The Exorcist

Rating:
Summary: Simply the Best
Review: The Exorcist is THE best horror novel that i've read- i particularly liked the confrontation scene between Regan(when shes possessed) and the Father- it was real scary. The only problem is that after reading this book, its extremely difficult to find another that matches it!

Rating:
Summary: More substance and subtlety than the movie
Review: Compared to the 1973 movie version, the book spends a great deal more effort in keeping it a mystery as to whether a genuine possession is taking place or whether it is simply a case of mental hyperactivity that can be explained scientifically. In trying to keep the reader guessing as to the authenticity of the possession, the more suspenseful the story becomes and the more unsettling and disquieting the result is.

The book frequently posits logical explanations whenever a seemingly paranormal event takes place. For instance, Regan's imaginary friend "Captain Howdy", who is first believed to be the source of the possession, may simply indicate a guilt complex caused by the absence of her father, who is named Howard; and prior to her acting out certain occultist rituals, she may have read a book on witchcraft that a party guest had given to her mother. These and many other details in the book are all but ignored in the movie. The movie also differs greatly regarding the exorcism ritual itself; while the movie is pretty clear on how it ends, the book still entertains the thought that the guilt-striken Jesuit priest simply suffers a mental breakdown...

Also not adequately explained in the movie is that why the Jesuit priest, who has been so skeptical of the alleged possession, should have a change of heart and agree to perform an exorcism. The book explains this. Although he doesn't believe a possession has occurred, he believes the ritual of exorcism would actually serve some form of psychiatric treatment that no known scientific method can.

The book mentions many scientific theories on paranormal activities; while I'm no scientific expert and cannot tell how factual they are, they help to maintain an "investigative" style of storytelling that serves to heighten the drama.

The book will enhance your appreciation of the story even if you read it after having seen the movie.

Rating:
Summary: AMAZING
Review: I don't know what it is, but I am fascinated with "The Exorcist." I was nine the first time I saw the film and... I was scared to death, I mean, the thought that it could actualy happen amazes me. About a month ago I was looking through some of my grandfather's old books and I saw it, The Exorcist. Oh My God, I thought, I have to read this. So I took it up to my room and began reading, it's a little slow at first but quickly picks up the pace. I got so scared, in fact, I was shaking.. I finished the book in less than a week and have read it 5 more times. The thing I love to do is recomend this book to someone and see their reaction. I would recomend this book to anyone who likes to be scared.

Rating:
Summary: EVIL
Review: This has got to be the best horror (or any other for that matter), I have ever read. It's amazing, I practically finished it in less than a week. Anything I read from now on has got to be compared with this book from now on. The book takes you through events that can happen to anyone at anytime. You feel for the characters, the loss of faith, the evil and through it all. It's an amazing book. I loved it tremendously. The book was interpreted into an equally frightening film. It set the point for the second one, and the third took off from where the book ended. This is the right book to read in one go. Never take a breath and always, always, keep the lights on, you just don't know what might be coming out from under the bed and if your bed shakes, always call an Exorcist...

Rating:
Summary: horrifying, but not scary enough
Review: this book is almost has horrifying as the movie. to see it in person, can't even compare to reading it, but the fright is still present. the author william peter blatty, definetly has a lot of experience with devil warship is my guess, since the book is discriptive of ruthless and unusal acts, that the movie features. anyway while playing with a wegie board [spelling is probably wrong ha ha] young raegon, becomes possessed by the devil spirt and strange accurences happen. she can spin her head around in a full circle, and her ruthless bashing to god is absolutely unheard of. the book is deeply religous, since the path of the book follows along roman catholic church, into catholic times and through hell and coming face to face with the devil. u really should stick to the movie though, because in this case, the movie is better then the book.

Rating:
Summary: An excellent & terrifying novel...
Review: I first read this book during my last year of college. I really became absorbed in it...I couldn't put the novel down for 3 consecutive days. Blatty presents various psychiatric & neurological conditions to explain the bizarre phenomena occurring within the MacNeil household...but at the end, the reader is forced to accept the concept of demonic possession. One of the most chilling sections in the novel occurs when Detective Kinderman tries to research Satanism...reading the description of satanic rituals/rites was quite disturbing for me...even at the age of 21 when maturity should temper shocking material. The rising tension & suspense created by the novel was great...and I certainly had some difficulty falling asleep during the 3-day span of time I spent in completing the book. Moreover, I kept pondering the themes of the book (the nature & existence of Evil) for a long while afterwards. The Exorcist galvanized me to explore the genre of the supernatural, the occult, & the dark aspect of the human experience. If anyone wants to chat about this book &/or related topics, feel free to send email to [e-mail]

Rating:
Summary: This book is an actual page-turner, I couldn't put it down!
Review: I have had this book laying around the house for some time and never have read it. I finally watched the movie, wich was unforgettable, and I just had to read the book after that. I normally don't read very much and if I do it has to be really good. Well, I had no problem reading this. I read the whole book in one day and I enjoyed it so much, during dinner, I even read.

I really liked the author's style, it keeps you interested and the characters are great too. Each person is represented with reality, that many authors can't seem to write with. Plus, something you won't get from the movie is the added scenes in the book and further character development.

Outstanding movie and book, watch or read both!

Rating:
Summary: Horror Classic Not To Be Missed
Review: William Peter Blatty's classic, later turned into a major hit movie,one of those "required" readings for fans of horror. This book did for demonic possession what Dracula did for vampires; it provided a very well written, very disturbing classic with memorable characters that brought a lot of recognition to an underexplored subgenre. The major reason this novel works so well is that Blatty makes you care about his characters: An actress mother who loves her daughter very much,a gold-hearted child who is possessed by a vile demon, a Jesuit Priest questioning his own faith (this idea didn't become a cliche until AFTER Blatty's book), and a fasinating old detective with health problems. This novel not only disturbed a generation, it disturbed the Vatican who deamed it very plausible and terrifying. What is the most desterbing, however, is that this book has somehow managed to go out of print. If Dracula, Frankenstein, and A Tale of Two Cities have managed to stay unhaultedly in print, why hasn't the Excorcist?

Rating:
Summary: A very thought provoking book.
Review: When I first picked up The Exorcist, I didn't know whether I would like it or not. I've never really been in to books about demon possession, but I figured I would try it because a friend recomended it to me. Boy, I'm sure glad I did! It's a book that is very gripping and suspenseful. The only thing that bothered me was all the profanity and the strong descriptions of sex. I particularly disliked the part when the demon forced Regan to masturbate with the crucifex. However, if your a fan of books that keep you glued to you chair, this one's for you! I really admired Father Karras, and I think the book dealed more with his struggle than with Regan. I really liked Father Merrin, and how he had authority over the demon, and his strong faith. This book makes you truly realizze all the evil in the world, not so much in possession, as in things we take for granted and we think are for plesure. A truly great book!

Rating:
Summary: it sounds good
Review: I just got it and I never read it yet so that is why I gave it a star