Originally published in 1971, The Exorcist, one of the most controversial novels ever written, went on to become a literary phenomenon: It spent fifty-seven weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, seventeen consecutively at number one. Inspired by a true story of a child’s demonic possession in the 1940s, William Peter Blatty created an iconic novel that focuses on Regan, the eleven-year-old … Regan, the eleven-year-old daughter of a movie actress residing in Washington, D.C. A small group of overwhelmed yet determined individuals must rescue Regan from her unspeakable fate, and the drama that ensues is gripping and unfailingly terrifying.
Two years after its publication, The Exorcist was, of course, turned into a wildly popular motion picture, garnering ten Academy Award nominations. On opening day of the film, lines of the novel’s fans stretched around city blocks. In Chicago, frustrated moviegoers used a battering ram to gain entry through the double side doors of a theater. In Kansas City, police used tear gas to disperse an impatient crowd who tried to force their way into a cinema. The three major television networks carried footage of these events; CBS’s Walter Cronkite devoted almost ten minutes to the story. The Exorcist was, and is, more than just a novel and a film: it is a true landmark.
Purposefully raw and profane, The Exorcist still has the extraordinary ability to disturb readers and cause them to forget that it is “just a story.” Published here in this beautiful fortieth anniversary edition, it remains an unforgettable reading experience and will continue to shock and frighten a new generation of readers.
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As this boook is a classic reread it and was as twisted as I remember great classic
Fantastic read, liked it more than the movie!
Read this when it was first published. It was terrifying then and on rereading, it was still terrifying!
This book, and the movie that followed it, are what nightmares are made of. It’s unnerving, shocking, and scary as hell! (Literally, apparently.) I enjoyed the feeling this book gave me…the creepy-crawly feeling up my back, the hairs standing on end on my neck, having to turn on the big light because the lamp just wasn’t cutting through the darkness enough. It brought every religious fear stampeding into the core of my mind.
Poor little Reagan is an absolutely normal girl (with the exception that her mother is a movie star). She laughs, she plays, she gets excited, and she uses her imagination. Unfortunately, the latter and an unreligious mother lead to her using her imagination with a Quija board. She makes an “imaginary friend” that turns out to be very unimagined and very bad. Desecrations start happening at the local church, someone is assumed murdered, and Reagan is “sick”. After numerous doctor’s appointments and graphic detail that I won’t get into here, an unlikely priest finally has to intervene. Little does he know he’s going up against the devil himself.
I enjoyed the medical side to this story as well. The way they tried to diagnose her with every similar health problem there is was informing. I learned a lot about what the medical community considers a “possession”. I had no idea there were so many similar scenarios caused by so many health and mental problems.
This book is NOT for the faint of heart or the easily offended. It is extremely graphic and describes what many would consider very upsetting sexual situations. BUT, it is an excellent story with a twist at the end that will leave you speechless. So, if you’re hard core enough then grab this book, a bible, and a crucifix. I’m sure you’ll be just fine…….
It begins with noises in the attic, strange odours, a sickly child. Then the bed starts jumping around, furniture moves by itself and a man is found dead with his head turned completely around. Movie actor Chris MacNeil is concerned for her daughter – eleven-year-old Regan – but doctors are stumped. With the only explanations calling for more and more tests, Chris seeks help from elsewhere. Jesuit priest Father Damien Karras, wonders if the child is possessed by a demon, but the priest’s own self-doubt haunts him and the death of his mother does nothing to ease his concern.
First published in 1971, The Exorcist is probably best known as one of the most shocking films ever made, and having seen the movie countless times, I’d say it still stands up well as a horror film. The book, though, is a different matter. This edition is the updated one, with new dialogue, and a text that has been tightened up and improved. Well, that’s a matter of opinion. I’d expected to be wowed, so was a little disappointed to find that even in this updated version, the writing is merely average. With way too many adverbs and countless exclamation marks, it got a bit tedious at times. Luckily, the one thing going for it is that underneath it all there’s a great story.
Reading this on long dark nights didn’t scare me at all and it’s perhaps a mark of the times we live in that horror novels these days require a skilled author to create scenes that will genuinely shock readers.
This book may be a classic, but I reckon Stevie King is still streets ahead in the realm of creating proper scary stuff.
The Exorcist is no doubt a permanent staple in modern day Americana. William Peter Blatty presents the story of pre-teen Regan going through unexplained horrific changes. Under torturous investigations through science and religion, the conclusion becomes terrifying. Blatty’s simplistic approach to such a complicated ghastly storyline is compelling to say the least. His fictional take on an existing phenomena is sure to stay with the reader for years to come.
One of the scariest books ever!
Books have unnerved me before, but never truly scared me. This one did. Blatty’s portrayal of the broken priest, Karras, and the tormented and bedevilled Regan MacNeil is at the same time stunning and horrifying. I’ll be looking over my shoulder for days. Blatty terrified me, and he’ll terrify you, too.
This is a bona fide classic of genre fiction with the William Friedkin film only ensuring its status as one of the horror novels. Brimming with details the reader will remember from the film – which is very faithful to the novel in its adaptation- it reads more like a crime novel as Fr. Damien karras and Lieutenant William Kinderman both try to uncover what is happening to the occupants of a Georgetown residence and what those inhabitants might have had to do with the death of an alcoholic British film director. The novel allows for a fleshing out of backstory involving other characters – such as Karl and his wife – and offers some of the tensest cat and mouse-style conversations I’ve read in a while. Everyone is potentially a suspect, and even if you’ve seen the film (I have countless times), there is still plenty to enjoy here. A classic.
The gold standard of horror books.