A review by dakotach7
A Head Full of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

I finished this book a few weeks ago, and it has definitely been in my mind ever since! The longer I go having read it, the more I'm like, damn, that was an excellent and smart book. Really feels like a book especially made for fans of horror.

I looove how the first third of the book really does remind me of Blatty's The Exorcist, another fave of mine, and then there's a distinct tonal shift - and it really starts to feel like a Shirley Jackson novel - specifically 'We Have Always Lived in the Castle' (and not just because there's a younger sister named Merry, who... does questionable things to her family). It does feel very claustrophic, and vague, and it leaves one wondering wtf was up with the dad as well? And Marjorie herself.