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Head Full of Ghosts
Head Full of Ghosts | Paul Tremblay
WINNER OF THE 2015 BRAM STOKER AWARD FOR SUPERIOR ACHIEVEMENT IN A NOVELA 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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Tkimsal
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Panpan

Second #BookTok recommendation I tried was another dud.

monalyisha I read a popular BookTok choice recently, as well, and was also *deeply* disappointed! To be fair, I don‘t have TikTok, I didn‘t know it was popular on the platform, and I have no real sense of the breadth and depth of BookTok. Still. I‘m with you. 🙈😉 2mo
11 likes1 comment
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DaniJ
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Pickpick

It‘s the story of a young girl who spirals into a schizophrenic war with herself, entangling her family every step of the way. The worst part? This book is told from the perspective of her 8-year-old sister, Meredith. Reading about a child experiencing one of the least-understood mental illnesses consuming her sister is both heartbreaking & extremely graphic. Some scenes left me nauseous. Mostly this book is an immensely disturbing rollercoaster.

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CuriousG
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Pickpick

I decided to skip my usual Halloween Eve/Halloween movie nights to read this #HHS23 book I received. Some sections I loved, some irritated me, but overall still a pick for me. The blog sections were written in a very annoying voice (which I'm guessing was intentional), but they just didn't land for me. The rest of it hit the super weird, screwed up, vibe I go for at Halloween, so they were perfect!

ShyBookOwl Yeeeaaahh.. this was a tough one for me. I had mixed feelings about it throughout, but disliking the end tipped the scale towards pan for me. Loved the premise though! 5mo
Tkimsal On my tbr list. 5mo
CuriousG @Tkimsal if you like something a little over the top with an unreliable narrator, this will check those boxes. The ending could be a bit much for some people, but it definitely had the shock factor. I usually skew towards more realistic things, but during my creepy fall reading I'm all in for this! 5mo
23 likes3 comments
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CuriousG
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The day I've been looking forward to for way too many days (months?) - #HauntedHollowSwap opening day!!! @ShelleyBooksie - this is an amazing package full of spooky goodies. You are so good at this. The fact that you even found the little brain that matches my brain candles. So, so good. Thank you for including something from an author local to you - can't wait to experience a new to me author. #HHS23 @wanderinglynn

wanderinglynn Love it! 🎃🖤👻🧡 5mo
ShelleyBooksie Yay!!! So glad you like it ♡♡♡ I had so much fun shopping for you. 5mo
CuriousG @ShelleyBooksie I absolutely love all of it! 5mo
18 likes3 comments
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intothehallofbooks
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Pickpick

I previously said How To Sell A Haunted House by Grady Hendrix was the scariest book I‘ve ever read, but I‘m bumping that one down to second and declaring this one THE SCARIEST. It was terrifying. I have discovered that “possession” stories completely freak me out.

That being said: it was good! Very much a Tremblay book. I‘ve loved everything I‘ve read by him and this makes me want to read more. But I need a little break from possession stories.

39 likes1 stack add1 comment
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intothehallofbooks
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I just realized I‘ll have the next 5 or 6 hours to myself!! So I put on my comfy pants, grabbed my book, and snuggled up to the pup 🙌🏻

I‘m a huge fan of Paul Tremblay. This one is pretty creepy!

dabbe Hello there, snuggly pup! 🖤🐾🖤 5mo
ravenlee Enjoy! Quiet time is the best. 5mo
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Yay!! 🐶 📚 5mo
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bekakins
Mehso-so

So apparently I‘ve read this before and couldn‘t remember any of it which is never a good start! It‘s all a bit to try hard and “meta” for me… which I think is probably the conclusion I came to last time!

#scarathlon #mischiefandmayhem

PuddleJumper 🖤🧡🖤 5mo
7 likes1 comment
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BoleyBooks
Head Full of Ghosts | Paul Tremblay
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Bklover Fairy Tale, by Stephen King ❤️❤️❤️ 5mo
BoleyBooks @Bklover I need to grab a copy. I have seen several covers, not sure which one I want. Enjoy! 🙌😊 5mo
40 likes3 stack adds2 comments
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amdsarahjenkins
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Pickpick

Interesting read. Sharp and atmospheric. Strong ending.

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Ruthiella
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Pickpick

Chipping away at my #14Books14Weeks2023 stack.

What really happened 15 years ago when 10 year old Merrie‘s sister was exorcised by a Catholic priest? Was she possessed or was she schizophrenic? How complicit were her beleaguered parents and the TV production who filmed and broadcast it?

I was occasionally genuinely creeped out by the book and the author did a good job of keeping it on the edge of supernatural vs explainable.

Reggie I love Paul Tremblay. Im read the one of his that just came out. His 2nd book of short stories and just loving them. 8mo
Ruthiella @Reggie Good to know! 8mo
70 likes2 comments
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keithlafo
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Mehso-so

One of the main frustrations I have with Tremblay‘s work is how often his final acts rely on ambiguity. That‘s a tool which can be incredibly effective, but I prefer it wielded as a scalpel rather than a worn hammer. Here, I think that tactic is somewhat effective, but I can‘t help but be a little let down by so little catharsis after so much build up.

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Clwojick
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Im right on schedule with my #14booksin14weeks! Im not exactly sticking to one a week, but instead trying to finish x-amount by the end of each month. Hoping to read 4-5 more in July! ❤️💥

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BarbaraBB
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Pickpick

There is a lot of room for interpretation in this book and I really don‘t know what to think. The narrator is an unstable 8 year old telling about her 14 year old sister who might be demonized, her suddenly bizarre religious father, her depressed mother, an exorcism and a tv crew who makes a reality show about it.

Also there are many references and similarities with classic horror stories. I kind of enjoyed it, I think.
#roll100

BarbaraBB Thanks for sending me this ages ago @Cinfhen ❤️ (when mail still worked 🤣) 14mo
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BookishTrish This is one of my favourite favourites 14mo
vivastory I'm happy that you didn't pan this one. Tremblay is one of my favorite living horror authors. I have tickets to see the adaptation of Cabin At the End of the World on Saturday. 14mo
BarbaraBB @vivastory I didn‘t enjoy Cabin much, I think this one‘s much better - fortunately! 14mo
Ruthiella Cool! 😱 I just got a used copy of this title for $1. Hoping to get to it this year. 🤞 14mo
Cinfhen The good old days☺️ 14mo
squirrelbrain Hmm, doesn‘t sound like my kind of book. Great review though! 14mo
vivastory I did like this one a bit more than Cabin etc but I still loved Cabin. I think you might like his shirt story collection. It's the most cerebral of his works I think 14mo
BarbaraBB @vivastory Thanks, that sounds good! I‘ll stack it! 14mo
BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain People like @vivastory @Reggie and @TrishB have made me appreciate horror at times! 14mo
vivastory @BarbaraBB That's a big compliment 😀 14mo
TrishB I‘m glad you give it a go 😁 I‘ve tried so many things because of Litsy! @vivastory let me know what the film is like- I may even venture to the cinema 😱 14mo
Reggie 🖤🖤🖤She was possessed, right? Lol 14mo
BarbaraBB @TrishB That‘s a whole other league 😉 14mo
BarbaraBB @Reggie I‘m still not sure. Such a mindf*ck! 14mo
Librarybelle Great review! 14mo
73 likes2 stack adds18 comments
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BarbaraBB
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#WeeklyForecast 05/23

Ambitious plans… I am still reading Babel for the #ToB23, switching between audio and print. It‘s an enjoyable read. My next one for the tournament will be The Passenger 🤞🏽 but first I am starting Last Night at the Lobster. I enjoyed Ocean State and wanted to read another book by O‘Nan and then @DreesReads called it one her best reads of ‘22 on Instagram (still missing her on Litsy!). The tagged book is my #Roll100.

RebelReader I loved Ocean State so I‘m anxiously awaiting your review on Lobster! I‘ve been eyeing it as my next read by this author. 14mo
squirrelbrain I‘m doing the same as you with Babel, although actually it‘s mor reading than listening as I haven‘t driven far this week. I‘m getting quite bear the end…. 14mo
BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain I have another 100 pages left. It‘s still an interesting read. Will you finish today, while ironing? 14mo
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BarbaraBB @RebelReader I‘ll let you know! 14mo
squirrelbrain I hope so Barbara. 🤞 How about you? (And I just noticed the appalling typos in my last message - work is *really* getting to me! 🤣) 14mo
BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain I hope to finish it later this week. I have to drive quite a bit (working on a project in the south of the country) and it‘s been a good companion while driving! 14mo
BkClubCare I‘ve had Last Night at the Lobster on my tbr for…. years. Looking fwd to your review 14mo
DreesReads I popped in here because now, 3 months after you posted this, I got/noticed the notification! Maybe I will try Litsy again at some point (it is still on my phone!). 11mo
BarbaraBB @DreesReads I hope you will! We‘re about to have #CampLitsy23 which I‘m sure you‘d love. Check the hashtag 😉🤍 11mo
66 likes9 comments
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Megabooks
Head Full of Ghosts | Paul Tremblay
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Pickpick

That ending! 😱 Thanks to @Emilymdxn for sharing this great #ALSpine horror rec! I loved the framing with Merry‘s retrospective thoughts and the exploitative nature of reality TV.

Teenage Marjorie is having mental problems. Mired in medical bills and an increasing religious zealotry from her dad leads them to contact a priest and have a reality show about her possible “possession” taped. But after the cameras are gone things get even worse.

LeahBergen This was a fun one! 😬 1y
Johanna414 I read this one years ago, and didn't think i really liked it at the time. But i still think about the ending to this day, so apparently it was effective! 1y
Megabooks @Johanna414 that ending was crazy, but yet it fit with the characters and situations he had established. 1y
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Megabooks @LeahBergen agreed! 😱 1y
Cinfhen Had you never read this one??? I remember when a bunch of us read this…I LOVED it!!! We had lots of good discussions!!! 1y
Megabooks @Cinfhen I don‘t remember that at all, and it‘s a good one for discussion! 1y
Emilymdxn I‘m so glad you loved it as much as me! I literally can‘t stop thinking about the ending 1y
Megabooks @Emilymdxn the ending was 🍌👖 but it still totally fit with the world and characters he created. Really brilliant! 1y
BarbaraBB I still need to read it. @Cinfhen sent it to me a long time ago. I will read it soon, this might be the encouragement I needed! 1y
93 likes6 stack adds9 comments
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plemmdog
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Mehso-so

My book club picked this for Halloween. I liked some of it, but ultimately I found the child-narrator voice annoying.

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BC_Dittemore
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Pickpick

Whoa… This book wrecked me. In a good way. I‘m a bit at a loss for words. Um…

Legitimately scary. Well structured and written. I blew through the last 100 or so pages in record time (for me) because it does such a darn good job of getting your heart palpitating. Those easily frustrated by ambiguity may be turned off by this one though. Tremblay leaves a lot open for interpretation, which, personally, I think is one of its strongest aspects.

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StellaDz
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Pickpick

A perfect spooky read! Ambiguous enough so the reader is unsure if the issue is psychological, paranormal, or completely fake. Did it scare the hell out of me? No. But I did close the book multiple times and look at the dark corners of my room for shadows. It‘s unnerving.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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Nessavamusic
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Pickpick

I‘m giving this a borderline pick. It is an interesting possession story being told by the younger sister of the supposedly posed girl. It tries to make interesting points about religion, extremists and the media. However, none of them feel very substantial. Still a quick easy spooky listen. 3⭐️
#Scarathlon2022 #TeamMonsterMash #bookspinbingo #31in31 #bodycountbingo #spookathon #Scarathlonwordsearch 43 words

41 likes2 comments
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MommyOfTwo
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I find it strange that my current book mentions the book I am planning to read next😱

Gissy Spooky👻🧡🖤 1y
20 likes2 comments
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Nessavamusic
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Getting caught up on #ScarathlonDailyPrompts Oct 5 #Ghost
This one is on my #TBR
#Scarathlon2022 #TeamMonsterMash

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StellaDz
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Alright, I slept on it, and I‘m going to stick with Hyperion, but I need a break. I think I‘m just in full spooky mode that it wasn‘t jiving. October is for 👻👻! So here are my two choices to get me in the mood for 🎃🎃.

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Shawna
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A Head Full of Ghosts
Joe Hill
Hush
Hozier
Helmethead (Great Big Sea)

#manicmonday
#LetterH

CBee Hi! Thanks for playing 😊 2y
8 likes1 comment
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Emilymdxn
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Pickpick

Im still struggling to read much that isn‘t for work or the masters course but I did really love this very creepy horror novel on audio. It mixes family dynamics and genuine ‘what is it that‘s real here‘ horror. I listened to it in less than a day and I really couldn‘t stop listening. Very dark but beautifully written - do not recommend if you have mental illness or religion related trauma

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Legendofcool
Mehso-so

This book had a slow build that kept you guessing throughout. The ending is what made it all worth the listen. When you think you know you dont. I give it a 3.5 out of 5 stars.

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Legendofcool

So far pretty good book!

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ShyBookOwl
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Me reading A Head Full of Ghosts 😅 Some parts are really disturbing!! Definitely getting in my horror fix this week. #catsoflitsy

Leftcoastzen So cute!😻 2y
RaeLovesToRead Awww, hidey kitty 🥰🥰🥰 2y
70 likes2 comments
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ShyBookOwl
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“THIS MUST BE so difficult for you, Meredith.”

#firstlinefridays

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ItsAnotherJen
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Pickpick

This would be a great book to read around Halloween! Plenty of creepy and rather scary elements in this one. A 14 year old girl may be possessed by a demon (or perhaps is schizophrenic who knows) and the family decides to have a TV show taped in their home showing her behaviors and filming the exorcism. We see much of this through her 8 yr sister's point of view.
I like the elements of using a podcast to go over events, and the unexpected twists.

BookDragonNotWorm But that ending though! 🤯🤯🤯 I'm still not entirely sure what I think happened! 2y
ItsAnotherJen @BookDragonNotWorm I know, right!? I mean..I *think* I know what happened, but it's not for sure. You kind of have to take a guess. 2y
Legendofcool Still wondering about that ending myself, just finished the audio this morning. 2y
85 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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BookwormM
Head Full of Ghosts | Paul Tremblay
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Pickpick

Paul Tremblay does it again another book that reads like a movie I can really see this on the big screen.

Loved the whole story and the way it examines our entertainment culture, the pop culture references to horror films and like Cabin it leaves the reader room to interpret events in 2 ways the psychological or the supernatural.

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KristenDuck
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Pickpick

A Head Full of Ghosts is told by alternating timelines of past, when the younger sister, Merry witnessed firsthand the terror her older sister Marjorie had to endure, and also present, as Merry verifies the story with an author willing to write a book about the family.

Readers are consistently questioning if the story we are being told is real or embellished. Was Marjorie really possessed or schizophrenic?

Couldn‘t put this one down! That end😳

jb72 I‘ve been wanting to read this one. 2y
BookDragonNotWorm That ending did my head in! 🤯 2y
KristenDuck @jb72 Worth the read in my opinion! 2y
KristenDuck @BookDragonNotWorm Eek I was so conflicted with what actually happened!! I think I have it all figured out though. 2y
76 likes2 stack adds4 comments
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DrLReads
Head Full of Ghosts | Paul Tremblay
Pickpick

While I feel uncomfortable with the author drawing a parallel between mental illness and possession (the ambiguity is a crucial question in the novel) this was a compulsive read—and the twist…. 😮I could have done without the blog posts embedded throughout, but otherwise, a strong pick.

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Redfern85
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Pickpick

Intense read told from the point of view of a second grader whose 14 year sister may or may not be possessed by a demon.The family signs on to have their lives taped for a paranormal TV show in which an exorcism will be performed.

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DarkMina
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Eggs Tremblay!!! Great choice 😱🖤👍🏼 2y
DarkMina @Eggs Thanks! 2y
17 likes2 comments
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OutAndAbout
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Pickpick

I love when a book lives up to the hype. Excellent writing - “glasses with thin silver frames that boxed in his nervous eyes”. Compelling plot - the exorcist as told by a little sister. And the little sister is a character development trilogy - shows 3 sides of her, a nod toward the holy trinity and a hint that perhaps she‘s a bit of an unreliable narrator. (Picture of Jesus of the Ozark for attention, taken as we left Eureka Springs today.)

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AFrostCauseReads
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Pickpick

Wow, I loved this book! It walked the line of real possession vs mental illness, and I loved the balance of different times (being in the past as it happened, and current time of the interview of what happened). I also adored the nerdy blog posts analyzing everything. I def have to read more by this author!

#wickedathon #scarathlon2021 @StayCurious
#screamathon @4thhouseontheleft
#RoaringWolf (Family Affair) @Roary47 @Littlewolf1

Roary47 Awesome! 2y
26 likes1 comment
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OutAndAbout
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Gorgeous fall day in the woods, reading the tagged book. It‘s a lot of scare for a chilly October day. Excellent afternoon. #13 #halloween

35 likes1 stack add
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OutAndAbout
Head Full of Ghosts | Paul Tremblay
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Staying in a cabin in Eureka Springs this weekend for a wedding. (Picture - every girl obviously wants a dead deer watching her in the hot tub.) Gorgeous area and beautiful cabin. But so many dead animals! Fortunately I didn‘t bring a scary book to read or anything. 😏 (see tagged book for irony). Bring on Halloween!

StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego 😆 very relaxing. 🦌 2y
kplovesbooks I mean the deer display is gorgeous...but WHY THERE?! 🤦😂😂 2y
OutAndAbout @kplovesbooks I know right? Probably should be rereading The Only Good Indians! 2y
36 likes3 comments
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DebinHawaii
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#haunted

I read them years apart but I feel there is a similarity in these books with whether the #ghost or spirits haunting the houses are real or not, so I‘m picking them both for today‘s prompt.

Eggs Really like Tremblay 🖤👻👏🏻 2y
55 likes1 comment
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Booknerd222
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Booknerd222
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Booknerd222
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DGRachel
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Bailedbailed

This started off super creepy (possessed kids scare the 💩 out of me), but now I‘m bored. The narrator is becoming less reliable and I really hate Marjorie. I think there‘s a twist coming but I‘m no longer interested in seeing what that is. 🤷🏻‍♀️

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BookDragonNotWorm
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Pickpick

A family falling apart. A teenage girl who descends into madness – or not. Because she might be possessed – or not. Luckily, it was all documented by a reality TV show. Now, fifteen years later, the girl‘s younger sister struggles to reconcile what she thought she knew with what happened – or not! Suspenseful & chilling in that ‘is it or isn‘t it?‘ way that crawls under your skin & gives you chills!

Johanna414 This book really stuck with me - I read it a few years ago and still think about it frequently. 3y
47 likes1 comment
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IBooktrovert
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Pickpick

I didn't find this Scary but it was definitely Creepy. I felt Full Moon Tea and Skull Cookies was Perfect to Pair with the Book 🤣

reluctantangeleno Those cookies 😍 3y
ajmayorquin I love tame wild tea! The cookies are so cute! 3y
IBooktrovert @reluctantangeleno delicious too lol 3y
IBooktrovert @ajmayorquin ikr it's my favorite blend of all their teas ❤️ 3y
93 likes1 stack add4 comments
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Skyrimir
Head Full of Ghosts | Paul Tremblay
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A lot of the used books I‘ve been ordering have started coming in with these HUGE stickers on the barcode, which means I can‘t just scan them into my library app. Super annoying! 😡

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ElleSkel
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This week was awesome for reading! The #AnyWayYouReadathon really helped! Ok so here we have 5 towards #LitsyAtoZ , Lab Girl and The Breakdown for #Booked2021 , The Harpy for #BookSpin , The Breakdown for #DoubleSpin. No #BookSpinBingo yet, but I am on my way. Thanks to @TheAromaofBooks , @BookishMarginalia @Cinfhen @4thhouseontheleft and @BarbaraTheBibliophage , @kimmypete1 @Eggbeater and @MidnightBookGirl for hosting all the fun!!

kimmypete1 You‘re a rockstar! 3y
BookishMarginalia 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 3y
alisiakae 🙌🏽🙌🏽 3y
See All 6 Comments
Eggbeater Great job!🎉👏👏👏 3y
Cinfhen Oh wow!!!! Crushed it ❤️🙌🏻🎉🎉🎉 3y
TheAromaofBooks Yay!!! 3y
36 likes6 comments
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AlisBookNookCorner
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Pickpick

⭐⭐⭐⭐ https://suspensebookreviews.home.blog/2020/12/10/a-head-full-of-ghosts-by-paul-t...

Wow!!! What a read! This psychological thriller had me hooked from beginning to end! I loved every minute reading this fast - paced mind blower. The characters were amazing, I loved the descriptions, I loved how real the family dynamics were! The ending left me shocked!

#bookworm #thriller #mustread

Vanillacourt If someone was forcing me to pick one favorite book, I just might have to pick this one. 3y
AlisBookNookCorner A friend of mine was reading this the same time I was, so we were able to discuss. This book left me speechless! Definitely earned its place on my shelf. 3y
8 likes2 comments
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AlisBookNookCorner

A hundred pages in so far and it is so eery!!! Very creepy in the best way. It is a fast-paced easy read, with twists in every chapter! Can't wait to see how this one ends.

#currentread #paultremblay #horror #creepy #currentlyreading #checkitout #bookblurb

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AlisBookNookCorner
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After bailing on my last read, I decided to go with my 25 cent library sales rack find. I'm not familiar with #PaulTremblay but it sounds like a rather interesting read. Reviews are all over, yet it is summarized to be a bit of horror, suspense and drama. This one has been on my TBR for some time now, egar to start.

#currentlyreading #AHeadFullOfGhosts #Horror #currentread #PaulTremblay