the school ignited in a freak furnace accident. The entire building blew up, killing Nadia and the few staff and faculty there that early in the day. However, Nadia's insistence at finishing her education, and maintaining her standards, has not stopped. Every day teachers report finding her school work turned in, tucked neatly in a manila envelope that magically manifests. No one sees Nadia, but her presence is certainly felt. Her current GPA: a 4.9957.
Other stories contain mysterious World War I and II soldiers, lost to time but still trapped in this reality. Some are tied to old armaments that are re-discovered buried long forgotten under buildings and wedged in ravines. Some veteran ghosts give marital advice, while others appear hesitant to reveal their purpose to the living at all. There are remnants of tattered communist resistance movements that forever trudge their way out of the motherland, and dead children who still manifest while waiting for their parents to join them on the other side.
Choron, himself an investigator, includes some cases of anomalous imagery and extensive photo analysis. One case involves a reluctant soldier, who the author speculates is a deserter, who refuses to manifest for film. Only a fluke last minute shot, taken as Choron and his group leave the area, captures the outline of this sad figure, shading his eyes and watching the visitors in distrust.
Even the cover is intricately tied to the book. A skeletal figure dressed in the ornate military uniform of old Russia sits slumped in front of its casket. The story to this image can be found within the pages of the text - no spoilers here. You'll simply have to read the book for yourselves to find it.
Overall, it is a wonderful read. It is not so heavy that it becomes oppressive and negative, yet, unlike certain unmentionable television shows, it is not sensationalized. The reader's mind can create the circumstances of the manifestation while learning a little of what life is like in Eastern Europe in one of the most transformative times in modern history.
 Interesting and fun read, but has a few mistakes & a bit predictable January 3, 2008
For ghost story lovers, this is a unique book that not only focuses on allegedly true and verifiable hauntings (which makes it all the more interesting), but also on those specifically taking place only in Russia, which is a little explored & specialized subject. As a student of Russian history AND a ghost story buff, I found it particularly intriguing. For the record, I do believe in a spirit world.
The stories are written in a conversational, informal tone and most are very short, which makes the book a quick and fun read. There are some stories that are particularly interesting because the author claims there is verifiable proof and witnesses to them, such as the ghost army in "Legion of the Damned" and the ghostly little girl in "Our Little Hero." I also found "The House in the Woods" interesting because at first the reader thinks that the old house is haunted, when in fact only its creepy surroundings are. And the story about the cat called "The Countess" tugged at my heartstrings; I actually found it the most touching of all, even though it's the only one regarding an animal haunting ("I love you, Papa").
However, I did find a few historical inaccuracies in the book. For example, in the story "The Little Drummer Boy," the author writes that Tsar Nicholas II was reigning in the year 1882; however, he actually became Tsar 12 years later, in 1894. This makes me wonder if other parts of the story are true, such as when the Tsar speaks at the little boy's funeral. And in "The Legion of the Damned," it is claimed that Tsar Alexander I was Tsar Nicholas I's father, when, in fact, he was his brother. Little things like that make this history buff nitpicky.
Also, a lot of the stories have predictable and formulaic endings. At first, the conclusions are quite a surprise, but then so many of the stories finish the same way that from the beginning I started to figure out how they were going to end ("I bet so-and-so is really a ghost, right?"). It doesn't surprise anymore.
A great majority of the stories deal with the period of WWII. I'm sure this period produced a great deal of ghosts due to the massive casualties endured during wartime, but frankly I got a bit tired of reading about another soldier or war story. A little more variety in the historical time periods covered would have been appreciated.
I would also have loved to have seen pictures included in this book of the places involved. There is the story of "Our Little Hero," for instance, for which there is supposedly a verifiable photo of a ghost which I would have loved to see. Or some of the photos and news reports concerning the "Legion of the Damned." I would also have liked to see some of the haunted sites - homes, churches, forests, etc. mentioned in the book. Especially since the author claims that at so many of these places, it's as easy as walking up to them on any given night and you will be practically guaranteed to see or hear the supernatural events (probably only if you are "sensitive," though; I'm sure not EVERYONE who goes to these places will see something).
Finally, I didn't find any of the stories to be particularly scary, with perhaps a few exceptions. Creepy perhaps, but not outright frightening. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, though. Many of them deal with benevolent or simply unaware ghosts who don't realize they are dead. Some are residual hauntings, like a tape recorder playing their deaths over and over again, but they do not interact with anyone. The ghosts in these stories leave you with the impression that they are actually not to be feared, but to be helped or pitied, and sometimes they even bring comfort and help to the living. They left me with a happy feeling inside after reading many of the stories, and so they are not super scary.
Despite my critiques, I did enjoy the book and I would heartily recommend it to anyone interested in Russia or in ghosts, or both! And by the way, for those who are wondering, the author is planning a sequel to this book in 2008.
Footprints In The Snow October 18, 2007
I love this book. It is more than a book of just ordinary ghost stories. These ghosts have personality and endearing qualities. It really makes you think about what happens to life after death.
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