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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To this day this book can bring chills
whenI think about it. I can remember staying up all night thinking I heard noises, etc.
If you are into exorcism movies and/or books at all, you should definitely read The Exorcist. It is my favorite novel of all time! It was hard to put down at all, I managed to finish it in less than a week, and i am someone who takes a painfully long time to finish a book. It was scary, I really felt for Regan’s mother, and had a real desire to see their plight through.
So much has been written about this book and subsequent movie. As the description says, The Exorcist is a part of our culture, not to mention it’s spawned hundreds—maybe even thousands—of imitations. I first read the novel while in school, then went to see the terrifying William Friedkin movie by myself. Like so many others at the time, I had nightmares for a week. Imagine having grown up with stories featuring vampires, zombies, and mutants. Then, this powerhouse of a tale comes along about a non-religious young girl who unwittingly invites a demon into her house courtesy of a Ouija board. Now, today that may seem tame, given that we’ve become inured to evil courtesy of television series like Supernatural. But back in the day, this was Grade-A horror, my friend.
I know this is a classic, but I suspect it wouldn’t be without the movie. The book itself seems lacking. The characters are very, very hard to like. The relationships seem shallow if not fake. There is no greater depth in the characters than you see in the film. Even the danger they are facing seems less contemplative than in the film. This almost feels like it was written after the film by someone who was looking to make a quick buck.
I read The Exorcist when it first came out, saw the movie (and sequals). Yet, rereading it now was just as disturbing as when I read it as a teenager. Highly recommended!
A book that I read in one sitting? This one. Still one of the most terrifying, frightening and chilling stories I have ever read.
This is another book that kept me up all night reading until I was through with it. Then it kept me up at night thinking about it. lol. You have to remember that this came out in the ’70’s when people were really freaking out about it and the subsequent movie; they were passing out and getting sick to their stomachs and imagining all sorts of things. Truly one of the greatest horror novels out there!
I think this book, The Exorcist, is a masterpiece in every way. Not only is it a haunting story but told with such finesse.
Of course I read this having already seen the movie, and left disappointed with the movie. The book goes into Karras, his background, struggles etc.. in more detail, details that the movie sorely needed.
I just reread this one a couple of weeks ago and frankly, it wasn’t nearly as scary as I remember it being. Of course, I was maybe twelve-years old the first time I sat down with it.
Regardless, it’s a classic and the psychological vs. theological debate the story hangs on is a fascinating one. In fact, it was an inspiration for a lot of the script of my indie film zombie project Pretty Dead.
And, frankly it’s one of those books you really should have read by now, if you’re truly a fan of dark fiction…
Scariest damned book that I have ever read.
Just as scary today, as it was when it was first written. Many modern horror writers today try to write about this same subject matter, but they all fall so short. The tension and build up of the horror and suspense that this book has,cannot be matched.
I mainly gave it the okay rating because I’m not too into horror stories. Saying that, I must admit that it was one of the better ones, it actually had a plot to the story rather than random ways to try to frighten the reader.
Scared me to the point of difficulty sleeping for months.
Kept me reading well into the night.
One of the scariest books I ever read. I read it in 1971 and still remember being unnerved about it.
An excellent book about the possession of a young girl. Very scary. The ambiance will really get to you during certain spots.
Blatty was an extremely gifted writer.
Wow, I did not think the book could be more disturbing than the film. But rest assured, it is.
It was disturbing.