A Head Full of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay

A Head Full of Ghosts

by Paul Tremblay

"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 bizarre outbursts and subsequent descent into madness. As their 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 for a reality television show."--Book jacket.

Reviewed by dpfaef on

2 of 5 stars

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I am at a loss how to describe my feelings about this book. To me, the book did not hold up as a horror story, maybe a horrible story?
At age 14, I think that Marjorie was too young to show signs of acute schizophrenia. Demonic possession was a stronger possibility as Marjorie's family was suffering from both financial and emotional problems which could have opened her to that. Marjorie's father John has returned to the church to deal with his self-esteem problems, pitting him against his wife.
It only seems natural that this totally dysfunctional family would be recruited to star in a reality TV show about their mentally ill daughter called "The Possession". Along comes Merry, Marjorie's younger sister who then comes to center stage, the story then begins to revolve around this eight year old. Sadly the story never builds to the slap in the face ending.


This review was originally posted on The Pfaeffle Journal

Last modified on

Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 27 September, 2016: Finished reading
  • 27 September, 2016: Reviewed