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The Exorcist #1
Der Exorzist
Der altorientalische Dämon Pazuzu ist es, der, infolge archäologischer Ausgrabungsarbeiten befreit, in Amerika Besitz von Regan ergreift, der zwölfjährigen Tochter einer bekannten Filmschauspielerin. Regan wird, kaum vom Dämon besessen, zur Plage ihrer Umgebung. Die Ärzte, anfangs mit dem Fall betraut, verzweifeln. Regans Mutter wendet sich daraufhin an die Kirche. Diese gibt ihr zwei Jesuitenpater mit auf den Weg, den alten, herzkranken Lankaster Merrin, der bereits einmal erfolgreich gegen Pazuzu kämpfte, und Damien Karras, der selbst von den Dämonen seiner Vergangenheit heimgesucht wird.
Hemmungsloses Herumurinieren, Masturbation via Kruzifix, Sprechen in vergessenen Sprachen sowie Kirchenschändungen und ein grausiger Mord fügen sich für die beiden Priester zu einem teuflischen Gesamtbild, das niemand anderen darstellt als Pazuzu, verborgen hinter der Fassade seines minderjährigen Opfers. Merrin und Karras vollziehen den Exorzismus, der ihnen beiden den Tod bringt, dem Mädchen aber die Rettung.
1973 wurde Der Exorzist kongenial für das Kino verfilmt und war für lange Zeit einer der erfolgreichsten Horrorfilme. Die literarische Vorlage trat dabei in den Hintergrund, völlig zu Unrecht, gilt sie doch noch heute als Vorläufer jener Generation von Horrorautoren, die in den 80ern der fantastischen Literatur zu neuem Renommé verhalfen. Der Exorzist ist von Blatty nicht nur dank der dezidierten Schilderung der Charaktere spannend verfasst, sondern überzeugt vor allem durch tiefgründige Kenntnisse des kirchlichen Gedankenguts. Obgleich der Grundtenor des Romans -- die Kirche ist die einzige Institution, die die Bedrohung des Menschen durch die Kräfte des Bösen abwehren kann -- ein wenig zu viel Heilsgläubigkeit verspricht. Aber das tut der Wirkung des Romans keinen Abbruch. Wer also den Horrorklassiker noch nicht im Bücherregal stehen hat, der sollte das mit der aktuellen Taschenbuch-Neuauflage unbedingt nachholen. --Marcel Feige
362 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 1971
8613 people are currently reading
302644 people want to read
About the author
William Peter Blatty
38 books1,384 followersWilliam Peter Blatty was an American writer and filmmaker. He wrote the novel The Exorcist (1971) and the subsequent screenplay version for which he won an Academy Award. Born and raised in New York City, Blatty received his bachelor's degree in English from the Georgetown University in 1950, and his master's degree in English literature from the George Washington University in 1954. He also wrote and directed the sequel "The Exorcist III". Some of his other notable works are the novels Elsewhere (2009), Dimiter (2010) and Crazy (2010).
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November 7, 2019
”In our sleep, pain, which cannot forget, falls
drop by drop upon the heart until, in our own
despair, against our will, come wisdom
through the awful grace of God.
--Aeschylus
I get a wild hair every so often and recently I decided that I needed to go on a 1970s blockbuster horror novel extravaganza tour. It all started with shifted some books around and finding thisratty well loved copy of The Exorcist that inexplicably found its way into my book collection. I’d swear it was stolen from one of Kemper’s now famous Rubbermaid container boxes of nostalgic paperbacks, but I gave my midget ninjas specific instructions NOT to take anything from Kemper’s abode, but simply take a look around, so the presence of this book on my shelves is still a mystery.
The Mysterious copy of The Exorcist.
When I was in middle school I rode the bus to school and every day this teenager with rumpled hair and scuffed motorcycle boots would catch a ride with us. He had been clocked for speeding by the cops and had led them on a merry chase around the countryside until he turned a corner too quickly, hit gravel, and rolled his car. He was a LEGEND. Needless to say he lost his driving privileges for a long, long time. He would always sit in the front and there was always this sweet scent coming off his clothes that later when I went to college and attended my first party I had that ah ha moment. He’d lean back against the window and hoist those boots out in the aisle where we could all admire them. He always had a paperback novel with him, usually of the horror genre, and he would studiously ignore us and read his book. We of course were boring holes through him with fevered eyes because he was the most fascinating thing we’d ever seen.
One day he looked back down the bus at us and said, “You want me to read you some of this?” as he flopped the latest paperback in the air. It was called The Exorcist. I don’t know if he understood or even understands today how cool a gesture that was, but it was pretty damn cool. So he started reading to us. We never got the whole story just bits here and there. Sometimes he would disappear for a while usually because he was jammed up in a little more trouble than normal. He’d show up with different paperbacks, The Omen, Psycho, Rosemary’s Baby, The Other, and The Amityville Horror to name a few.
We were enraptured.
He scared the crap out of us.
The ghastly images those books inspired in my mind kept my eyes wide open late into the late which might have something to do with why my mom wouldn’t let me read such books.
Those moments on the bus with him reading to us and scaring us are some of my most fond childhood memories. Boy, did we feel like we were getting away with something.
So I started reading my ratty, not Kemper’s copy, of The Exorcist and could not believe how much I was struggling with the writing. The dialogue was horrible. How could this guy sell millions of copies of this book? I did some research. It seems that William Peter Blatty finished writing the rough draft of this book and was offered a lucrative screenwriting job and never polished the book. An editor, obviously not someone in the same category as Maxwell Perkins, allowed the book to go to print as basically a rough draft. Decades later Blatty is asked to read the book for the audio version. He kept having to stop to ask “who wrote this crap?” This story does have a happy ending. Blatty went back through and polished and rewrote and even added a critical scene to the book. It was released in time for the fortieth anniversary edition.
William Peter Blatty looking like he is ready for his casting call for a spaghetti western.
The Dodge City Public library, they never has anything I absolutely need immediately, had a copy of the fortieth anniversary edition. Hallelujah! Praise the book gods!
The difference between the books is a two star rating which I was already worried about how I was going to explain that rating to the legions of fans out there, and a four star rating which is much easier and much more fun to write a review for. So if you have thoughts of reading this book make sure you read the fortieth anniversary edition because as Blatty stated. ”This is the version I would like to be remembered for.”
This is a novel about a demon possession of a twelve year old girl, but Blatty also spends a good amount of time explaining the other psychological aspects that could be causing the symptoms other than a demonic possession. The priest Damien Karras, who also happens to be a psychologist, finds himself confronting not only an evil entity beyond his wildest imaginations, but also his personal struggles with his own faith. He is damaged, dark, and brooding...a magnet for women if he were interested.
Jason Miller is Damien Karras in the movie.
”As he lifted the Host in consecration, it trembled in his fingers with a hope that he dared not hope, that he fought with every particle and fiber of his will. “‘For this--is--My body.’” he intoned with a whispered intensity.
No, it’s bread! It’s nothing but bread!
He dared not love again and lose. That loss was too great, that pain too keen. The cause of his skepticism and his doubts, his attempts to eliminate natural causes in the case of Regan’s seeming possession, was the fiery intensity of his yearning to be able to believe. He bowed his head and placed the consecrated Host in his mouth, where in a moment it would stick in the dryness of his throat. And of his faith.”
The thought that kept going through my head as I read this book is if you find proof of the devil or a demon or even true evil doesn't that mean you’ve found proof of God?
Regan or Rags as her mother likes to call her starts exhibiting strange behavior, talking in tongues, and levitating. It is never really explained how or why she becomes possessed. Unless I somehow missed that part. Changing editions midstream has me a little worried about that as I did not go back and read the hundred or so pages that I’d read before the switch. She goes from being a creative, likable, normal twelve year old girl into something that is not only horrifying, but barely recognizable as human.
Linda Blair played Regan in the famous movie version.
”Reining in his revulsion, he closed the door and then his eyes locked, stunned, on the thing that was Regan, on the creature that was lying on its back on the bed, head propped against a pillow while eyes bulged wide in their hollow sockets shone with mad cunning and burning intelligence, with interest and with spite, as they fixed upon his; as they watched him intently, seething in a face shaped into a skeletal mask of unthinkable malevolence. Karras shifted his gaze to the tangled and thickly matted hair; to the wasted arms and legs and distended stomach jutting up so grotesquely; then back to the eyes: they were watching him...pinning him...”
Transformed!!!
Terrifying stuff!
”Requested and performed exorcisms had begun to decline in the Western world by the 18th century due to advancements in medical understanding, and occurred rarely until the latter half of the 20th century when the public saw a sharp rise due to the media attention exorcisms were getting. There was “a 50% increase in the number of exorcisms performed between the early 1960s and the mid-1970s”.
Media suggested hysteria.
Iconic shot from the movie.
The church has a priest who had performed the last exorcism in 1949. He is an elderly Jesuit priest named Lankester Merrin. The two priests know they are over their heads, but in a true act of courage and faith take on the demon. No need for more details as I’m sure most of you have seen the movie and if you have not I would encourage you to read the book before watching the movie. The movie was nominated for ten academy awards and grossed over $441 million worldwide. No wonder the demand for priests and their knowledge of exorcisms went up exponentially. The tour of 1970s horror will continue with Jaws. Stay tuned.
ADDENDUM
My friend, Gary Wyatt, supplied me with a picture of the house where the famous exorcism case happened in 1949. This was the case that inspired William Peter Blatty to write this book. Instead of a girl this case involved a thirteen year old boy named Roland Doe. Walter Halloran a Catholic priest of the Society of Jesus performed the exorcism. The setting: St. Louis, Missouri.
Exorcism House in St. Louis
If you wish to see more of my most recent book and movie reviews, visit http://www.jeffreykeeten.com
I also have a Facebook blogger page at:https://www.facebook.com/JeffreyKeeten
drop by drop upon the heart until, in our own
despair, against our will, come wisdom
through the awful grace of God.
--Aeschylus
I get a wild hair every so often and recently I decided that I needed to go on a 1970s blockbuster horror novel extravaganza tour. It all started with shifted some books around and finding this
The Mysterious copy of The Exorcist.
When I was in middle school I rode the bus to school and every day this teenager with rumpled hair and scuffed motorcycle boots would catch a ride with us. He had been clocked for speeding by the cops and had led them on a merry chase around the countryside until he turned a corner too quickly, hit gravel, and rolled his car. He was a LEGEND. Needless to say he lost his driving privileges for a long, long time. He would always sit in the front and there was always this sweet scent coming off his clothes that later when I went to college and attended my first party I had that ah ha moment. He’d lean back against the window and hoist those boots out in the aisle where we could all admire them. He always had a paperback novel with him, usually of the horror genre, and he would studiously ignore us and read his book. We of course were boring holes through him with fevered eyes because he was the most fascinating thing we’d ever seen.
One day he looked back down the bus at us and said, “You want me to read you some of this?” as he flopped the latest paperback in the air. It was called The Exorcist. I don’t know if he understood or even understands today how cool a gesture that was, but it was pretty damn cool. So he started reading to us. We never got the whole story just bits here and there. Sometimes he would disappear for a while usually because he was jammed up in a little more trouble than normal. He’d show up with different paperbacks, The Omen, Psycho, Rosemary’s Baby, The Other, and The Amityville Horror to name a few.
We were enraptured.
He scared the crap out of us.
The ghastly images those books inspired in my mind kept my eyes wide open late into the late which might have something to do with why my mom wouldn’t let me read such books.
Those moments on the bus with him reading to us and scaring us are some of my most fond childhood memories. Boy, did we feel like we were getting away with something.
So I started reading my ratty, not Kemper’s copy, of The Exorcist and could not believe how much I was struggling with the writing. The dialogue was horrible. How could this guy sell millions of copies of this book? I did some research. It seems that William Peter Blatty finished writing the rough draft of this book and was offered a lucrative screenwriting job and never polished the book. An editor, obviously not someone in the same category as Maxwell Perkins, allowed the book to go to print as basically a rough draft. Decades later Blatty is asked to read the book for the audio version. He kept having to stop to ask “who wrote this crap?” This story does have a happy ending. Blatty went back through and polished and rewrote and even added a critical scene to the book. It was released in time for the fortieth anniversary edition.
William Peter Blatty looking like he is ready for his casting call for a spaghetti western.
The Dodge City Public library, they never has anything I absolutely need immediately, had a copy of the fortieth anniversary edition. Hallelujah! Praise the book gods!
The difference between the books is a two star rating which I was already worried about how I was going to explain that rating to the legions of fans out there, and a four star rating which is much easier and much more fun to write a review for. So if you have thoughts of reading this book make sure you read the fortieth anniversary edition because as Blatty stated. ”This is the version I would like to be remembered for.”
This is a novel about a demon possession of a twelve year old girl, but Blatty also spends a good amount of time explaining the other psychological aspects that could be causing the symptoms other than a demonic possession. The priest Damien Karras, who also happens to be a psychologist, finds himself confronting not only an evil entity beyond his wildest imaginations, but also his personal struggles with his own faith. He is damaged, dark, and brooding...a magnet for women if he were interested.
Jason Miller is Damien Karras in the movie.
”As he lifted the Host in consecration, it trembled in his fingers with a hope that he dared not hope, that he fought with every particle and fiber of his will. “‘For this--is--My body.’” he intoned with a whispered intensity.
No, it’s bread! It’s nothing but bread!
He dared not love again and lose. That loss was too great, that pain too keen. The cause of his skepticism and his doubts, his attempts to eliminate natural causes in the case of Regan’s seeming possession, was the fiery intensity of his yearning to be able to believe. He bowed his head and placed the consecrated Host in his mouth, where in a moment it would stick in the dryness of his throat. And of his faith.”
The thought that kept going through my head as I read this book is if you find proof of the devil or a demon or even true evil doesn't that mean you’ve found proof of God?
Glory be to God for dappled things,
For skies of couple-color as a brindled cow;
For rose-moles all in stipple upon trout that swim;
Fresh-fire-coal chestnut falls; finches’ wings...
He fathers forth whose beauty is past change.
Praise him.
Regan or Rags as her mother likes to call her starts exhibiting strange behavior, talking in tongues, and levitating. It is never really explained how or why she becomes possessed. Unless I somehow missed that part. Changing editions midstream has me a little worried about that as I did not go back and read the hundred or so pages that I’d read before the switch. She goes from being a creative, likable, normal twelve year old girl into something that is not only horrifying, but barely recognizable as human.
Linda Blair played Regan in the famous movie version.
”Reining in his revulsion, he closed the door and then his eyes locked, stunned, on the thing that was Regan, on the creature that was lying on its back on the bed, head propped against a pillow while eyes bulged wide in their hollow sockets shone with mad cunning and burning intelligence, with interest and with spite, as they fixed upon his; as they watched him intently, seething in a face shaped into a skeletal mask of unthinkable malevolence. Karras shifted his gaze to the tangled and thickly matted hair; to the wasted arms and legs and distended stomach jutting up so grotesquely; then back to the eyes: they were watching him...pinning him...”
Transformed!!!
Terrifying stuff!
”Requested and performed exorcisms had begun to decline in the Western world by the 18th century due to advancements in medical understanding, and occurred rarely until the latter half of the 20th century when the public saw a sharp rise due to the media attention exorcisms were getting. There was “a 50% increase in the number of exorcisms performed between the early 1960s and the mid-1970s”.
Media suggested hysteria.
Iconic shot from the movie.
The church has a priest who had performed the last exorcism in 1949. He is an elderly Jesuit priest named Lankester Merrin. The two priests know they are over their heads, but in a true act of courage and faith take on the demon. No need for more details as I’m sure most of you have seen the movie and if you have not I would encourage you to read the book before watching the movie. The movie was nominated for ten academy awards and grossed over $441 million worldwide. No wonder the demand for priests and their knowledge of exorcisms went up exponentially. The tour of 1970s horror will continue with Jaws. Stay tuned.
ADDENDUM
My friend, Gary Wyatt, supplied me with a picture of the house where the famous exorcism case happened in 1949. This was the case that inspired William Peter Blatty to write this book. Instead of a girl this case involved a thirteen year old boy named Roland Doe. Walter Halloran a Catholic priest of the Society of Jesus performed the exorcism. The setting: St. Louis, Missouri.
Exorcism House in St. Louis
If you wish to see more of my most recent book and movie reviews, visit http://www.jeffreykeeten.com
I also have a Facebook blogger page at:https://www.facebook.com/JeffreyKeeten
February 27, 2022
Who doesn´t know those nasty, itchy childhood diseases that can cause potential long-term complications when one gets them as an adult such as chickenpox, scarlet fever, demonic obsessive compulsive disorder, ...
It´s a well-written novel, but what interests me more is the development of the horror genre, how it changed over time, and especially what has meanwhile become possible.
The book was revolutionary for its time, cause it deals with religion, vulgarly talking young women, and some horror elements. May have been shocking and controversial for its time when the Philistines were still a strong force, but nowadays it seems benign, nearly cute, compared to computer games dealing with war crimes and genres like extreme horror that go to the, haha extreme.
I just heard about that, it´s not as if I would be reading such sick genres or even have an own shelf dedicated to it or something. But if, let´s say, in a parallel universe, I would be reading such nasty things, I would argue with the fact that I don´t watch (horror) movies anymore and simply need a surrogate. Yea, that sounds logical and credible and absolutely not hypocritical...
That there are less and less taboo topics is great for the openness of society, but bad for authors who need more and fresh ideas to still shock the audience that is already pretty apathetic and badass.
In general, authors who follow a new path in the form of previously unprecedented ideas, instead of copying and modifying the mantra of better good copying than horribly self-made, should be praised for their creativity. However, if a subgenre is launched with such an impact that, in a certain way, up to the xth paranormal activity cucumber today, there is an almost imperceptible echo, the artist has ennobled himself by creating something fully justified called "cult".
The story of the actress' daughter, who is gradually becoming more and more special in her behavior, shines with facts from occultism, psychology, neurology, and religion that have been meticulously researched, which helps to create an entertaining reading experience and increases the horror significantly through this apparent reference to reality.
One of the most remarkable features of the book is the disassembly of stereotypes in the form of a science and reason-oriented priest and the contrast of an actress who is uninterested in any rational approach and tends to literally “paint the devil on the wall”. The difference between and the path to the respective perspectives of the two make up an essential part of the narrative structure and, in parallel to the ever-worsening obsession-related symptoms of the not just mental disease, the explanatory or repression patterns also increase to unimagined heights and complexities.
How to play on the keyboard of the nerve-wracking arc without striking violence and with a virtuoso, slow increase of suspense, while contradicting explanatory approaches collide and effectively resolve everything in a finally redeeming culmination, deserves a paranoid look over your shoulder when you stay alone in the dark at home after finishing this outstanding novel.
Tropes show how literature is conceptualized and created and which mixture of elements makes works and genres unique:
https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.ph...
It´s a well-written novel, but what interests me more is the development of the horror genre, how it changed over time, and especially what has meanwhile become possible.
The book was revolutionary for its time, cause it deals with religion, vulgarly talking young women, and some horror elements. May have been shocking and controversial for its time when the Philistines were still a strong force, but nowadays it seems benign, nearly cute, compared to computer games dealing with war crimes and genres like extreme horror that go to the, haha extreme.
I just heard about that, it´s not as if I would be reading such sick genres or even have an own shelf dedicated to it or something. But if, let´s say, in a parallel universe, I would be reading such nasty things, I would argue with the fact that I don´t watch (horror) movies anymore and simply need a surrogate. Yea, that sounds logical and credible and absolutely not hypocritical...
That there are less and less taboo topics is great for the openness of society, but bad for authors who need more and fresh ideas to still shock the audience that is already pretty apathetic and badass.
In general, authors who follow a new path in the form of previously unprecedented ideas, instead of copying and modifying the mantra of better good copying than horribly self-made, should be praised for their creativity. However, if a subgenre is launched with such an impact that, in a certain way, up to the xth paranormal activity cucumber today, there is an almost imperceptible echo, the artist has ennobled himself by creating something fully justified called "cult".
The story of the actress' daughter, who is gradually becoming more and more special in her behavior, shines with facts from occultism, psychology, neurology, and religion that have been meticulously researched, which helps to create an entertaining reading experience and increases the horror significantly through this apparent reference to reality.
One of the most remarkable features of the book is the disassembly of stereotypes in the form of a science and reason-oriented priest and the contrast of an actress who is uninterested in any rational approach and tends to literally “paint the devil on the wall”. The difference between and the path to the respective perspectives of the two make up an essential part of the narrative structure and, in parallel to the ever-worsening obsession-related symptoms of the not just mental disease, the explanatory or repression patterns also increase to unimagined heights and complexities.
How to play on the keyboard of the nerve-wracking arc without striking violence and with a virtuoso, slow increase of suspense, while contradicting explanatory approaches collide and effectively resolve everything in a finally redeeming culmination, deserves a paranoid look over your shoulder when you stay alone in the dark at home after finishing this outstanding novel.
Tropes show how literature is conceptualized and created and which mixture of elements makes works and genres unique:
https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.ph...
November 1, 2023
“The Exorcist” by William Peter Blatty is a novel that I know being a horror enthusiast is one that should be read. You know, one of those “must-read” novels that have to be experienced at least once in your life to truly appreciate such an iconic and impactful part of horror history. Now, before I begin my review of this novel, I’d like to share a quick little story about me that happened back in 1992 when I was just 11 years old over Halloween weekend.
It was late that Halloween night that I, a silly little boy trying to get scared, decided to watch “The Exorcist” movie. I’m talking about the original movie, uncensored, and in its entirety. Needless to say, that movie traumatized the hell out of me. I specifically remember not being able to sleep that night and literally had a rosary on me at all times around my neck for months.
This movie traumatized me so much that I could NEVER hear that famous song “Tubular Bells” from this horror movie in any way, shape, or form. I couldn’t even see Linda Blair’s face without turning away because that movie was burned into my soul for decades.
It wasn’t until I was an adult that I was able to get through all this trauma thanks to the death metal band Possessed. They have a legendary metal song called “The Exorcist” which helped me overcome my fear of this movie, Regan, and everything associated with this franchise. It was on their epic album “Seven Churches” that features the actual theme song from the movie that did it. At first, it terrified me but since it’s death metal, it eventually healed me. I love metal and needless to say, it helped me get through many difficult parts of my life including the trauma of “The Exorcist” and well, now it was time to put this novel down once and for all.
Before I jump into my review, “The Exorcist” does have a few trigger warnings that I found while reading…
- Violence against babies (Satanic Black Masses)
- Satanism
- Major religious defamation against Catholicism
If any of these trigger warnings bother you, please do not read this novel. Moving along, this is the first time I’ve ever read anything by Blatty and I have to say, he has excellent writing skills. I was blown away at how exceptionally talented he is as an author and I was instantly hooked right from the start.
The added graphics at the start of each part of this novel was also a nice touch. I love it when novels have that as it brings me back to my teenage years seeing them in the various horror paperbacks I used to love reading. It just added another creepy layer of horror to this novel and not for nothing, this was a genuine pageturner. Not a single boring part or anything that dragged on, it was fantastic.
There are so many creepy parts here that brought me back to my 11-year-old self, it’s crazy. I knew I buried all this away deep inside me decades ago but to read it now as an adult who loves reading horror felt pretty damn good. I knew this day would come since it was inevitable due to my love of all things horror.
Make no mistake about it, “The Exorcist” is a horror masterpiece. This novel is so creepy, disturbing, disgusting, and horrific that I would say this should be a required read for anyone who loves horror and can actually handle it. Seriously, this novel will freak you out. I guarantee it.
All the characters here were great and of course, Regan led the way as every single encounter with her was beyond frightening. Again, flashbacks hit me, that voice hit me, just the atmospheric writing here by Blatty has left an imprint on me that, just like the movie, will never leave me. Ever.
This novel is so damn scary, it literally sent chills down my spine several times while reading. All the tension, suspense, and horror are top-notch and some of the best I’ve ever read in my life. I haven’t felt this way since I first read “IT” by Stephen King as a teenager. You know that kind of horror that you read, blows you away, and genuinely freaks you the hell out? Yeah, this did it just as effectively if not even more since it deals with demonic possession to make it extra horrific.
I made so many weird faces reading this that my head was spinning. My eyes got so large at certain parts because they were that intense. The backstory of all sorts of demonic history, possession interviews, Black Masses, and Satanism were all great to fill in just how crazy these exorcisms truly are. All of this led to one climactic ending that was incredible and bone-chillingly good. As they say, the novel is better than the movie but in my case, they both are impactful no matter which way you slice it.
Now, to share one last quick story before I reveal my final Star Rating, you will not believe what happened to me the first night I started reading this novel. I give you my word that this is completely true and something that legit freaked me out. I promise you that this isn’t made up or anything.
It was a little after 3 AM on Saturday, October 28, 2023. I was about 8% into “The Exorcist” and as I read on my Kindle Paperwhite, I like to take notes so when I write my book reviews, I don’t forget anything. I stopped reading and went to type in “genuine page-turner” and my Kindle automatically started flipping pages like crazy. I’m talking nonstop page-turning and it ended up at 24% before I had to close my Kindle to stop it because pressing the main button didn’t work. I have been reading on a Kindle for at least 10+ years now and that has never, ever happened to me. Not a single time. I have goosebumps just typing this out as I’m not sure what to think at this point in my life. Saw this movie as a kid and decided to read the novel 31 years later to make it full circle and then this happens.
I give “The Exorcist” by William Peter Blatty a 5/5 and will highly recommend this horror novel until the end of time. I would even say it should be required reading if you love horror as much as I do because this is indeed the scariest novel ever written. It’s the scariest novel I’ve ever read in my life and it’s one of those reading experiences that will stay with you forever. It’s incredible, atmospheric, horrific, disturbing, perverse, and just checks every single box towards being a horror novel masterpiece. This is perfection and it’s only fitting I saw this movie on Halloween night back in 1992 and finished the novel on Halloween night in 2023. The freakiest part? That’s 31 years later and my birthday is December 31st. As I said, it’s all full circle for me and I will never forget the impact “The Exorcist” has had on my life. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go buy a new Kindle.
It was late that Halloween night that I, a silly little boy trying to get scared, decided to watch “The Exorcist” movie. I’m talking about the original movie, uncensored, and in its entirety. Needless to say, that movie traumatized the hell out of me. I specifically remember not being able to sleep that night and literally had a rosary on me at all times around my neck for months.
This movie traumatized me so much that I could NEVER hear that famous song “Tubular Bells” from this horror movie in any way, shape, or form. I couldn’t even see Linda Blair’s face without turning away because that movie was burned into my soul for decades.
It wasn’t until I was an adult that I was able to get through all this trauma thanks to the death metal band Possessed. They have a legendary metal song called “The Exorcist” which helped me overcome my fear of this movie, Regan, and everything associated with this franchise. It was on their epic album “Seven Churches” that features the actual theme song from the movie that did it. At first, it terrified me but since it’s death metal, it eventually healed me. I love metal and needless to say, it helped me get through many difficult parts of my life including the trauma of “The Exorcist” and well, now it was time to put this novel down once and for all.
Before I jump into my review, “The Exorcist” does have a few trigger warnings that I found while reading…
- Violence against babies (Satanic Black Masses)
- Satanism
- Major religious defamation against Catholicism
If any of these trigger warnings bother you, please do not read this novel. Moving along, this is the first time I’ve ever read anything by Blatty and I have to say, he has excellent writing skills. I was blown away at how exceptionally talented he is as an author and I was instantly hooked right from the start.
The added graphics at the start of each part of this novel was also a nice touch. I love it when novels have that as it brings me back to my teenage years seeing them in the various horror paperbacks I used to love reading. It just added another creepy layer of horror to this novel and not for nothing, this was a genuine pageturner. Not a single boring part or anything that dragged on, it was fantastic.
There are so many creepy parts here that brought me back to my 11-year-old self, it’s crazy. I knew I buried all this away deep inside me decades ago but to read it now as an adult who loves reading horror felt pretty damn good. I knew this day would come since it was inevitable due to my love of all things horror.
Make no mistake about it, “The Exorcist” is a horror masterpiece. This novel is so creepy, disturbing, disgusting, and horrific that I would say this should be a required read for anyone who loves horror and can actually handle it. Seriously, this novel will freak you out. I guarantee it.
All the characters here were great and of course, Regan led the way as every single encounter with her was beyond frightening. Again, flashbacks hit me, that voice hit me, just the atmospheric writing here by Blatty has left an imprint on me that, just like the movie, will never leave me. Ever.
This novel is so damn scary, it literally sent chills down my spine several times while reading. All the tension, suspense, and horror are top-notch and some of the best I’ve ever read in my life. I haven’t felt this way since I first read “IT” by Stephen King as a teenager. You know that kind of horror that you read, blows you away, and genuinely freaks you the hell out? Yeah, this did it just as effectively if not even more since it deals with demonic possession to make it extra horrific.
I made so many weird faces reading this that my head was spinning. My eyes got so large at certain parts because they were that intense. The backstory of all sorts of demonic history, possession interviews, Black Masses, and Satanism were all great to fill in just how crazy these exorcisms truly are. All of this led to one climactic ending that was incredible and bone-chillingly good. As they say, the novel is better than the movie but in my case, they both are impactful no matter which way you slice it.
Now, to share one last quick story before I reveal my final Star Rating, you will not believe what happened to me the first night I started reading this novel. I give you my word that this is completely true and something that legit freaked me out. I promise you that this isn’t made up or anything.
It was a little after 3 AM on Saturday, October 28, 2023. I was about 8% into “The Exorcist” and as I read on my Kindle Paperwhite, I like to take notes so when I write my book reviews, I don’t forget anything. I stopped reading and went to type in “genuine page-turner” and my Kindle automatically started flipping pages like crazy. I’m talking nonstop page-turning and it ended up at 24% before I had to close my Kindle to stop it because pressing the main button didn’t work. I have been reading on a Kindle for at least 10+ years now and that has never, ever happened to me. Not a single time. I have goosebumps just typing this out as I’m not sure what to think at this point in my life. Saw this movie as a kid and decided to read the novel 31 years later to make it full circle and then this happens.
I give “The Exorcist” by William Peter Blatty a 5/5 and will highly recommend this horror novel until the end of time. I would even say it should be required reading if you love horror as much as I do because this is indeed the scariest novel ever written. It’s the scariest novel I’ve ever read in my life and it’s one of those reading experiences that will stay with you forever. It’s incredible, atmospheric, horrific, disturbing, perverse, and just checks every single box towards being a horror novel masterpiece. This is perfection and it’s only fitting I saw this movie on Halloween night back in 1992 and finished the novel on Halloween night in 2023. The freakiest part? That’s 31 years later and my birthday is December 31st. As I said, it’s all full circle for me and I will never forget the impact “The Exorcist” has had on my life. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go buy a new Kindle.
April 14, 2023
“Perhaps evil is the crucible of goodness. And perhaps even Satan - Satan, in spite of himself, somehow serves to work out the will of God.”
The Exorcist tells the story of Chris MacNeil, a successful actress at the height of her career. Chris is beautiful, rich, famous, and about to transition from leading lady to film director. She lives with her twelve year old daughter Regan in a rented accommodation. Regan begins to display strange and unusual behavior. Gradually, the peculiar turns to the bizarre, and within a brief span of time, Regan is displaying all the signs of demonic possession.
The Exorcist is without a doubt, one of the best horror novels ever written. The story is incredibly complex, and the representation of it’s characters as flawed human beings, each with their own doubts, guilt and struggles makes the character work in this novel superb. The novel is also as graphic as it is complex. An early scene in the book describes the desecration of a church that is certainly not for the squeamish. The Exorcist has a plethora of scenes that range from creepy to bone chilling to outright shocking! Spin a wheel and pick your favourite!
“Gliding spiderlike, rapidly, close behind Sharon, her body arched backward in a bow with her head almost touching her feet, was Regan, her tongue flicking quickly in and out of her mouth while she sibilantly hissed and moved her head very slightly back and forth like a serpent. Sharon stopped then screamed as she felt Regan's tongue sneaking out at her ankle. That day, everywhere Sharon went, Regan followed...”
“Do you know what she did? Your c*nting daughter?”
The connection that the author creates between the reader and Father Karas while he is questioning his God and the involvement it has with Regan and her situation was so beautifully done. He created one of the most believable and tragic characters and this was my favourite part of the novel. The relationship between Chris and Regan is also very key. Chris loves Regan and cares for her deeply but it almost starts to feel like the character of Regan doesn’t exist anymore. One of my favourite quotes is when Merrin says to Karras that the demons deeds are not aimed purely at Regan, but in fact at the others in the house.
“The demon's target is not the possessed; it is us the observers.. everyone in this house. I think the point is to make us despair..to reject our humanity: to see ourselves as ultimately bestial, vile and putrescent; without dignity; ugly; unworthy.”
This is a breathtaking novel, certainly not for the easily scared or faint of heart and no novel or movie/tv work has come close to the sheer terror, creepiness and gripping nature of this tremendous story. While I love the film adaptation and have watched it more times than I care to mention, the book has an intense depth and details that the film only hinted at.
William Peter Blatty deserves, just for this book alone to be recognised as an important and prolific author.
My Highest Recommendation.
“You don't blame us for being here, do you? After all, we have no place to go. No home... Incidentally, what an excellent day for an exorcism...”
The Exorcist tells the story of Chris MacNeil, a successful actress at the height of her career. Chris is beautiful, rich, famous, and about to transition from leading lady to film director. She lives with her twelve year old daughter Regan in a rented accommodation. Regan begins to display strange and unusual behavior. Gradually, the peculiar turns to the bizarre, and within a brief span of time, Regan is displaying all the signs of demonic possession.
The Exorcist is without a doubt, one of the best horror novels ever written. The story is incredibly complex, and the representation of it’s characters as flawed human beings, each with their own doubts, guilt and struggles makes the character work in this novel superb. The novel is also as graphic as it is complex. An early scene in the book describes the desecration of a church that is certainly not for the squeamish. The Exorcist has a plethora of scenes that range from creepy to bone chilling to outright shocking! Spin a wheel and pick your favourite!
“Gliding spiderlike, rapidly, close behind Sharon, her body arched backward in a bow with her head almost touching her feet, was Regan, her tongue flicking quickly in and out of her mouth while she sibilantly hissed and moved her head very slightly back and forth like a serpent. Sharon stopped then screamed as she felt Regan's tongue sneaking out at her ankle. That day, everywhere Sharon went, Regan followed...”
“Do you know what she did? Your c*nting daughter?”
The connection that the author creates between the reader and Father Karas while he is questioning his God and the involvement it has with Regan and her situation was so beautifully done. He created one of the most believable and tragic characters and this was my favourite part of the novel. The relationship between Chris and Regan is also very key. Chris loves Regan and cares for her deeply but it almost starts to feel like the character of Regan doesn’t exist anymore. One of my favourite quotes is when Merrin says to Karras that the demons deeds are not aimed purely at Regan, but in fact at the others in the house.
“The demon's target is not the possessed; it is us the observers.. everyone in this house. I think the point is to make us despair..to reject our humanity: to see ourselves as ultimately bestial, vile and putrescent; without dignity; ugly; unworthy.”
This is a breathtaking novel, certainly not for the easily scared or faint of heart and no novel or movie/tv work has come close to the sheer terror, creepiness and gripping nature of this tremendous story. While I love the film adaptation and have watched it more times than I care to mention, the book has an intense depth and details that the film only hinted at.
William Peter Blatty deserves, just for this book alone to be recognised as an important and prolific author.
My Highest Recommendation.
“You don't blame us for being here, do you? After all, we have no place to go. No home... Incidentally, what an excellent day for an exorcism...”
October 26, 2020
UPDATE: $1.99 Kindle US today 10/26/20
I think I'm ready. . . Help!
Well, maybe I'm weird but I found the movie scarier than the book. Don't get me wrong, there are a few parts that gave me the heebie jeebies, but overall it didn't get me like the movie. Just getting the gifs for this freaking review had me all creeped out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This book is very disturbing though. Reading the stuff about people in the Black Mass and what they were doing. Uggg, no.
I thought about getting a copy of the movie to watch again since I have read the book but hell no. Just NO! The only reason I wanted to watch it again is because I wanted to see if they had some of the really disturbing things in the movie that were in the book. I wanted to see if they talked about all of the Black Mass stuff and different things that were in-depth in the book because I can't remember any of that stuff it was so long ago.
I remember when I was younger I had a nightmare that she was coming after me on a bicycle! Lol, and it was scary as hell and seemed real. A bicycle though, heh!
There is a part in the prologue that I didn't even realize was in another part of the movie until I read the book. It was about the demon when Father Merrin was overseas.
This all started when Regan started playing with the ouiji board. People, just don't do it.
Regan's mom Chris who is a movie star let her do it because she didn't think there was any harm in it. Although, she did have some trepidation when Regan started talking about a "Captain Howdy."
Then things started to happen. Chris had Regan taken to all kinds of doctors and psych's until they finally said they need a priest. Ya think?
Chris was able to get in touch with Father Karras through some peeps but he had to spend time with Regan to prove to the Bishop an exorcism was needed. The kind of proof he had to look for in the book was ridiculous. With all of the stuff going on with Regan they must have been out of their damn mind! That should have happened with no problems.
And then we finally get Father Merrin =) I loved him and Karras.
At any rate, the movie and the book were disturbing. Both in their own ways. The movie was scarier but the book had more detailed, disturbing stuff. Now I can only read normal horror for awhile!!
Enjoy!!!!
MY BLOG: Melissa Martin's Reading List
I think I'm ready. . . Help!
Well, maybe I'm weird but I found the movie scarier than the book. Don't get me wrong, there are a few parts that gave me the heebie jeebies, but overall it didn't get me like the movie. Just getting the gifs for this freaking review had me all creeped out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This book is very disturbing though. Reading the stuff about people in the Black Mass and what they were doing. Uggg, no.
I thought about getting a copy of the movie to watch again since I have read the book but hell no. Just NO! The only reason I wanted to watch it again is because I wanted to see if they had some of the really disturbing things in the movie that were in the book. I wanted to see if they talked about all of the Black Mass stuff and different things that were in-depth in the book because I can't remember any of that stuff it was so long ago.
I remember when I was younger I had a nightmare that she was coming after me on a bicycle! Lol, and it was scary as hell and seemed real. A bicycle though, heh!
There is a part in the prologue that I didn't even realize was in another part of the movie until I read the book. It was about the demon when Father Merrin was overseas.
The man in khaki prowled the ruins. The Temple of Nabu. The Temple of Ishtar. He sifted vibrations. At the palace of Ashurbanipal he stopped and looked up at the limestone statue hulking in situ. Ragged wings and taloned feet. A bulbous, jutting, stubby penis and a mouth stretched taunt in feral grin. The demon Pazuzu.
Abruptly the man in khaki sagged.
He bowed his head.
It was coming.
He stared at the dust and the quickening shadows. The orb of the sun was beginning to slip beneath the rim of the world and he could hear the dim yappings of savage dog packs prowling the fringes of the city. He rolled his shirtsleeves down and buttoned them as a shivering breeze sprang up. Its source was southwest.
He hastened toward Mosul and his train, his heart encased in the icy conviction that soon he would be hunted by an ancient enemy whose face he had never seen.
But he knew his name.
This all started when Regan started playing with the ouiji board. People, just don't do it.
Regan's mom Chris who is a movie star let her do it because she didn't think there was any harm in it. Although, she did have some trepidation when Regan started talking about a "Captain Howdy."
Then things started to happen. Chris had Regan taken to all kinds of doctors and psych's until they finally said they need a priest. Ya think?
Chris was able to get in touch with Father Karras through some peeps but he had to spend time with Regan to prove to the Bishop an exorcism was needed. The kind of proof he had to look for in the book was ridiculous. With all of the stuff going on with Regan they must have been out of their damn mind! That should have happened with no problems.
And then we finally get Father Merrin =) I loved him and Karras.
As the stranger reached up to remove his hat, Chris was nodding her head, and then suddenly she was looking into eyes that overwhelmed her: tht shone with intelligence and kindly understanding, with serenity that poured from them into her being like the waters of a warm and healing river whose source was both in him and yet somehow beyond him; whose flow was contained and yet headlong and endless.
"I'm Father Lankester Merrin," he said.
At any rate, the movie and the book were disturbing. Both in their own ways. The movie was scarier but the book had more detailed, disturbing stuff. Now I can only read normal horror for awhile!!
Enjoy!!!!
MY BLOG: Melissa Martin's Reading List
April 1, 2017
Scared the heck out of me !!
January 13, 2015
Absolute classic, good atmosphere, compelling story... if you want to met William F. Kindermann again, read Legion, the follow up; clear recommendation, both books!
October 20, 2025
Oh. My. God.
What even was this? There was a level of crazy that I just WAS NOT expecting. I thought this priest was going to try and cast out a demon and a little girl was going to cough chunks of puke on him. I had no idea what sort of layers of insanity I was dealing with here.
Ok, ok, ok.
Did anyone else think it was fucknuts that all these psychiatrists just assume all tween & teen kids are like the X-men and might possibly develop psychic and telekinetic powers?
What the hell?!
Was this an ACTUAL thing in the 70s?
Like, oh it's all normal that she can read my mind and toss shit across the room, which is apparently COMPLETELY DIFFERENT from demon possession.
She is literally levitating the bed across the room like a magic carpet while spewing vomit and speaking in an entirely different voice, and Father Karrass is over there with his finger on her pulse talking about how her heartbeat is steady so it must just be NORMAL PSYCHIC PHENOMENA.
omgthatisnotathing!
No, sir. What you have there is 100% some freaky demon shit.
I also thought Father Karrass was boring. I was so tired of hearing about his inner struggle with his faith. I'm not religious and I understand why someone may struggle with it, so I sympathized to an extent. But either you jump on that train or you don't. And by the end of it, I was practically screaming at him to shit or get off the pot because I couldn't get behind his glee every time he thought for a second that the Regan was really demon-possessed.
I guess in his mind if there was a devil, there had to be a God.
Dude! There has to be a better time to work out your crisis of faith!
And oh god. This was gross.
Some of the shit the demon made the little girl do was horribly disturbing. I was quite literally cringing while listening to it.
There were quite a few icky masturbation scenes and incredibly nasty adult things that it said that got the point across that the demon was horrendous without that level of nastiness.
Fuck! Just awful.
I don't know. I was bored with the religious stuff, sickened by all the gross descriptions, and yet still rooted to the spot like a gawker watching a train wreck.
I'm glad I read this one and I doubt I'll ever forget it.
It. Is. Something. Good? Bad? Like I said, I don't know!
BUT IT IS SOMETHING.
The audio version I listened to was published by HarperAudio and was read by the author, William Peter Blatty. Dude had one of those menacing voices that you wouldn't want to hear in a dark alley.
What even was this? There was a level of crazy that I just WAS NOT expecting. I thought this priest was going to try and cast out a demon and a little girl was going to cough chunks of puke on him. I had no idea what sort of layers of insanity I was dealing with here.
Ok, ok, ok.
Did anyone else think it was fucknuts that all these psychiatrists just assume all tween & teen kids are like the X-men and might possibly develop psychic and telekinetic powers?
What the hell?!
Was this an ACTUAL thing in the 70s?
Like, oh it's all normal that she can read my mind and toss shit across the room, which is apparently COMPLETELY DIFFERENT from demon possession.
She is literally levitating the bed across the room like a magic carpet while spewing vomit and speaking in an entirely different voice, and Father Karrass is over there with his finger on her pulse talking about how her heartbeat is steady so it must just be NORMAL PSYCHIC PHENOMENA.
omgthatisnotathing!
No, sir. What you have there is 100% some freaky demon shit.
I also thought Father Karrass was boring. I was so tired of hearing about his inner struggle with his faith. I'm not religious and I understand why someone may struggle with it, so I sympathized to an extent. But either you jump on that train or you don't. And by the end of it, I was practically screaming at him to shit or get off the pot because I couldn't get behind his glee every time he thought for a second that the Regan was really demon-possessed.
I guess in his mind if there was a devil, there had to be a God.
Dude! There has to be a better time to work out your crisis of faith!
And oh god. This was gross.
Some of the shit the demon made the little girl do was horribly disturbing. I was quite literally cringing while listening to it.
There were quite a few icky masturbation scenes and incredibly nasty adult things that it said that got the point across that the demon was horrendous without that level of nastiness.
Fuck! Just awful.
I don't know. I was bored with the religious stuff, sickened by all the gross descriptions, and yet still rooted to the spot like a gawker watching a train wreck.
I'm glad I read this one and I doubt I'll ever forget it.
It. Is. Something. Good? Bad? Like I said, I don't know!
BUT IT IS SOMETHING.
The audio version I listened to was published by HarperAudio and was read by the author, William Peter Blatty. Dude had one of those menacing voices that you wouldn't want to hear in a dark alley.
February 10, 2017
Curiosity compels you to read this!
THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS
It was kinda hard to decide the rating on this novel.
If I'd think only on the raw reading experience, I would say that it was a 3-star material.
However, I had to ponder about the whole additional info and further development of characters compared with my experience with the film adaptation (which certainly is one of my favorite horror films). So, I think that the fairest rating is giving a solid 4-star rating.
Certainly due all those deeper details in the original book, I think that novel & movie make an irresistible combo to do.
You watched the film, and then you'll appreciate even more the extended information that you'll find in the original novel, but in matters of frightening, well the movie has a clear advantage, but don't dismiss the novel so quickly.
Since, may be not the best horror novel that I've ever read,...
...but certainly the book has...
...something to compel you to read it, and have it a huge respect to it.
MOVIE V. BOOK: DAWN OF POSSESSION
I am not surprised if almost any reader has watched the film before reading the novel..
...And my case wasn't any different.
I have watched the three film versions: Original theatrical, "The Never-Before-Seen" version and the "Extended Director's Cut". Any comment that I'd make in this review about the film adaptation it will be based on the latest mentioned version, the "Extended Director's Cut", due it's the most complete and also it's the one that I have on Blu-ray so it's the one that I have more fresh on my mind.
It's interesting how the film is generally accepted as the most terrifying movie of all time, while the novel doesn't keep that distinction. Actually the debate about which novel is the most terrifying of all, it's an endless dispute that I'm sure the general reading community never would be able to agree in a specific novel.
While the imagination is the best special effects generator, I have to admit that it wasn't so shocking to read scenes than in the visual presentation where they are truly scary.
Even, I don't know if there was the choice of words used in the narrative of the book, since I think that I'd some "technical" difficulties to visualize some of those scenes, if I wouldn't have previous notion of how they supposed to look like, thanks to the film.
PLAYING DEVIL'S ADVOCATE
So, I am still glad of having read the original novel, since not matter the film adaptation covered the most important elements of the general storyline;...
...the novel indeed gives you enlighting info about the background of the characters, even "new" characters that didn't appear on the movie version, and deeper development of many of the scenes.
On the film, you never have doubt that there is a demon inside of Regan,...
...but in the novel, there are plausible scenarios causing suspicions on other characters, with the chance of a more rational explanation.
So, not so ironically, in the same way that you have faith to believe in God, well, the story requires of you to have "faith" to believe in the existence of The Devil.
That, it's something so curious about many priests in Catholic Church, that I understand that there must be an investigation to discard a simpler explanation to some situations, but it seems that if you say that you're possessed by The Devil or to the contrary, you were witness of the word of God, in any case, the priests will see you as a perfect nut job to send to some psychiatric asylum.
So, while the priests are supposed to believe in God, it's like they don't want to believe in the existence of The Devil, that's it's quite odd, since they are both sides of the same religious coin.
Also, some elements in the novel, that you may perceive as "random" in the film version, even not clarify enough for really understanding why they are in the story, those elements are well developed on the novel and even making ties to the demon inside Regan that you may didn't think about before.
Moreover, some reactions and conducts of the characters, knowing key info about their pasts, you can rationalize better why they are reacting in such ways.
Even some conversations, they are the same in terms of dialogue, but the mood of them are perceived in a different way in the book, giving some new angles to the dynamics between characters.
SPEAKING OF THE DEVIL
That's exactly what I expect when I decide to read a book (original novel or novelization) when I already watched the film adaptation.
Since while I invest only two hours to watch the movie, I can invest like a week (or more) to read a novel. So, if I read just the exact story on the book, I think that it would kinda pointless, but if I got enough additional info,...
...certainly then, it was well invested time.
I think that the most effective element on the construction of the story is that you get a lot of arguments and plausible explanations of what it's going on, so in some reverse psychology gimmick, you get to believe more and more that Regan is indeed possessed by a demon.
While in some other novels where they approach the paranormal angle directly, the reader tends to accept it without a doubt.
Maybe you don't believe in The Devil or in God even, but don't worry,...
...since you also can say that you don't believe in Jupiter (the planet, not the Roman god) and that doesn't make that that planet isn't out there.
Many people are atheists until they have to face a demon by themselves.
And it's not like that I am saying that you have to believe in the Christian God, since while I am Catholic, my wish is only that all people believe in some higher power, that you may name whatever you prefer, but believe, in something higher than us.
Since some others may call as unrealistic, to believe in gods or higher powers,...
...for me, not believing in some higher power, I'd call it as sad.
Believe in God. Beware of The Devil. Both are real, not matter if you believe in them or not.
Getting back to the book, I recommend the novel for any fan of the film and wishing to get a deeper developement on the story.
P.S. (Updated Jan, 13th, 2017)
I just knew that William Peter Blatty passed away. I'm glad that I was able to read his most iconic work way before he would die.
THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS
It was kinda hard to decide the rating on this novel.
If I'd think only on the raw reading experience, I would say that it was a 3-star material.
However, I had to ponder about the whole additional info and further development of characters compared with my experience with the film adaptation (which certainly is one of my favorite horror films). So, I think that the fairest rating is giving a solid 4-star rating.
Certainly due all those deeper details in the original book, I think that novel & movie make an irresistible combo to do.
You watched the film, and then you'll appreciate even more the extended information that you'll find in the original novel, but in matters of frightening, well the movie has a clear advantage, but don't dismiss the novel so quickly.
Since, may be not the best horror novel that I've ever read,...
...but certainly the book has...
...something to compel you to read it, and have it a huge respect to it.
MOVIE V. BOOK: DAWN OF POSSESSION
I am not surprised if almost any reader has watched the film before reading the novel..
...And my case wasn't any different.
I have watched the three film versions: Original theatrical, "The Never-Before-Seen" version and the "Extended Director's Cut". Any comment that I'd make in this review about the film adaptation it will be based on the latest mentioned version, the "Extended Director's Cut", due it's the most complete and also it's the one that I have on Blu-ray so it's the one that I have more fresh on my mind.
It's interesting how the film is generally accepted as the most terrifying movie of all time, while the novel doesn't keep that distinction. Actually the debate about which novel is the most terrifying of all, it's an endless dispute that I'm sure the general reading community never would be able to agree in a specific novel.
While the imagination is the best special effects generator, I have to admit that it wasn't so shocking to read scenes than in the visual presentation where they are truly scary.
Even, I don't know if there was the choice of words used in the narrative of the book, since I think that I'd some "technical" difficulties to visualize some of those scenes, if I wouldn't have previous notion of how they supposed to look like, thanks to the film.
PLAYING DEVIL'S ADVOCATE
So, I am still glad of having read the original novel, since not matter the film adaptation covered the most important elements of the general storyline;...
...the novel indeed gives you enlighting info about the background of the characters, even "new" characters that didn't appear on the movie version, and deeper development of many of the scenes.
On the film, you never have doubt that there is a demon inside of Regan,...
...but in the novel, there are plausible scenarios causing suspicions on other characters, with the chance of a more rational explanation.
So, not so ironically, in the same way that you have faith to believe in God, well, the story requires of you to have "faith" to believe in the existence of The Devil.
That, it's something so curious about many priests in Catholic Church, that I understand that there must be an investigation to discard a simpler explanation to some situations, but it seems that if you say that you're possessed by The Devil or to the contrary, you were witness of the word of God, in any case, the priests will see you as a perfect nut job to send to some psychiatric asylum.
So, while the priests are supposed to believe in God, it's like they don't want to believe in the existence of The Devil, that's it's quite odd, since they are both sides of the same religious coin.
Also, some elements in the novel, that you may perceive as "random" in the film version, even not clarify enough for really understanding why they are in the story, those elements are well developed on the novel and even making ties to the demon inside Regan that you may didn't think about before.
Moreover, some reactions and conducts of the characters, knowing key info about their pasts, you can rationalize better why they are reacting in such ways.
Even some conversations, they are the same in terms of dialogue, but the mood of them are perceived in a different way in the book, giving some new angles to the dynamics between characters.
SPEAKING OF THE DEVIL
That's exactly what I expect when I decide to read a book (original novel or novelization) when I already watched the film adaptation.
Since while I invest only two hours to watch the movie, I can invest like a week (or more) to read a novel. So, if I read just the exact story on the book, I think that it would kinda pointless, but if I got enough additional info,...
...certainly then, it was well invested time.
I think that the most effective element on the construction of the story is that you get a lot of arguments and plausible explanations of what it's going on, so in some reverse psychology gimmick, you get to believe more and more that Regan is indeed possessed by a demon.
While in some other novels where they approach the paranormal angle directly, the reader tends to accept it without a doubt.
Maybe you don't believe in The Devil or in God even, but don't worry,...
...since you also can say that you don't believe in Jupiter (the planet, not the Roman god) and that doesn't make that that planet isn't out there.
Many people are atheists until they have to face a demon by themselves.
And it's not like that I am saying that you have to believe in the Christian God, since while I am Catholic, my wish is only that all people believe in some higher power, that you may name whatever you prefer, but believe, in something higher than us.
Since some others may call as unrealistic, to believe in gods or higher powers,...
...for me, not believing in some higher power, I'd call it as sad.
Believe in God. Beware of The Devil. Both are real, not matter if you believe in them or not.
Getting back to the book, I recommend the novel for any fan of the film and wishing to get a deeper developement on the story.
P.S. (Updated Jan, 13th, 2017)
I just knew that William Peter Blatty passed away. I'm glad that I was able to read his most iconic work way before he would die.
May 2, 2021
I really enjoyed this one. It has all the elements of eerie paranormal horror with some mystery. The plot involves a little girl who's life goes from normal to complete terror. The little girl, Regan, starts playing with a ouija board and an unknown presence begins communicating with her. The unwanted entity, who goes by the name of Mr. Howdy, slowly becomes problematic. As with all paranormal activity, the plot tracks the demonic activity commonly seen in the four stages: infestation, oppression, obsession, and eventual possession of the little girl. The plot is riddled with psychiatric, religious, and occult-witchcraft fervor that adds to the atmospheric heaviness leading to the exorcism.
'Could you help an old altar boy, Father?'
- The Demon
'And Jesus asked him, "What is your name?"
And he answered, "Legion, for we are many."'
- Mark 5:9
The book is well-written and flows very nicely. All the characters are well-developed and life-like. All the characters have their personal demons and struggle with them in the story. The overall tone throughout the book is eerie and solemn. For me this is tied with Stephen King's Salem's Lot for creepiness. I would highly recommend this to anyone. Thanks!
'Could you help an old altar boy, Father?'
- The Demon
'And Jesus asked him, "What is your name?"
And he answered, "Legion, for we are many."'
- Mark 5:9
The book is well-written and flows very nicely. All the characters are well-developed and life-like. All the characters have their personal demons and struggle with them in the story. The overall tone throughout the book is eerie and solemn. For me this is tied with Stephen King's Salem's Lot for creepiness. I would highly recommend this to anyone. Thanks!
March 30, 2025
I can't remember another story from the seventies - with the possible exception of Rosemary's Baby - that scared me as much as this back then.
Though no cradle Catholic, I was then turning into a believer, reading my books! And consequently I feared my daemons.
How many of us remember that this great film started out as a blockbuster book?
Starting out, I find that Blatty invests weight, substance and a more subtle, but just as suspenseful, kind of aura to this epochal story. A richer and stranger psychology!
The Spanish Inquisition punished all dissent to dogma, but the psychology I inherited from my mom's genes (the voracious readers in my ancestry) always veered toward freedom of thought.
But freedom to explore uncovers the innocent rocks of our garden and reveals ugly Night Crawlers! So it is here.
An innocent child is possessed of the Devil. And all the denizens of Hell burst into sudden horrendous bloom at a quiet residence in upscale Boston.
The innocent child mocks God when a Priest is summoned to rescue her. She spits on him.
The Night Crawlers now get their vengeance, and Lucifer laughs. The tale reaches its climax when the priest offers himself as sacrifice for poor Meghan's soul, if God so will it.
And the ending is superbly touching, for a believer.
***
If you, too, are in the mood for some scary reading that is off the beaten track, read it!
And what better time than an eerie grey, dark evening at batflight?
For just such a setting is the one I myself remember.
Though no cradle Catholic, I was then turning into a believer, reading my books! And consequently I feared my daemons.
How many of us remember that this great film started out as a blockbuster book?
Starting out, I find that Blatty invests weight, substance and a more subtle, but just as suspenseful, kind of aura to this epochal story. A richer and stranger psychology!
The Spanish Inquisition punished all dissent to dogma, but the psychology I inherited from my mom's genes (the voracious readers in my ancestry) always veered toward freedom of thought.
But freedom to explore uncovers the innocent rocks of our garden and reveals ugly Night Crawlers! So it is here.
An innocent child is possessed of the Devil. And all the denizens of Hell burst into sudden horrendous bloom at a quiet residence in upscale Boston.
The innocent child mocks God when a Priest is summoned to rescue her. She spits on him.
The Night Crawlers now get their vengeance, and Lucifer laughs. The tale reaches its climax when the priest offers himself as sacrifice for poor Meghan's soul, if God so will it.
And the ending is superbly touching, for a believer.
***
If you, too, are in the mood for some scary reading that is off the beaten track, read it!
And what better time than an eerie grey, dark evening at batflight?
For just such a setting is the one I myself remember.
November 21, 2011
A masterpiece...unqualified, unadulterated and unequaled.
How better to describe the definitive, 40th Anniversary edition of one of THE classic horror novels of the 20th century...rendered in audio format and narrated with passion, verve and pitch-perfect delivery by William P. Blatty himself.
I’ve seen both the original and extended, remastered versions of The Exorcist several times and believe it ranks among the finest horror films ever made. Until this week, I had never read the source novel. Now that I have, let me add to the film’s list of accolades that it's also one of the best film adaptations of a classic novel that I have experienced (along with The Princess Bride and No Country for Old Men).
I’m going to test the limb and walk out onto it by assuming that most people, even if for some inexplicable or metaphysical reason have not either read the book or seen the movie, are familiar enough with the basic plot that I can dispense with any fear of spoilers. A sweet, pre-teen girl gets soul-jacked by a demon and proceeds to expel various manner of noxious excreta from her various orifices while hurling more barbs and insults than a Don Rickles standup routine. Throw in a grizzled exorcist, a dogged detective and a Jesuit priest with serious mommy issues whose suffering a crisis of faith and you’ve got the playbill for this diabolical dance of dread.
Thus, wifhout worrying about spoilage, I am going to mention briefly what struck me most about the book and then finish with a quick “compare and contrast” describing where I thought the film and the novel, respectively, were the superior product.
First and foremost, the single most impressive aspect of the book for me was the dense, lushtastically, beautiful prose employed by Blatty while converting this story from mind to paper. Given that Blatty did not become a prolific author (to my knowledge at least), I always assumed that the novel was standard fair that had just received a fabulous hollywood makeover into a successful film. Not only was I all the way wrong, but the film actually loses the rich psychologically melodramatic flavor of Blatty’s verse. In the novel, everything is hyper real and a casual look or a fleeting feeling might be imbued with vast significance. A little like an updated version of Lovecraft meets Tolstoy meets Kafka. I thought it was wonderful and attained the rank of esteemed literature in my opinion. A heart-felt BOO-YAH to Mr. Blatty for his slick, stylish sentencing.
Okay, let’s compare a contrast shall we....
Movie was Better than the Book:
(***Warning: shots from the film below may be shocking to some***)
The visual effects employed in the movie were so megascream scary at a gut level that they had my twig and berries crawling up my tummy to nuzzle against my liver. Thus, most of the following are moments in which the written word of Blatty just couldn’t compete on the terror scale with the film. Beginning with:
1. The Face of Evil: The transformation of nice, innocent Linda Blair into one of the foulest, fugliest freak shows in film history is something that the book could not adequately convey.
The mismatched, demonic eyes...the pasty, cracked and scrobiculated skin, the raspy “Barry White with a head cold” voice...it’s enough to cause temporary motor ataxia. The book, as good as it was, could not match this kind of visual perfection for visceral terror.
2. The “Crucifix” Scene: We all know the scene I’m talking about so let’s not belabor the point and allow this to slide into something we might all regret.
Let’s all just back away and proceed without further comment, except maybe a cringing "ouch baby, very ouch."
3. The “Owl Head” scene : Up next after “the #1 thing never to do with a Crucifix” is the immediately following scene in which little Regan does the full 360 degree, spine-defying glance around. I almost dropped my digesting dinner when I first saw it:
If you are ever feeling irregular, this scene works better than a bran muffin and cup of coffee.
4. The “Crab Walk” scene: Only in the “extended” version, this bit of demonic gymnastics really shivered my timbers:
5. Three words: Max Van Sydow:
Nuff said.
The Book was Better than the Movie:
In general, in almost every particular beyond the items mentioned above, the book was superior to the film and in some cases vastly so. Here are just the top reasons that come to mind.
1. Again, the Writing: I know, I know...I mentioned this above but dammit it really is that good. Blatty’s prose sucks you in with his vivid, impassioned prose that employs “over the top” nuance to make every step in the story feel like a necessary, critical piece of the puzzle. I can understand some feeling smothered by the narrative, but I found it enthralling.
2 The Demon: This was one of several key pieces of information that did not translate well on the screen. The film leads the audience to believe that the demon possessing Regan is Satan himself. This is based in the quote: “I’m Father Karras” and the response “and I’m the Devil.” However, the book goes on to make clear that the demon is actually just that...a demon named Pazuzu. This ties into the beginning of the film.
3. Is it Real?: The movie leaves no doubt that Regan was possessed and that she is saved when the demon jumps ship into Father Karras before the "now possessed" priest does a Greg Louganis out of the window. While mostly free from doubt, the novel does a superb job of leaving just enough of a crack open so that the question is never completely answered. I thought this added a substrate of eeriness to the story.
4. Father Dyer and Detective Kinderman: I may be one of the few people that loved Exorcist III (not to be confused with the visual turd known as Exorcist II). One of my favorite aspects of E3 was the witty banter and close friendship between Father Dyer and Bill Kinderman (played by George C. Scott). Turns out a chunk of their dialogue came from this book and their relationship is developed to a significant extent in these pages. Major bonus for me.
5. The Smell and Sound of Evil: Just as the book could not compete with the visual perfection of the film, the film could not (for obvious reasons) come close to imbuing its telling with the stench described in the novel. The number of times Regan befouls her bed and deposits her insides as an act of belligerence towards Regan’s mom or the priests is an aspect of the novel that adds to the vileness of the demon inhabiting this sweet little girl. Also, the dialogue is far more severe in the book than the movie could likely have gotten away with at the time.
6. Satanic Worship: One fascinating aspect of the novel that was completely cut from the film is the in depth and detailed depiction of Satanic worship and some of the disgusting, sacrilegious practices performed at black masses. This was almost wholly absent in the film but made for compelling reading.
Overall, I loved the movie but think the novel far surpasses it in its artistic merit. It is a true classic and one that I can not give a stronger recommendation for fans of horror.
This was a special and very memorable experience. Thank you, Mr. Blatty.
5.0 stars. HIGHEST POSSIBLE RECOMMENDATION!!I
April 17, 2024
♠️💀 I know there are all kinds of well-written horror post-Blatty but this is classic, like Frankenstein, Dracula and Jekyll-Hyde.
I don’t care for the detective much, but for the rest? Every time I run upstairs to that room I wonder what the hell I’m going to see next. In the textbooks this is placed in the category called dissociative psychology. The paranormal is more freaky to me than most other horror concepts.
It’s interesting, thinking shrink a moment, that M. Scott Peck the psychiatrist (The Road Less Traveled) believed in this phenomenon and was in on a few exorcisms himself. It’s also interesting that like many other aspects of the horror genre (vampires, ghosts, ripper-style-killers, haunted houses) this one never goes away despite all the bad press it gets real life.
At Easter, Russel Crowe’s new movie, The Pope’s Exorcist, came out, and it’s based on the case files of the (late) chief exorcist of Roma, Gabriel Amorth. I’ve read the case files (there are two books published). The film has actually received very good reviews and it’s been commended for its quality acting. I’ve not seen it yet.
In any case The Exorcist is very much a creepy read. It’s not just about the horror of the darkness. It’s also about the horror of the human.
There were two spins, made for TV movies, called simply The Exorcist. I thought the first season was particularly striking.
♠️An immortal line from one of the priests (Fr Marcus): “We stand in the doorway and we push back the darkness. Remember?”
♠️Ten dark stars ♠️
I don’t care for the detective much, but for the rest? Every time I run upstairs to that room I wonder what the hell I’m going to see next. In the textbooks this is placed in the category called dissociative psychology. The paranormal is more freaky to me than most other horror concepts.
It’s interesting, thinking shrink a moment, that M. Scott Peck the psychiatrist (The Road Less Traveled) believed in this phenomenon and was in on a few exorcisms himself. It’s also interesting that like many other aspects of the horror genre (vampires, ghosts, ripper-style-killers, haunted houses) this one never goes away despite all the bad press it gets real life.
At Easter, Russel Crowe’s new movie, The Pope’s Exorcist, came out, and it’s based on the case files of the (late) chief exorcist of Roma, Gabriel Amorth. I’ve read the case files (there are two books published). The film has actually received very good reviews and it’s been commended for its quality acting. I’ve not seen it yet.
In any case The Exorcist is very much a creepy read. It’s not just about the horror of the darkness. It’s also about the horror of the human.
There were two spins, made for TV movies, called simply The Exorcist. I thought the first season was particularly striking.
♠️An immortal line from one of the priests (Fr Marcus): “We stand in the doorway and we push back the darkness. Remember?”
♠️Ten dark stars ♠️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 31, 2024
Ej no ale to zakończenie nie było satysfakcjonujące…
Ale wiecie co było? Ten cytat:
„-Ja jestem diabłem.
-A, to świetnie.” XDD
Ale wiecie co było? Ten cytat:
„-Ja jestem diabłem.
-A, to świetnie.” XDD
November 2, 2019
My mother took me to see The Exorcist at a drive-in theater as part of a double feature with Texas Chainsaw Massacre when I was nine years old.
NINE YEARS OLD I say.
AT THE DRIVE-IN!
And we LIVED IN TEXAS!
Scared the living shit out of me. The Exorcist permanently scarred my little girl psyche and undoubtedly contributed to my love of dark and morbid stories.
To this day it is still the scariest movie I have ever seen.
The book? Not so much.
NINE YEARS OLD I say.
AT THE DRIVE-IN!
And we LIVED IN TEXAS!
Scared the living shit out of me. The Exorcist permanently scarred my little girl psyche and undoubtedly contributed to my love of dark and morbid stories.
To this day it is still the scariest movie I have ever seen.
The book? Not so much.
October 23, 2024
A great re-read for this time of year. Here is my original review for your perusal.
WIlliam Peter Blatty’s groundbreaking novel caused many waves at the time of its publication, though it is thought that the accompanying movie might have been even more controversial. I chose to embark on this journey, more out of curiosity than anything else. Knowing the premise, I thought I would indulge before the season of ghouls and other spine-tingling things is fully upon us.
Chris MacNeil is a screen actress and lives in Georgetown with her daughter, Regan. Quite the typical twelve, Regan enjoys some independence, but is happy to engage with her mother on a regular basis. When Regan begins to exhibit strange behaviours, Chris cannot help but seek out some medical advice, none of which yields firm answers. When the oddities begin to manifest themselves into verbal and physical attacks on others, Chris is left to grasp at straws and is pushed in the direction of a psychiatrist. The name she is given, interestingly enough, is Father Damien Karras.
A Jesuit, Karras works in the parish just on the other side of the MacNeil home. When Karras agrees to come visit Regan, he is fearful, yet baffled as well, though will not jump to the idea of possession, even as Chris pushes for an exorcism. With no religious ties, the MacNeils seem highly unlikely to have a demon in their lives, but nothing else seems plausible. Karras takes an academic approach to the situation and, after numerous encounters with Regan and her alternate personality, he wonders if there might be something to this talk of demonic possession. Regan appears to have all the signs and exhibits numerous tendencies that Karras has found in scholarly articles over the centuries. With a desecration in the local parish church and the gruesome death of Chris’ friend, a local homicide detective is poking around, engaging with Karras at every turn, though no one freely shares the goings-on in the MacNeil home, which might explain at least part of these occurrences.
After making his argument to the Church about the needs for some form of Catholic intervention, Karras proceeds to arm himself to enter Regan’s domain, ready to do battle with whatever is inside her. It is then that things take a turn for the worse and Karras’ entire being is tested. Blatty penned this sensational piece that, even close to a half-century later, will still send chills chills up the reader’s spine. Highly recommended for those who love a great thrill ride and can stomach some graphic descriptions and language.
In one of my previous reading challenges, I pushed members to compare a book to its screen adaptation, hoping to see the parallels and great differences. Having recently indulged in the cinematic production of this book, it is difficult for me to divorce the two, as they complement one another so well. I thoroughly enjoy watching this movie and have done so on multiple occasions. While it was produced in 1973 and some of the technology is understandably outdated, it packs a punch and was surely quite thrilling at the time.
Damien Karras is a central character in the book and his presence is felt throughout, both through his personal struggles with his faith and the dedication he had when thrust into the middle of the demonic possession of a young girl. Karras begins as a distant figure, who struggles to come to terms with his mother’s illness and, upon her death, seeks to leave the umbrella of the Catholic Church. However, his character grows as he becomes a well-grounded scholar and seeks to understand what is going on with Regan MacNeil and her obvious struggles with mental stability.
Chris MacNeil is also a key member of the story and her struggle to understand her daughter proves to be an ongoing theme the reader will discover. The angst and utter helplessness is something that any parent would struggle to accept, forcing Chris to turn to the experts, none of whom have the answers she wants.
One cannot review this book effectively without mentioning Regan and the demon that appears to be embedded within her, as it is this that proves to offer the ultimate spine tingling. The struggles the young girl has and the demon displays push the book out of the realm of simple defiance and into an area not seen by many books of the time. The raw and unedited language proves useful—needed, even—to fulfil that complete sentiment of possession.
Many readers may not like it, as I am sure scores found it problematic when the book was published, but it serves to take the book to a level that makes it all the more believed. A handful of other characters and a few interesting sub-plots keep the reader engaged and ready to see where Blatty is taking things. The story itself is quite well done and has been able to stand the test of time. While exorcisms are no longer commonplace, their allure has not diminished, be it in the published work or cinematic presentation. Blatty slowly develops the demonic aspect in such a way that the reader can see it creeping up and spiking at just the right moment. Layering the narrative with some key research, revealed by Father Karras, proves to substantiate the larger theme and keeps things from getting too fanciful. Those with a strong constitution and who can handle some strong language will surely find something in this book to keep them up late at night. I know I’ll likely put this on a list of books to read when I want a real chill, though will have to make sure the audio is not streaming when Neo’s around!
Kudos, Mr. Blatty, for keeping me enthralled throughout. I may have to check out some more of your work in the coming months, as you sure know how to tell a story!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
WIlliam Peter Blatty’s groundbreaking novel caused many waves at the time of its publication, though it is thought that the accompanying movie might have been even more controversial. I chose to embark on this journey, more out of curiosity than anything else. Knowing the premise, I thought I would indulge before the season of ghouls and other spine-tingling things is fully upon us.
Chris MacNeil is a screen actress and lives in Georgetown with her daughter, Regan. Quite the typical twelve, Regan enjoys some independence, but is happy to engage with her mother on a regular basis. When Regan begins to exhibit strange behaviours, Chris cannot help but seek out some medical advice, none of which yields firm answers. When the oddities begin to manifest themselves into verbal and physical attacks on others, Chris is left to grasp at straws and is pushed in the direction of a psychiatrist. The name she is given, interestingly enough, is Father Damien Karras.
A Jesuit, Karras works in the parish just on the other side of the MacNeil home. When Karras agrees to come visit Regan, he is fearful, yet baffled as well, though will not jump to the idea of possession, even as Chris pushes for an exorcism. With no religious ties, the MacNeils seem highly unlikely to have a demon in their lives, but nothing else seems plausible. Karras takes an academic approach to the situation and, after numerous encounters with Regan and her alternate personality, he wonders if there might be something to this talk of demonic possession. Regan appears to have all the signs and exhibits numerous tendencies that Karras has found in scholarly articles over the centuries. With a desecration in the local parish church and the gruesome death of Chris’ friend, a local homicide detective is poking around, engaging with Karras at every turn, though no one freely shares the goings-on in the MacNeil home, which might explain at least part of these occurrences.
After making his argument to the Church about the needs for some form of Catholic intervention, Karras proceeds to arm himself to enter Regan’s domain, ready to do battle with whatever is inside her. It is then that things take a turn for the worse and Karras’ entire being is tested. Blatty penned this sensational piece that, even close to a half-century later, will still send chills chills up the reader’s spine. Highly recommended for those who love a great thrill ride and can stomach some graphic descriptions and language.
In one of my previous reading challenges, I pushed members to compare a book to its screen adaptation, hoping to see the parallels and great differences. Having recently indulged in the cinematic production of this book, it is difficult for me to divorce the two, as they complement one another so well. I thoroughly enjoy watching this movie and have done so on multiple occasions. While it was produced in 1973 and some of the technology is understandably outdated, it packs a punch and was surely quite thrilling at the time.
Damien Karras is a central character in the book and his presence is felt throughout, both through his personal struggles with his faith and the dedication he had when thrust into the middle of the demonic possession of a young girl. Karras begins as a distant figure, who struggles to come to terms with his mother’s illness and, upon her death, seeks to leave the umbrella of the Catholic Church. However, his character grows as he becomes a well-grounded scholar and seeks to understand what is going on with Regan MacNeil and her obvious struggles with mental stability.
Chris MacNeil is also a key member of the story and her struggle to understand her daughter proves to be an ongoing theme the reader will discover. The angst and utter helplessness is something that any parent would struggle to accept, forcing Chris to turn to the experts, none of whom have the answers she wants.
One cannot review this book effectively without mentioning Regan and the demon that appears to be embedded within her, as it is this that proves to offer the ultimate spine tingling. The struggles the young girl has and the demon displays push the book out of the realm of simple defiance and into an area not seen by many books of the time. The raw and unedited language proves useful—needed, even—to fulfil that complete sentiment of possession.
Many readers may not like it, as I am sure scores found it problematic when the book was published, but it serves to take the book to a level that makes it all the more believed. A handful of other characters and a few interesting sub-plots keep the reader engaged and ready to see where Blatty is taking things. The story itself is quite well done and has been able to stand the test of time. While exorcisms are no longer commonplace, their allure has not diminished, be it in the published work or cinematic presentation. Blatty slowly develops the demonic aspect in such a way that the reader can see it creeping up and spiking at just the right moment. Layering the narrative with some key research, revealed by Father Karras, proves to substantiate the larger theme and keeps things from getting too fanciful. Those with a strong constitution and who can handle some strong language will surely find something in this book to keep them up late at night. I know I’ll likely put this on a list of books to read when I want a real chill, though will have to make sure the audio is not streaming when Neo’s around!
Kudos, Mr. Blatty, for keeping me enthralled throughout. I may have to check out some more of your work in the coming months, as you sure know how to tell a story!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
September 26, 2021
The Exorcist, a Summary
Merrin: Whelp the signs in the shifting sands say I'm gonna hafta fight Pazuzu again
Chris: I'm an ATHEIST and an ACTRESS and I'm FAMOUS and I play LOOSE LIBERAL WOMEN but I don't like them because that makes me still SYMPATHETIC and I'm RICH and got invited to lunch at the WHITE HOUSE and I have HOUSEKEEPERS and my best friend is a TOTAL ASSHOLE
Burke: I'M AN ASSHOLE
Chris: ISN'T HE ADORABLE
Regan: I'm a sweet little girl and that's my whole character
Karras: I remember meeting my mother after being away. She is an old immigrant who worked so hard to provide for me. How could I have abandoned her? What sort of God would have made her suffer so?
Chris: I want to buy an EXPENSIVE CAR and be a DIRECTOR and I can't believe my SECRETARY told Regan about GOD
Burke: I keep saying "cunting" like it's not actually hilarious
Regan: I am exhibiting troubling unchildlike behavior
Pazuzu: I'm gonna leave my Virgin Mary/Mary Magdalene slashfic written in perfect Latin on the church altar lol also I put a clay penis on the Jesus statue
Karras: I wasn't here when my mother died. I abandoned her. How could I have abandoned her. Being a priest is so lonely. We're scared to be friends with other priests because they might think we're gay.
Regan: Seriously, I am being creepy as fuck but also acting like I'm five
Chris: OH NO, BRING THE DOCTORS
Doctors: We have no answers and we are also assholes
Regan: I masturbated and it was needlessly graphic and shocking for the sake of shocking also I'm 12 and that's kind of the age where this behavior isn't really unexpected
Chris: Oh no I must choose between DIRECTING and my CHILD
Burke: CUNTING CUNTING CUNTING
Pazuzu: Okay I'm going to do y'all a favor and kill this guy
Chris: OH NO HE'S DEAD WHAT A LOSS TO HUMANITY
Kinderman: Hello I am a detective and anti-semetic stereotype I am investigating Burke's death and did I mention I'm an anti-semetic stereotype
Pazuzu: Hey Chris I totally killed Burke you can thank me now seriously he was awful
Chris: OH NOOOOO
Karras: Regan is obviously mentally ill. I must see her myself so that I can prove that it is not actually possession. (But what if it is possession? Actual proof of my faith? What a strange blessing that would be!)
Pazuzu: HI KARRAS ALSO TROLOLOLOLOL
Karras: I must collect evidence and prove that this is actually possession and not mental illness.
Kinderman: Hi Karras I'm still an anti-semetic stereotype also do you know if Regan killed that asshole Burke
Karras: No. As an aside to you readers, did you know that Black Masses are 100% real and still practiced to this day? They do things like have sex with Jesus and Mary statues and have gross mockeries of the Eucharist and practice sodomy and beastiality and I promise you that since this book was based on true events, that this is completely real and you should totally believe that it happens. I am sure that this book played no role whatsoever in the coming Satanic Panic. I shall continue trying to prove that this possession is fake because my journey of tormented unbeliever to true believer is only part of what makes this book Secularism is Bad: the Novel.
Chris: IT'S TOTALLY POSSESSION WHY WILL NO ONE HELP ME THIS MIGHT HAVE BEEN HEART-WRENCHING IF I WEREN'T SO OBVIOUSLY PUSHING A CATHOLIC AGENDA
Karras: In trying to disprove that this child is possessed, I recorded her voice and found that she was speaking *backwards*. This isn't going to have any influence on the Satanic Panic at all. I suppose it is time to ask the church for an exorcism, if only as a placebo.
Merrin: MY TIME HAS COME, BEGIN THE EXORCISM
Pazuzu: Look at me I can do the levitating bed trick I'm ready for Vegas
Karras: Look! Proof that she is possessed, which means God is real! I have my proof!
Pazuzu: PEA SOUP FOR EVERYONE
Kinderman: So I think a possessed little girl killed Burke oy vey what the fuck do I do with this
Merrin: Just gonna die offscreen don't mind me
Karras: No! He knew he was going to die! Take me, you bastard Pazuzu, take me instead!
Pazuzu: ...'kay
Karras: And now I shall throw myself out the window and defeat Pazuzu and also die but it's a happy ending because I had true faith in the end!
Kinderman: I guess my entire investigation just gets swept under the rug then
Regan: Hi I'm a sweet baby angel again and I might remember something and I might not oooOOOOooooOOOOoooo
THE END
tl;dr Secularism Bad, Religion Good, Liberal Society These Days, rabble rabble rabble
Merrin: Whelp the signs in the shifting sands say I'm gonna hafta fight Pazuzu again
Chris: I'm an ATHEIST and an ACTRESS and I'm FAMOUS and I play LOOSE LIBERAL WOMEN but I don't like them because that makes me still SYMPATHETIC and I'm RICH and got invited to lunch at the WHITE HOUSE and I have HOUSEKEEPERS and my best friend is a TOTAL ASSHOLE
Burke: I'M AN ASSHOLE
Chris: ISN'T HE ADORABLE
Regan: I'm a sweet little girl and that's my whole character
Karras: I remember meeting my mother after being away. She is an old immigrant who worked so hard to provide for me. How could I have abandoned her? What sort of God would have made her suffer so?
Chris: I want to buy an EXPENSIVE CAR and be a DIRECTOR and I can't believe my SECRETARY told Regan about GOD
Burke: I keep saying "cunting" like it's not actually hilarious
Regan: I am exhibiting troubling unchildlike behavior
Pazuzu: I'm gonna leave my Virgin Mary/Mary Magdalene slashfic written in perfect Latin on the church altar lol also I put a clay penis on the Jesus statue
Karras: I wasn't here when my mother died. I abandoned her. How could I have abandoned her. Being a priest is so lonely. We're scared to be friends with other priests because they might think we're gay.
Regan: Seriously, I am being creepy as fuck but also acting like I'm five
Chris: OH NO, BRING THE DOCTORS
Doctors: We have no answers and we are also assholes
Regan: I masturbated and it was needlessly graphic and shocking for the sake of shocking also I'm 12 and that's kind of the age where this behavior isn't really unexpected
Chris: Oh no I must choose between DIRECTING and my CHILD
Burke: CUNTING CUNTING CUNTING
Pazuzu: Okay I'm going to do y'all a favor and kill this guy
Chris: OH NO HE'S DEAD WHAT A LOSS TO HUMANITY
Kinderman: Hello I am a detective and anti-semetic stereotype I am investigating Burke's death and did I mention I'm an anti-semetic stereotype
Pazuzu: Hey Chris I totally killed Burke you can thank me now seriously he was awful
Chris: OH NOOOOO
Karras: Regan is obviously mentally ill. I must see her myself so that I can prove that it is not actually possession. (But what if it is possession? Actual proof of my faith? What a strange blessing that would be!)
Pazuzu: HI KARRAS ALSO TROLOLOLOLOL
Karras: I must collect evidence and prove that this is actually possession and not mental illness.
Kinderman: Hi Karras I'm still an anti-semetic stereotype also do you know if Regan killed that asshole Burke
Karras: No. As an aside to you readers, did you know that Black Masses are 100% real and still practiced to this day? They do things like have sex with Jesus and Mary statues and have gross mockeries of the Eucharist and practice sodomy and beastiality and I promise you that since this book was based on true events, that this is completely real and you should totally believe that it happens. I am sure that this book played no role whatsoever in the coming Satanic Panic. I shall continue trying to prove that this possession is fake because my journey of tormented unbeliever to true believer is only part of what makes this book Secularism is Bad: the Novel.
Chris: IT'S TOTALLY POSSESSION WHY WILL NO ONE HELP ME THIS MIGHT HAVE BEEN HEART-WRENCHING IF I WEREN'T SO OBVIOUSLY PUSHING A CATHOLIC AGENDA
Karras: In trying to disprove that this child is possessed, I recorded her voice and found that she was speaking *backwards*. This isn't going to have any influence on the Satanic Panic at all. I suppose it is time to ask the church for an exorcism, if only as a placebo.
Merrin: MY TIME HAS COME, BEGIN THE EXORCISM
Pazuzu: Look at me I can do the levitating bed trick I'm ready for Vegas
Karras: Look! Proof that she is possessed, which means God is real! I have my proof!
Pazuzu: PEA SOUP FOR EVERYONE
Kinderman: So I think a possessed little girl killed Burke oy vey what the fuck do I do with this
Merrin: Just gonna die offscreen don't mind me
Karras: No! He knew he was going to die! Take me, you bastard Pazuzu, take me instead!
Pazuzu: ...'kay
Karras: And now I shall throw myself out the window and defeat Pazuzu and also die but it's a happy ending because I had true faith in the end!
Kinderman: I guess my entire investigation just gets swept under the rug then
Regan: Hi I'm a sweet baby angel again and I might remember something and I might not oooOOOOooooOOOOoooo
THE END
tl;dr Secularism Bad, Religion Good, Liberal Society These Days, rabble rabble rabble
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 4, 2021
I’m not going to go too much into a review of this book. I’m sure most of you have seen the movie.
If you found the movie scary, the book is more horrifying in lots of different ways that I was unprepared for. I think it's because your imagination is in overdrive.
There's scenes in the book that had me cringing, gasping, and I was creeped the f!¢k out.
Also, the description of Black Mass was disturbing and I was on Wiki to look up more information. Holy Catholic hell?!
High points of the book for me:
All conversations with the demon and the slow, devastating change of Regan.
Low points of the book for me:
Lieutenant Kinderman (just couldn't get into the character) and too much information on Father Karras’s background.
I'm not sure why I didn't want his background. I guess I just wanted him to finally get to the action of saving Regan. I'm sure I'm in the minority on this one because the backstory was crucial to his faith.
The movie at the end scared the bejesus out of me and the book's ending is also scary but I was still able to sleep last night. Ha!
I think the Hollywood special effects at the end of the movie must have really scared the shit out of me when I was a kid.
Overall, The Exorcist is a creepy and chilling classic.
I really enjoyed this book and this is a must read for horror lovers!
If you found the movie scary, the book is more horrifying in lots of different ways that I was unprepared for. I think it's because your imagination is in overdrive.
There's scenes in the book that had me cringing, gasping, and I was creeped the f!¢k out.
Also, the description of Black Mass was disturbing and I was on Wiki to look up more information. Holy Catholic hell?!
High points of the book for me:
All conversations with the demon and the slow, devastating change of Regan.
Low points of the book for me:
Lieutenant Kinderman (just couldn't get into the character) and too much information on Father Karras’s background.
I'm not sure why I didn't want his background. I guess I just wanted him to finally get to the action of saving Regan. I'm sure I'm in the minority on this one because the backstory was crucial to his faith.
The movie at the end scared the bejesus out of me and the book's ending is also scary but I was still able to sleep last night. Ha!
I think the Hollywood special effects at the end of the movie must have really scared the shit out of me when I was a kid.
Overall, The Exorcist is a creepy and chilling classic.
I really enjoyed this book and this is a must read for horror lovers!
November 4, 2025
I think most horror fans will have seen the film, but I was certainly curious to see the differences between the book on which it is based (first published in 1971) and its cinematic counterpart. As it turns out, there were few deviations on plot points, but the book gives so much more in the way of depth that a film just wouldn't be able to do.
There's a sense of foreboding right from the start with Father Merrin, on a dig in Northern Iraq, who is already sensing that something is afoot when he sees the statue of the demon Pazuzu.
Then we plunge into the main arc of the story as we are introduced to Chris, an actress, who lives with her 11-year-old daughter Regan, or Rags, as she calls her, and other employees who make up their household.
Regan has a playroom in the basement. She has lots of toys and games down there, amongst which is a Ouija board. Soon enough strange events start to occur, small things at first, like unidentifiable noises, cold drafts, and furniture being moved. Then Regan's behaviour starts to change: argumentative, foul language, etc. When Chris takes her to the doctor, he diagnoses a nervous condition. Circumstances gradually get worse until we're into full-on bed-shaking, levitating and head-twizzling Regan.
The story also follows Father Damien Karras, a Jesuit priest and psychiatrist who lives close to Chris and Regan, and their paths occasionally cross, even more so as the story progresses. We also have other outlying characters, Father Dyer & Detective Kinderman.
The story explores 2 thematical takes on Regan's 'condition': the medical and the religious – which inevitably have opposing views. What the book does better than the film is it delves deeper into both topics.
The medical side takes us through various physical procedures which produce nothing conclusive. Diagnosis then turns to Regan's 'illness' being of a psychological nature. The religious side references Catholicism, Christianity, possession and exorcism – which leads to the dark side, such as witchcraft and demonology. Black Mass is also mentioned – the stuff that goes on here made me shudder.
I think by the conclusion we're never quite sure how much each contributed towards how everything eventually turns out. I also liked that splash of ambiguity at the end, which we didn't get in the film.
For me, whereas Regan was the star of the movie, Father Karras was the star of the book. He was by far the most interesting and fleshed-out character. He straddled both sides of the medical/religious arguments, which led to his turmoil over what was causing Regan's condition. Add to this his crisis of faith and the guilt over his mother. It made him something of a tragic but almost heroic figure in many ways. Father Karras faced down the demon in more ways than one by the end.
It's not for the faint-hearted, as we get some pretty graphic descriptions of acts of pure evil. The language is also pretty strong; the 'C' bomb is dropped quite a lot.
This was well written, but not perfect. It was dialogue-heavy, which made it feel a little dated to its time. It was also drawn out in places and yet rushed in others, especially the ending.
I was initially going to rate this 4 stars given that I've pointed out some of the minor faults I had with it, but I was still thinking about it days after finishing, which means despite seeing the film, the book still managed to burrow itself into my head. Plus, when you take into account its revolutionary impact within the horror genre and the fact that, as far as 'possession' tales go, this is – maybe arguably – the pièce de résistance.
There's a sense of foreboding right from the start with Father Merrin, on a dig in Northern Iraq, who is already sensing that something is afoot when he sees the statue of the demon Pazuzu.
Then we plunge into the main arc of the story as we are introduced to Chris, an actress, who lives with her 11-year-old daughter Regan, or Rags, as she calls her, and other employees who make up their household.
Regan has a playroom in the basement. She has lots of toys and games down there, amongst which is a Ouija board. Soon enough strange events start to occur, small things at first, like unidentifiable noises, cold drafts, and furniture being moved. Then Regan's behaviour starts to change: argumentative, foul language, etc. When Chris takes her to the doctor, he diagnoses a nervous condition. Circumstances gradually get worse until we're into full-on bed-shaking, levitating and head-twizzling Regan.
The story also follows Father Damien Karras, a Jesuit priest and psychiatrist who lives close to Chris and Regan, and their paths occasionally cross, even more so as the story progresses. We also have other outlying characters, Father Dyer & Detective Kinderman.
The story explores 2 thematical takes on Regan's 'condition': the medical and the religious – which inevitably have opposing views. What the book does better than the film is it delves deeper into both topics.
The medical side takes us through various physical procedures which produce nothing conclusive. Diagnosis then turns to Regan's 'illness' being of a psychological nature. The religious side references Catholicism, Christianity, possession and exorcism – which leads to the dark side, such as witchcraft and demonology. Black Mass is also mentioned – the stuff that goes on here made me shudder.
I think by the conclusion we're never quite sure how much each contributed towards how everything eventually turns out. I also liked that splash of ambiguity at the end, which we didn't get in the film.
For me, whereas Regan was the star of the movie, Father Karras was the star of the book. He was by far the most interesting and fleshed-out character. He straddled both sides of the medical/religious arguments, which led to his turmoil over what was causing Regan's condition. Add to this his crisis of faith and the guilt over his mother. It made him something of a tragic but almost heroic figure in many ways. Father Karras faced down the demon in more ways than one by the end.
It's not for the faint-hearted, as we get some pretty graphic descriptions of acts of pure evil. The language is also pretty strong; the 'C' bomb is dropped quite a lot.
This was well written, but not perfect. It was dialogue-heavy, which made it feel a little dated to its time. It was also drawn out in places and yet rushed in others, especially the ending.
I was initially going to rate this 4 stars given that I've pointed out some of the minor faults I had with it, but I was still thinking about it days after finishing, which means despite seeing the film, the book still managed to burrow itself into my head. Plus, when you take into account its revolutionary impact within the horror genre and the fact that, as far as 'possession' tales go, this is – maybe arguably – the pièce de résistance.
"Perhaps evil is the crucible of goodness," he brooded. "And Perhaps even Satan-Satan, in spite of himself-somehow serves to work out the will of God."
October 16, 2017
El exorcista es, sin lugar a dudas, el libro más terrorífico que he leído. Recordemos que el miedo es subjetivo, y mi debilidad siempre han sido las posesiones satánicas.
No me esperaba el análisis psiquiátrico ni las explicaciones psicológicas para enfrentarnos a las posibles explicaciones de las "posesiones", pensé, que habría mucha religión involucrada y actos de fe, pero me encontr�� con razonamientos lógicos que la verdad nos dejan a todos una sensación de: ¿ok entonces, todo está en la cabeza o de verdad existe el diablo?
Es un libro completamente engatusador y repugnante que me dejó realmente perturbada pero ¿en el buen sentido? Una obra maestra
No me esperaba el análisis psiquiátrico ni las explicaciones psicológicas para enfrentarnos a las posibles explicaciones de las "posesiones", pensé, que habría mucha religión involucrada y actos de fe, pero me encontr�� con razonamientos lógicos que la verdad nos dejan a todos una sensación de: ¿ok entonces, todo está en la cabeza o de verdad existe el diablo?
Es un libro completamente engatusador y repugnante que me dejó realmente perturbada pero ¿en el buen sentido? Una obra maestra
October 17, 2018
You gotta be impressed with a book that inspires a movie that managed to turn entire generations off of pea soup.
Chris MacNeil is an actress who is filming a movie in Georgetown when her young daughter Regan starts to exhibit bizarre behavior, and since medical science fails to provide any answers she turns to Father Damien Karras for blah, blah, blah, blah. There’s no point in a plot summary because we all know the set up on this one. It’s also one of those books where the film version has become so well known that it’s nigh on impossible to separate the two versions. In fact, I don’t see how anybody could read this without hearing Tubular Bells in their head.
So just to get this out of the way: The movie is better. That’s not to say that the book is bad. Blatty does a very good job of putting us in a normal early ‘70s setting, and then he slowly turns the dials up from what seem to be mild annoyances to the point where Regan has been turned into a head-spinning puppet of the devil. I particularly liked how there’s a systematic investigation of all the non-supernatural explanations for Regan’s behavior, and that when the subject of an exorcism is first brought up it’s presented as a kind of psychological shock treatment rather than a needed religious ritual.
The book has more of an underlying theme of questioning whether Regan is possessed that the movie lacks in part because once you see that kid’s demonic features and her head spin all the way around on screen, you know it’s supernatural in origin. Whereas the book can spend more time on the whole question of whether she is or isn’t while making the answer more a bit more ambiguous.
Father Karras, a Jesuit psychiatrist suffering from his own crisis of faith, is also a great character to eventually put in the middle of this, and the way he swings from doubt to belief is well done. It’s also a nice twist that he’s kind of secretly hoping that Regan does have a demon in her because it would validate his beliefs. That doesn’t prevent him from questioning everything and seeking hard evidence to prove it. However, I did get a laugh that at this point in the ‘70s Blatty thought there was enough evidence for the existence of ESP to have Karras consider things like telepathy and telekinesis possible without being demonic in nature.
So it’s a solid horror story that plays more with the suspense of making you question what’s happening to Regan rather than just making you ascared of the Devil like the movie does.
One personal note: I had been meaning for a while to reread the old paperback I’ve had for years as part of my Rubbermaid Treasure reviews, but I just never seemed to get around to it. Then Audible had this on sale shortly before Halloween so it seemed like the perfect opportunity to finally get it done. It was only after downloading it that I learned that this version is actually the 40th anniversary edition in which the author rewrote parts of it, and since I last read The Exorcist something like 25 years ago I have no idea how much it differs from the original. So already this thing has turned from a simple gimmick review to what felt like a pain in the ass.
Since I don’t have the time and/or patience to figure out all the differences I won’t dig into that, but I’m not calling it a Rubbermaid Treasure either since it’s technically a different book. I know that nobody but me cares about the stupid internal logic I use, but it nags at me if I don’t explain what I’m doing and why.
I’ll also note that Blatty himself is the narrator for most of it, and it confirms my belief that most authors just shouldn’t read their own works aloud. Blatty isn’t the worst I’ve heard, and he seems to delight in evil laughter and doing the demon voice, but this really could have used a professional actor/narrator. It’s even weirder that he reads the Regan parts early on, but then a woman is brought in to do a child’s voice later to speak and sing as Regan’s ‘actual’ voice once she is possessed. It’s just jarring.
Chris MacNeil is an actress who is filming a movie in Georgetown when her young daughter Regan starts to exhibit bizarre behavior, and since medical science fails to provide any answers she turns to Father Damien Karras for blah, blah, blah, blah. There’s no point in a plot summary because we all know the set up on this one. It’s also one of those books where the film version has become so well known that it’s nigh on impossible to separate the two versions. In fact, I don’t see how anybody could read this without hearing Tubular Bells in their head.
So just to get this out of the way: The movie is better. That’s not to say that the book is bad. Blatty does a very good job of putting us in a normal early ‘70s setting, and then he slowly turns the dials up from what seem to be mild annoyances to the point where Regan has been turned into a head-spinning puppet of the devil. I particularly liked how there’s a systematic investigation of all the non-supernatural explanations for Regan’s behavior, and that when the subject of an exorcism is first brought up it’s presented as a kind of psychological shock treatment rather than a needed religious ritual.
The book has more of an underlying theme of questioning whether Regan is possessed that the movie lacks in part because once you see that kid’s demonic features and her head spin all the way around on screen, you know it’s supernatural in origin. Whereas the book can spend more time on the whole question of whether she is or isn’t while making the answer more a bit more ambiguous.
Father Karras, a Jesuit psychiatrist suffering from his own crisis of faith, is also a great character to eventually put in the middle of this, and the way he swings from doubt to belief is well done. It’s also a nice twist that he’s kind of secretly hoping that Regan does have a demon in her because it would validate his beliefs. That doesn’t prevent him from questioning everything and seeking hard evidence to prove it. However, I did get a laugh that at this point in the ‘70s Blatty thought there was enough evidence for the existence of ESP to have Karras consider things like telepathy and telekinesis possible without being demonic in nature.
So it’s a solid horror story that plays more with the suspense of making you question what’s happening to Regan rather than just making you ascared of the Devil like the movie does.
One personal note: I had been meaning for a while to reread the old paperback I’ve had for years as part of my Rubbermaid Treasure reviews, but I just never seemed to get around to it. Then Audible had this on sale shortly before Halloween so it seemed like the perfect opportunity to finally get it done. It was only after downloading it that I learned that this version is actually the 40th anniversary edition in which the author rewrote parts of it, and since I last read The Exorcist something like 25 years ago I have no idea how much it differs from the original. So already this thing has turned from a simple gimmick review to what felt like a pain in the ass.
Since I don’t have the time and/or patience to figure out all the differences I won’t dig into that, but I’m not calling it a Rubbermaid Treasure either since it’s technically a different book. I know that nobody but me cares about the stupid internal logic I use, but it nags at me if I don’t explain what I’m doing and why.
I’ll also note that Blatty himself is the narrator for most of it, and it confirms my belief that most authors just shouldn’t read their own works aloud. Blatty isn’t the worst I’ve heard, and he seems to delight in evil laughter and doing the demon voice, but this really could have used a professional actor/narrator. It’s even weirder that he reads the Regan parts early on, but then a woman is brought in to do a child’s voice later to speak and sing as Regan’s ‘actual’ voice once she is possessed. It’s just jarring.
October 12, 2017
THE EXORCIST is on quite a few of my favorite lists.
I have read this book once before, and I own- and have watched the movie numerous times. This time I listened to the audio book.
It is my favorite movie poster.
It has one of my favorite "the making of" documentaries. It's in my top ten favorite movie list, and top five favorite horror movie list...and now that I have listened to the audio book. Favorite audio book...by far.
William Blatty's voice is like butter...slathered on the perfect horror filled bagel with cream cheese.
Georgetown, Washington:
Chris MacNeil- an actress, and her young daughter- Regan- are living in Georgetown, while Chris is filming a movie. And everything is going along hunky dory until Regan starts playing around with the Ouija board from the attic.
Regan starts receiving messages from Captain Howdy- who at first, Chris sees as a harmless invisible playmate..until frightening things start happening in Regan's room.
After a party at the Georgetown home- Chris cannot ignore the fact that something horrible is going on in her house, and with her once so innocent daughter.
..and when a person close to her is killed- she knows she must do something drastic- and seek help from people she never would have dreamed of asking before.
THE EXORCIST- I can't recommend it enough. The movie...the book, and now the audio book. Go!! Now!! Watch! Read! Listen! I beg of you.
I have read this book once before, and I own- and have watched the movie numerous times. This time I listened to the audio book.
It is my favorite movie poster.
It has one of my favorite "the making of" documentaries. It's in my top ten favorite movie list, and top five favorite horror movie list...and now that I have listened to the audio book. Favorite audio book...by far.
William Blatty's voice is like butter...slathered on the perfect horror filled bagel with cream cheese.
Georgetown, Washington:
Chris MacNeil- an actress, and her young daughter- Regan- are living in Georgetown, while Chris is filming a movie. And everything is going along hunky dory until Regan starts playing around with the Ouija board from the attic.
Regan starts receiving messages from Captain Howdy- who at first, Chris sees as a harmless invisible playmate..until frightening things start happening in Regan's room.
After a party at the Georgetown home- Chris cannot ignore the fact that something horrible is going on in her house, and with her once so innocent daughter.
..and when a person close to her is killed- she knows she must do something drastic- and seek help from people she never would have dreamed of asking before.
THE EXORCIST- I can't recommend it enough. The movie...the book, and now the audio book. Go!! Now!! Watch! Read! Listen! I beg of you.
March 13, 2018
It’s no surprise to me that this book was a very spiritual read for me. I knew, considering the topic, that this was going to come down to a showdown between light and dark, good and evil, God and Satan.
In which case, there could only really be one clear outcome. But more on that later. I’m going to try to be as spoiler free as I can considering some people may not have read this *or* haven't seen the movie, in fact, it would help you to know that I only saw the movie when I was very young and I kept my eyes closed most of the time, so even though this book is old, there are those who have intentions of reading it and don’t want the story spoiled.
That being said, if you want to go into this book totally blind, maybe skip the rest of this review and just know this: I recommend this book for fans of horror. It was well written, it scared me pretty damn good and it had great, memorable characters. It’s classic, legendary horror that must be read if you consider yourself a big fan of the genre.
“for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.” Rev. 12:10
At the beginning of this story, I was a little bored. I grew restless with the mother, Chris and all the scenes around her acting career. I felt like her parenting left much to be desired and found myself already blaming her for what I knew was coming, who lets their 11 year old child play with Ouija boards?? Especially considering that child already has a made up friend that talks to them through the Ouija Board and the child is becoming increasingly afraid of it??
Um, anyways. Now that I finished the book, I think it is the intention of the author to cast doubt and blame at all the adults in the story, for us to stand as accusers of one another when really, our battle isn’t with each other, but with something much, much worse. Something that wants us to be wrapped up in our hate and anger and displaced blame so that we are found weak and distracted.
“But the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?”
And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.” Acts 15:15-16
I think this is one of the scariest verses from scripture. The demon possessed man says to some people trying to perform an exorcism and cast out demons, hey look: I know the name of Jesus and I know the name of Paul, but I have no clue who you guys are and I’m going to kick your ass.
There were so many times this scripture came to mind while I read this book. People just don’t know what the hell to do when they are dealing with demonic activity and truth be told: If you don’t know what you’re doing, DON’T EFFING CALL UPON IT! You know what I mean?? That’s my ultimate warning and what I learned from this story, maybe you don’t believe in demons, that’s fine—whatever, then you don’t care either way about them, you’re indifferent, so BE indifferent, I wouldn’t run around and tempt it or dare it, like people who say they aren’t allergic to poison oak so they rub it all over themselves?? NOT SMART.
And maybe you do believe in demons, like me so you just make wide circles around that stuff okay? Don’t touch it! Don’t think you’re so faithful and pious you’d know what to do in a situation like this.
That’s why this book was so terrifying.
It scared the hell out of me.
But I loved the different way the characters approached it—The detective with his logic and sleuthing
The Father with his background in psychology
The Exorcist with his unflinching faith
Even the mother scored points with me in the end with her unwavering plea for help.
I cried as she begged for help. I could empathize with her as she sought medical, mental and spiritual help for her daughter in horrific crisis.
I really loved the ending too but I don’t want to spoil anything. I’ll just leave a fitting scripture:
“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13
Lastly, while parts of this story were very difficult for me to read because they were so crude and blasphemous, I thought it was, in contrast, a beautiful story of sacrificial love against impossible danger. So I gladly mucked up my heart and my mind with grotesque language and offensive, vivid details in order to finish. I wanted to see that outcome I was waiting for...and it was delivered as expected. My review would have been very different if it didn't go the way I thought it would.
In which case, there could only really be one clear outcome. But more on that later. I’m going to try to be as spoiler free as I can considering some people may not have read this *or* haven't seen the movie, in fact, it would help you to know that I only saw the movie when I was very young and I kept my eyes closed most of the time, so even though this book is old, there are those who have intentions of reading it and don’t want the story spoiled.
That being said, if you want to go into this book totally blind, maybe skip the rest of this review and just know this: I recommend this book for fans of horror. It was well written, it scared me pretty damn good and it had great, memorable characters. It’s classic, legendary horror that must be read if you consider yourself a big fan of the genre.
“for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.” Rev. 12:10
At the beginning of this story, I was a little bored. I grew restless with the mother, Chris and all the scenes around her acting career. I felt like her parenting left much to be desired and found myself already blaming her for what I knew was coming, who lets their 11 year old child play with Ouija boards?? Especially considering that child already has a made up friend that talks to them through the Ouija Board and the child is becoming increasingly afraid of it??
Um, anyways. Now that I finished the book, I think it is the intention of the author to cast doubt and blame at all the adults in the story, for us to stand as accusers of one another when really, our battle isn’t with each other, but with something much, much worse. Something that wants us to be wrapped up in our hate and anger and displaced blame so that we are found weak and distracted.
“But the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?”
And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.” Acts 15:15-16
I think this is one of the scariest verses from scripture. The demon possessed man says to some people trying to perform an exorcism and cast out demons, hey look: I know the name of Jesus and I know the name of Paul, but I have no clue who you guys are and I’m going to kick your ass.
There were so many times this scripture came to mind while I read this book. People just don’t know what the hell to do when they are dealing with demonic activity and truth be told: If you don’t know what you’re doing, DON’T EFFING CALL UPON IT! You know what I mean?? That’s my ultimate warning and what I learned from this story, maybe you don’t believe in demons, that’s fine—whatever, then you don’t care either way about them, you’re indifferent, so BE indifferent, I wouldn’t run around and tempt it or dare it, like people who say they aren’t allergic to poison oak so they rub it all over themselves?? NOT SMART.
And maybe you do believe in demons, like me so you just make wide circles around that stuff okay? Don’t touch it! Don’t think you’re so faithful and pious you’d know what to do in a situation like this.
That’s why this book was so terrifying.
It scared the hell out of me.
But I loved the different way the characters approached it—The detective with his logic and sleuthing
The Father with his background in psychology
The Exorcist with his unflinching faith
Even the mother scored points with me in the end with her unwavering plea for help.
I cried as she begged for help. I could empathize with her as she sought medical, mental and spiritual help for her daughter in horrific crisis.
I really loved the ending too but I don’t want to spoil anything. I’ll just leave a fitting scripture:
“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13
Lastly, while parts of this story were very difficult for me to read because they were so crude and blasphemous, I thought it was, in contrast, a beautiful story of sacrificial love against impossible danger. So I gladly mucked up my heart and my mind with grotesque language and offensive, vivid details in order to finish. I wanted to see that outcome I was waiting for...and it was delivered as expected. My review would have been very different if it didn't go the way I thought it would.
September 8, 2022
An absolutely riveting tale of horror and faith. Compelling, shocking, and unflinching, this story will inspire thought provoking discussions (as well as nightmares)! Fantastically executed drama and mystery, with an air of creeping dread, and later hope.
October 1, 2025
This is a book that, in my opinion, sets the standard for modern horror. Not only is the story disturbing and brilliantly written, but it stays with you for long after you've finished the book. Why? Because it all seems so normal to begin with. All the unnerving things seem to have simple explanations. So, for the longest time, the characters move unaware of the horror to come. For the reader, this soon becomes an experience where it takes little to start extrapolating this semblance of normalcy into everyday life.
Was that just the wind, howling outside all night? Was that broken branch after the storm just a normal thing? But why now, and why in the middle of my street? You have no answer, because to be honest there's no answer, but soon Blatty's words, come to give you one:
“You see, the trouble with the signs in the sky, my dear morsel, is that once having seen them, one has no excuse.”
And there you are, hooked searching for signs to prove to yourself that something normal may not be so normal after all.
I'm a fan of this type of horror, the one that leaves a lingering feeling of unreality to our reality, and Blatty is a master in this matter.
So, let's talk about the book. The premise is simple: A strange, unexplained mental illness has struck a 12 years old girl. The girl's mother, who is an atheist, consults numerous medical professionals to no avail. All signs point to a demonic-possession, but that's a paranormal phenomenon ridiculed in the modern day as superstition, so how to take the signs seriously?
When things get worse, out of desperation, the girl's mother approaches a priest, pleading for an exorcism, but the priest, instead of accepting to perform the ritual, sends mother and daughter back to the doctor. Why? Simply because the priest, despite the requirements of his profession, doesn't believe in the existence of the Devil!
For the priest, faith has become a matter of philosophical and academic pursuit only. For him, demonic possessions only happened in the holy book, not in today's world. But even then, the priest argues, the demonic possessions in the holy book should be interpreted with sophisticated hermeneutics, to explain the supernatural reality while emphasizing the philosophical, and theological meanings behind the miracles.
This is the premise on which Blatty stood to write a captivating tale about faith. Yes, this is horror, but truly disturbing stories only work so well because of their roots in real life, and what is more real than faith? Faith shapes our world, is the lens we use to interpret our life and existence. Indeed, The Exorcist is an allegory about the internal struggles of modern-day religious believers, who struggle to adapt their own perception about faith to a world where everything is being rationalized.
When first published, the story also raised an interesting question for the modern-day religious believers, when something unexplained happens, why do they often default to a naturalistic explanation --like non-believers do-- over a supernatural one?
If you’re looking for an outstanding horror novel to read, look no further than the exorcist. Beyond just being a classic, this is one of those near perfect novels that you won’t be able put down. It will keep you awake, reading well into the night.
Was that just the wind, howling outside all night? Was that broken branch after the storm just a normal thing? But why now, and why in the middle of my street? You have no answer, because to be honest there's no answer, but soon Blatty's words, come to give you one:
“You see, the trouble with the signs in the sky, my dear morsel, is that once having seen them, one has no excuse.”
And there you are, hooked searching for signs to prove to yourself that something normal may not be so normal after all.
I'm a fan of this type of horror, the one that leaves a lingering feeling of unreality to our reality, and Blatty is a master in this matter.
So, let's talk about the book. The premise is simple: A strange, unexplained mental illness has struck a 12 years old girl. The girl's mother, who is an atheist, consults numerous medical professionals to no avail. All signs point to a demonic-possession, but that's a paranormal phenomenon ridiculed in the modern day as superstition, so how to take the signs seriously?
When things get worse, out of desperation, the girl's mother approaches a priest, pleading for an exorcism, but the priest, instead of accepting to perform the ritual, sends mother and daughter back to the doctor. Why? Simply because the priest, despite the requirements of his profession, doesn't believe in the existence of the Devil!
For the priest, faith has become a matter of philosophical and academic pursuit only. For him, demonic possessions only happened in the holy book, not in today's world. But even then, the priest argues, the demonic possessions in the holy book should be interpreted with sophisticated hermeneutics, to explain the supernatural reality while emphasizing the philosophical, and theological meanings behind the miracles.
This is the premise on which Blatty stood to write a captivating tale about faith. Yes, this is horror, but truly disturbing stories only work so well because of their roots in real life, and what is more real than faith? Faith shapes our world, is the lens we use to interpret our life and existence. Indeed, The Exorcist is an allegory about the internal struggles of modern-day religious believers, who struggle to adapt their own perception about faith to a world where everything is being rationalized.
When first published, the story also raised an interesting question for the modern-day religious believers, when something unexplained happens, why do they often default to a naturalistic explanation --like non-believers do-- over a supernatural one?
If you’re looking for an outstanding horror novel to read, look no further than the exorcist. Beyond just being a classic, this is one of those near perfect novels that you won’t be able put down. It will keep you awake, reading well into the night.
May 4, 2018
"We mourn the blossoms of May because they are to whither; but we know that May is one day to have its revenge upon November, by the revolution of that solemn circle which never stops - which teaches us in our height of hope, ever to be sober, and in our depth of desolation, never to despair."
The unusual occurrences in the MacNeil house could easily be explained away - rats in the attic, misplaced furniture - but the disturbing changes in Regan MacNeil's behaviour could not. Doctors are unable to diagnose what could have caused this shift in personality, so Regan's mother turns to Father Damien Karras, who is suffering from his own lack of faith.
I'm finally writing a proper book review for one of my favourite books of all time after reading it for the third time. But let's go way back to the start… The Exorcist was pretty much my gateway into reading horror. Growing up I hated horror, you couldn't have paid me to watch a horror movie - I blame my brothers forcing me to watch Freddy Krueger at a very young age and mentally scarring me - but in my late teens, I was intrigued. I started off by watching the Scream movies to ease me into the genre, but pretty quickly my movie choices escalated into what is considered one of the most terrifying movies of all time - The Exorcist. It quickly became one of my favourite movies and I decided I needed to read the book. And so my journey into horror literature began.
I remember thinking the book wouldn't be as scary the movie, but boy was I wrong. I think the book is somehow more terrifying. Granted, we don't have the incredible cinematography or that haunting score, but what we have instead is a slow and tense build as Regan falls under the possession of Pazuzu. During my readalong of this book a number of people seemed to be surprised by William Peter Blatty's prose. A lot of people were like "Shit, this guy can write". And he can! After reading this, Legion and The Ninth Configuration, he would rank as one of my favourite authors, and so I take a lot of pleasure in people "discovering" Blatty as a writer.
Another surprising aspect for a number of people was how emotional the book is. I shed a few tears at the end myself. Damien Karras is one of the most well-written and believable characters I've ever come across. He struggles with his faith as he tries to decipher exactly what is happening with Regan and you can really feel the turmoil he is going through. He is a psychologist as well as a priest, so I found it really interesting to get inside his mind and follow his thought process and research - is Regan possessed or can this be explained by some psychological disorder? As someone who believes in demonic possession, I find these sections of the book incredibly informative. And they help me build my argument for people who try to tell me that these things don't exist because all the symptoms can be explained away by science. In my opinion, they can't. *insert sassy emoji*
This book is one of the very very few that I struggle to read in bed at night. I've become very desensitised to horror, but I think a lot of us still have certain triggers that overwhelm us and send our brain into overdrive. Demonic possession is one of my triggers, as are murderous home invaders (I'm looking at you Golden State Killer). As well as being unnerving and scary, it gets pretty uncomfortable to read at times, particularly when it comes to trying to imagine a young girl screaming expletives in a growling voice coupled with her constant projectile vomiting. And the crucifix scene. I honestly felt like I needed to go to mass after reading that scene. It will always remain one of the most horrific sections I've ever read.
One of my favourite aspects of The Exorcist, and Blatty's works in general (what I've read so far anyway), is his examination of good vs evil. This seems to be a recurrent theme and one that he is very accomplished at exploring. This merely isn't a story about the possession of a young girl, but its really a commentary on a vast range of topics such as faith and the lack of it, to what exists after death, if anything exists at all. It might be presented as "horror" on the surface, but really it goes so much deeper than that.
All the stars!! It somehow gets better on each read.
The unusual occurrences in the MacNeil house could easily be explained away - rats in the attic, misplaced furniture - but the disturbing changes in Regan MacNeil's behaviour could not. Doctors are unable to diagnose what could have caused this shift in personality, so Regan's mother turns to Father Damien Karras, who is suffering from his own lack of faith.
I'm finally writing a proper book review for one of my favourite books of all time after reading it for the third time. But let's go way back to the start… The Exorcist was pretty much my gateway into reading horror. Growing up I hated horror, you couldn't have paid me to watch a horror movie - I blame my brothers forcing me to watch Freddy Krueger at a very young age and mentally scarring me - but in my late teens, I was intrigued. I started off by watching the Scream movies to ease me into the genre, but pretty quickly my movie choices escalated into what is considered one of the most terrifying movies of all time - The Exorcist. It quickly became one of my favourite movies and I decided I needed to read the book. And so my journey into horror literature began.
I remember thinking the book wouldn't be as scary the movie, but boy was I wrong. I think the book is somehow more terrifying. Granted, we don't have the incredible cinematography or that haunting score, but what we have instead is a slow and tense build as Regan falls under the possession of Pazuzu. During my readalong of this book a number of people seemed to be surprised by William Peter Blatty's prose. A lot of people were like "Shit, this guy can write". And he can! After reading this, Legion and The Ninth Configuration, he would rank as one of my favourite authors, and so I take a lot of pleasure in people "discovering" Blatty as a writer.
Another surprising aspect for a number of people was how emotional the book is. I shed a few tears at the end myself. Damien Karras is one of the most well-written and believable characters I've ever come across. He struggles with his faith as he tries to decipher exactly what is happening with Regan and you can really feel the turmoil he is going through. He is a psychologist as well as a priest, so I found it really interesting to get inside his mind and follow his thought process and research - is Regan possessed or can this be explained by some psychological disorder? As someone who believes in demonic possession, I find these sections of the book incredibly informative. And they help me build my argument for people who try to tell me that these things don't exist because all the symptoms can be explained away by science. In my opinion, they can't. *insert sassy emoji*
This book is one of the very very few that I struggle to read in bed at night. I've become very desensitised to horror, but I think a lot of us still have certain triggers that overwhelm us and send our brain into overdrive. Demonic possession is one of my triggers, as are murderous home invaders (I'm looking at you Golden State Killer). As well as being unnerving and scary, it gets pretty uncomfortable to read at times, particularly when it comes to trying to imagine a young girl screaming expletives in a growling voice coupled with her constant projectile vomiting. And the crucifix scene. I honestly felt like I needed to go to mass after reading that scene. It will always remain one of the most horrific sections I've ever read.
One of my favourite aspects of The Exorcist, and Blatty's works in general (what I've read so far anyway), is his examination of good vs evil. This seems to be a recurrent theme and one that he is very accomplished at exploring. This merely isn't a story about the possession of a young girl, but its really a commentary on a vast range of topics such as faith and the lack of it, to what exists after death, if anything exists at all. It might be presented as "horror" on the surface, but really it goes so much deeper than that.
All the stars!! It somehow gets better on each read.
March 31, 2017
Boil it all down and The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty is about faith.
There is the demonic possession of Regan McNeil and the horrors that are described as a part of that invasion, the night and day distinction between a young girl and the maniacal, infernal force that changed her.
Also fascinating to read is the reactions of the family and friends of the girl and the forced dynamic of this group experiencing such an outrage. Then there is the psychological questions, the detective work piecing all the fragments of evidence together and even a couple of interesting sub-plots. There is the great struggle between the elder exorcist and his devilish foe.
But what drives this work; the central focus is not the blasphemy going on in Regan’s bedroom, but the spiritual conflict taking place within Father Karras. Blatty has crafted an intricately complete allegory about the modern divergence between strictly rational scientific thought and the traditional ideas about faith and religion. Karras, a Jesuit priest who is also a Harvard trained psychiatrist, is the living embodiment of this diametric clash, not between good and evil but between uncompromising faith and logically defined scientific knowledge. Karras wants the possession, wants to know that a demon has taken up residence in the child, because this will be his definitive sign from God that his faith is real.
Finally, in the peaceful words of Father Merrin, the exorcist, Karras finds absolution from his doubts. The obscene heresies graphically described by the author will keep most people of faith away, but for those who can get through this well-written work of speculative fiction, the result may be a strengthening of faith.
There is the demonic possession of Regan McNeil and the horrors that are described as a part of that invasion, the night and day distinction between a young girl and the maniacal, infernal force that changed her.
Also fascinating to read is the reactions of the family and friends of the girl and the forced dynamic of this group experiencing such an outrage. Then there is the psychological questions, the detective work piecing all the fragments of evidence together and even a couple of interesting sub-plots. There is the great struggle between the elder exorcist and his devilish foe.
But what drives this work; the central focus is not the blasphemy going on in Regan’s bedroom, but the spiritual conflict taking place within Father Karras. Blatty has crafted an intricately complete allegory about the modern divergence between strictly rational scientific thought and the traditional ideas about faith and religion. Karras, a Jesuit priest who is also a Harvard trained psychiatrist, is the living embodiment of this diametric clash, not between good and evil but between uncompromising faith and logically defined scientific knowledge. Karras wants the possession, wants to know that a demon has taken up residence in the child, because this will be his definitive sign from God that his faith is real.
Finally, in the peaceful words of Father Merrin, the exorcist, Karras finds absolution from his doubts. The obscene heresies graphically described by the author will keep most people of faith away, but for those who can get through this well-written work of speculative fiction, the result may be a strengthening of faith.
January 11, 2025
My first finish of 2025! And it was a great one. I have no complaints about the writing of The Exorcist. The characters were superb. The plot was steady. It kept me thinking.
I had to continually remind myself that it was written in the early 70s. Psychic phenomena was very popular back then. I remember hearing stories about people spontaneously catching on fire, worried that it could possibly happen to me! I was just 4 or 5 at the time. So it would make sense, I suppose for a priest at the time to
I'm sorry I can't take my primary problem with the book out of the spoiler tag. I don't want to ruin the story for anyone who might not have seen the film or read the book yet. But even with that distressing bit, I still give The Exorcist 5 stars. It's a strong story about good vs evil, faith, love, strength in the face of hardships. And most of all, it's about fighting for what's right. No matter what anyone says. If it goes against what your truly believe needs to be done, keep fighting. Keep believing. Keep loving.
That's all. It was a powerful book, about much more than demons and exorcists. I'm glad I finally took the time to read it!
I had to continually remind myself that it was written in the early 70s. Psychic phenomena was very popular back then. I remember hearing stories about people spontaneously catching on fire, worried that it could possibly happen to me! I was just 4 or 5 at the time. So it would make sense, I suppose for a priest at the time to
I'm sorry I can't take my primary problem with the book out of the spoiler tag. I don't want to ruin the story for anyone who might not have seen the film or read the book yet. But even with that distressing bit, I still give The Exorcist 5 stars. It's a strong story about good vs evil, faith, love, strength in the face of hardships. And most of all, it's about fighting for what's right. No matter what anyone says. If it goes against what your truly believe needs to be done, keep fighting. Keep believing. Keep loving.
That's all. It was a powerful book, about much more than demons and exorcists. I'm glad I finally took the time to read it!
February 16, 2018
لما نزل يسوع إلي الشاطئ قابله رجل من المدينة استحوذت شياطين عليه.. لطالما أذته وتخطفته، وكثيرًا ما كان يكبل بالقيود والسلاسل.. لكنه كان يكسر القيود، ولم يكن يقوي أحد علي كبحِه، سأل يسوع الشيطان قائلًا: "ما اسمك؟"، فقال: "اِسمنَا ليچون، لأننا كَثير .
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"وليصل إليك صراخي"..
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رواية كهذه، تلزمك فترة نقاهة بعد إتمامها لتعود مجددا وتقرأ، وحتي تري الأمور بالشكل الجديد
هل تظن أنك ستقرأ رواية رعب كلاسيكية؟
غير صحيح
هذه رواية نفسية من الطراز الأول، عندما شاهدت الفيلم المقتبس عن الرواية لم أنبهر به علي الإطلاق
ولم اخطئ كثيرًا وقتها غير أني أغفلت أن بلاتي كان له السبق و من عباءته خرجت كل الأفلام عن الاستحواذ، لكن الرواية!
يا الله الرواية!
ظلمت ظلما بينا عندما أقتص منها أجزاء وأجزاء لتصبح سيناريو فيلم محتمل
شخصية القس الذي فقد إيمانه/الطبيب النفسي من أكثر شخصيات الروايات التي قرأتها عمقًا، والتي ظلمها الفيلم كثيرًا كثيرًا.
رواية كتبت علي يد طبيب نفسي محترف، وقس يسوعي محترف، وطارد أرواح محترف، وباحث تاريخي محترف
هل تظن أنك ستقرأ رواية مرعبة عن شياطين تتخطف بشرًا وتحيل حياتهم حجيما بعض الوقت ثم يأتي قس بصليب ضخم و قنينة ماء مقدس وإنجيل يقرأ منه بصوت زاعق فتنتهي المأساة وتزهر الزهور ويعيش الجميع في سلام؟
ليس صحيحًا..
ستعيش أياما مع كريس ماكنيل الأم المكلومة التي لا تعلم ماذا حل بابنتها الوحيدة، ستشفق علي الأب كاريس، الطبيب النفسي والقس اليسوعي ذو العينين الحزينتين و القلب المكسور، ستتبع خطي كارل المسكين خادم الأسرة الكتوم الذي كان علي استعداد أن يضحي بنفسه حتي ينقذ فتاة صغيرة، وستضيع في المحيط البادي في عينيّ الأب ميرين، وسيخطر ببالك ألف سؤال لكنك لن تنطق بأحدهما و ستتمني لو كان بإمكانك أن تريح رأسك علي كتفه مطمئنا لأن الله قد سمع صراخك وأرسل لك بالعون.
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(يارب..أنا لست أهلًا أن تدخل تحت سقفي، فقط قل كلمة، وستبرأ روحي.)
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-ما الغرض من الاستحواذ؟ ما الغاية؟
من يعرف؟ بل من حتي يأمل أن يعرف؟ ورغم ذلك أظن أن هدف الشيطان ليس الضحية الممسوسة ذاتها، إنما نحن..من يري..كل فرد في هذا المنزل. أظن أن غايته أن يجعلنا نيأس، أن ننبذ إنسانيتنا يا داميان، أن نري أنفسنا وحوشا، أخساء وعفنين بلا كرامة، قبحاء. تافهين. هنا يكمن جوهر الأمة كله ربما: في الشعور بأننا غير جديرين. لأن الإيمان بالله كما أظن ليس مسألة عقل ومنطق علي الإطلاق، بل هو مسألة حب في النهاية، قبول احتمال أن الرب قد يظل يحبنا أبدًا.
حوار بين الأب ميرين والأب كاريس.
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ما الاستحواذ؟
أن يتلبس الشخص الذي عرفته روحًا تحيله شخصًا آخر، هنا في الرواية تلبست ريغان روح غاضبة كانت تجعلها تتحدث بلغات لا تعرفها تفيض بالبذاءات وتسير مقلوبة كالعنكبوت وتلتف رأسها حول محورها وصار بج��دها قوة عاتية تطرح بها أرضا أربعة بالغين..
ربما نحن من لم نفهم الاستحواذ، يتبادر إلي أذهاننا شياطين عاتية تتخطف بشرًا و تحيلهم لشئ سواهم ولا سبيل لردعهم غالبا إن لم نؤمن..ولكن؟ أليس فعل الشيطان، أليس الاستحواذ هو الطيش؟ الضغائن التافهة؟ سوء الفهم؟ الكلام الجارح الذي يقفز غير مدعوّ علي لسان الأصدقاء والعشاق والأزواج حتي تنظر في حيرة وقلبك ينفطر ألمًا و تتساءل إن كان هذا هو الشخص الذي عرفته دومًا؟ هل كان طوال الوقت يحمل بداخله تلك القدرة علي ايذاءك؟
إذا وجد هذا بمقدار كاف لن نصبح في حاجه للشيطان لكي نؤجج معاركنا، سنكون نحن أكثر من اللازم.
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و الشكر موصول وواجب للمترجم نادر أسامة علي الترجمة الرائعة، وعلي ترجمته للنسخة المنقحة التي أخبر بلاتي بعد أن أعاد كتابتها تقريبًا أن هذه النسخة التي يحب أن يتذكره بها العالم.
الرواية المقتبسة عن قصة حقيقة حدثت مبكرا في ذلك العصر وتلاها أعمال تدنيس متكررة للكنيسة فيما عرف وقتها بالقداس الأسود، الذي كان يهان فيه كل رمز ديني والذي ذكر في الرواية تفصيليا مما أثار غضب الكثيرون وقت صدورها وأتهمت بالتجديف والازدراء
كان بطل الحادثة الأصلية صبيّ، تم ليّ أحداث القصة لتصبح البطلة فتاة يافعة، في إشارة لأن الأنثي هي غالبًا مطمع الشيطان، وكأن العالم بإناسه وشياطينه اتفق أن يعاقب الإناث لأنهن إناث :))
وبعدها أصبحت تلك قاعدة غير منصوص عليها، وأصبحت شخصيات البطولة في أعمال الاستحواذ بنسبة تتعدي التسعين في المائة فتيات مراهقات أو سيدات، وإن حدثت الصدفة وكان البطل رجلًا يعزي الأمر غالبًا للمرض النفسي أو الهيستيريا أو السرنمة أو ايا كان ، كما في رعب أميتي فايل وأفلامه الشهيرة.
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كتب ويليام بيتر بلاتي رواية أخري تدعي "ليجون" امتداد لطارد الأرواح الشريرة تحولت لفيلم بدورها عام 2009
وهناك فيلم آخر بنفس الاسم لم يلاق رواجا كبيرا علي الرغم من جودته يدعي:
The exorcist,the beginning
يحكي الأخير عن قصة الأب ميرين ولقاؤه الأول مع الشيطان بازوزو في أرض العراق بعدما استقال من وظيفته كقس وعمل في التنقيب عن الآثار علي إثر تعرضه لأزمة زعزعت ايمانه
لينك مشاهدة لهذا الفيلم المظلوم:
http://www.dardarkom.com/28888-watch-...
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بيتر بلاتي، يا لها من طريقة يتذكرك بها العالم
يا لها من طريقة لنيل الخلود.
5-5-2017
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"وليصل إليك صراخي"..
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رواية كهذه، تلزمك فترة نقاهة بعد إتمامها لتعود مجددا وتقرأ، وحتي تري الأمور بالشكل الجديد
هل تظن أنك ستقرأ رواية رعب كلاسيكية؟
غير صحيح
هذه رواية نفسية من الطراز الأول، عندما شاهدت الفيلم المقتبس عن الرواية لم أنبهر به علي الإطلاق
ولم اخطئ كثيرًا وقتها غير أني أغفلت أن بلاتي كان له السبق و من عباءته خرجت كل الأفلام عن الاستحواذ، لكن الرواية!
يا الله الرواية!
ظلمت ظلما بينا عندما أقتص منها أجزاء وأجزاء لتصبح سيناريو فيلم محتمل
شخصية القس الذي فقد إيمانه/الطبيب النفسي من أكثر شخصيات الروايات التي قرأتها عمقًا، والتي ظلمها الفيلم كثيرًا كثيرًا.
رواية كتبت علي يد طبيب نفسي محترف، وقس يسوعي محترف، وطارد أرواح محترف، وباحث تاريخي محترف
هل تظن أنك ستقرأ رواية مرعبة عن شياطين تتخطف بشرًا وتحيل حياتهم حجيما بعض الوقت ثم يأتي قس بصليب ضخم و قنينة ماء مقدس وإنجيل يقرأ منه بصوت زاعق فتنتهي المأساة وتزهر الزهور ويعيش الجميع في سلام؟
ليس صحيحًا..
ستعيش أياما مع كريس ماكنيل الأم المكلومة التي لا تعلم ماذا حل بابنتها الوحيدة، ستشفق علي الأب كاريس، الطبيب النفسي والقس اليسوعي ذو العينين الحزينتين و القلب المكسور، ستتبع خطي كارل المسكين خادم الأسرة الكتوم الذي كان علي استعداد أن يضحي بنفسه حتي ينقذ فتاة صغيرة، وستضيع في المحيط البادي في عينيّ الأب ميرين، وسيخطر ببالك ألف سؤال لكنك لن تنطق بأحدهما و ستتمني لو كان بإمكانك أن تريح رأسك علي كتفه مطمئنا لأن الله قد سمع صراخك وأرسل لك بالعون.
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(يارب..أنا لست أهلًا أن تدخل تحت سقفي، فقط قل كلمة، وستبرأ روحي.)
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-ما الغرض من الاستحواذ؟ ما الغاية؟
من يعرف؟ بل من حتي يأمل أن يعرف؟ ورغم ذلك أظن أن هدف الشيطان ليس الضحية الممسوسة ذاتها، إنما نحن..من يري..كل فرد في هذا المنزل. أظن أن غايته أن يجعلنا نيأس، أن ننبذ إنسانيتنا يا داميان، أن نري أنفسنا وحوشا، أخساء وعفنين بلا كرامة، قبحاء. تافهين. هنا يكمن جوهر الأمة كله ربما: في الشعور بأننا غير جديرين. لأن الإيمان بالله كما أظن ليس مسألة عقل ومنطق علي الإطلاق، بل هو مسألة حب في النهاية، قبول احتمال أن الرب قد يظل يحبنا أبدًا.
حوار بين الأب ميرين والأب كاريس.
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ما الاستحواذ؟
أن يتلبس الشخص الذي عرفته روحًا تحيله شخصًا آخر، هنا في الرواية تلبست ريغان روح غاضبة كانت تجعلها تتحدث بلغات لا تعرفها تفيض بالبذاءات وتسير مقلوبة كالعنكبوت وتلتف رأسها حول محورها وصار بج��دها قوة عاتية تطرح بها أرضا أربعة بالغين..
ربما نحن من لم نفهم الاستحواذ، يتبادر إلي أذهاننا شياطين عاتية تتخطف بشرًا و تحيلهم لشئ سواهم ولا سبيل لردعهم غالبا إن لم نؤمن..ولكن؟ أليس فعل الشيطان، أليس الاستحواذ هو الطيش؟ الضغائن التافهة؟ سوء الفهم؟ الكلام الجارح الذي يقفز غير مدعوّ علي لسان الأصدقاء والعشاق والأزواج حتي تنظر في حيرة وقلبك ينفطر ألمًا و تتساءل إن كان هذا هو الشخص الذي عرفته دومًا؟ هل كان طوال الوقت يحمل بداخله تلك القدرة علي ايذاءك؟
إذا وجد هذا بمقدار كاف لن نصبح في حاجه للشيطان لكي نؤجج معاركنا، سنكون نحن أكثر من اللازم.
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و الشكر موصول وواجب للمترجم نادر أسامة علي الترجمة الرائعة، وعلي ترجمته للنسخة المنقحة التي أخبر بلاتي بعد أن أعاد كتابتها تقريبًا أن هذه النسخة التي يحب أن يتذكره بها العالم.
الرواية المقتبسة عن قصة حقيقة حدثت مبكرا في ذلك العصر وتلاها أعمال تدنيس متكررة للكنيسة فيما عرف وقتها بالقداس الأسود، الذي كان يهان فيه كل رمز ديني والذي ذكر في الرواية تفصيليا مما أثار غضب الكثيرون وقت صدورها وأتهمت بالتجديف والازدراء
كان بطل الحادثة الأصلية صبيّ، تم ليّ أحداث القصة لتصبح البطلة فتاة يافعة، في إشارة لأن الأنثي هي غالبًا مطمع الشيطان، وكأن العالم بإناسه وشياطينه اتفق أن يعاقب الإناث لأنهن إناث :))
وبعدها أصبحت تلك قاعدة غير منصوص عليها، وأصبحت شخصيات البطولة في أعمال الاستحواذ بنسبة تتعدي التسعين في المائة فتيات مراهقات أو سيدات، وإن حدثت الصدفة وكان البطل رجلًا يعزي الأمر غالبًا للمرض النفسي أو الهيستيريا أو السرنمة أو ايا كان ، كما في رعب أميتي فايل وأفلامه الشهيرة.
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كتب ويليام بيتر بلاتي رواية أخري تدعي "ليجون" امتداد لطارد الأرواح الشريرة تحولت لفيلم بدورها عام 2009
وهناك فيلم آخر بنفس الاسم لم يلاق رواجا كبيرا علي الرغم من جودته يدعي:
The exorcist,the beginning
يحكي الأخير عن قصة الأب ميرين ولقاؤه الأول مع الشيطان بازوزو في أرض العراق بعدما استقال من وظيفته كقس وعمل في التنقيب عن الآثار علي إثر تعرضه لأزمة زعزعت ايمانه
لينك مشاهدة لهذا الفيلم المظلوم:
http://www.dardarkom.com/28888-watch-...
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بيتر بلاتي، يا لها من طريقة يتذكرك بها العالم
يا لها من طريقة لنيل الخلود.
5-5-2017
December 31, 2017
What a fantastic and scary but fascinating book. The film with Linda Blair and Max Von Sydow was so far ahead of its time. I was just a young boy when the film was released and remember that there was heaps of controversy at the time. Ambulances and police were rushing to theatres because people were fainting and screaming with hysteria. In some extreme cases priests were called. I know that the film was back in theatres a while ago and my partner and I went to see it again with our nephew and niece. They were both in their twenties back then and I recall them laughing all the way through the film. I guess times and tastes have changed. The book is great and the original film too, whatever the younger generation may think. The new TV series is good though, I must admit. I think it stars Ben Daniels as the priest.🐯👍
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