A Head Full of Ghosts

A Head Full of Ghosts centers on the Barrett family of Massachusetts as they face their fourteen-year-old daughter Marjorie's apparent descent into mental illness. When traditional treatments fail, the desperate family turns to the Catholic Church for help with what they believe might be demonic possession. The story is narrated by Marjorie's younger sister Merry, who recounts the events fifteen years after they occurred. The family's private struggle becomes public when they agree to participate in a reality TV show documenting their experience with the alleged possession and subsequent exorcism attempts. The novel builds tension through its exploration of family dynamics, religious faith, and the exploitation of personal tragedy for entertainment. Questions persist about what is real versus what is manufactured for television, and whether Marjorie's condition has a supernatural or psychological explanation. The book examines themes of media manipulation, religious uncertainty, and the unreliability of memory, while paying homage to classic horror literature like Shirley Jackson's works. It challenges readers to question their assumptions about truth, faith, and the stories we tell ourselves about traumatic events.

Readers call this a psychological horror novel that keeps them guessing about what's real versus imagined. Many note it works as both a possession story and commentary on reality TV exploitation. Readers liked: - The unreliable narrator perspective - References to classic horror films and books - The blog post sections analyzing the TV show - Building tension without relying on gore - The ambiguous ending that prompts discussion Common criticisms: - Pacing feels slow in the middle sections - Some found the blog posts distracting - Horror elements take too long to develop - Characters make frustrating decisions Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (82,400 ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (2,100 ratings) LibraryThing: 3.8/5 (2,300 ratings) "Keeps you off balance the entire time" - Goodreads reviewer "Too meta and self-aware" - Amazon reviewer "Made me question everything I thought I knew" - LibraryThing reviewer

The Grip of It by Jac Jemc A young couple moves into a house that warps reality while their relationship deteriorates through paranormal encounters.

House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski A family discovers their house contains impossible spaces while a documentary crew records the unfolding horror.

The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty A mother seeks medical and religious intervention when her daughter exhibits signs of demonic possession.

We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson Two sisters live in isolation after a family tragedy while their community's suspicions and hostility grow.

The Last Days of Jack Sparks by Jason Arnopp A skeptical journalist investigates exorcisms and supernatural phenomena for his book until events spiral beyond his control.

• The novel won the 2016 Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in a Novel, joining the ranks of horror classics like Stephen King's "Doctor Sleep" • Elizabeth Hand, a renowned literary critic, compared the book to William Peter Blatty's "The Exorcist," calling it a "literary demolition" of the classic possession narrative • Tremblay was inspired to write the novel after watching both "The Exorcist" and reality TV shows about ghost hunting and paranormal investigations • The book's blog-style chapters were influenced by Tremblay's own experience as an active blogger and his interest in how social media shapes modern storytelling • The story's Massachusetts setting draws from Tremblay's personal background - he was born and raised in the state and continues to live there, teaching high school mathematics