In 'A Head Full of Ghosts', an unsettling blend of psychological horror and family drama unfolds as we follow the Barrett family, who face a terrifying unraveling after their eldest daughter, Marjorie, displays alarming behaviors. As the family's desperation mounts, they agree to have their lives filmed for a reality show, leading to a chilling exploration of faith, mental illness, and the commodification of trauma. Narrated by a younger sister, Merry, the narrative blurs the lines between reality and fiction, leaving readers questioning what is real. Each turn of the page reveals a deeper layer of dread and intrigue, compelling us to confront our own perceptions of sanity and belief. Can a haunting truly be born from a troubled mind or an insatiable thirst for fame?
By Paul Tremblay
Published: 2016
""What if all the horrors we fear are simply echoes of our own minds, twisting reality into a reflection of our darkest selves?""
WINNER OF THE 2015 BRAM STOKER AWARD FOR SUPERIOR ACHIEVEMENT IN A NOVEL A chilling thriller that brilliantly blends psychological suspense and supernatural horror, reminiscent of Stephen King's The Shining, Shirley Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House, and William Peter Blatty's The Exorcist. The lives of the Barretts, a normal suburban New England family, are torn apart when fourteen-year-old Marjorie begins to display signs of acute schizophrenia. To her parents’ despair, the doctors are unable to stop Marjorie’s descent into madness. As their stable home devolves into a house of horrors, they reluctantly turn to a local Catholic priest for help. Father Wanderly suggests an exorcism; he believes the vulnerable teenager is the victim of demonic possession. He also contacts a production company that is eager to document the Barretts’ plight. With John, Marjorie’s father, out of work for more than a year and the medical bills looming, the family agrees to be filmed, and soon find themselves the unwitting stars of The Possession, a hit reality television show. When events in the Barrett household explode in tragedy, the show and the shocking incidents it captures become the stuff of urban legend. Fifteen years later, a bestselling writer interviews Marjorie’s younger sister, Merry. As she recalls those long ago events that took place when she was just eight years old, long-buried secrets and painful memories that clash with what was broadcast on television begin to surface—and a mind-bending tale of psychological horror is unleashed, raising vexing questions about memory and reality, science and religion, and the very nature of evil.
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“"What if all the horrors we fear are simply echoes of our own minds, twisting reality into a reflection of our darkest selves?"”
A Head Full of Ghosts
By Paul Tremblay
Discover a world of knowledge through our extensive collection of book summaries.
Paul Tremblay is an acclaimed author known for his gripping contributions to the horror genre. His notable works include 'The Cabin at the End of the World,' which was nominated for the Bram Stoker Award and the Locus Award, and 'A Head Full of Ghosts,' which won the Bram Stoker Award for Best Novel. Tremblay's writing is characterized by its psychological depth, exploring themes of familial relationships, psychological trauma, and the unknown, often blending elements of horror with literary fiction.
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