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A review by hangsawoman
A Head Full of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay
5.0
Oh.
This is a very good novel that knows exactly how to manipulate the reader and which references to pull out to make us think we are on ground that scares us in a familiar way. It is a book of references, which is not to say that it is unoriginal - there startlingly fresh stuff here, and fresh combinations of ideas. And in the end it pulls out one final gut-punch of a reference that fills you with so much dread and upset, as you suddenly see everything that’s happened clearer and also know that it is impossible to comprehend. Just like grief really. Or getting therapy for trauma.
This is a very good novel that knows exactly how to manipulate the reader and which references to pull out to make us think we are on ground that scares us in a familiar way. It is a book of references, which is not to say that it is unoriginal - there startlingly fresh stuff here, and fresh combinations of ideas. And in the end it pulls out one final gut-punch of a reference that fills you with so much dread and upset, as you suddenly see everything that’s happened clearer and also know that it is impossible to comprehend. Just like grief really. Or getting therapy for trauma.