Gore and More discussion

I found The Exorcist to be one of the most distubing boooks I have read. Perhaps it distubed me so much because I was all of about 15 years old when I read it.

The Exorcist

I think I will have to revisit this book sometime soon.

I bought "The Exorcist" and "Legion" about 3 years ago and still haven't got around to reading them yet.I really need to,I'm sure it's considered a classic for a reason.

I watched the movie a few months back,and although not as good as the first time i watched it,I did still enjoy it.I also thought it had aged pretty well.

William wrote: "I bought "The Exorcist" and "Legion" about 3 years ago and still haven't got around to reading them yet.I really need to,I'm sure it's considered a classic for a reason.

I watched the movie a few ..."

William,

Maybe I'l add a "Buddy Read" thread.

We can add the book their, let me know what you think.

Good idea Kevin.I might actually read the book then, instead of it just sitting on my shelf gathering dust.You can count me in.

William wrote: "Good idea Kevin.I might actually read the book then, instead of it just sitting on my shelf gathering dust.You can count me in."

Ok, I'll add the buddy read thread.

I wont be able to start this read until September, hope that will work for you. I have The Night Class to read before I reread The Exorcist.

Kevin,September is good for me.Thanks.I'm starting to get withdrawal symptoms,i haven't read any King,Koontz or Straub for ages now.I will be able to do a bit of catch up.

I haven't read "The Night Class" but i have read and i can honestly say i haven't read anything quite like it.It was good,but i must have been about a 1/4 through the book before i could work out what was going on.Definitely not your standard horror book.

If you aren't chilled to the bone when reading the Exorcist, you need to take your pulse. Chances are, you're dead! Like many, my first taste of The Exorcist was from watching the William Friedkin classic late at night as a kid and absolutely crapping my pants in fear. To this day, I still feel that the movie holds up amazingly well in spite of its 40+ years of age. A couple of years ago, I finally got around to reading novel and as much as I still love the movie, I like the story even better. There is so much more in the story that the movie didn't try to recreate. One of the things that surprised me, without having giving away too much, was how Father Denning carried on numerous extended conversations with the demon in Regan.

I agree Ken. My introduction to the movie first and then the book was the same. (view spoiler)[ The other thing I was surprised about was that in the book, it seemed that there was more of a question as to whether Regan was actually possessed. I thought that question spun the story in a slightly different light than the movie, where there was no doubt. (hide spoiler)] Did you read Legion also?

I haven't yet. I have it and it's on my mountain of a TBR pile. You?

My favorite thing about the movie and the book was how modern medicine/science tortured poor Regan much like the demon did. If you believe she was possessed. I like that Blatty kind of leaves it up to you. I also like the very matter of fact voice with which the story is told. Very calm and unbiased. It read more like a documentary than a novel which made it even more distrurbing.

Ken wrote: "I haven't yet. I have it and it's on my mountain of a TBR pile. You?"

I did read Legion, too. I liked it just as much. Maybe a little more action than the first.

Kandice, I agree. That tone worked very well for both of those books.

The Exorcist is one of my all time favorite books. I was introduced to it with the film first, when I was a kid. I have read the book and feel it is one of the better books about demonic possession, and I've read quite a few. Seeing this so young I think created an obsession with the subject. I haven't read Legion though, I will put it on my TBR list.

That's funny, I was the opposite. I wasn't allowed to see the movie (Mom was so mean!) so I found the book somewhere. She was much more willing to let me read it than see it.

That's what I encountered the most with friends. I scared a few of them with the movie on sleep overs because they couldn't watch it at home or had never heard of it. I was raised by a hippie. She wasn't into sheltering me too much, but I think her parenting backfired...I've ended up far more well-behaved than her. ;-)

Reverse psychology strikes again!

I tried to re-read this one last year but stopped. Going to try again this year. The movie was faithful to the book so there's little surprise waiting for me, but I also just don't like the guy's writing style that much. It's dry and detached. I'll give it another shot though, I think the memory was too fresh on my mind last year since I had just watched it.

Tom wrote: "That's funny, I was the opposite. I wasn't allowed to see the movie (Mom was so mean!) so I found the book somewhere. She was much more willing to let me read it than see it."

Same! My mom let me watch horror but not Exorcist, but she let me read the book. Ah, parents...

Erin ☕ *Proud Book Hoarder* wrote: "I tried to re-read this one last year but stopped. Going to try again this year. The movie was faithful to the book so there's little surprise waiting for me, but I also just don't like the guy's w..."

I actually find the book more effective because of the dry and detached style. It's as if the author is spinning the tale in an unbiased way. The facts and nothing but the facts. It leaves the conclusions up to the reader.

I can see why someone wouldn't like it, though.

Kandice wrote: "I actually find the book more effective because of the dry and detached style. It's as if the author is spinning the tale in an unbiased way. The facts and nothing but the facts. It leaves the conclusions up to the reader.."

I agree with this. I didn't get the full effect of the movie because there was plenty of joking about the puking scene by the time I saw it, but the book was more immersive.

I was sitting here, eating lunch, watching tv, and saw a commercial... The Exorcist has made it to the small screen.

http://www.fox.com/the-exorcist

The trailer looks good. But I really hope they don't mess it up.

Annie wrote: "I was sitting here, eating lunch, watching tv, and saw a commercial... The Exorcist has made it to the small screen.

http://www.fox.com/the-exorcist

The trailer looks good. But I really hope they..."<

It looks promising. I'm cautiously optimistic!

Not on topic to the book really, but I went to Universal Studios Halloween House of Horrors 2016 Saturday and they did an excellent job with the Exorcist house. The best the park had to offer.

Planning to try to read this one again in October. Just hope I can get into it this time.

Very cool Erin!

I just finished it a few days ago. It got much better after the first quarter of the book. It was hard to put down after that. Definitely deserves its reputation

The dry writing became good writing when the story drew me in