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Paul TremblayHorror · Fiction·b. 1971
A Head Full of Ghosts
Synopsis
Fourteen-year-old Marjorie Barrett begins to exhibit disturbing symptoms, leading her family to believe she is suffering from schizophrenia. As her condition worsens and their home becomes a place of terror, they turn to a priest for an exorcism and a production company for a reality TV show. This story explores the blurred lines between mental illness and supernatural possession.
How it reads
Prose complexity 7/10
Content warnings (2)
TraumaSelf Harm
- This is my first Paul Tremblay story and I don't know what to say, other than that I loved it. I pretty much dived into this book blind, I had no idea what it is about or what to expect, and it hooked me on from pretty much the beginning. I loved the narration style mixing blog posts, interviews, and the normal, direct narrations. This book actually scared me at some points. I had no idea what to expect for most of the story, it could go in any direction. But overall, it's a heartbreaking story dealing with mental health, religious mania, family dynamics, and exploitation. The story somewhat mirrors [b:We Have Always Lived in the Castle|89724|We Have Always Lived in the Castle|Shirley Jackson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1746532708l/89724.SY75.jpg|847007] in some aspects and I loved it. I loved the parallels, even though towards the end, it helped me predict the ending. Going into this, I thought it was a complete standalone, but I realized halfway through that some stories in [b:Growing Things and Other Stories|42118050|Growing Things and Other Stories|Paul Tremblay|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1556112321l/42118050.SY75.jpg|64888211] are connected; so I know what I'm reading next.
- I need to read more exorcism books omg